Books and articles about Tony Kubek

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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 Yankees 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. And in'v(((Game Seven of the 1960 WS he was victimized by one of the most famous bad hops in history. An apparently tailor-made double-play ball skipped up and hit Kubek in the throat, prolonging a five-run eighth-inning Pittsburgh rally that set the stage for Bill Mazeroski's Series-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth. 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. (MG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » October 5, 1957: The Yankees score 5 in the 7th to cap a 12-3 win, as Don Larsen, in relief of Bob Turley, defeats Bob Buhl. Tony Kubek of the Yankees becomes only the 2nd rookie in WS history to hit 2 HRs in a WS game. » December 7, 1957: The AP votes Tony Kubek of the Yanks as the Rookie of the Year. Frank Malzone of the Red Sox, who was declared ineligible, receives one vote. Malzone, with better offensive numbers, will later claim that he was robbed by New York writers, when the BBWA changes the minimum number of at-bats during the season, thus excluding him. » July 4, 1959: Yankee Bob Turley turns in another one-hit masterpiece at Washington. A lazy fly in the 9th by pinch-hitter Julio Becquer drops in front of LF Norm Siebern for the only Senator safety. SS Tony Kubek goes 8-for-10 in the doubleheader, as the Yanks sweep 10–6 and 7–0. » September 2, 1960: Milt Pappas stops New York on three hits -- 2 by Tony Kubek -- to give Baltimore a 5–0 lead in the first of a 3-game showdown. The Orioles now trail New York by .003. » September 30, 1960: The Yankees beat the Red Sox, 6–5, and set an new American League record for homers with 192. Tony Kubek and Jesse Gonder hit the homers today as the Bombers win their 13th straight. » August 26, 1961: Roger Maris belts #51, off KC's Jerry Walker. Roger's homer in the 6th follows a Tony Kubek blast. Bill Stafford allows just one hit till the 9th inning as the Yanks win, 5–1. » September 17, 1961: In Detroit, Roger Maris triples off Terry Fox in the 7th to put the Yanks ahead, Detroit ties it and, then in the 12th, Maris faces Fox again with Tony Kubek on 2B. Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then steps in a belts the first pitch for his 58th homer of the year. » August 7, 1962: Yankees SS Tony Kubek, in his first at bat after returning from military service, homers in a 14–1 Yankee win over the Twins. » October 16, 1962: New York scores the game's only run, as Tony Kubek grounds into a 5th-inning DP. In the 9th, with two outs and Matty Alou on 1B, Willie Mays rips a double to right off Ralph Terry, but great fielding by Roger Maris keeps Alou from scoring. Willie McCovey then hits a screaming liner toward right, but 2B Bobby Richardson gloves it, giving the Yankees a 1–0 win and a 2nd straight World Series victory. Terry is named World Series MVP. » May 9, 1964: At Cleveland, Pedro Ramos gives up four home runs to New York -- Tony Kubek, Mickey Mantle, Joe Pepitone, and Hector Lopez -- as the Yankees win 6–2. » October 3, 1965: The Yanks win at Boston as Tony Kubek goes 3-for-4 and clouts a 9th inning homer off Dick Radatz in his final major league at bat. The 29-year-old will be diagnosed over the winter as having three crushed vertebrae, the result of a childhood football injury. He will quit rather than risk further injury, » January 25, 1966: Tony Kubek announces his retirement owing to a back ailment.