JESSE GONDER
L-R. Picked up from Cincinnati chain. Hit .327 in 109 games for AAA Richmond.
Negro. Married. Born in Monticello, Arkansas, resides in San Francisco.
Scouting Report: "Most improved catcher and hitter in league. Hits with power, has a live bat that sends line drives over the infield. His arm is better than average but he needs more experience in general receiving. A definite prospect."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
"With Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and John Blanchard forming a strong catching trio- the envy of most major league managers- it may be surprising to find 25-year-old Jesse Gonder on the Yankee roster. Admittedly he needs experience behind the plate. But oh, what a bat!
Gonder was obtained by the Yankee organization a year ago, and after a slow start hit a robust .327 with their AAA Richmond farm club. When called up to the parent Yankees last September, he swung a respected bat.
The efficiency of the Yankee bench may well depend on the ability and versatility of the catchers. That's why Jesse Gonder figures in Ralph Houk's plans for 1961 and the future."
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
Jesse Lemar Gonder (C) #25
Born January 20, 1936 in Monticello, Arkansas, resides in Oakland, California. Height: 5-10, weight: 190. Bats left and throws right.
Married and father of two girls: Tanya (3) and Simone (3 months).
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
"Jesse Gonder earned a late-season look-see with the Yankees in 1960 on the strength of his .327 batting average with Richmond of the International League and the left-handed-hitting catcher seemed at home in seven American League contests.
The 5'10" native of Monticello, Arkansas, broke into Organized Ball with the Cincinnati chain and was in the Reds' farm system until the Yankees acquired him last season. He played the outfield before switching to catching in 1959.
Jess batted .279 for Ogden of the Pioneer League in 1955 and hit 15 home runs. After a .296 campaign with Wausau of the Northern loop, the young man did more traveling than a Fuller Brush Man.
He was with four clubs in 1957 (and batted .340 or better with three of them) and three the following summer (with .289 his lowest average). The 190-pound receiver slumped to .238 with the Havana Sugar Kings in '59, his last season as a Red chattel.
Gonder connected for 14 circuit clouts last summer, 13 with Richmond and one in the Stadium. He is rated a better than average defensive backstop.
Jesse resides in San Francisco during the off-season. He is married and has one child. A saxophonist, Gonder has hopes of a musical career when his playing days are over.
If Gonder doesn't make it with the Yanks this summer, he may be used in a trade and you can't keep a good man, especially a catcher, down on the farm."
-New York Yankees 1961 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
JIM BRONSTAD
R-R. Hurled four shutouts, five other wins for Richmond (AAA), but lost 13 and made 13 wild pitches. ERA: 3.33.
Norwegian. Married. Born and resides in Fort Worth.
Scouting Report: "Ready to join Yankee staff. Has a fine fastball, has added a slider to his equipment and has acquired experience. This could be his year."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
"Twenty-five-year-old Jim Bronstad is making another bid for a berth on the American League champions this summer. A product of the Yankee farm system, the 6'3" righty was with the Bombers briefly in 1959.
The Fort Worth native broke into Organized Ball in 1955 and compiled a 10-7 record with Monroe. He was 5-14 at Winston-Salem in '56 and 15-8 with Binghamton in '57.
Jim has been with the International League Richmond Virginians the past three seasons, except for a 16-game hitch with New York. He was 13-12 in 1958, 6-8 in '59 and 9-13. In his brief stay with the Yankees, Jim worked 29 innings and was tagged with three losses.
Bronstad, who weighs 200 pounds, had a fine 2.55 earned run average with the Virginians in 1959. Last summer his ERA was 3.33 and he worked 200 innings."
-New York Yankees 1961 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
DERON JOHNSON
R-R. Hit deceptive .245 in 151 games for AAA Richmond, for it included 92 RBIs, 27 homers and 23 doubles.
Single. Born and resides in San Diego.
Scouting Report: "Has become a good third baseman and this should be the year for him to move in as a regular. Good hitter with power. Has speed, a strong arm and covers a lot of ground. Can't fail."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
"Perhaps the most determined young athlete in training camp this spring was Deron Johnson. The converted left fielder was giving it a real battle at third base and as a first base replacement. The husky San Diego right-handed slugger hit 129 home runs in five seasons, excluding playoffs. In the 1959 International League playoffs, he hit a record seven home runs for Richmond. He's an RBI man, too. But his batting average has tailed off some in recent years.
American League expansion gives Deron another shot at Yankee Stadium where he's determined to play."
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
Deron Roger Johnson (3B-1B) #6
Born July 17, 1938 in San Diego, California where he resides. Height: 6-2, weight: 200. Bats right, throws right.
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
"A five-year minor league veteran at the age of 22, Deron Johnson seems ready for a varsity spot this summer.
The 6'2" native of San Diego, California, batted .329 with Kearney of the all-rookie Nebraska State League in 1956 and topped the circuit in home runs (24), runs batted in (78) and runs scored (70).
