BOB CERV
"Veteran outfielder Bob Cerv, now in his third separate tour of duty with the Yankees, has a unique position with the World Champions. He's paid to be a utility man. Once again, big Bob will come in when the big hit is needed from a right-handed batter. He'll fill in now and then in the outfield, especially in certain parks where his power gives him a special advantage. But his main job with the World Champions is to come into the game in a key situation and deliver the big hit.
Bob underwent surgery to remove cartilage from his right knee during the Series in 1961. During the winter, he followed orders, took off some 15 pounds and gradually strengthened his knee. Bob is confident that he will be able to deliver the big blow again this summer.
Bob, the champion father on the Yankee club with eight children, owns the American League record for most pinch-hit homers for his career- 12. Two more will tie him with George Crowe for the major league record of 14.
Cerv's biggest season was in 1958 with Kansas City when he hit .305, slugged 38 homers and drove in 104 runs. Big Bob is not expected to do that again, but he does expect to help the Yankee pennant drive in 1962."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
Robert Henry Cerv (OF) #17
Born May 5, 1926, in Weston, Nebraska, resides in Kansas City, Mo. Height: 6-0, weight: 243.
Married and the father of five girls, Sithay (13), Sandra (12), Denise (10), Karen (9) and Phyllis (1) and three boys, Robert, Jr. (8), Joe (6) and John (3).
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
Holds American League record, most pinch-hit home runs, lifetime (12).
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Bob Cerv wasn't with the Yankees at the beginning of the 1961 season. He was a member of the new Los Angeles Angels, being one of the Bombers claimed in the American League expansion program.
The Bombers, however, engineered a trade with the Cherubs and in June, the powerful righty slugger was again back in the Bronx.
The 6' native of Weston, Nebraska, was signed by New York off the campus of the University of Nebraska. He had used his 225 pounds on the gridiron for the Cornhuskers as well as on the diamond.
Cerv's first job in Organized Ball was in Triple-A company, with the Yankees' Kansas City farm in the American Association. During his initial season, 1950, Cerv batted .304 and hit 14 home runs.
In 1951, when he was used at third base as well as in the outfield, Cerv compiled a .344 average with the Blues, poled 28 homers, drove in 108 tallies and led the AA in triples with 21.
He also had a brief fling with the Yankees that season when they sent Mickey Mantle down to K.C. In his 12 games as a big leaguer, Bob batted .214.
The following season, 1952, was divided between New York and Kansas City. In 36 American League contests, Cerv batted .241 and in 60 AA tilts, his mark was .297.
The slugger was dispatched to the Blues for the last time in 1953. He posted a .317 mark and had 22 HRs and 91 RBIs.
In 1954 Cerv was promoted to the parent club. He appeared in 56 games and batted .260. The following year, in 55 games, his average climbed to .341 and in '56 he was a .304 batsman in 54 contests.
Bob, who holds a bachelor of science degree in education from the University of Nebraska, got his name in the record books by belting a pinch home run against the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series.
The Yankees sold Cerv to Kansas City (now in the American League) on October 16, 1956. He became a regular with the Athletics and batted .272 in 1957, .305 in 1958 and .285 in 1959. He had his best season in '58, walloping 38 homers and sending 104 runs across the plate.
Cerv opened the 1960 season in K.C., but on May 19, the Yanks reacquired him for third baseman Andy Carey. His 1960 record was a .250 batting mark, but his 54 hits were good for 91 bases.
The AL champs lost Bob in the expansion draft, but not for long. They sent Ryne Duren, Johnny James and Lee Thomas to Los Angeles for the hard-hitting slugger and hurler Tex Clevenger.
Cerv connected for eight homers last summer, six after joining New York and his average as a Bomber was .271. A knee injury forced Bob to the sidelines during the season's final days and he underwent surgery during the World Series.
Last season Cerv roomed with Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. He has been married since 1947 and is the number one daddy on the World Champs with seven youngsters.
