1986 New York Yankees season

{{short description|Season for the Major League Baseball team the New York Yankees}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}

{{Infobox baseball team season

| name = New York Yankees

| season = 1986

| misc =

| league = American League

| division = East

| ballpark = Yankee Stadium

| city = New York City

| owners = George Steinbrenner

| general_managers = Clyde King

| managers = Lou Piniella

| television = WPIX
(Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, Jim Kaat, Billy Martin)
SportsChannel NY
(Mel Allen, Mickey Mantle, others from WPIX)

| radio = WABC (AM)
(Bill White, Phil Rizzuto, Spencer Ross, Bobby Murcer)

|}}

The 1986 New York Yankees season was the 84th season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 90–72, finishing in second-place, 5.5 games behind the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Lou Piniella. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium.

Offseason

  • November 7, 1985: Bob Geren was signed as a free agent by the Yankees.{{Cite web |title=Bob Geren |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gerenbo01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • December 6, 1985: Billy Sample was traded by the Yankees to the Atlanta Braves for Miguel Sosa (minors).{{Cite web |title=Billy Sample |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/samplbi01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • December 12, 1985: Ron Hassey and Joe Cowley were traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for Britt Burns, Glen Braxton (minors), and Mike Soper (minors).{{Cite web |title=Ron Hassey |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hassero01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • December 12, 1985: Rex Hudler was traded by the Yankees with Rich Bordi to the Baltimore Orioles for a player to be named later and Gary Roenicke. The Baltimore Orioles sent Leo Hernández (December 16, 1985) to the Yankees to complete the trade.{{Cite web |title=Rex Hudler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hudlere01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • December 14, 1985: Roger Maris, the Yankees record holder for most home runs in one season died from lymphatic cancer.{{Cite book |last=Ferraro |first=Michael X. |title=Numbelievable |last2=Veneziano |first2=John |publisher=Triumph Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-57-243990-0 |location=Chicago, Illinois |page=41}}
  • February 13, 1986: Neil Allen, Scott Bradley, Glen Braxton (minors), and cash were traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for Ron Hassey, Matt Winters, Chris Alvarez (minors) and Eric Schmidt (minors).
  • March 28, 1986: Don Baylor was traded by the Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for Mike Easler.{{Cite web |title=Don Baylor |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/baylodo01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

Regular season

  • Don Mattingly became the sixth player in Major League history to have at least 230 hits, 100 RBIs, and 30 home runs in a season. He holds the distinction of being the first American Leaguer to reach that milestone.
  • Don Mattingly became the first Yankee since Lou Gehrig to have three consecutive seasons of 200 hits.
  • Dave Winfield became the first Yankee since Joe DiMaggio to achieve five straight 100 RBI seasons. DiMaggio did it from 1936 to 1942.
  • Willie Randolph became the all-time Yankee leader for games played at second base. The previous record holder was Tony Lazzeri. Lazzeri held the record with 1,446 games.
  • Mark McGwire made his Major League debut on August 22, 1986, in a game versus the Yankees. He had three at-bats and no hits.{{Cite web |title=Mark McGwire |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mcgwima01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

=Notable transactions=

  • May 2, 1986: Tommy John signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees.{{Cite web |title=Tommy John |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnto01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • June 2, 1986: 1986 Major League Baseball draft
  • Andy Stankiewicz was drafted by the Yankees in the 12th round. Player signed June 10, 1986.{{Cite web |title=Andy Stankiewicz |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/stankan01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • Kevin Maas was drafted by the Yankees in the 22nd round. Player signed July 20, 1986.{{Cite web |title=Kevin Maas |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/maaske01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • June 30, 1986: Ken Griffey, Sr. and Andre Robertson were traded by the Yankees to the Atlanta Braves for Claudell Washington and Paul Zuvella.{{Cite web |title=Ken Griffey |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/griffke01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • July 4, 1986: Ozzie Canseco was released by the Yankees.{{Cite web |title=Ozzie Canseco |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/canseoz01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • July 9, 1986: Ed Whitson was traded by the Yankees to the San Diego Padres for Tim Stoddard.{{Cite web |title=Ed Whitson |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/whitsed01.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • July 30, 1986: Ron Hassey, Carlos Martínez and a player to be named later were traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for Ron Kittle, Wayne Tolleson, and Joel Skinner. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Bill Lindsey to the White Sox on December 24.

=Season standings=

This was the first season since 1904 that the Yankees finished second in the standings to the Red Sox.{{cite book|first=Mike|last=Vaccaro|year=2005|title=Emperors and idiots: The hundred year rivalry between the Yankees and Red Sox, from the very beginning to the end of the curse|publisher=Doubleday|location=New York|isbn=0-385-51354-2|author-link=Mike Vaccaro|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/emperorsidiotsth00vacc}} Then, the Yankees were known as the Highlanders and the Red Sox were the Americans.