Johnson moved up to Binghamton of the Class A Eastern League in 1957 and batted .303 for the Triplets. His 26 homers earned him the championship, and his 103 runs scored were the league high.
The Yankees invited Deron to camp in 1958 and he was one of the last roster cuts. Optioned to Richmond of the International League, he has spent the last three summers with the Virginians.
He had 27, 25 and 27 homers for the ILers and has 129 circuit clouts to his credit in Organized Ball. Johnson sent 103 runs across the plate in 1958 and followed with 91 and 92 the next two seasons.
Originally an outfielder, Deron was moved to third base late in 1959. His performance in the '59 IL playoffs, when he hit seven homers, has been the highlight of his career. In '58 he was selected to the International League's All-Star team.
Deron's .245 average isn't indicative of his capacity. And his power is of major-league caliber.
The losses suffered in the expansion draft this past winter have opened the gates to the Stadium for Johnson. The 200-pound righty hitter was with the Bombers at the tail end of the 1960 campaign and should be wearing the Pinstripes for many years to come."
-New York Yankees 1961 Yearbook (Jay Publishing Co.)
LEE THOMAS
L-R. Powered 76 RBI's in 61 games for AA Amarillo, his 90 hits totaling 177 bases, including 17 homers. Batting average: .390. Also hit .258 in 55 games for AAA Richmond.
Single. Born in St. Louis, resides in Peoria, Ill.
Scouting Report: "Big. Strong. Hits with power. Rest of game needs considerable polishing."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
"Another new face at Yankee Stadium this summer is that of outfielder Leroy Thomas, 25-year-old St. Louis native. Leroy also has good power.
He was picked to minor league All-Star teams in each of the last three summers. In 1958 he was an Eastern League All-Star, repeating in 1959. Last summer he was a Texas League All-Star and also won the Topps Gum Player award. In the last two seasons, Leroy has averaged better than 25 homers and more than 100 RBIs.
Thomas hopes to win a job with the 1961 Yankees as a utility outfielder and left-handed pinch hitter."
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
Leroy Thomas (OF) #17
Born February 5, 1936 in Peoria, Illinois, resides in St. Louis, Missouri. Height: 6-2, weight: 192. Bats left, throws right.
Married and father of one boy, Deron (1).
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
ALAN HALL
R-R. Bonus boy from the University of Arizona. Hand injury limited him to 35 games and .162 for Binghamton (A).
Married. Born in San Diego, resides in El Cajon, California.
Scouting Report: "Inexperienced first-year man needs plenty of work. Good arm, good hustler, plays all out to win. Hitting just average."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
GERALD HEINTZ
R-R. Bonus player, was 3-4, 5.40 for Auburn (D).
Single. Born in Belleville, Illinois, resides in St. Laboy, Illinois.
Scouting Report: "Definite major league prospect, but limited pro experience makes him a few years away. Has hopping fast ball, good curve. Lived up to expectations in N.Y.-Penn League."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
BOB MEYER
L-L. This tall skinny lad fanned 156 in 144 innings for Modesto (C), walked 129 and made 11 wild pitches for 8-9, 5.75. University of Toledo product.
Single. Born and raised in Toledo.
Scouting Report: "Crackling curve and fast ball but is plagued by control trouble. Could go to the top if he masters it."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
HAL STOWE
L-L. In first full season, Clemson star was 12-12, 4.35 for Amarillo (AA), though Texas League hitters averaged .310 against him.
Married. Born and raised in Gastonia, North Carolina.
"Better-than-average fast ball that sinks. No change-up, has much to learn. Needs more experience, but considered a real big league prospect later on."
-Baseball Digest, March 1961
JAKE GIBBS
"The most sought-after college ball player in the country is Jake Gibbs, the all-around athlete of Mississippi who spent his spare time quarterbacking the Ole Miss football team. Gibbs is an infielder and is considered a sure bet to command a $100,000-plus bonus when and if he signs a big-league contract. The Milwaukee Braves think so much of him that they assigned a special scout to watch all of Mississippi's football games last fall and check on the number of tackles Gibbs made with his right shoulder."
-Baseball Digest, February 1961
"Jake Gibbs was welcomed to Yankee Stadium by Manager Ralph Houk after the much-sought-after All-American quarterback from the University of Mississippi signed a record Yankee bonus contract. Gibbs, one of several outstanding prospects to sign bonus contracts with the Yankee organization this season, is playing his first professional season at third base with the Richmond farm club."
-The New York Yankees Official 1961 Yearbook
"Jake Gibbs, after taking his first look at New York's Yankee Stadium, is billed by most baseball experts as a bonus baby who won't bust. An All-America for the University of Mississippi in football in 1960, he had a choice of pro sports, and with the help of a giant-sized bonus, decided to play baseball with the Yankees."
-Sport Magazine, September 1961
