Books and articles about Ralph Terry

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.

RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » 1960: The Last Pure Season by Kerry Keene Greatest Teams » 1961 Yankees Around the Web » Ralph Terry from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

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)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » June 29, 1958: Former Yankee Ralph Terry gets 12 runs from his KC teammates to top New York, 12–6. Mickey Mantle gets his first hit in his last 17 at bats against the A's, a 3rd inning homer. » May 26, 1959: In a trade that benefits the Yankees, New York send pitchers Tom Sturdivant and Johnny Kucks, SS Jerry Lumpe and that player to be named later to Kansas City. The Yankees get P Ralph Terry, who has been ripening on the vine, and Hector Lopez. Terry will win 73 games for NY and pitch in five straight World Series. » July 17, 1959: Chicago's Early Wynn and the Yankees Ralph Terry match zeros for eight innings at Yankee Stadium, before Chicago's Jim McAnany collects the first Sox hit in the 9th. Jim Landis adds a 2nd hit to drive home two runs to give the Sox the 2–0 win. Wynn matched Terry by also allowing just two hits. » September 18, 1960: Before 53,876 fans, the Yankees sweep the Orioles, winning, 7–3 and 2–0. The Yankees sweep the 4-game series and the faltering Birds, now four back, will end up in 2nd place, eight games back. Ralph Terry's two hitter in the nitecap beats Milt Pappas. » September 25, 1960: Ralph Terry clinches the Yankees' 25th pennant with a 4–3 win over the Red Sox. Luis Arroyo saves the win. It is Casey Stengel's 10th pennant in 12 years at New York. » October 13, 1960: In a 9–9 tie, Bill Mazeroski leads off the last of the 9th and hits what is arguably the most dramatic home run in Series history, off Ralph Terry, to give Pittsburgh a 10–9 win and the World Championship. An oddity in this game: it is the only World Series game this century with no strikeouts recorded. Despite Maz's heroics, Bobby Richardson is the Series MVP, as the Yanks outscore the Bucs, 52 to 27. » June 7, 1961: The Twins lose to the Yankees, 5–1, for their 13th straight loss. They'll reach 14 losses in a row in 1982. Ralph Terry allows the Twins a run in the 1st on two hits, then pitches hitless ball for the next eight innings. Berry and Mickey Mantle homer off Pascual in the 3rd; it is a record setting 31 homers in the last 16 consecutive games. » June 11, 1961: The Yankees sweep two the Angels, winning the opener, 2–1 behind Ralph Terry's 5-hitter. Yogi Berra clouts a pair of solo homers. In the nitecap, Mickey Mantle's 1st inning homer, #19, gives him the American League lead, but Roger Maris adds a pair of home runs, his 19th and 20th, as New York wins 5–1. The Yanks have won 10 of 11 games. » June 15, 1961: Undefeated Ralph Terry's 11-inning 3–2 win at Cleveland moves the Yankees into first place. Mickey Mantle's homer ties the score at 1–1 and Johnny Blanchard's pinch single in the 11th wins it. » August 20, 1961: At Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, both Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris homer in the twinbill sweep. Mantle's first inning three run homer, and Maris ' 9th in the 3rd inning to make it easy for Ralph Terry. In the nitecap, Bill Skowron hits his 21st in the 2nd inning and the Yanks win 5–2. In the 6th, after Bell allows a single and then hits Gardner and Maris, Mantle collects his 101st walk to force home a run. » September 16, 1961: At Detroit, Roger Maris connects for #57, off Frank Lary, to stay a game ahead of Ruth's 1927 pace. But Lary wins his 21st, 10–4, over Ralph Terry, with help from Norm Cash, who belts a homer, his 37th, and a triple. Al Kaline adds four hits and a sac fly. » April 10, 1962: At Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Bill Skowron, the three Yankees who combined for 143 homers last season, hit Opening Day homers to lead New York to a come-from-behind 7–6 win over Baltimore. Moose's is a 2-run shot to dead center that he legs out for an inside-the -park homer, while Mantle hits his in the 8th inning to tie the game, Maris hits a 3-run shot in the 5th. Johnny Temple, in his first game for the O's, has three hits, including a home run. Starters Billy Hoeft and Whitey Ford are gone after six innings, and the win goes to Ralph Terry, while Skinny Brown takes the loss. » September 18, 1962: At Washington new ball park D.C. Stadium, Mickey Mantle clouts the first home run there, and adds another, both off Washington starter Tom Cheney, to pace New York to a 7–1 win. Mick has five RBIs. Ralph Terry picks up his 22nd win, the most by a Yankee right hander since 1928. The Yankee win, combined with a Twins loss, leaves New York (90–63) in 1st place by four games. » October 5, 1962: Jack Sanford's 3-hitter handcuffs New York and knots the World Series. Matty Alou's RBI grounder and Willie McCovey's home run off Ralph Terry account for San Francisco's 2–0 win. » October 10, 1962: Following a rainout, New York overcomes two San Francisco leads, and Tom Tresh's 3-run 8th-inning home run off Jack Sanford gives the Yankees and Ralph Terry a 5–3 win. » 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. » April 9, 1963: In the opener at Kansas City, Ralph Terry pitches a complete game 8–2 win for the Yankees. Led by Joe Pepitone's two homers and a double, New York collects 13 hits. Elston Howard adds a homer off starter Diego Segui. » July 31, 1963: Ralph Terry of the Yankees, uses just 75 pitches in a five-hitter, winning 3–2 over the Kansas City A's. Terry has no walks and five strikeouts. » April 20, 1964: Yankee rookie Bob Meyer makes his ML debut at Fenway Park, in a 4–0 loss to the Red Sox. Meyer is the last Yankee rookie pitcher this century to open in Boston. Ralph Terry made his debut » September 5, 1964: Sound familiar? The Yanks acquire veteran P Pedro Ramos from the Indians as pennant insurance. The Indians get two players to be named later: Ralph Terry on October 12, and Bud Daley on November 27. » September 19, 1964: The Yanks move a half game ahead of the rained-out O's by defeating the A's, 8–3. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris homer and Ralph Terry pitches effectively in relief of Al Downing. » June 29, 1965: Indian P Ralph Terry's 8–5 win at Boston gives Cleveland the American League lead.