{{1986 AL East standings}}

= Record vs. opponents =

{{1986 AL Record vs. opponents|team=NYY}}

=Roster=

class="toccolours" style="font-size: 95%;"
colspan="10" style="background-color: #1c2841; color: white; text-align: center;" | 1986 New York Yankees
colspan="10" style="background-color:#1c2841; color: white; text-align: center;" | Roster
valign="top" | Pitchers

{{MLBplayer|36|Mike Armstrong}}

{{MLBplayer|62|Brad Arnsberg}}

{{MLBplayer|34,62|Doug Drabek}}

{{MLBplayer|54|Brian Fisher}}

{{MLBplayer|49|Ron Guidry}}

{{MLBplayer|36,56|Al Holland}}

{{MLBplayer|25|Tommy John}}

{{MLBplayer|26|John Montefusco}}

{{MLBplayer|31|Joe Niekro}}

{{MLBplayer|41|Scott Nielsen}}

{{MLBplayer|47|Alfonso Pulido}}

{{MLBplayer|45|Dennis Rasmussen}}

{{MLBplayer|19|Dave Righetti}}

{{MLBplayer|28|Rod Scurry}}

{{MLBplayer|29|Bob Shirley}}

{{MLBplayer|33,43|Tim Stoddard}}

{{MLBplayer|35|Bob Tewksbury}}

{{MLBplayer|38|Ed Whitson}}

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Catchers

{{MLBplayer|58|Juan Espino}}

{{MLBplayer|12|Ron Hassey}}

{{MLBplayer|12|Joel Skinner}}

{{MLBplayer|27|Butch Wynegar}}

Infielders

{{MLBplayer| 2|Dale Berra}}

{{MLBplayer|26|Iván DeJesús}}

{{MLBplayer|22|Mike Fischlin}}

{{MLBplayer|38|Leo Hernández}}

{{MLBplayer|26|Bryan Little}}

{{MLBplayer|23|Don Mattingly}}

{{MLBplayer|20|Bob Meacham}}

{{MLBplayer|13|Mike Pagliarulo}}

{{MLBplayer|30|Willie Randolph}}

{{MLBplayer| 2|Wayne Tolleson}}

{{MLBplayer|26|Paul Zuvella}}

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Outfielders

{{MLBplayer|46|Henry Cotto}}

{{MLBplayer|17|Mike Easler}}

{{MLBplayer|33|Ken Griffey}}

{{MLBplayer|24|Rickey Henderson}}

{{MLBplayer|33|Ron Kittle}}

{{MLBplayer|50|Phil Lombardi}}

{{MLBplayer|21|Dan Pasqua}}

{{MLBplayer|11|Gary Roenicke}}

{{MLBplayer|18|Claudell Washington}}

{{MLBplayer|31|Dave Winfield}}

| width="25px" |

| valign="top" | Manager

{{MLBplayer|14|Lou Piniella}}

Coaches

{{MLBplayer|48|Joe Altobelli}}

{{MLBplayer|41|Sammy Ellis}}

{{MLBplayer|42|Stump Merrill}}

{{MLBplayer| 1|Gene Michael}}

{{MLBplayer|44|Jeff Torborg}}

{{MLBplayer| 6|Roy White}}

=Billy Martin=

{{MLBBioRet

|Image = YankeesRetired1.svg

|Name = Billy Martin

|Number = 1

|Team = New York Yankees

|Year = 1986

|}}

On August 10, 1986, the Yankees retired Martin's uniform number 1 and dedicated a plaque in his honor for Monument Park at Yankee Stadium. The plaque contains the words, There has never been a greater competitor than Billy. Martin told the crowd, "I may not have been the greatest Yankee to put on the uniform, but I am the proudest."

On May 24, 1986, on the season finale of Saturday Night Live, co-host Martin was "fired" by executive producer Lorne Michaels for being "drunk" in a skit, slurring his lines. During the goodnights, Martin "sets fire" to the dressing room in retaliation.{{Cite web |date=1986-05-24 |title=SNL Transcripts: Anjelica Huston & Billy Martin: 05/24/86 |url=https://snltranscripts.jt.org/85/85r.phtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=SNL Transcripts Tonight |language=en-US |publication-date=2018-10-08}} (Only three cast members would be re-hired the next season.) In 1988, on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update, comedian Dennis Miller opened the sports with, "In Calgary tonight, Katarina Witt won the gold medal in figure skating, prompting Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to fire manager Billy Martin."

Player stats

style="background-color:#FFCC00; border:1px solid #aaaaaa; width:2em;" |

| = Indicates team leader

style="background:#DDFFDD; border:1px solid #aaa; width:2em;"|

| = Indicates league leader

=Batting=

==Starters by position==

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; R = Runs; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen Bases

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="5%" | Pos

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="16%" | Player

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | G

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | AB

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | H

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | R

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | Avg.

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | HR

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | RBI

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SB

align="center"

| C

Butch Wynegar611944019.2067290
align="center"

| 1B

Don Mattinglybgcolor="#FFCC00"| 162bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 677bgcolor="#DDFFDD"| 238117bgcolor="#FFCC00"| .352bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 31bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 1130
align="center"

| 2B

Willie Randolph14149213676. 27655015
align="center"

| 3B

Mike Pagliarulo14950412071.23828714
align="center"

| SS

Wayne Tolleson602156122.2840144
align="center"

| LF

Dan Pasqua1022808244.29316452
align="center"

| CF

Rickey Henderson153608160bgcolor="#DDFFDD"| 130.2632874bgcolor="#DDFFDD"|87
align="center"

| RF

Dave Winfield15456514890.262241046
align="center"

| DH

Mike Easler14649014864.30214783

==Other batters==

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="16%" | Player

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | G

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | AB

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | H

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | Avg.

