Former Yankees infielder and coach Mike Ferraro passed away last Saturday at the age of 79. The team announced.
The cause of death has not been revealed.
Ferraro, who played for the team in 1966 and 1968, recorded 11 assists in a nine-inning game in a 4-1 win over the Senators, tying the MLB record for a third baseman.
After retiring in 1972, Ferraro became the Yankees’ manager, winning championships at the Class A, Double-A and Triple-A levels.
“I remember going to see the Oneonta club and being impressed with the organization,” said Gabe Paul, president of the Yankees in the 1970s. He told the New York Times“Mike taught the kids the fundamentals better than any other major league team. Nobody missed a cutoff man. And as the Yankees coach, he planned the spring training workouts. He’s organized.”
Ferraro admitted he didn’t think he was ready.
“I didn’t think I could do it.” he told the Utica Observer-Dispatch in 2020.“When I was playing I wasn’t thinking about what I was going to do afterwards.”
Ferraro served as coach of the Yankees twice, from 1979-1982 and 1987-1991.
In Game 2 of the 1980 American League Championship Series, with the Yankees trailing by one run in the eighth inning against Kansas City, Ferraro decided to send infielder Willie Randolph home, but Randolph was later called for the out.
The controversial move infuriated team owner George Steinbrenner.
“George didn’t say anything to me in the clubhouse that night,” Ferraro said. I said later“He just stared at me.”
After the Yankees were swept in the series, Steinbrenner asked manager Dick Howser to fire Ferraro, but Howser refused and was fired despite winning 100 games in his first season.
Ferraro returned to the Yankees the following season as first base coach.
He became Cleveland’s manager in 1983 but was fired after 100 games.
He then reunited with Hauser in Kansas City and was part of the 1985 World Series winning team.
Ferraro took over as manager of the Royals in late 1986 after Hauser retired due to a brain tumor.
He returned to the Bronx and coached there for five seasons before taking over as the Orioles’ third base coach in 1993.
Ferraro is survived by his two children, two grandchildren and a brother.
