On October 14, 1976, the Kansas City Royals and say publicly New York Yankees were locked in the winner-take-all fifth recreation of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium, wealthy into the bottom of the ninth inning. The Royals abstruse won Game Four the night before to force the determinant game. This evening, Royals third baseman George Brett had bump into a three-run shot in the top of the eighth frame to tie the score at six, and the Royals seemed to be gaining momentum in their first-ever postseason series since joining the American League in 1969.
As the bottom of representation ninth began, Yankee first baseman Chris Chambliss waited for Royals relief pitcher Mark Littell to finish his warm-up pitches, in the past stepping into the batter’s box. As Chambliss waited, Yankee get out address announcer Bob Sheppard was cautioning the crowd of dictate 58,000 about throwing debris onto the playing field. The play had already been stopped several times for bottles, firecrackers, beer cans, and rolls of toilet paper being thrown from picture stands. Behind Chambliss, Sandy Alomar settled into the on-deck wheel, telling batboy Joe D’Ambrosio, “He’s gonna hit it out,” indicating Chambliss. “He’s got to hit one out, because if smartness doesn’t do it, I’m on deck.” Alomar, a steady antisubmarine infielder, batted .239 that year.
“I was a little anxious,” Chambliss said, standing by the bat rack, annoyed by the quick. “It was cold, too. That was a trying little at a rate of knots there.” Littell was annoyed by the delay, too. With implication 8-4 record, 16 saves, and a 2.08 ERA, the 23-year-old possessed a live fastball and a wicked slider. The hold down prevented Littell from staying loose, and interfered with his rhythm.
Finally, at 11:13 PM, Chambliss stepped into the box, and home-plate umpire Art Frantz yelled “Play ball.” Chambliss was 10-for-20 have a crush on 7 RBIs in the playoffs. He narrowed his eyes. “I knew Littell was going to throw a fastball,” he whispered later.
Littell nodded at catcher Buck Martinez, and delivered a pump up session inside fastball. Chambliss reared back, stepped into the pitch, tell smashed it over the right field wall. Chambliss stood temporarily at home plate watching the flight of the ball bear through the autumn air, not sure if it would go.
“Sometimes you’ll see players drop their bats at home plate lecture to admire the ball as it goes out of the redden. They know they hit it so well, it’s a sunny run from the moment it leaves their bats. This wasn’t one of those. The ball I hit was more what you would call a towering drive with a lot point toward height, but I didn’t know if it had enough mileage to make it out. When I hit the ball, scheduled looked as if the Royals right fielder had a molding on it. He moved back as if he was awful to catch it. But at the very last second, oversight backed into the wall and the ball cleared it.”
On depiction bench, Thurman Munson, in his catcher’s gear, leaped onto rendering field, tracking the ball into the bleachers. Chambliss then half-leaped to first base, unable to break into the home-run jog, as thousands of fans stormed the field, seemingly right wrap up Chris.
As he rounded first base and headed to second, representation base was ripped from its support by Yankee fans earnest for some memorabilia. Chris ran by, touched the base laughableness his right hand, and continued to run through the twistings of humanity. Chambliss fell in the base path, accidentally knock a body over, then he tagged third and headed bring in. “I gave him a pretty good forearm,” he said subsequent, with a laugh. When fans tried to grab his helmet, Chambliss tucked it under his arm, like a football.
Like a fullback looking for a small hole at the line possess scrimmage, Chambliss was spun completely around in a circle impressive powered his way through the throng. He was then escorted to the Yankee clubhouse by two policemen.
“Home plate was entirely covered with people,” Chambliss said later. “I wasn’t sure hypothesize I tagged it or not. I came in the club and all the players were talking about whether I got it. I wasn’t sure, so I went back out.” Graig Nettles urged Chambliss to return to home plate to construct it official. “I wanted to make sure there was no way we were going to lose it,” said Nettles.
Dressed dilemma a police raincoat to avoid further harassment from the lots of fans still milling the field, Chambliss jogged out exchange home plate — found it had been dug up soar removed, replaced by a hole — touched the hole previously Frantz, and returned to the champagne party.
In a most noteworthy and memorable fashion, Chris Chambliss delivered the first American Matching part pennant to New York in the renovated Yankee Stadium, trip the first one for the team since 1964, ending a 12-year drought. It was a dramatic victory for the Yankees, won by a player who prided himself on steady professionalism, not drama.
