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Tony Kubek
Tony
Kubek first appeared on a New York Yankee roster as a utility ballplayer – filling in
at the outfield and at several infield positions. Having
played for Ralph Houk in the minor leagues in Denver, the Yankees were well aware of
Kubek’s defensive skills and his excellent ability to make contact at the plate,
which made him an excellent number two hitter in a hit-and-run combination. That opportunity presented itself when Kubek
became the everyday shortstop for the Yankees, teaming up with double-play partner, second
baseman Bobby Richardson, both on the field and at the plate, where Richardson would bat
lead off giving Kubek the chance to move him along and together they “set the
table” for the Bronx Bombers, always on base to get knocked in by the likes of
Mantle, Maris, Berra, Howard, Skowron and Blanchard.
His
success on the field never changed Kubek from being a family man. When he received word, during the 1961 World
Series that he was being called into active military service, he was sure to marry his
“date” of four years at the time, Margaret Timmel. Injuries, especially to Tony’s neck and back
shortened his playing career, but didn’t stop him from being a three-time All-Star,
World Series standout (playing in six World Series), and a fan favorite in New York. After his playing days were over, Tony became the
voice of NBC’s “Game of the Week” and remains a very highly respected
member of the baseball family. In 1987, he
authored Sixty-One, The Team, The Record, The Men, chronicling the story of the New
York Yankees’ 1961 season, giving us a player’s insight to the inner workings of
one of the great Yankee teams of all-time, during the year they won the World Championship
and Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle both chased Babe Ruth’s single season home run
record, with Maris breaking the record.
From
The Ballplayers:
“Kubek was
the AL Rookie of the Year in 1957, hitting .297 and showing amazing versatility as he
spent substantial time in the outfield, at shortstop, and at third base, with brief early
stints at second base and first base as well. He
displaced Gil McDougald and became the Yankees’ regular shortstop in 1958. For eight seasons he and second baseman Bobby
Richardson formed one of baseball’s best double-play combinations. In 1961, Kubek cracked 38 doubles (a Yankee record
for shortstops), and in his first at-bat after returning from the army late in 1962, he
delivered a three-run home run. Kubek
appeared in six WS with the Yankees. Playing
in his hometown of Milwaukee, he hit a pair of homers in Game Three of the 1957 Series
against the Braves. … A dangerous neck
and back condition forced Kubek to retire at the age of twenty-nine, but he quickly became
one of television’s most successful baseball announcers. Kubek remained extremely friendly, popular, and
respected long after his playing days ended.”
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