Baseball Musings
Baseball Musings
February 16, 2003
Steinbrenner's Speed:

Still haven't found the quote I was looking for, but Alex Belth wrote me about that winter:


The bub-bub around Yankee camp this spring is mild in comparison with 1982. I think I found what you were looking for with regards to George's Great Speed Experiment:

According to Bill Madden and Moss Klein, in their excellent account of the Bronx Zoo years, "Damned Yankees" (1990):

'[Davey] Collins had no business coming to the Yankees. He was a well-paid victim of George Steinbrenner's panic-button plan to turn the Yankees into a speed" team for 1982---defying the tried-and-true tradition of building Yankee teams around left-handed power.

Although Collins didn't sign with the Yankees until December 23, 1981, the official begining of his Yankee career was October 28, the night the World Series ended with the Yankees losing to the Dodgers. Before the game had ended, a grim Steinbrenner prepared a terse statement: "I want to sincerely apologize to the people of New York and to Yankee fans everywhere for the performance of the Yankee team in thos World Series. I also want to assure you that we will be at work immeditately to prepare for 1982."'

Which brings to mind, a comment Nettles made in "Balls:"

"George has never learned how to lose. He thinks being a good loser is a sign of weakness. And that's not how life is. You're going to lose sometimes."

Madden and Klein continue:

'The next day, Steinbrenner called a press briefing and explained his newly hatched plan. "I'm tired of sitting around and waiting for someone to hit a three-run homer," he said. "To be a big-inning team, you have to have speed. And we'll be going for more speed."

Thus, Steinbrenner embarked on a mission to turn the Bronx Bombers into the Bronx Burners. Home runs were out, speed was in. First he traded for potential free agent Ken Griffey...His next step was the signing of Collins.

Basically, Steinbrenner just overwhelmed Collins...a whopping $2.475 million, three-year package that was ludicrous even in those free-spending free-agent days for a player of Collin's limited ability. Collins was both overwhelmed and confused. He knew the Yankee outfield was overcrowded with talent. Dave Winfield, Griffey, and Jerry Mumphrey all had spots, and Lou Pinella and Bobby Murcer were still around as reserves. What's more, Steinbrenner still had not officially let Reggie Jackson go as a gree agent. First base was occupied by Bob Watson.

So even though Collins was eager to take the Boss's generous offer, he also wanted to play. He called Steinbrenner directly to ask him about the situation, and Steinbrenner responded with a promise. "You'll get more at-bats than Winfield," the Boss said. "Don't worry about it."

Would you believe that spring traing was a zoo in 1982?

"Meanwhile, the camp had been turned into a circus by Steinbrenner. Consider the development of March 2, less than a week before the exhibition games were to begin.

The Yankees showed up for the workout, only to be informed there would be no workout---at least not in the usual sense. Instead of hitting, throwing, pitching and base-running drills, the players were told to don their sweat suits and head to the back field to run 45-yeard sprints under the direction of Harrison Dillard, the former Olympic hurdling champion, who had been imported by Steinbrenner as a special spring training instructor. Dillard's assignment was to teach the Yankees to run. He was to scutinize the running styles of all the players and then offer tips on how to improve each one's technique.

"You can't underestimate the importance of speed," said Steinbrenner, who reminded his players that he had been a champion hurdler in his college days at Williams.

"They must have used ankle high hurdles in those days," cracked Craid Nettles.

The Yankees' "Day at the Races" was a fitting sequel to the Marx Brothers comedy. Bobby Brown, the talented young outfielder, turned in the best time, sprinting to the finish line in 5.18 seconds to beat Jerry Mumphrey...

Collins, meanwhile, had come through with flying colors for Steinbrenner in the sprint. He was paired againt Winfield and edged him out, even though Winfield jumped Yogi Berra's command of "Go!" and had a head start. Steinbrenner went out of his way to congradulate Collins, who was now beginning to realize this was anything but your ordinary baseball team.

"I don't think any team ever had a spring training workout like this one," Collins said, shaking his head.'


Collins, of course, was traded after the 1982 season, just in time to make way for the likes of Steve Kemp.


Thanks, Alex.


Posted by David Pinto at 07:17 PM | Baseball