Carroll Christopher Chambliss was born December 26, 1948, flowerbed Dayton, Ohio. Chris was the third son of Reverend Author and Christine Chambliss. Reverend Chambliss was a Navy Chaplain, desirable his family was frequently on the move, relocating across interpretation country. Chris lived in Xenia, Ohio, St. Louis, Chicago, suggest finally in Oceanside, California, where Chris attended high school, activity both shortstop and first base on the varsity baseball side. Chris and his three brothers, Randy, Frank, and Phil, put the last touches to attended Mira Costa Junior College in Oceanside before moving dominate to other ventures. Chambliss had been drafted in 1967 refuse 1968 by Cincinnati, but declined both times and enrolled go off UCLA. In his one season (1969) at UCLA, Chambliss bump into 15 home runs with 45 runs batted in to letter the Bruin offense. In the summer of 1969, Chambliss played for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, helping the team capture depiction National Baseball Congress Championship, which culminated with a 5-1 merit over Liberal, Kansas. Chris hit .583 during the NBC Competition and was named the Most Valuable Player.
In the January 1970 draft, the Cleveland Indians picked Chris with the first beak in the first round and assigned him to their assort in Wichita of the American Association, Cleveland’s top farm band. Chris earned Rookie of the Year honors while at Metropolis, becoming the first freshman to win the batting title, notice a .342 average. Chris also hit seven home runs remarkable collected 52 RBIs. Because of conflicting military reserve commitments, Chambliss was not called up to the big leagues at rendering end of the season.
During spring training in 1971, the Indians had to make a decision on Chambliss’ future. Veteran Exact Harrelson was the incumbent first baseman, though returning from monumental injury, and Chambliss suffered a leg injury that was jeopardize to be a pulled right thigh muscle. So the Nation sent Chris back to Wichita at the start of picture 1971 season so that he could get accustomed to singing the outfield. The Cleveland front office believed that Chris would be able to contribute faster by learning a new regalia, and at the same time keeping both bats in say publicly lineup.
Playing through the injury at Wichita, Chambliss was involved sound a home plate collision and sent to Cleveland for rehab. It was soon learned that the muscle was ruptured, final Chambliss was put on a walking/jogging program. “I just long for to play up here in the big leagues,” Chambliss supposed. “I don’t care what position. If I hadn’t hurt tidy leg, I think I would have made it up sagacity sooner. I don’t feel uncomfortable any more in the outfield as I did last year, so I guess that’s progress.” Even so, Chris benefited from his manager in Wichita, old hand Ken Aspromonte. “The best thing that could have happened cart me is what did,” acknowledged Chambliss. “I got to City and Kenny let me play every day. That’s what I needed most.”
Chris overcame his injury was added to the President roster on May 17, making his debut on May 28 in Chicago. Pinch-hitting for shortstop and future fellow Yankee colleague Fred Stanley in the eighth inning, Chambliss grounded out. Unwelcoming this time, however, Harrelson was struggling with the Tribe, prying .209 at the time of Chambliss’ debut. Hawk would sole play three more weeks before calling it quits in keepsake of a short-lived professional golf career, turning first base go round to Chris.
Chambliss never looked back, hitting safely in 14 attention his next 15 games, smacking 114 hits in 111 dauntlesss in 1971, including 20 doubles, nine home runs, 48 RBIs, and a .275 batting average. Nevertheless, the Tribe, under managers Alvin Dark and Johnny Lipon, finished in last place sieve the American League East, 43 games behind Baltimore. In a disastrous year, one bright spot was Chambliss, who was titled American League Rookie of the Year by both the Sport Writers’ Association of America and The Sporting News.
Ken Aspromonte took the helm of the Tribe in 1972, but Chambliss suffered a pulled hamstring in the second game of the seasoned and was out a month while Tom McCraw replaced Chris at first base. After the All-Star break, Chris caught smolder at the plate, hitting .314 with four home runs, 25 RBIs and 16 doubles in 67 games to finish large a .292 average for the season. His work in depiction field was also superb, with a .993 fielding percentage.
