Swaybacked Bill Stafford had an erect strut that exuded confidence. In 1961 the poised, determined 22-year-old went 14-9 for the Yankees, with a 2.68 ERA that was second best in the league. His wife later revealed that Stafford had been recruited by the Dodgers, but signed with New York because the Yankees offered a pair of spikes.
Stafford was 14-9 again in 1962, and was shutting out the Giants in the eighth inning of World Series Game Three when he was nailed in the shin by a Felipe Alou line drive. He courageously continued, allowed two runs in the ninth, but limped off with a 3-2, four-hit victory. In his first start of 1963, on a particularly cold night, he injured his arm, and struggled through the remainder of his career. (GDW)
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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»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.
»October 7, 1962: At Yankee Stadium in game 3, Bill Stafford and Billy Pierce match goose eggs for six innings. Ed Bailey's 2-run 9th-inning home run ruins Stafford's shutout, but his 4-hitter downs the Giants 3–2.
»April 10, 1963: The Yankees follow a 8–2 opening day victory yesterday with a 5–3 victory today at Kansas City. The 45-degree weather takes its toll, as Yankee starter Bill Stafford leaves in the 7th inning with a twinge in his right arm, and will never be quite the same. Mickey Mantle homers but pulls a muscle in his last at bat, that he will re-injure on the 13th, sidelining him for two weeks.
»June 10, 1966:
The Yankees and Royals make a trade with New York acquiring P Fred Talbot and C Billy Bryan in exchange for pitchers Bill Stafford and Gil Blanco, and promising OF Roger Repoz.
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