1955 Yankees of the Past Alumni Team

Former Yankees on 1955 Spring Training Rosters

MGR - Leo Durocher (New York Giants)

CH - Chuck Dressen (Washington Senators)

CH - Bucky Harris (Detroit Tigers)

CH - Paul Schreiber (Boston Red Sox)

C - Clint Courtney (Chicago White Sox)

C - Sherm Lollar (Chicago White Sox)

C - Clyde McCullough (Chicago Cubs)

1B - Vic Power (Kansas City Athletics) 

2B - Jerry Snyder (Washington Senators)

2B - Pete Suder (Kansas City Athletics)

3B - Jim Finigan (Kansas City Athletics)

SS - Willy Miranda (Baltimore Orioles)

SS - Jim Brideweser (Chicago White Sox) 

LF - Jim Greengrass (Cincinnati Reds)

CF - Jackie Jensen (Boston Red Sox)

RF - Hank Sauer (Chicago Cubs) 

OF - Gene Woodling (Baltimore Orioles) (retroactive designated hitter)

OF - Jim Delsing (Detroit Tigers) 

PH - Hank Majeski (Cleveland Indians) (3B)

P - Lew Burdette (Milwaukee Braves)

P - Ruben Gomez (New York Giants)

P - Johnny Schmidtz (Washington Senators)

P - Bob Porterfield (Washington Senators)

P - Duane Pillette (Baltimore Orioles)

P - Bob Keegan (Chicago White Sox)

P - Harry Byrd (Baltimore Orioles)

RP - Ellis Kinder (Boston Red Sox)

RP - Dave Jolly (Milwaukee Braves)

RP - Don Johnson (Baltimore Orioles)

1955 Yankee of the Past: Joe DiMaggio

"An event for which all baseball fans had been hopeful was finally formalized last January ... it was officially announced that Joe DiMaggio had been elected to his proper niche in Cooperstown ... Baseball's Hall of Fame.

If ever a player were marked for those laurels from his career's beginning, it had to be DiMag. In his first three seasons of professional ball, his lowest batting average was .340; his first four seasons with the Yankees were all World Series triumphs the team and for Joe. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player in three separate years, 1939, 1941,1947. His record of 56 consecutive games in which he safely is one that is very unlikely to be approached, let alone broken.

Outstanding in the accomplishments of the gifted Californian were two great climaxes at the late stages of his baseball career. Following an injury that had had him miss over one-third of the 1949 season, he came back to the line-up to lead the club to a pennant and the first in their string of five consecutive World Championships. One year later, in a streak of hitting for an average of .373, he again engineered a pennant triumph for the Yankees.

In the winter of 1951 the New York baseball writers selected an All-Time Yankee team. It is a tribute to them and to Joe DiMaggio that he was named as the centerfielder on this dream team on every ballot cast.

It is fitting that he should now have his feats marked for their proper recognition by entering the Hall of Fame."

-The New York Yankees Official 1955 Yearbook

1955 Yankee of the Past: Gene Woodling

"The big winter deal with the Yankees brings hard-hitting Gene to the Orioles this year. A strong addition to the Orioles' outfield, he's one of the top American League batters and twice hit over .300 for New York.

In six minor league seasons, he averaged .348 and won four batting crowns. A good flychaser, Gene won fielding honors in 1952 and owns a .318 batting average in five World Series."

-1955 Topps No. 190

1955 Yankee of the Past: Bill Wight

"Bill is making a comeback in the majors after spending the 1954 season with the San Diego team of the Pacific Coast League. He had a 17-5 record for 28 mound appearances. His earned run average was a great 1.93 and he struck out 87 men and walked 72.

Bill began in baseball in 1941 with Idaho Falls in the Pioneer League. He has pitched for the Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox and Tigers."

-1955 Bowman No. 312

1955 Yankee Prospect of the Past: El Tappe

 "1954 was Elvin's rookie year in the big leagues. He appeared in 46 games for the Cubs and batted .185.