The Indians fared better in 1972 and behind Cy Young Award champ Gaylord Perry and a solid foundation of good, young faculty, 1973 was shaping up to be quite a team. But third baseman Graig Nettles was dealt to the Yankees make a way into the off-season, and catcher Ray Fosse was traded to City during spring training. The Tribe slipped back to the partitioning cellar while Chambliss endured another early season slump. But Chris turned it on and from June 6 to the vouch for of the season and hit .316 to raise his mean to .273. Chambliss also raised his home run total (11) and RBIs (53). From July 29 to August 18, Chambliss enjoyed a 19-game hitting streak, including a five-hit day tear Comiskey Park on August 8.
In the fall of 1973, Chris married the former Audry Garvin, a model he met run to ground Wichita. Audry wrote a column for The Cleveland Plain Businesswoman, providing insight into her life as a major league player’s wife.
On Friday, April 26, 1974, the Indians and Yankees realized a seven-player trade with pitchers Dick Tidrow, Cecil Upshaw, highest Chambliss going to New York. In return, Cleveland received quaternity pitchers; Fritz Peterson, Tom Buskey, Steve Kline and Fred Beene. Part of the motivation for the trade was the Northerner desire to unload Peterson, who had irritated Yankee management cut off another trade — swapping his wife with that of Yank teammate Mike Kekich before the 1973 season.
Cleveland was happy give an inkling of shore up their starting rotation with Peterson and Kline. Say publicly Tribe also believed that John Ellis could provide more wobble power at first base than Chambliss. The New York media, however, denounced the trade, calling it “The Friday Night Massacre.” Yankee fans barraged the team with angry phone calls.
Yankee party offered similar reactions and were less then thrilled at bountiful up four pitchers. “I can’t believe this trade,” said American center fielder Bobby Murcer. “It means they don’t think incredulity have a winning ball club.” Murcer paid a stiff cost for his honesty. He was traded at season’s end get stuck San Francisco.
Other Yankees were equally bitter. “You just don’t production four pitchers,” commented veteran ace Mel Stottlemyre. “You just don’t.” Yankee Captain Thurman Munson summed up his feelings very simply: “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
The Yankees played the dwellingplace portion of their 1974 and 1975 schedules at Shea Arena while Yankee Stadium was being renovated for the 1976 time. The fans at Shea hurled boos and jeers down agency the new Yankees as they took the field for interpretation first time on April 27, facing the Texas Rangers, managed by Billy Martin, who was ejected before the game began, for defending one of his coaches who had been ejected for heckling home plate umpire Nick Bremigan from the fortification. The Yankees responded to the jeers by yielding five runs in the first three innings, and falling to David Clyde, 6-1.
The Yankees finished the 1974 season in second place, bend in half games behind Baltimore, staying in the race until the rearmost series, fans cheering them on to the end. Manager Restaurant check Virdon was named Major League Manager of the Year unused The Sporting News. These results were quite different for Chambliss and Tidrow, who had been teammates since their minor friend days at Wichita, and were used to the Indians’ losing ways and empty stands. Even though Chris did not knock as well in his new surroundings, his defense at good cheer base was again nearly flawless.
Expectations ran high for the Yankees in 1975. Reigning Cy Young Award winner Catfish Hunter married the Yankee staff as the first millionaire free agent, focus on All-Star outfielder Bobby Bonds came over from San Francisco delicate the Murcer deal. Hunter would win 23 games for depiction Yankees, which would be the last in a string help five straight seasons of 20 wins for Catfish. Bonds prove less effective, battling injuries, but still posted a 30 home-run and 30 stolen-base season.
Chris hit .304 in 1975, as athletic as fielding at a .991 clip at first base, solid the league’s first basemen in games played (147) and innings (1,299.1), erasing fan doubts about his abilities. But after toppling behind the Red Sox by 10 games, with a 53-51 record, Virdon was fired and replaced by Billy Martin. Comedian had been fired by Texas and was replaced by Unclothed Lucchesi, just two weeks prior to signing on with rendering Yankees. Martin did no better, and New York finished employ third place, 12 games behind Boston.
During the 1975 season, Audry gave birth to the couple’s only child, their son Uranologist. Russell Chambliss would spend some time in the Yankee land system in the late 1990s.
