Post by tonyo on Dec 28, 2006 20:18:02 GMT -5
FORMER YANKEE BOBBY MERCER
Note ; Former New York Yankee star of the 1970's Bobby Mercer had surgery to remove a brain tumor today, December 28, 2006. Our prayers are with him.
He was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle. Those are pretty big shoes to fill especially in the media critical New York area. Bobby Mercer did not become the next Mickey Mantle but he did become a solid major league star who in three straight seasons ( 1971, 72 and 73 ), he finished in the top ten for Most Valuable Player.
Bobby was signed by the Yankees in 1964 and made his major league debut in 1965, just in time for the Yankee dynasty to crumble. Mercer broke in as a starter in 1969 and put up solid numbers. He continued to improve in 1970 and in 1971 he had a breakout season with 25 home runs, 94 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases to go along with his .331 batting average. In 1972 Bobby whacked 33 HR's, drove in 96 and stole 11 bases while hitting at a .292 clip. In 1973 Bobby went back over .300 while connecting for 22 round trippers. He sent 95 across the plate.
Bobby's numbers went down a bit in in 1974 and in 1975 he went to the San Francisco Giants. Mercer had two solid seasons with the Giants and then he moved on to the Cubs in Chicago. Bobby spent two and a half years there. Part way through the 1979 season Mercer returned to the Yankees where he finished his career in 1983.
In all Bobby played seventeen seasons in the majors. His career stats were 252 homers, 1043 RBI's and 127 swipes. His lifetime average was a respectable .277. In his first five year stint as a Yankee starter ( 1969-1973 ), Bobby was one of the best outfielders in baseball.
Note ; Former New York Yankee star of the 1970's Bobby Mercer had surgery to remove a brain tumor today, December 28, 2006. Our prayers are with him.
He was supposed to be the next Mickey Mantle. Those are pretty big shoes to fill especially in the media critical New York area. Bobby Mercer did not become the next Mickey Mantle but he did become a solid major league star who in three straight seasons ( 1971, 72 and 73 ), he finished in the top ten for Most Valuable Player.
Bobby was signed by the Yankees in 1964 and made his major league debut in 1965, just in time for the Yankee dynasty to crumble. Mercer broke in as a starter in 1969 and put up solid numbers. He continued to improve in 1970 and in 1971 he had a breakout season with 25 home runs, 94 runs batted in and 14 stolen bases to go along with his .331 batting average. In 1972 Bobby whacked 33 HR's, drove in 96 and stole 11 bases while hitting at a .292 clip. In 1973 Bobby went back over .300 while connecting for 22 round trippers. He sent 95 across the plate.
Bobby's numbers went down a bit in in 1974 and in 1975 he went to the San Francisco Giants. Mercer had two solid seasons with the Giants and then he moved on to the Cubs in Chicago. Bobby spent two and a half years there. Part way through the 1979 season Mercer returned to the Yankees where he finished his career in 1983.
In all Bobby played seventeen seasons in the majors. His career stats were 252 homers, 1043 RBI's and 127 swipes. His lifetime average was a respectable .277. In his first five year stint as a Yankee starter ( 1969-1973 ), Bobby was one of the best outfielders in baseball.