Urban fell victim to the sophomore jinx after a fine freshman campaign with the Athletics,
when he went 7-4 with a 3.35 ERA. In 1954 he pitched a no-hitter for Birmingham in
the Southern League.
(RTM)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»February 19, 1957: The Kansas City Athletics ship pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, and Jack McMahan, and infielders Clete Boyer, Curt Roberts and Wayne Belardi to the Yankees. In return they receive pitchers Maury McDermott, Tom Morgan, Gary Coleman, and Jack Urban, OF Irv Noren, plus infielders Billy Hunter and Milt Graff. Roberts didn't go to NYC till May 4, while Boyer went a month later. Hunter and Urban don't switch until April 5. The veteran Shantz and Boyer will be valuable pickups for New York, with Shantz leading the American League in ERA this year, and Boyer a tough defensive 3B for eight years in pinstripes. The A's will eventually admit that when they signed Boyer for a $40,000 bonus in 1955, it was on behalf of the Yankees, with the understanding that they'd later ship him to NY.
»May 22, 1958: Ted Williams hits his 16th career grand slam to provide the Red Sox with the margin in an 8–5 win over the A's. Ted's 4th inning blast, off Jack Urban, tied him with Babe Ruth for 2nd place on the career slam list.
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