"Fielding may not be his business, but he's superb at the plate. Very patient at bat, Lopez waits for his pitch and is regarded as a dangerous two-strike hitter. He slices well to right field and is an artist at placing the ball through infield holes. He has played second and third base but was shifted to the outfield after ground balls gave him too much trouble.
Born in Panama, Lopez was with the Athletics from 1955 to '59, always flirting close to the .300 mark. He became a Yank in 1959 and hit .283, one point less than his '60 figure.
Lopez is considered the game's No.1 foul-ball hitter."
-Don Schiffer, The Major League Baseball Handbook 1961
1960
April 22: Hits home run in 5-0 win over Orioles.
April 23: Beats Orioles, 3-2, with RBI single in 9th.
May 29: Beats Nats, 6-4, with two-run homer in 11th.
June 5: Gets three hits in 5-4 win over Red Sox.
June 8: Hits home run and triple in 6-0 win over Chisox.
June 18: Gets three hits in 12-5 win over Chisox.
June 28: Hits three doubles and single in win over A's.
July 3: Goes 3-for-3 in 7-6 win over Tigers.
August 24: Hits two-run single in 3-2 win over Chisox.
August 30: Beats A's, 3-2, with RBI single in 9th.
September 8: Hits two home runs and single in 5-4 loss to Chisox.
September 9: Decides 4-1 win over Tigers with home run.
September 11: Hits home run and triple in 5-0 win over Indians.
September 16: Hits home run in 4-2 win over Orioles.
September 18: Gets three hits in 7-2 win over Orioles.
September 26: Beats Nats with RBI pinch single in 10th.
Comment: "Lopez occasionally has problems in the field but swings an effective bat."
-Joe Sheehan, Dell Sports Magazine Baseball, April 1961
"A strong late-inning and opposite-field hitter, Yankee left fielder Hector Lopez hopes that 1961 will be HIS year. Greatly improved as an outfielder, the 28-year-old Panamanian is determined to help new Manager Ralph Houk get off on a winning season.
Lopez had his best year at bat in 1959 when he hit 22 homers and led the club with 93 RBIs. Hec fell off somewhat last season in the power and RBI departments, but his batting average picked up a point. After hitting .429 in three World Series games last fall, Lopez returned to Panama where he played with the champion Cervesa Balboa team.
Hector was married this past winter and now has a double incentive for further success as a Yankee."
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
Hector Headly Lopez (OF) #11
Born July 8, 1932, in Colon, Panama where he resides. Height: 5-11 1/2, weight: 177.
Married.
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
"Hector Lopez came to the Yankees from Kansas City during the 1959 season as a third baseman. His batting was of major league caliber, but his fielding left much to be desired and the fans let him know it.
Casey Stengel converted the right-handed-hitting Panamanian to an outfielder last spring and Hec made the transition in fine style. Although he is not in the class of a Mantle or Maris, Lopez has a strong arm and covered the Stadium's outer pastures in an acceptable way.
The six-footer spent a little over four seasons in the minors before making the big time. He batted .290 in 1955, his rookie season with the Athletics, and had 15 home runs. His average dipped to .270 the following summer, but his homer total was 18 and he drove in 69 runs. Hector hit .294, his American League-high, in 1957 and had a .261 mark with 17 homers and 73 RBIs in '58.
He came to New York, along with Ralph Terry, in May 1959, in a deal that saw Tom Sturdivant, Johnny Kucks and Jerry Lumpe wind up in Kansas City. Lopez had 22 homers in '59 and paced the Yankees with 93 RBIs.
Last summer, he batted .284 and had nine four-baggers and nine sacrifices. The recent bridegroom, who left the bachelor ranks last winter, drove in 42 runs and lifted his lifetime batting average to a respectable .280.
Lopez's biggest day in the majors came while he was with the A's in 1958 when he slammed three homers against Washington in one game.
Manager Ralph Houk will probably platoon Hector with Yogi Berra this season, but he'll have plenty of pinch-hitting strength when Lopez is on the bench."
-New York Yankees 1961 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
"Hector Lopez, 29-year-old Panamian, had one of his best years at bat in 1959 when he hit 22 homers and drove in 93 runs. He fell off somewhat in 1960 in the power and RBI departments, but his batting average picked up a point (.284). Lopez batted .429 n three World Series games, and during the off-season returned to Panama where he played with the champion Cervesa Balboa team. Yogi Berra's move to left field in 1961 relegated Hec to a utility role.
The six-foot, 177-pound right-hander, a good opposite-field hitter broke in with Saint-Hyacinthe in 1951. He played in the majors with Kansas City in 1955 and stayed with the A's until he went to the Yankees during the 1959 campaign.
With Kansas City, Lopez had home run totals of 15, 18, 11 and 17 and had 22 for the A's and Yanks combined in 1959.
Lopez was born July 8, 1932 in Colon, Panama. He was married during the past winter."
-1961 World Series Official Souvenir Program
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