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Melvin Leon Stottlemyre
New York Yankees
Pitcher
Born: November 13, 1941, Hazleton, MO
Signed: Signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent before 1961 season
Major League Teams: New York Yankees 1964-74
World Series Appearances: New York Yankees 1964
Died: January 13, 2019, Seattle, WA (age 77)
As a 22-year-old rookie in 1964, Mel Stottlemyre went 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA over the final few months of the season, helping the Yankees win their fifth consecutive pennant. In his only World Series action as a player, Stottlemyre started Games 2, 5 and 7 of the 1964 World Series, throwing a complete game victory in Game 2, but losing the decisive Game 7 to the Cardinals' Bob Gibson (#200). He was a 20-game winner in 1965, 1968 and 1969, leading the league in complete games with 18 in 1965 and 24 in 1969. Stottlemyre was a five-time All-Star, starting the 1969 game against the Cardinals' Steve Carlton (#255). He retired as a player following the 1974 season having pitched in 360 games, and compiling a 164-139 record with a 2.97 ERA, 152 complete games and 40 shutouts. He struck out 1,257 batters over 2,661 1/3 innings pitched.
Stottlemyre would next begin a long career as a minor and major league pitching coach, coaching at the big league level with the Mets (1984-93), Astros (1994-95), Yankees (1996-05) and Mariners (2008). He won a World Series ring with the Mets (1986) and four with the Yankees (1996, 1998-00) while serving under manager Joe Torre (#460). His sons Mel, Jr. and Todd also pitched in the majors.
Died: January 13, 2019, Seattle, WA (age 77)
As a 22-year-old rookie in 1964, Mel Stottlemyre went 9-3 with a 2.06 ERA over the final few months of the season, helping the Yankees win their fifth consecutive pennant. In his only World Series action as a player, Stottlemyre started Games 2, 5 and 7 of the 1964 World Series, throwing a complete game victory in Game 2, but losing the decisive Game 7 to the Cardinals' Bob Gibson (#200). He was a 20-game winner in 1965, 1968 and 1969, leading the league in complete games with 18 in 1965 and 24 in 1969. Stottlemyre was a five-time All-Star, starting the 1969 game against the Cardinals' Steve Carlton (#255). He retired as a player following the 1974 season having pitched in 360 games, and compiling a 164-139 record with a 2.97 ERA, 152 complete games and 40 shutouts. He struck out 1,257 batters over 2,661 1/3 innings pitched.
Stottlemyre would next begin a long career as a minor and major league pitching coach, coaching at the big league level with the Mets (1984-93), Astros (1994-95), Yankees (1996-05) and Mariners (2008). He won a World Series ring with the Mets (1986) and four with the Yankees (1996, 1998-00) while serving under manager Joe Torre (#460). His sons Mel, Jr. and Todd also pitched in the majors.
Some text for this post originally appeared on my 1965 Topps blog.
Building the Set / Card #414
December 3, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
The Card / Yankees Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
1969 Season
In one of his best seasons, Stottlemyre was 20-14 with a 2.82 ERA in 39 starts. He finished 24 of those starts, leading the league, and threw three shutouts. He was the losing pitcher in the All-Star Game, giving up three runs (two earned) in his two innings of work, with Johnny Bench (#95) hitting a two-run home run off him in the second inning. Stottlemyre was the ace of the Yankees' staff and a bright spot in a season in which his team finished in fifth place in the American League East with only 80 wins.
Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #133
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11): 1965-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2014 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-MS
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 159 in the Beckett online database as of 11/26/24.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
December 3, 2023 from The Philly Show (Uncle Dick's Cards)
Doug and I returned to The Philly Show in early December, once again held inside the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks, Pennsylvania. eBay has taken over sponsorship of the show, with the quaint, bubble-lettered Philly Show logo that had been in place since the 1980s replaced with a more modern logo, keeping with the times. I wrote about the show in a post over at The Phillies Room.
Similar to my strategy from March, I wanted to focus on accumulating commons and having found success with Uncle Dick's Cards before, I didn't mess around and headed right for the neon green binders. I pulled 145 cards from the binder containing cards 301 to the end of the set, stopping when I reached 500. This card was the 122nd of 145 cards purchased for our set, and after the dealer discount due to my bulk purchase, it cost a little less than $2.
The Card / Yankees Team Set / Accuracy Index +5
There have been fewer repeat photos the further along we get into the set, and this card is no exception to that trend. Stottlemyre is shown posing in his home Yankee Stadium with a mystery teammate (or coach?) photo bombing the photo underneath the pitcher's glove. The cartoon refers back to his appearance in the 1968 All-Star Game, in which he pitched a third of an inning, striking out the only batter he faced. What's more impressive is the one batter he struck out was Henry Aaron (#100), leading off the eighth. The write-up on the back discusses his hitting skills. Stottlemyre batted .160 for his career, with 14 doubles, six triples, seven home runs and 57 RBIs.
This is one of 23 cards available in the set's fifth series available as either "yellow letter" or "white letter" variations, with the yellow letter variations being more prevalent. This is the more prevalent yellow letter variation with Stottlemyre's last name printed in yellow.
Accuracy Index: Stottlemyre's card scores a +5.
Inserts: Stottlemyre is included in the 35 card Topps Deckle Edge insert set and is one of 48 decals in the Topps Decals insert set. He's one of 27 players to appear in both insert sets.
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1969 Season
In one of his best seasons, Stottlemyre was 20-14 with a 2.82 ERA in 39 starts. He finished 24 of those starts, leading the league, and threw three shutouts. He was the losing pitcher in the All-Star Game, giving up three runs (two earned) in his two innings of work, with Johnny Bench (#95) hitting a two-run home run off him in the second inning. Stottlemyre was the ace of the Yankees' staff and a bright spot in a season in which his team finished in fifth place in the American League East with only 80 wins.
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First Mainstream Card: 1965 Topps #133
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (11): 1965-75
Most Recent Mainstream Card: 2014 Topps Archives Fan Favorites Autographs #FFA-MS
Total Non-Parallel Baseball Cards: 159 in the Beckett online database as of 11/26/24.
Sources:
Baseball Reference / SABR / Wikipedia
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