Former New York Yankees player and major league manager Hank Bauer passed away on Friday at the age of 84 in Shawnee Mission, Kansas. The Yankee legend died after a long battle with cancer.
He played for the Yankees from 1948-59 when the Bronx Bombers captured nine American League Pennants and seven World Series Championships. He played with Joe Dimaggio, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Phil Rizzuto, Whitey Ford and Bobby Richardson.
He finshed his career with a .277 batting average and 164 home runs in over 1500-games for the Yankees, but he was especially good in World Series action and still holds the record for hitting in 17-consecutive games. His final World Series vs the Milwaukee Braves in 1958, he batted .323 with 4 home runs and 8 rbi’s as the Yankees defeated the Braves in seven games.
He was traded after the 1959 season to Kansas City for a young outfielder named Roger Maris and managed the A’s in 1960 and 61. He would later manage Baltimore from 64-68 and bring the first championship to the Orioles in 1966. He captured Manager of the Year Awards in`1964 and 66 and finsished his managerial time in the big leagues with Oakland in 1969, just before the A’s dynasty.
Bauer later managed in the International League with the Tidewater Tides (New York Mets organization) in 1971 and 1972 and captured the IL Pennant and Governors Cup with his 72 team.
The Chiefs opened both seasons agaist the Tides and Hank Bauer at MacArthur Stadium, defeated them 12-9 in 71 and losing 1-0 in 72. In the 1971 Home Opener, Chiefs General Manager Tex Simone remembers the fiesty Bauer ordering Mets prospect Jim Bibby to take the mound despite the cold weather and snow flurries in the air.
Bauer later scouted for the Yankees and Royals and always received a great cheer from Yankees fans each season at Yankees Old Timers Games.
