Terry could have been remembered only as the man who gave up Bill Mazeroski's legendary
Series-winning homer in 1960, but he redeemed himself with an All-Star season in
1962 that was capped by an outstanding World Series.
Terry came up with the Yankees
in 1956, but was traded to Kansas City in June 1957 in the eight-player deal that
exiled Billy Martin and brought Ryne Duren to New York. He went 4-11 the rest of
the season for the seventh-place Athletics, but was reacquired by the Yankees in
May 1959 after going 11-13 in 1958, impressive considering the lack of offensive
and defensive support the A's offered. He went 10-8 in 1960 as the Yankees' fourth
starter. He started and lost Game Four of the World Series to the Pirates, 3-2. After
warming up five times while Bobby Shantz, who had a sore arm, pitched five valiant
innings in relief, Terry finally relieved in the eighth inning of Game Seven with
the Pirates in the midst of a go-ahead rally. He got the last out with no further
damage, and the Yankees came back in the top of the ninth inning to tie the game
at 9-9. But Terry surrendered a home run to Bill Mazeroski, the Pirates' first batter,
on a 1-0 pitch: it might be the most famous homer in World Series history. It was
Terry's second loss of the Series, and deprived manager Casey Stengel of one last
World Championship.
Terry emerged as New York's second-best pitcher in 1961 with
an excellent 16-3 mark and a 3.15 ERA. He lost Game Two of the World Series 6-2,
the Reds' only victory, but only two of the Reds' four runs off him were earned.
Terry was hit hard in Game Five and departed after allowing three runs in 2.1 innings,
but the Yankees had already scored six runs by that point and won 13-5.
In 1962
Terry had the best season of his career and finally achieved World Series redemption.
He went 23-12 with a 3.19 ERA and led the AL in wins, starts (39), and innings (298.2).
He lost Game Two of the WS 2-0 as the Yankees managed only three hits, but finally
garnered his first WS win in Game Five, a complete-game 5-3 victory. A three-day
rain delay before Game Six allowed him to come back for Game Seven. Pitching a superb
four-hit shutout, he won 1-0 after getting Willie McCovey to line right at second
baseman Bobby Richardson with two out and two on.
Terry went 17-15 in 1963 with
a 3.22 ERA and led the AL with 37 starts and 18 complete games. He also showed the
best control of his career, walking just 39 batters in 268 innings. He was only needed
in relief in that year's World
Series as the Yankees were swept by the Dodgers. Dropping
to 7-11 in 1964, he was moved to the bullpen and then traded to Cleveland during
the September pennant drive with Buddy Daley and $75,000 for Pedro Ramos, whose relief
brilliance down the stretch was crucial to the Yankees' pennant. Terry rebounded
to 11-6, 3.59 in 1965 but was out of the majors within two years. He went on to become
a golf pro.
(WOR)