1959 Yankee Farm Club of the Past: 1958 Denver Bears

Denver, Colorado

AAA American Association

Manager: Andy Cohen

Record: 78-51 (fourth place out of eight teams, 10 games behind)

League Leading team stats: 1st in batting average (.286), 1st in runs scored (808), 1st in hits (1,434), 1st in home runs (121), 1st in slugging average (.425), 1st in total bases (2, 133), 1st in RBIs (752), 1st in attendance (228, 262)

Attendance: 228,262 (3,402 per game)

Team Batting Leaders

Batting Average Gordie Windhorn (.328)

HR Johnny Blanchard (19)

RBIs Johnny Blanchard (96)

OBP Gordie Windhorn (.391)

SLG Gordie Windhorn (.375)

OPS Gordie Windhorn (.867)

TB Johnny Blanchard (256)

R Gordie Windhorn (96)

H Gordie Windhorn (167)

2B Gordie Windhorn (33)

3B Gordie Windhorn, Tommy Carroll (6)

SB Curt Roberts, Fritz Brickell (7)

BB Curtis Hardaway (92)

Team Pitching Leaders

W John Gabler (19)

W-L% Zack Monroe (.833)

SO Mark Freeman (175)

IP John Gabler (217.0)

G  Stan Johnson (45)

GS Mark Freeman (32)

CG John Gabler (15)

Shutouts Mark Freeman (5)

WHIP Zack Monroe (1.360)

Most Games Played at Each Position

C   Johnny Blanchard (126)

1B Zeke Bella (75)

2B Curtis Roberts (137)

3B Curtis Hardaway (105)

SS Fritz Brickell (57)

OF Gordie Windhorn (136)

OF George Wilson (111)

OF Dick Sanders (94)

SP Mark Freeman (32)

RP Stan Johnson, Johnny Kucab (44)

1959 Denver Bears Depth Chart

C   Johnny Blanchard (L-R)

1B Zeke Bella (R-R) (OF)

2B Curt Roberts (R-R)

3B Curtis Hardaway (R-R)

SS Fritz Brickell (R-R)

LF Gordie Windhorn (R-R)

CF Jim Pisoni (R-R)

RF George Wilson (L-R)

P   Mark Freeman (R-R)

P   John Gabler (R-R)

P   Ben Flowers (R-R)

P   Zack Monroe (R-R)

P   Wally Burnette (R-R) (optioned by Kansas City Athletics)

P   John Stadnicki (R-R)

C    Vern Rapp (R-R)

3B  Gene Hassell (L-R)

SS  Tommy Carroll (R-R)

OF  Dick Sanders (R-R) (SS-1B)

PH  Jim McManus (L-L) (1B) (retroactive designated hitter) (optioned by Kansas City Athletics)

RP  Stan Johnson (R-R)

RP  Johnny Kucab (R-R)

RP  Ed Donnelly (L-L)

RP  Joe McClain (R-R) (optioned by St. Louis Cardinals)

RP  Jack McMahan (R-L)

RP  Chuck Templeton (R-L) (optioned by Los Angeles Dodgers)

1959 Yankee Farm Club of the Past: 1958 Richmond Virginians

Richmond, Virginia

AAA International League

Manager: Ed Lopat

Record: 71-82 (sixth place out of eight teams, 19 games behind)

League Leading team stats: 1st in bases on balls (606), 1st in double plays (165)

Attendance: 160,633 (2,086 per game)

Most Games Played at Each Position

C   Bob Oldis (117)

1B John Jaciuk (146)

2B Bob Deakin (116)

3B Rance Pless (132)

SS Clete Boyer (132)

OF Deron Johnson (143)

OF Len Johnston (123)

OF Gerry Thomas (95)

SP Jim Bronstad (29)

RP Jim Post (35)

Team Batting Leaders

BA Gerry Thomas (.292)

HR Deron Johnson (27)

RBIs Deron Johnson (103)

OBP Bobby Del Greco (.370)

SLG Clete Boyer (.494)

OPS Clete Boyer (.847)

Total Bases Deron Johnson (266)

R Clete Boyer (82)

H Deron Johnson (148)

2B Deron Johnson (27)

3B Len Johnston (9)

SB Len Johnston (37)

BB Len Johnston (88)

Team Pitching Leaders

W Jim Bronstad, Bob Wiesler (13)

W-L% Bob Chakales (.625)

SO Billy Bethel (117)

IP Jim Bronstad (211.0)

G Jim Post (36)

GS Jim Bronstad (29)

CG Jim Bronstad, Bob Wiesler (13)

Shutouts Bob Chakales (4)

WHIP Billy Bethel (1.246)

1958 Richmond Virginians depth chart

C    Bob Oldis (R-R)

1B John Jaciuk (L-L) 

2B Robert Deakin (L-R)

3B Rance Pless (R-R)

SS Clete Boyer (R-R)

LF Deron Johnson (R-R) (3B)

CF Bobby Del Greco (R-R)

RF Len Johnston (L-L)

P    Jim Bronstad (R-R)

P    Bob Wiesler (S-L)

P    Billy Bethel (R-R)

P    Bob Chakales (R-R) (optioned by Boston Red Sox)

P    Edward Dick (S-L)

P    Johnny James (L-R)

C    Jim Command (L-R)

SS Bobby Kline (R-R) (2B-3B)

OF Gerry Thomas (L-R) (retroactive designated hitter)

OF Danny Schell (R-R) (1B)

RP Wade Browning (L-L)

RP Will Parsons (R-R)

RP Jim Post (L-L)

RP Jack McMahan (R-L)

RP Sonny Dixon (S-R)

RP Jim Coates (R-R)

RP James O'Reilly (L-L)

1959 Yankee Prospect of the Past: Bob Thurman

"If Bob can regain the form he flashed back in 1956 for the Reds, he'll be a big help to the team. He can hit for distance when he lays into a pitch- he hit three home runs in one game in 1956.

Bob was optioned to Omaha in May."

-1959 Topps No. 541

1959 Yankee of the Past: Lou Skizas

"Last year's statistics tell nothing about Lou. In the minors, he had a solid .284 average and has a promising future.

Lou was nicknamed 'The Nervous Greek' for his antics with the bat."

-1959 Topps No. 328

1959 Yankee of the Past: Harry Simpson

"Back with the A's after a season with the Yankees, Harry will be shooting for the Kansas City fences once again in 1959. A speedy man on the bases, he tied for the American League in triples in '57.

Harry's nickname in 'Suitcase.' "

-1959 Topps No. 333

1959 Yankee of the Past: Bill Renna

"Bill delivered seven pinch hits in 24 tries last year, including a clutch homer against Washington. When Bill graduated from Santa Clara, he signed with the Yankee chain."

-1959 Topps No. 72

1959 Yankee Prospect of the Past: Al Pilarcik

"As a pinch hitter, Al came up with seven safeties in 22 tries for a smart .318 mark in 1958. He spends a lot of off-season time fishing and hunting."

-1959 Topps No. 7