Books and articles about Ralph Houk

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RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » "[Houk] saw [Thurman Munson] as his monument to Yankee lore": Maury Allen » "[Houk] was always the same, win or lose. If they won, clap, clap... If they lost, clap, clap": Jim Ksicinski Greatest Teams » 1961 Yankees Submissions » The Harmonica Incident: August 20, 1964 by Harvey Frommer Around the Web » HUNTER'S GAME: Ninth-inning home run rude welcome for Trammell from freep.com » Ralph Houk from baseball-reference.com » Ralph Houk from thebaseballpage.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

After WWII combat duty, Houk debuted with the 1947 Yankees, hitting .272 in 41 games, before the arrival of Yogi Berra sent Houk back to the minors. He played only 50 more games in seven seasons as Berra's back-up. Following three years managing Denver (American Association) and three as a Yankee coach, he replaced Casey Stengel as Yankee manager in 1961, winning World Championships his first two seasons and adding a pennant in 1963. Kicked upstairs after the Dodgers swept the '63 WS, Houk served as Yankee vice president and general manager until May 1966. During that time, critical mistakes were made, notably keeping declining veterans until their trade value dissipated. Back on the field, Houk managed the Yankees (1966-73), the Tigers (1974-78), and the Red Sox (1981-84). After 20 years of managing, he stood tenth in games, wins, and losses, with a .514 winning percentage. A player favorite, Houk was never fired. Houk was named a Twins' vice president in November 1986, and his advice helped build the Twins' 1987 World Champions. (MC)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 28, 1960: Casey Stengel is hospitalized with a virus and high fever and will miss 13 games. New York goes 7-6 under interim manager Ralph Houk. Today the Yanks top the Senators, 5–1, behind Jim Coates' 5th straight win. The game is scoreless until Mickey Mantle cracks a 5th inning opposite field homer off Jim Kaat, who then walks three, hits two batters, and a serves up a Gil McDougald 2-run triple good for three runs. Later Mantle homers again, and Roger Maris, leading the American League, also homers, the first time the two have hit round trippers together in a game. » October 20, 1960: Coach Ralph Houk, 41, is named to succeed Stengel. He briefly led the Yankees in 1960 when Stengel was hospitalized. » April 11, 1961: At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees, led by new manager Ralph Houk, are shut out by Minnesota's Pedro Ramos, 6–0. Ramos has a two-run single and allows just three singles in beating Whitey Ford. Ford, however, will finish the season at 25–4. » October 9, 1961: Super-subs Johnny Blanchard and Hector Lopez spark a 5-run first inning and 13–5 win for New York. Both hit home runs, and Lopez drives in five runs. Bud Daley's long relief effort wraps up the Series, as Ralph Houk becomes the 3rd rookie pilot to guide a World Series winner. » October 12, 1961: Ralph Houk is given a 2-year contract extension to manage the Yankees. » September 25, 1962: Whitey Ford beats Washington 8–3, as the Yankees clinch the American League pennant. Ralph Houk becomes the 5th manager to capture pennants in each of his first two seasons. » October 22, 1963: Roy Hamey retires as GM of the Yankees. His surprise replacement is Ralph Houk, who steps up from manager (309-176) after winning three pennants in as many seasons. » May 7, 1966: With the Yankees winning only four of the first 20 games, GM Ralph Houk fires Johnny Keane and installs himself as Yankees manager. New York will win 13 of the next 17 under Houk. » September 2, 1969: Ralph Houk signs a new 3-year contract with the Yankees at $65,000 a season, the highest managerial salary in either league, and Joe Pepitone is reinstated. » October 11, 1973: Ralph Houk signs a 3-year contract to manage the Detroit Tigers. He had resigned from the Yankees 11 days earlier. » October 27, 1980: Ralph Houk, who managed the Yankees and Tigers for 16 years before retiring in 1978, is named manager of the Red Sox. » September 25, 1984: Red Sox manager Ralph Houk, 65, announces he will retire at the end of the season.