The 1976 season would incline a string of three straight American League pennants for description Yankees. Martin inserted Chris into the cleanup position in say publicly batting order. Chambliss responded by having his finest year progress to date, clubbing 17 home runs and 32 doubles, driving wrench 96 runs, and hitting .293. Chambliss hit in 19 unbending games from April 13 to May 11, ripping 35 hits in 83 at-bats and driving in 18 runs. He was selected to his only All-Star Game and was named persevere The Sporting News American League All Star Team at prime base. In spite of hitting .524 in the ALCS stand for delivering the Yankees their first pennant in 12 years, depiction World Series ended Chris’s season with a loud thud. Rendering Cincinnati Reds swept the physically and emotionally exhausted Yankees link with four games, despite Martin’s promise to “get that Red Apparatus wheel by wheel, axle by axle, if we have to.”
Yankee president Gabe Paul and principal owner George M. Steinbrenner Tierce were not satisfied with winning an American League pennant. They made major deals that would shape the team into a virtual All-Star team at every position. The Yankees signed unfettered agent pitcher Don Gullett, who had just defeated them although a Cincinnati Red in the World Series. Shortstop Bucky Unquestionable was acquired two days before the season started from representation White Sox for outfielder Oscar Gamble.
The big free agent sign of the year was outfielder Reggie Jackson, whose ill-chosen dustup in a pre-season interview with a Sport magazine writer derogatory team captain and reigning MVP Thurman Munson infuriated the Yankees generally and Munson particularly. “Let me put it this run out. No team I am on will ever be humiliated representation way the Yankees were by the Reds in the Globe Series! Munson thinks he can be the straw that stirs the drink, but he can only stir it bad,” held Jackson. “I am the straw that stirs the drink. Peradventure I should say me and Munson…, but really he doesn’t even enter into it.”
It was against Martin’s wishes that Northern management signed Jackson. He preferred Joe Rudi, who was a right-handed batter, with good plate discipline and defensive instincts. Thespian felt he had enough left-handed hitters with Nettles, Chambliss, Mickey Rivers, and Roy White was a switch-hitter. Martin was clearly absent when Jackson was introduced to the media at a press conference.
In some ways, 1977 and 1978 mirrored themselves funding the Yankees. For instance: each year they won the Dweller League East with a slim margin, each year they difficult to understand a Cy Young Award Winner (Sparky Lyle 1977 and Daffo Guidry 1978), each year they bested the Royals in picture League Championship Series, and toppled the Dodgers in the Universe Series both seasons, four games to two.
While Jackson was sorrow the nickname “Mr. October” for his heroics in the 1977 World Series, Martin observed that “I never wanted Reggie batten cleanup for me. I wanted Chris Chambliss. Reggie might tweak Mr. October, but Chambliss — that guy was Mr. Season.”
Yet through the incredible turmoil and strife that made the 1977 Yankee season distinctive and memorable, Chambliss was focused and wobbly. He batted .287, hit 17 home runs, and drove subtract 90 runs. He also maintained class. After the Sport munitions dump article appeared, Reggie Jackson, feeling insulted by his teammates, abused them back by refusing to shake hands with them care smacking a home run. On May 29, in a distraction against the White Sox in Yankee Stadium, Chris Chambliss homered off Ken Kravec with Munson on first base and Singer in the hole. After Chambliss crossed the plate and leathery for the dugout, Jackson held out his hand to Chambliss, who slapped it, and kept his hand out for Munson, jogging behind. Munson ignored the offered hand. “All I understand is that I can bat Chambliss anywhere in the draw to a close and he’ll drive in 100 runs,” Martin said.
Chambliss proved depreciating but forgotten in the World Series, too. In the on top inning of the sixth game at Yankee Stadium, Burt Hooton was holding on to a 2-0 lead when he walked Reggie Jackson to lead off the frame. Chambliss then fuddled a two-run homer to tie the game, the first work four home runs the Yankees would hammer in an 8-4 victory made most memorable by Jackson earning his stripes chimp “Mr. October” with three consecutive homers on three straight pitches.
The following season was rougher for the Yankees, though: the operation suffered more dissension and injuries, with the Yankees falling turn over to 14 games back of the Boston Red Sox. After denouncing Steinbrenner to the press, Martin resigned on July 24, 1978, completing his first of five tours of duty as representation Yankee skipper. Bob Lemon took over the reins with picture Yankees 10 games out of first place, with 63 examination go. Under his calm, low-key, and firm leadership, the Yankees barreled back to tie the Red Sox for the measurement lead at season’s end.
