In spring training of 1962, rookies Phil Linz and Tom Tresh battled for the Yankee
shortstop job. Linz was a feisty singles hitter, but the more powerful Tresh won
the contest, and thereafter Linz filled in capably at three infield positions. The
humorous Linz was the protagonist in the famed "Harmonica Incident" of late August
1964. The third-place Yankees, who had just lost four straight in Chicago, were in
the team bus, stuck in traffic. Linz began playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his
harmonica, enraging manager
Yogi Berra. A ruckus ensued. The event may have galvanized
the
successful stretch run for a pennant, but the publicity sealed Berra's dismissal
after the season.
(GDW)
Phil Linz
teams