Bob is one of the best pinch hitters in big league history and holds the American League for most pinch homers in a career. Having him ready to step in there in a key situation should help make Ralph Houk's job that much easier this season."
-The 1962 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
BILLY GARDNER
"One of the unheralded events of the 1961 season, but nevertheless one of the most valuable acquisitions, was the trade that brought Billy Gardner to the Yankees on June 14, a year ago. For five consecutive years before he came to the Yanks, he had played in 140 or more games a season. A veteran of two seasons as a Giant and six in the American League, Gardner was obtained by General Manager H. Roy Hamey from the Minnesota Twins for lefty Danny McDevitt as a utility infielder. He proved a valuable reserve, spelling Clete Boyer when the Yankee third baseman was injured.
Billy, another Connecticut Yankee (he hails from Waterford, Conn.), can play second and third with equal facility. With youngsters Tom Tresh and Phil Linz making the Yankee infield this season and veteran Joe DeMaestri retired, Gardner is expected to be the experienced handyman of the inner cordon. He will also serve as an occasional right-handed pinch hitter and as a pinch runner. He will be 34 this summer and appears perfectly suited to his important utility role."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
William Frederick Gardner (IF) #12
Born July 19, 1928, in New London, Connecticut, resides in Waterford, Connecticut. Height: 6-0, weight: 182. Bats right, throws right.
Married and the father of one girl, Gwen (7).
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
"New York's infield reserve was bolstered last summer when they obtained veteran Billy Gardner from the Minnesota Twins. The 35-year-old native of New London, Conn., is a capable replacement at third base and can fill in at second or short if called upon.
Originally signed by the New York Giant organization, Gardner broke into Organized Ball with Bristol in 1945. He also saw service with Jersey City of the International League before going into the service for the 1946 campaign.
Gardner shuffled around the Giant farm system, stopping at Jacksonville (Sally League), Minneapolis (American Association), Jersey City and Ottawa (International League) and Nashville (Southern Association) before getting a crack at the varsity in 1954.
He batted .213 for the Polo Grounders in his rookie season and was with them part of the '55 season before being dispatched to the Minneapolis Millers once again.
The Giants sold his contract to Baltimore for twenty thousand dollars during the winter of 1955-56 and Billy became the Orioles' second baseman. He spent four full seasons in the Maryland city, reaching a personal high with a .262 batting average in 1957.
Baltimore traded the 6'1", 180-pound pepper pot to the old Washington Senators before the '60 campaign for catcher Clint Courtney and another former Giant second-sacker, Ron Sanford.
Gardner batted .257 for the Nats and clouted nine homers, his big league high. As a minor leaguer, Billy had hit 22 - with Sioux City - in 1950.
When the American League expanded last season, Gardner moved to Minneapolis-St. Paul with his former Washington teammates. He appeared in 45 games for the Twins, batting .234, before being dealt to New York. In 41 contests for the World's Champs, Billy batted .212. His homers were divided evenly, one coming with Minnesota and one coming with New York.
With Joe DeMaestri having retired and Tony Kubek in the service, Gardner will probably see plenty of action this summer. He'll be available to spell Clete Boyer at third and may take over at the hot corner if Boyer has to move to shortstop."
-The 1962 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
HAL RENIFF
"When Yankee pitching went awry early last summer, one of the steps taken by manager Ralph Houk was the calling up of husky Hal Reniff from the Yankee farm at Richmond. The 23-year-old relief specialist made himself a most welcome addition during the last half of the 1961 season, winning two decisions and posting a 2.60 earned run average.
The big, blond right-hander hopes to duplicate his relief specialties in the last half of this season. He can't do much about the first half. He's serving on the six-month training program at Ford Ord, California."
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
Harold Eugene Reniff (P) #18
Born July 2, 1938, in Warren, Ohio, resides in Ontario, California. Height: 6-0, weight: 208. Bats right, throws right.
-The New York Yankees Official 1962 Yearbook
Serving in U.S.Army at Fort Ord, California, on the six-month program.
