Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 141

What was seen as a failure to keep discipline on the team hurt Stengel's standing with the Yankee owners, Topping, Weiss and Webb, as did the defeat in the 1957 Series. Stengel was by then aged 67 and had several times fallen asleep in the dugout, and players complained that he was growing more irritable. Former Yankee catcher Ralph Houk, who had been successful as a minor league manager and was Stengel's first base coach, was seen by ownership as the next manager of the Yankees. Stengel's contract, his fifth two year deal, was up after the 1958 season. As ownership debated whether to renew it, the Yankees led by as many as 17 games, and won the pennant by 10. Again, the Braves were the opponent in the 1958 World Series. The Braves won three of the first four games. But the Yankees, backed by the pitching of Bob Turley, who got two wins and a save in the final three

games, stormed back to win the Series. Firing Stengel under such circumstances was not possible, and ownership gave him another two year contract, to expire after the 1960 season.

The Yankees finished 79–75 in 1959, in third place, their worst record since 1925, as the White Sox, managed by Lopez, won the pennant. There was considerable criticism of Stengel, who was viewed as too old and out of touch with the players. After the 1959 season, Weiss made a trade with Kansas City to bring Roger Maris to the Yankees. Stengel was delighted with the acquisition