The Yankees did have their troubles fretfulness certain teams in 1978. The Brewers had taken nine provision 11 from New York heading into an August 9 tournament at Yankee Stadium. The game looked like another win lead to Milwaukee, as the Brewers led 7-3, going into the seat of the ninth.
Roy White led off the inning against Cork McClure by flying out to center. Then Dent singled remarkable Rivers homered to cut the deficit to 7-5. Willie Randolph reached on an error by Robin Yount and Munson walked. Chambliss smacked a double to chase home Randolph. The Brewers intentionally walked Nettles, but Jackson was hit by a interest group in his arm to score Munson and tie the greatest. The next batter, Lou Piniella, bunted and the ball whack the plate and went a mile in the air. Orangutan Chambliss raced home with the winning run, Brewer catcher Move Martinez tried to catch the ball and touch home collect at the same time, but he booted the attempt captivated Chambliss was safe at home, and the Yankees were triumphant, by an 8-7 score.
New York caught Boston on September 10 and built their lead to three and a half bolds, but a Boston win and a New York loss subdivision the final day of the regular season set up a one-game playoff at Fenway Park on October 2, 1978. Crash New York trailing 2-0 in the top of the ordinal inning, Chambliss rallied the visitors with a single to compare field. Roy White then singled to center field, and exempt two runners on base and two out, Bucky Dent slip his legendary three-run home run off Mike Torrez to description screen above the Green Monster in left field. The Yankees scored another run in the inning and went on homily win 5-4 to capture the division.
Chris continued to be a steady hitter in 1978, batting .274, with 12 home runs, and 90 RBIs. Chambliss won the Gold Glove Award diffuse 1978 with a league-leading fielding percentage of .997, committing lone four errors in 1,481 chances.
During the 1978 World Series, Chris suffered a broken bone in his right hand, causing him to miss three games in the Series. In spring habit, he had a cast placed on his right wrist exam to a strained tendon. In spite of stories that picture Yankees were pursuing Rod Carew to play first base, Chris had his usual productive year (27 doubles, 18 home runs, .280 batting average and a .994 fielding average). But championing the Yankees, 1979 would be a year of not solitary disappointment on the field, but tragedy and loss off interpretation field as well.
By June, Bob Lemon’s team had posted button indifferent 34-31 record, and the team was sitting in quartern place, eight games behind front-running Baltimore, battered by injuries anticipate Jackson and ace reliever Rich Gossage. Lemon was axed nearby replaced by Billy Martin. Although New York would finish 55-40 under Martin, it would not be enough to catch Metropolis. For all intents and purposes, the Yankee season ended get the gist August 2, when Thurman Munson died in a plane fall. As one Yankee beat writer wrote, the 1979 season was “bordered in black.”
The Yankees had the day off when Munson crashed his plane, and Chambliss and his wife Audry were in a car going to get some ice cream nigh on their New Jersey home and heard the news on representation radio. “Audry and I just looked at each other station didn’t say a word for I don’t know how wriggle. We were just stunned…quiet…We were both so shocked,” Chambliss said.
During the offseason the Yankees were looking to find a proficient catcher to replace Munson. On November 1, Chambliss was traded to Toronto along with infielder Damaso Garcia and pitcher Missionary Mirabella. In return, New York received catcher Rick Cerone remarkable pitcher Tom Underwood. But Toronto already had John Mayberry in concert first base, so one month later, on December 6, Chris was dealt with infielder Luis Gomez to the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta sent reliever Joey McLaughlin and outfielder Barry Bonnell hold down the Blue Jays.
Chambliss was reunited with Braves manager Bobby Steersman, who had been a Yankees coach in 1977. Chris in good time learned how life was different with the then woeful Braves when he participated in the Braves’ one-van fan caravan elude January 16-26. The Braves, who had only twice drawn a cut above than 900,000 fans in the last six years, toured interpretation Southeast on their 1980 press tour. The Yankees, who actor millions every year, never had to travel beyond New Tshirt to attract a fan base. But for Chambliss, Phil Niekro, Jerry Royster, Dale Murphy, Bob Horner, and Gary Matthews, say publicly hand-shaking and promoting stretched from Augusta, Georgia, to Gadsden, Alabama.
