Books and articles about Mickey Rivers

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An often-quoted, off-the-wall character, Rivers had a language all his own. He called people "Gozzlehead" and "Warplehead" (words he said heard in the ghetto) and presided over kangaroo courts with a unique wisdom. Some of his more memorable quotes included his goals for the 1983 season, "I'd like to hit .300, score 100 runs and stay injury-prone," and his philosophy of life, "Ain't no sense worrying about things you got no control over, 'cause if you got no control over them ain't no sense in worrying. And ain't no sense worrying about things you got control over, 'cause if you got control over them, ain't no sense worrying." When Reggie Jackson claimed he had an IQ of 160, Rivers said, "Out of what, 1,000?" His slouching walk made teammate Sandy Alomar call him the "Almighty Tired Man." But Rivers was an intimidating, lefthanded-hitting leadoff man, a line-drive hitter who led the AL in triples with the Angels in 1974 and 1975 and stole a league-high 70 bases in 1975. He made up for many mistakes and a weak arm with his speed in centerfield. Traded to the Yankees in December 1975, he was New York's sparkplug for three straight pennant-winners (1976-78). Yet he often sulked when criticized, lost confidence in his basestealing, and spent money unwisely, often at the racetrack. Owner George Steinbrenner traded him to Texas in 1979, saying, "We had to get him out of the New York environment. He's just a sweet, sweet kid." Rivers excelled in Texas, hitting .333 in 1980. Plagued with knee and ankle injuries, he retired after 1984. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » September 7, 1966: The Braves acquire veteran pitchers Hoyt Wilhelm and Bob Priddy from the Angels in exchange for minor league prospects Mickey Rivers and Clint Compton. It will only Hoyt for a little while as the Braves will waive the knuckleballer to the Cubs in September 1970. » December 11, 1975: In two separate deals, the Yankees acquire pitchers Dock Ellis and Ken Brett, and 2B Willie Randolph from the Pirates for P Doc Medich; OF Mickey Rivers and P Ed Figueroa from the Angels for OF Bobby Bonds. Randolph will hold down 2B for a decade while Rivers will provide fine CF. Medich will go 8–11 before being traded. » August 23, 1977: Behind Mickey Rivers' 5-for-5 and Torrez's 7th straight CG contributing to an 8–3 whipping of the White Sox, the Yanks take over first place in the American League East. With the Red Sox losing, the Yankees go ahead by a half game and will stay in first place to the end. » August 24, 1977: Catfish Hunter notches his final win of the year, an 11–1 four-hit victory over the Twins. New York supports Hunter with homers outages by Roy White, Mickey Rivers, Chris Chambliss and Bucky Dent. » August 25, 1977: The Twins blow a 4–2 lead over the Yankees when Mickey Rivers hits a 2-run single in the 7th inning and Reggie Jackson drives home a run in the next inning. » August 30, 1977: Against the Yankees, the Mariners tie the score, 5–5, in the 8th inning, then lose in the 11th, 6–5, when Mickey Rivers leads off the inning with a home run. » October 8, 1977: Mickey Rivers collects four hits as the Yankees even the ALCS, beat the Royals, 6–4. Sparky Lyle contributes with 52/3 scoreless relief innings. » October 9, 1977: For the 2nd year in succession, the Yanks score in the 9th inning of the 5th game to beat the Royals in the LCS. Mickey Rivers gets the game-winning hit. The final score is New York 5, Kansas City 3. » October 14, 1977: Mike Torrez is the winning pitcher as New York prevails in game 3, 5–3. Mickey Rivers slugs three hits, including two doubles. » July 2, 1978: Ron Guidry wins his 13th consecutive game, the best start in Yankee history, in beating Detroit, 3–2. With the Yankees down 2–0, Mickey Rivers long drive to right is caught by a fan reaching down to take it away from Detroit's Mickey Stanley. The fan drops the ball and Stanley, waiting for an interference call, fails to retrieve. Rivers motors for an inside-the-park homer and New York ties the game 2–2, eventually winning it. » October 15, 1978: The Yankees pummel the Dodgers with 18 hits to win the 5th game 12–2. Bucky Dent, Mickey Rivers, and Brian Doyle have three hits each. » August 1, 1979: In an 8-player deal, the Rangers send OF Oscar Gamble, minor leaguer Amos Lewis, a former 1st pick in the 1978 draft, and two players to be named to the Yankees and finally acquire OF Mickey Rivers and three players to be named. Rivers had been traded to the Rangers in June but the deal fell through. Both of the players to be named with Gamble will make the majors: Gene Nelson and Ray Fontenot, something that can't be said for the three unnamed to Texas. » April 10, 1980: At Arlington Stadium, Jon Matlack and the Yankees Ron Guidry both pitch shutout ball for nine innings before being lifted. In the 12th, Goose Gossage relieves with Mickey Rivers on 3rd and Richie Zisk at the plate. His first pitch is wild allowing Rivers to score the games on run. Gossage also lost the '78 Opener when Zisk took him deep in the 9th. Each team manages just four hits in the contest with Bob Watson and Jim Sundberg each collecting three of them.