"Perhaps the most versatile of all is Tony Kubek, who is at home in the infield or the outfield. He hits to all fields, spraying most of his blows on a line.
Rookie of the Year in 1957 when he hit .297 and drove two homers in one Series game, Tony collected a season high of six homers in '59. After a slow start last year, he closed with .279, which happens to be his lifetime average.
Born in Milwaukee, he served at Owensboro, Quincy and Denver. Fast and aggressive, Tony, at 23, has a fine career in front of him. "
-Don Schiffer, 1960 Mutual Baseball Annual
1959
April 21: Gets three hits in 11-4 win over Senators.
April 29: Collapses in dizzy spell; rests awhile.
May 6: Hits home run and single in 7-4 win over A's.
May 30: Five RBIs on four hits in 11-0 rout of Senators.
June 5: Gets four hits in 11-2 rout of Indians.
June 13: Hits two-run homer in 6-4 win over Tigers.
July 3: Two RBIs on three hits in 4-3 win over Senators.
July 4: Gets eight hits in split with Senators.
July 11: Hits home run, triple and double in 8-4 loss to Red Sox.
July 30: Back after lay-up with shoulder injury.
August 1: Added to American League All-Stars for second game.
August 18: Hits triple and two singles in 5-3 win over Tigers.
August 21: Hits triple and two singles in 9-7 victory over A's.
September 1: Gets three hits in 5-0 win over Orioles.
Comment: "One of the best young players. Kubek would benefit from settling down at one position but his versatility adds to his value."
-Joe Sheehan, Dell Sports Magazine Baseball, April 1960
"Although a veteran of three full major league seasons, young Tony Kubek (he's only 23) appears established as the Yankee shortstop. This, despite the fact that Tony has performed at every position on the club except pitcher and catcher. He does a more than acceptable job in the outfield as well as in the infield. Last season he hit .279, which also is his lifetime big league mark. Gradually, Tony is showing increasing power and gives promise of developing into a really strong hitter.
He was named the American League Rookie of the Year in 1957 and hit two World Series homers in a game that fall in Milwaukee. Kubek's goal this year is to help the Yankees get back into the World Series. A good season from him will go a long way toward assuring that goal."
-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook
Anthony Christopher Kubek (SS) #10
Born October 12, 1936 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin where he resides. Height: 6-3, weight: 191. Bats left, throws right.
-The New York Yankees Official 1960 Yearbook
"Tony Kubek is one of the most versatile players in the majors, being able to play second, short, third or the outfield.
The 6'3" Milwaukee youngster captured the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1957 when he hit .297 for the Yankees.
During his three seasons in the minors, Kubek never hit below .331 and his three seasons in the majors show him with a .279 mark, the average he hit for last summer. Just 23 years old, he is not a slugger, but he has had at least 21 doubles every season and had a total of 38 extra-base hits in 1959.
Tony had two homers against Milwaukee in the World Series game of October 5, 1957. Tony's dad was a minor league ball player in the American Association.
An Army veteran (having done a six-month stretch during the winter of 1958-59), Tony is willing to play wherever Casey Stengel can utilize him. With youth, determination and ability, Kubek looks like he'll be a Yankee for a long time."
-New York Yankees 1960 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
TWO GLOVES HAS HE
"The Yankees' Tony Kubek, who has played every position except pitcher and catcher during three and one-half seasons with the Yankees, uses a one-finger mitt for the outfield and a different one when he works the infield.
The glove he uses at shortstop is of firm, more open-faced construction than the one in the outfield.
'In the infield, the ball comes at you faster,' Kubek explained. 'You've got to get out of the pocket faster. You don't have much time to fish around for it.
'When you're chasing flies in the outfield, it's a different story. Out there, you run a lot more and it's easier to run when you can clench your first inside the glove. So I have a floppier glove for the outfield, where most of the catchers are made up in the webbing.' "
-Lou Hatter, Baltimore Sun (Baseball Digest, August 1960)
"Shortstop Tony Kubek more than doubled his previous high homer output, posted his top RBI season and generally had a fine year as the Yankee shortstop. He played shortstop throughout 1960, only going to the outfield on a few occasions. He played seven positions for the Yankees in past years.
The 24-year-old infielder from Milwaukee was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1957 and this is his third World Series."
-1960 World Series Official Souvenir Program
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