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | HR

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | RBI

align="center"

| Ken Griffey, Sr.

5919860.303926
align="center"

| Ron Hassey

6419157.298629
align="center"

| Joel Skinner

5416643.259117
align="center"

| Bobby Meacham

5616136.224010
align="center"

| Gary Roenicke

6913636.265318
align="center"

| Claudell Washington

5413532.237616
align="center"

| Dale Berra

4210825.231213
align="center"

| Mike Fischlin

7110221.20603
align="center"

| Henry Cotto

358017.21316
align="center"

| Ron Kittle

308019.238412
align="center"

| Paul Zuvella

21484.08302
align="center"

| Bryan Little

14418.19500
align="center"

| Juan Espino

27376.16205
align="center"

| Phil Lombardi

203610.27826
align="center"

| Leo Hernández

7225.22714
align="center"

| Iván DeJesús

740.00000

=Pitching=

== Starting pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="16%" | Player

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | G

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | IP

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | W

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | L

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | ERA

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SO

align="center"

| Dennis Rasmussen

31bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 202.0bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 186bgcolor="FFCC00"|3.88131
align="center"

| Ron Guidry

30192.19bgcolor="#FFCC00"|123.98bgcolor="#FFCC00"| 140
align="center"

| Doug Drabek

27131.2784.1076
align=center

| Bob Tewksbury

23130.1953.3149
align=center

| Joe Niekro

25125.29104.8759
align="center"

| Tommy John

1370.2532.9328
align="center"

| Scott Nielsen

1056.0444.0220
align="center"
{{Cite web |title=1986 New York Yankees Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1986.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312073457/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1986.shtml |archive-date=2009-03-12 |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

== Other pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="16%" | Player

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | G

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | IP

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | W

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | L

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SV

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | ERA

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SO

align="center"

| Tim Stoddard

2449.14103.8334
align="center"

| Ed Whitson

1437.05207.5427
align="center"

| Alfonso Pulido

1030.21114.7013
align="center"

| John Montefusco

412.10002.193
align="center"

| Mike Armstrong

78.20109.358
align="center"

| Brad Arnsberg

28.00003.383

== Relief pitchers ==

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

class="wikitable sortable"
style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="16%" | Player

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | G

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | IP

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | W

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | L

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SV

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | ERA

! style="background:#1c2841;color:white;" width="9%" | SO

align="center"

| Dave Righetti

bgcolor="#FFCC00"|74106.288bgcolor="#FFCC00"|462.4583
align="center"

| Brian Fisher

6296.29564.9367
align="center"

| Bob Shirley

39105.10435.0464
align="center"

| Rod Scurry

3139.11223.6636
align="center"

| Al Holland

2540.21005.0937

Awards and records

  • Rickey Henderson – American League Leader Stolen Bases (87)
  • Rickey Henderson – American League Leader Runs Scored (130)
  • Don Mattingly – American League Leader Hits (238)
  • Don Mattingly, Silver Slugger Award
  • Don Mattingly, Yankees Single Season Record, Hits in a Season (238)
  • Don Mattingly, Yankees Single Season Record, Doubles in a Season (53)
  • Dave Righetti, Major League Record (since broken), Most Saves in One Season by a Relief Pitcher(46)
  • Dave Righetti, Major League Record, Most Saves in One Season by a Left-handed Pitcher(46){{Cite book |last=Nemec |first=David |title=Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Firsts |last2=Flatow |first2=Scott |publisher=SIGNET |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-45-122363-0 |edition= |page= |pages=289, 290}}

All-Star Game

  • Rickey Henderson, starting lineup, outfield
  • Dave Winfield, starting lineup, outfield{{Cite web |title=1986 All-Star Game Box Score, July 15 |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/allstar/1986-allstar-game.shtml |access-date=2024-09-10 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}
  • Don Mattingly, reserve, first baseman
  • Dave Righetti, reserve, pitcher

Farm system

{{See also|Minor League Baseball}}

{{MLB Farm System|level16=AAA|team16=Columbus Clippers|league16=International League|manager16=Barry Foote

|level17=AA |team17=Albany-Colonie Yankees|league17=Eastern League|manager17=Jim Saul

|level18=A|team18=Fort Lauderdale Yankees|league18=Florida State League|manager18=Bucky Dent

|level19=A-Short Season|team19=Oneonta Yankees|league19=New York–Penn League|manager19=Buck Showalter

|level20=Rookie|team20=GCL Yankees|league20=Gulf Coast League|manager20=Fred Ferreira

}}{{Cite book |last=Johnson |first=Lloyd |title=The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball |last2=Wolff |first2=Miles |publisher=Baseball America |year=1997 |isbn=978-0-96-371897-6 |edition=2nd |location=Durham, North Carolina}}

References

{{Reflist}}