Yankees infielder who played with Mantle and Maris in ‘61 dies at 96

admin | January 15, 2024 | Other Clubs | No Comments

In 2015, Billy Gardner, a former player and major league manager, observes his son Billy Gardner Jr. leading the Syracuse Chiefs on Sunday at NBT Bank Stadium. Gardner, 96, a former infielder for the Yankees, passed away recently.

New York Yankees (U.S.)

As a starting second baseman for the New York Giants in 1954 and as a utility infielder with the Yankees in 1961, Billy Gardner won two World Series titles. In 1961, he shared the AL single-season home run record with Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle.

They called him “Shotgun” because of his arm and “Slick” because of the manner he turned double plays.

in the age of ninety-six, he passed away in his Connecticut home last week.

During a season that featured 55 straight games without an error, Gardner led American League second basemen in fielding percentage in 1957 (.987). He ended with an all-time fielding average of.976.

Gardner batted for the whole or a portion of ten seasons.237 in 1,034 games with 41 home homers and 271 RBIs. He raked up 841 hits, with 159 doubles and 18 triples in 3,544 career at-bats. He has 19 career steals in the end.

Following his playing career, Gardner managed the Kansas City Royals after Dick Howser, the former manager of the Yankees, was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 1986.

Billy Gardner

His obit reads:

He was a natural athlete at Chapman Tech and was signed by the NY Giants in 1944 at 17 years old. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1946. He returned to baseball in 1947. He played several years in the Giants Minor League system and broke into the big leagues in 1954, the same year the NY Giants won the World Series. He was traded to the Orioles in 1956, where he had his best years. He led the American League in double plays and doubles in 1957, with the Orioles. He received the Orioles MVP in 1957. He enjoyed 10 years in Major League Baseball including the 1961 Yankees World Series team. His nickname was “Slick” because he “could turn a double play in a phone booth.” After his playing years, he spent more than 30 years scouting, coaching and managing in the Minors and Majors including managing the Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals.

Post Views: 32