Books and articles about Chris Chambliss

On October 14, 1976, Chambliss hit one of baseball's most dramatic home runs. His ninth-inning, Game Five shot off Mark Littell decided the Yankees-Royals LCS. It snapped a 6-6 tie, ended New York's 12-year pennant drought, and made Yankee Stadium go wild. In that Series, Chambliss batted .524 and tied or broke five LCS records for hits and RBI.

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Chambliss was twice drafted by the Reds, in 1967 and in 1969, but continued school and attended UCLA for a year. Signing with the Indians when he was drafted a third time in 1970, he led the American Association in hitting with a .342 mark at Wichita in 1970. He was the first player to lead the AA in batting in his first pro season, and is believed to be the first "rookie" to have won a Triple-A batting title. In only his second pro season, Chambliss was the 1971 AL Rookie of the Year, Cleveland's second ever (Herb Score was the first). It was the first time a player won consecutive Rookie of the Year honors on the minor and major league levels. Called up that May, he batted .275 and played solid defense at first base. He led Indian regulars in batting the next two seasons.

On April 27, 1974, Chambliss was sent to the Yankees in a seven-player deal. After struggling that year, he became a key part of the potent New York offense. In 1975 he batted .304, but he was most productive for New York's 1976-78 pennants. His consistent performance matched his temperament; he averaged 92 RBI over those years, and in 1978 won a Gold Glove as he led AL first basemen in fielding (.997). He was the quiet, steady exception on a loud and turbulent club.

Chambliss was traded to Toronto and on to Atlanta after the 1979 season. He prospered in the NL, hitting a career-high 20 HR in both 1982, when he helped the Braves to a division title, and 1983. After averaging 141 games in his first 14 seasons, he was switched primarily to bench duty in 1985, and in 1986 led the NL with 20 pinch hits. He was named the Yankee hitting coach for 1988 and was activated very briefly, striking out in his only at-bat. His cousin Jo-Jo White performed in the NBA. (MG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » January 17, 1970: ML teams select a record 357 players in the January phase of the annual free-agent draft, including top pick Chris Chambliss, by Cleveland, and Chris Speier. Fred Lynn, drafted by the Yankees in the first round, will not sign. » November 22, 1971: Indians 1B Chris Chambliss outpolls four other vote-getters to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award. Chambliss, who batted .275 in 111 games, receives 11 of 24 votes. » April 7, 1973: Cleveland sets day-game and opening-game records as 74,420 fans watch the Indians beat the Tigers 2–1. Gaylord Perry is the winner over Mickey Lolich as Chris Chambliss and Mickey Stanley match homers. » April 27, 1974: The Yankees trade four pitchers, including Fritz Peterson and Steve Kline, to the Indians for 1B Chris Chambliss and hurlers Dick Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw. » April 10, 1976: The Brewers trail 9–6 with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning at a full County Stadium. Because of crowd noise, Yankee relief P Dave Pagan does not hear the time-out called by 1B Chris Chambliss. Pagan pitches to Don Money, who hits a grand slam. Because of the time-out the home run is nullified. Money bats again, and hits a sacrifice ?y. The final score is 9–7 and the Brewers protest the game. » October 12, 1976: In the AL game, Chris Chambliss contributes a HR and 3 RBI to the Yankees come-from-behind 5-3 victory. » April 21, 1977: Yankee manager Billy Martin, faced with a 2-8 slump in the past 10 games, draws his lineup out of a hat. Chris Chambliss, batting 8th, drives in five runs on two doubles and a homer and New York beats Toronto, 8–6. Ken Holtzman is the winner. » August 16, 1977: At Yankee Stadium, New York blows a 9–4 lead in the top of the 9th when Chicago scores six runs, but a two-run homer by Chris Chambliss in the bottom of the inning gives the Yankees an 11–10 win. » August 29, 1977: The Yankees top the Royals 5–3 on a 3-run pinch homer in the 8th inning by Chris Chambliss. » September 15, 1978: The Yankees, now one 1/2 games in front of Boston, open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Guidry again gives up two Boston hits and wins a 4–0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive homers, off Luis Tiant, in the 4-run 4th inning. » November 1, 1979: In separate deals, the Yankees acquire OF Ruppert Jones from the Mariners and C Rick Cerone and Tom Underwood from the Blue Jays, giving up seven players, including popular 1B Chris Chambliss, SS Damaso Garcia, OF Juan Beniquez, and Ps Jim Beattie and Paul Mirabella. Chambliss will be with the Blue Jays a month before they swap him to Atlanta. » December 5, 1979: A month after being acquired by the Blue Jays, Chris Chambliss goes to the Atlanta Braves with Luis Gomez for Barry Bonnell, Pat Rockett, and Joey McLaughlin. Chambliss will play eight seasons for the Braves. » October 4, 1981: The Reds Mario Soto fires a one-hitter, beating the Braves, 3–0. The only Atlanta hit is a 2nd inning single by Chris Chambliss. » March 1, 1996: The Yankees christen Legends Field, their new $30 million 31-acre complex near the Tampa Airport. The field has the exact dimensions of the stadium in the Bronx. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the first ball are former Yanks Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry, and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the new Yankees beat the American League Champion Indians, 5–2.