He came to the Cubs after spending the 1953 season with both Los Angeles and Des Moines. With the Pacific Coast League team he appeared in 38 games and batted .281. He drove in 16 runs. With Des Moines, Elvin worked 85 games, batting .214. He had 55 hits and batted in 21 runs, scoring 24."

-1955 Bowman No. 51

"Elvin's career almost came to an end twice! In 1948, his second season of pro ball, he fractured his ankle in six places. Despite the doctor's gloomy prediction, Elvin had the spirit to make a successful comeback. Bad luch struck again in '53 when Elvin was beaned and his batting average suffered as a result. 

If he can handle the injury jinx, he figures to help the Cubs."

-1955 Topps No. 129

"The Quincy College grad twice received injuries which should have ended his career. But he has lots of fight and was twice named to his league's all-star teams."

-1955 Topps Doubleheader No. 94

1955 Yankee Prospect of the Past: Pete Suder

 "Pete, who played at second, third and short for the Athletics in 1954, got into a total of 69 games and hit an even .200. He had 41 hits and batted in 16 runs, which is a good percentage of runs driven in.

He's been in organized baseball since 1935 when he broke in with Washington of the Pennsylvania State League. He came to the major leagues in 1941 with the Athletics and has spent his entire major league career with the same team.

Pete had a good year in 1953, hitting .286 for 115 games."

-1955 Bowman No. 6

1955 Yankee Prospect of the Past: Jerry Snyder

 "Jerry got into 54 games for the Senators in 1954, and he hit .234. He batted in 17 runs with 36 hits.

1947 was his first year in organized baseball. In 1952, Jerry was with the Yankees' Kansas City farm. The Yankees recalled him in May 1952 and traded him to the Washington Senators. He finished the season with the Senators, then began 1953 with Chattanooga where he hit .307 in 82 games. Back with Washington, he hit .339 for 29 games.

Jerry lists officiating basketball games as his hobby."

-1955 Bowman No. 74

1955 Yankee of the Past: Frank Shea

"Frank was in 23 games for the 1954 edition of the Washington Senators, winning 2 and losing 9. A better measure of his effectiveness can be gained by studying his record for the preceding year with Washington. He was in the same number of games, 23, but he won 12 and lost 7. He worked 165 innings and gave up 151 hits.

Frank began in baseball in 1940 and spent his minor league years in the Yankee farm system, joining the Yanks in 1947. He was traded to Washington in May 1952."

-1954 Bowman No. 207

1955 Yankee of the Past: Johnny Schmitz

"Johnny has had a long and effective career in baseball. The Senators are his fifth major league team.

He first came to the big leagues in 1941, at the end of the year, with the Chicago Cubs and he stayed with them until traded to the Dodgers in 1951. After that he was with the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees before coming to the Senators.

In 1954 Johnny was in 29 games and he won 11 and lost 8. His earned run average of 2.92 ranked him seventh in the league."

-1955 Bowman No. 105

"The crafty veteran of 17 campaigns led the Senators' mound staff with the lowest earned run average in 1954. Johnny's ability to pitch away from the opposing batters' power paid off last year when he gave up the fewest home run pitches of any American League chucker.

Pitching in the National League from '41 to '52, he saw service with the Cubs, Dodgers and Reds."

-1955 Topps No. 159

1955 Yankee Prospect of the Past: Hank Sauer

"Hank promised himself that 1954 would be his best major league season to date. Always a gentleman, he kept his promise and delighted Cub fans by belting more homers and posting a higher batting average than ever before.

Hank also had a great year in '52, winning the R.B.I. title and tying for home run honors with 37, to win the National League's Most Valuable Player award."

-1952 Topps No. 45

"Hank had a great year in '54, hitting his mark in homers and R.B.I.'s. One of the top power hitters in baseball, he was the N.L.'s Most Valuable Player in '52."

-1955 Topps Doubleheader No. 103