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"Stocky Hal Reniff started the 1961 campaign with the Yankees' Richmond farm club and was promoted to the varsity in mid-season. While with the Virginians, he was the International League's most effective relief pitcher.
Hal saw action in 25 American League contests after being called up by New York and was highly effective, as both a middle inning man and a finisher.
The 25-year-old bullpen artist has a fine curve ball and good control. He's a bit slow in the field and on the bases but has the hustle to make it in the big time.
He'll be pressed for a job this summer, but keep him in the picture even if he's sent down for more seasoning. The Yankees are fortunate to have Reniff around to back up their No. One bullpen ace, Luis Arroyo."
-The 1962 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
ROBIN ROBERTS
Led National League in complete games, 1952.
Named top pitcher in the National League by The Sporting News, 1952.
Named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News, 1952.
Led National League in complete games, 1953.
Named top pitcher in the National League by The Sporting News, 1953.
Named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News, 1953.
Led National League in complete games, 1954.
Led National League in complete games, 1955.
Named top pitcher in the National League by The Sporting News, 1955.
Named Major League Player of the Year by The Sporting News, 1955.
Led National League in complete games, 1956.
Purchased from Philadelphia Phillies, October 16, 1961.
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
"The Yankees reached over into the National League at the close of the 1961 campaign and came up with the last of the Whiz Kids and one of the outstanding hurlers in the Senior Circuit for more than a decade, Robin Roberts.
Robin was signed for a reported twenty-five thousand dollar bonus when the Phillies first plucked him off the campus of Michigan State University in 1948.
They sent the fireballing right-hander to Wilmington of the Interstate League where he compiled a 9-1 record. On the night of June 5, 1948, Roberts fanned 18 Trenton batters for an Interstate League mark.
Philadelphia recalled their prize prospect in July and he won seven games while dropping nine in his abbreviated rookie semester.
The 6'1" native of Springfield, Illinois, was 15-15 in 1949 and entered the 20-game circle the following year as the Phillies captured the National League pennant. The Whiz Kids, as the '50 champs were named, soon faded but not their strong righty.
Roberts posted a 21-15 record in 1951 and reached his personal high in '52 with a 28-7 slate. While the Phillies floundered, Robin remained one of the circuit's top moundsmen. He posted 23 victories in 1953-54-55 and was the loop's strikeout king in 1953 and 1954 with 198 and 185 respectively.
The Sporting News honored Roberts by naming him the Top National League pitcher in 1953-54-55 and Major League Player of the Year in each of those three seasons.
For four consecutive seasons, Roberts was the winningest hurler in the NL (or shared that honor). Then, in 1956, his record dropped to 19-18, the losses being the league high, and in 1957 he was 10-22.
Robin regained his winning touch with a 17-14 mark in 1958. He dropped to 15-17 in '59, however, and his fortunes were about as good as those of his teammates the last two seasons.
The 35-year-old hurler spent part of last season on the disabled list and managed to post only one victory. He admits now that he was pressing, and no hurler can succeed with this attitude.
In addition to being a fine moundsman over the years, Roberts has been a better-than-average batsman.
In 1956 he was the batters' favorite pitcher as he permitted a then major league record of 46 home runs.
Robin, who holds a bachelor of science degree from Michigan State, faced the Yankees during the 1950 Series and suffered a loss; however, his earned run average against the Bombers in post season play was a strong 1.64.
In the past, the Yankees have had remarkable success with former National Leaguers. Among those who helped the Bombers with their efforts were Johnny Mize, John Hopp and the team's pitching coach, Johnny Sain.
Whether he's used as a starter or middle inning man, you can be sure that Robin Roberts will be giving it his best effort now that he's reached the top playing for the New York Yankees."
-The 1962 Jay Publishing New York Yankees Yearbook
JOE DEMAESTRI
Six hits in six times at bat, all singles, against Detroit, July 8, 1955.
-1962 New York Yankees Press-TV-Radio Guide