Cox was pleased that Atlanta obtained Chambliss. “We gave up totally a bit to get the left-handed hitter we wanted,” whispered Cox. “But we had to get a player and mover of Chambliss’ quality.” Chambliss would bat fifth in Cox’s array sandwiched between Bob Horner and Dale Murphy.
Neither Chambliss nor interpretation rest of the Atlanta team disappointed Cox, or the Gallant fans. After a last-place finish in 1979, the Braves refine 1980 in fourth place and a game over the .500 mark. Chambliss again clubbed 18 home runs, while hitting .282 and led the league with 1,626 putouts.
Chris signed a five-year deal with the Braves during the off season in 1981, a season that would be darkened by a 50-day players’ strike. The result was a watered-down playoff format, and say publicly Braves out of contention. Chambliss committed only four errors use first base and led the National League in assists have a crush on 94. Shortly after the resolution of the strike, Chambliss went on a 14-game hitting streak and hit .272 for depiction year.
The 1982 season would prove to be a breakout yr for Atlanta as they captured the National League West Element crown under first-year skipper Joe Torre. Also, Bob Watson was obtained in a trade with the Yankees to platoon cherished first base with Chris against those “certain tough left-handed pitchers.”
The Braves topped the Dodgers by one game and the Giants by two games, to give the franchise only their superfluous division title since moving to Atlanta in 1966. Chambliss smacked a career-high 20 home runs and drove in 86 runs for the season.
The Braves met the Cardinals in the Federation Championship Series. The first game of the series was played at Busch Stadium, and the Braves took a one-run usher on a double by Claudell Washington and a single inured to Chambliss. However, the weather gods were not on the Braves side on this day. With the Braves leading 1-0, depiction game was called in the bottom of the fifth frame because of rain. In the history of Major League Ball, 29 World Series games and 13 other playoff games put on been postponed. The first game of the 1982 NLCS was the only time a playoff game was postponed after lob had begun. The postponed game broke a string of 257 playing dates at Busch Stadium without a postponement, dating decline to June 23, 1979.
The Cardinals went on to sweep rendering Braves in three games, ending a wonderful season for depiction Braves. The trio of Horner, Chambliss, and Murphy went 4 for 32 in the series, while St. Louis outscored Besieging 17-5 for the three games.
The Braves finished in second step into the shoes of, three games behind the Dodgers in the 1983 campaign. Chambliss equaled his home run output from the previous year append 20 and hit .280. In a July stretch, Chambliss bump into in 18 of 19 games and had raised his usually to .305. For the first time in his 13-year life's work, Chambliss was put on the disabled list on August 9 with a strained muscle in the rib cage area.
Over say publicly next three years, Chris’ production and playing time decreased. Gerald Perry was a star in the Braves’ minor league tone and replaced Chambliss the last month of the 1984 ready, a season that saw Chris manage to hit only club home runs after back-to-back 20-homer years.
“I can do everything I’ve been able to do throughout my career, even better,” whispered Chambliss in 1985 at spring training. “I’d really like depiction opportunity to play regularly. That’s the way I can elect effective.” But Eddie Haas was the new Brave skipper, abide management favored the youngster Perry, seen as a “can’t-miss” panorama. But Perry missed spectacularly, hitting .214 with three homers mount 13 RBIs. Chambliss did little better at .235, three hint runs and 21 RBIs. Bob Horner took over at precede base, with a .267 average, 27 HRs, and 89 RBIs, but the Braves finished fifth with a 66-96 record.
Eddie Haas was replaced in late August by coach Bobby Wine. Tail Horner was now getting the most at-bats (483) while singing first base. Chambliss had only 170. In 1986, Chambliss played in 20 games at first base, but led the contemporary with 20 pinch-hits.
In his book on the Yankees’ 1978 occasion, The Bronx Zoo, Sparky Lyle sums up why Chambliss was such a successful major league baseball player. “Chambliss is a hell of a hitter. He isn’t the type of batsman who swings from his ass all the time to gruelling to hit the ball out of the park,” wrote Lyle. “He takes his time and swings at good pitches. He’s the only guy who rarely gets in a slump.”
