Carl Yastrzemski

Full Name: Carl Michael Yastrzemski Primary Position: OF,LF,1B Height/Weight: 5' 11"/175 First Game: April 11, 1961 Birthdate: August 22, 1939 Final Game: October 2, 1983 Birthplace: Southampton, New York MLB Experience: 23 years Bat/Throw: Left/Right

Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989

Biography

Carl Michael Yastrzemski was born on August 22, 1939 in Southampton, NY. He had an Hall of Fame 23-year career, playing only for the Boston Red Sox. Primarily a left fielder, he played some first base and DH as he got older.

One of only four Red Sox to have their number retired, Yastrzemski is among the greatest hitters ever to wear a Red Sox uniform. Yastrzemski redefined what power hitting was with his huge, corkscrew swing that would send balls flying down by Pesky's pole from 1961 until 1983. Yastrzemski, also known as "Captain Carl," has been part of some of the greatest teams in Red Sox history, and his presence had a huge impact on those teams during those years.

Yastrzemski grew up in Bridgehampton, Long Island, a small farming community. While attending Bridehampton High School, Yastrzemski set records for baseball, basketball, and football. He set the all time individual conference record for points scored in basketball with 628. He also hit .512 career at Bridgehampton High. These are just a few of the many he set in all three sports.

Yastrzemski attended Notre Dame with a full scholarship to play baseball and basketball there. Due to his exceptional play and potential on the ball field, Yastrzemski signed a contract with the Boston Red Sox in his first year at Notre Dame. Immediately after this, he went to Raleigh, North Carolina and played for the minor league Raleigh Capitals there. In 1959, Yastrzemski led the minors by a margin 64 points with a .377 batting average. He also won the MVP and Rookie of the Year that year. In 1960, he almost won his second batting title playing for the Triple A Minneapolis Millers.

In 1961, Yastrzemski took over for the legendary Ted Williams as the keeper of the Green Monster in Fenway. Because he replaced such a legend, the fans were very critical and skeptical of his performance. They were eager to boo and slow to applaud his efforts. His first two years were viewed as solid but unspectacular. However, he emerged as a rising star in 1963, winning the American League batting championship with a batting average of .321, and also leading the league in doubles and walks.

During the 1967 "Impossible Dream" year, Yastrzemski enjoyed his best season, winning the American League Triple Crown with a .326 batting average, 44 home runs (tied with Harmon Killebrew) and 121 RBI. He is the last hitter to have won the Triple Crown and won the Most Valuable Player almost unanimously—one voter chose César Tovar of the Twins. Also, the Yaz grounded into only 5 double plays that entire year. His great defense and explosive offense helped to propel Boston to their first World Series since 1946. However, once again, the Red Sox fell to the St. Louis Cardinals 4 games to 3. The Red Sox offense couldn't overcome the dynamite of Bob Gibson's arm.

In 1968 Yastrzemski again won the batting championship. Because of the competitive advantages pitchers enjoyed between 1963 and 1968 (prior to the lowering of the pitcher's mound), Yastrzemski's .301 mark in "The Year of the Pitcher" is the lowest average of any batting champion in major league history. He had many more strong seasons, consistently finishing in the top ten in the league in many statistical categories.

In 1969, he hit the first of 2 straight 40 home run seasons as he led the Red Sox to third-place finishes that year and the next. Yaz got four hits and won the All-Star Game MVP in 1970, although the American League lost. His .329 batting average that season was his career high. He hit but 61 homers over the next four years as the Red Sox finished second twice and third twice.

Again in 1975 Yastrzemski helped the Red Sox to make it to the Series, this time against Pete Rose and the Cincinnati Reds. Although his numbers were not as outstanding during this season, Yastrzemski still managed to bat .269 and amassed 14 home runs and 60 RBIs.

In 1978, Yaz he also made the final out of the 1978 AL East division one-game playoff with a foul pop to third base. This game featured Bucky Dent's famous shocking homer (although Reggie Jackson's home run was the eventual winning run). It should be pointed out that Yaz was almost the hero of the game: he hit a homer off left handed pitcher Ron Guidry who was having a career year (25 wins, 3 loses and a 1.74 ERA). Veteran Yastrzemski began the scoring with a home run off Guidry in the second, the only homer the Cy Young Award winner allowed to a left-hander all season.

Yastrzemski retired in 1983 at the age of 44. No player has had a longer career with only one team, 23 seasons, a record which he shares with Brooks Robinson of the Baltimore Orioles. His final career statistics include 3,308 games played (second all-time), 452 home runs, 1,844 RBI, and a batting average of .285. He had 1,845 walks in his career, sixth all-time. Yaz was the first player to ever collect over 3,000 hits and 400 home runs solely in the American League, the feat has since been accomplished by Cal Ripken Jr.

Yaz was well-known for his batting stance, holding his bat exceptionally high, giving his swing a large, dramatic arc, and more power at the plate. However, in his later years, he adjusted his stance and held the bat lower.

An eighteen-time All-Star, Yastrzemski was an outstanding defensive player. He mastered the art of playing the tricky bounces that result from line drives hitting Fenway's Green Monster, and won seven Gold Glove Awards in his career.

A record album of the Red Sox's 1967 season, aptly titled "The Impossible Dream", featured a song of praise for "The man they call Yaz", which included the line "Although 'Yastrzemski' is a lengthy name / It fits quite nicely in our Hall of Fame". As one of the top players of his era, he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, with the support of 94% of voters.

Yaz's 23 year career was been one of the finest in Red Sox history. With a lifetime batting average of .285, 1844 RBIs, 452 HR, and 3419 hits, he ranks among the top hitters of all time. He retired after 23 years with the Red Sox, and on October 1, 1983, he took his final lap around Fenway. He was honored with an induction into the Hall of Fame in 1989 and was voted in on the first ballot. Yastrzemski's #8 -- the umber 8 from start to finish—was retired on August 6, 1989 and was only the fourth ever retired from the Sox at the time. Carlton Fisk's #27 was added on September 4, 2000.

As of 2006, is currently a roving instructor with the Red Sox.

Statistics

Batting Stats

Fielding Stats

Transactions

• Signed as an amateur free agent by Boston Red Sox (November 29, 1958).

Trivia

See also

• http://www.yaz8.com/ -- official site
• http://www.geocities.com/bostonsportscentral/yaz.html -- source for this article
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Yastrzemski -- source for this article