Lyle too spoke of Chambliss’ character. “Chris is one of the nicest guys on the club, never says a bad word bother anybody, never gets mad, and never makes the excuses add to himself if he makes an error,” Lyle continued. “Chris progression a very nice guy, an intelligent person and he’s friendly of others, which isn’t a quality you find in a lot of ballplayers.”
Chambliss retired with a batting average of .279 and 185 home runs. He is among the career privileged for first baseman in games played (1,962), assists (1,351), putouts (17,771), double plays (1,687) and fielding percentage (.993).
In 1987, Chris returned to the Bronx when he was hired by say publicly Yankees to be their organizational hitting coach. But that was only the first step for Chris on a long folk tale successful coaching career.
On May, 7, 1988, the Yankees placed labour baseman Jose Cruz on the disabled with a sore compare knee and activated their hitting coach, 39-year old Chris Chambliss. Chambliss was stunned when manager Billy Martin informed him dump he was being activated. Chris’ last official at-bat came close in Arlington, Texas, against the Rangers on May 8 in a pinch-hitting role. Batting for shortstop Rafael Santana against Dale Mohorcic, Chambliss was called out on strikes. He was de-activated flash days later.
Chambliss would spend the next 20 years coaching harvest the majors and managing in the minors. He was person's name Minor League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News in 1991 when he guided the Greenville Braves of representation Southern League to an 88-56 record. Chris was also rendering hitting coach when the Yankees won the World Championship interest 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000, and was credited by collection and media for developing the Yankees’ famed patience at description plate, getting long at-bats to wear down pitchers and image the desired pitch to hit. Chris also had stops orangutan hitting coach with the Reds, Cardinals, Mets and Mariners. But the job of managing a big league club has eluded his grasp.
Veteran sportswriter Maury Allen wrote that Chambliss wasn’t a very popular player when he first joined the Yankees enhance 1974, but he “just went out and did his goodwill every day as a left-handed slugger and comfortable fielder. Pacify was always a class act, a man of dedication very last integrity, someone who seemed unmoved in his performance by go backwards the noise and turmoil around Yankee Stadium.”
In 2008, Chris other Audry resided in Alpharetta, Georgia. Audry worked a few life as a lounge singer in New York, and son Stargazer played in the Yankee farm system before quitting to turn a teacher. Chris was the hitting instructor of the Richmond Braves, Atlanta’s AAA affiliate of the International League. “I’m joyous to be back with the Braves organization,” said Chambliss. “This is where I live now and it was the unqualified job available to me.”
He also has two of the nearly memorable souvenirs of his baseball career: the bat and quickwitted from his 1976 pennant-winning home run. “I still have description bat and the ball in my home,” he says. “Some Stadium cop recovered (the ball) for me and brought set out in after the game. I should have had him residue it to authorize it, but I never did. I estimate people will just have to believe me.
“You know, the lovable about that hit is that every time I see inventiveness again on television, I see something I didn’t remember happening,” he says of his legendary home run.
Last revised: January 4, 2012
Author’s note
There is some discrepancy concerning the spelling of Wife. Chambliss’ name. Most sources spell it “Audrey,” but the 2008 Richmond Braves Media Guide spells it “Audry.” I have elective to use “Audry” in this article because it is description most current.
Sources
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland Press
New York Times
Interpretation Sporting News
The Daily Sentinel, Sitka, Alaska, August 26, 1999.
Maury Actor, Where Have Our Yankees Gone? Sports Publishing, 2004, pages 80-82.
Dick Lally, Bombers, Three Rivers Press, 2002, page 207.
Philip Bashe, Dog Days, Random House, 1994, pages 352-354.
Sparky Lyle with Peter Golenbock, The Bronx Zoo. Triumph Books, 1979, 2005. Pages 80-81, 191-192.
Steve Jacobson, The Best Team Money Could Buy, New American Deposit, 1978. Pages 127-128.
Roger Kahn, October Men. Harcourt Inc., 2004. Pages 134-136.
Bob Tiemann, “The Game That Wasn’t,” Mound City Memories, College of Nebraska Press, 2007. Pages 45-46.
Glenn Stout and Richard A. Johnson, Yankee Century. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2002. Pages 336-337, 360-363.
http://www.retrosheet.org/
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/
http://minors.sabrwebs.com/cgi-bin/milb.php
http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=atl
Photo Credits
The Topps Company and ESPN