"MICK THE QUICK" IS ALWAYS A YANKEE FAN FAVORITE

Yankee fans today continue to celebrate Mickey Rivers as a cherished figure in the team’s storied history. Despite leaving the Yankees in 1979 after being traded to the Texas Rangers, Rivers’ contributions during his time in pinstripes left an indelible mark. His lively personality and clutch performances remain a source of pride and nostalgia for those who remember his time on the field.

Decades later, Rivers’ legacy is alive and well, thanks to his lasting impact on the game and his enduring connection with fans, both in person and through his active social media presence. Before Rivers became a Bronx icon, he was turning heads on the West Coast, but he was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves. 

Mickey debuted in 1970 with the California Angels, where his blazing speed and penchant for triples made him one of the league’s most electrifying young players. By 1975, he led the American League in steals with 70 swiped bags, a career high. But it was the trade that sent him to New York in December of that year that truly altered his trajectory—and that of the Yankees.

Rivers, along with pitcher Ed Figueroa, was acquired from the Angels in exchange for Bobby Bonds. While Bonds was a great player, Yankees fans quickly realized they’d won this trade in a landslide. In his first year in pinstripes, Rivers hit .312, stole 43 bases, and set career highs in home runs (8) and RBIs (67). The cherry on top? He finished third in AL MVP voting and earned a spot on the All-Star team. Mickey’s infectious energy and knack for making things happen at the top of the lineup immediately endeared him to the Bronx faithful.

Rivers didn’t just shine in the regular season—he thrived when the stakes were highest. In the 1977 ALCS against the Royals, Mickey came through in the clutch when the Yankees needed him most. Facing elimination in Game 4, Rivers led off with a double and went on to collect four hits in a pivotal 6-4 win. In the decisive Game 5, Rivers tied the game in the ninth inning and later scored an insurance run, propelling the Yankees to a 5-3 victory and a World Series berth.

And in the Fall Classic against the Dodgers? Mickey didn’t miss a beat. His three-hit performance in Game 3, including two doubles, ignited the Yankees’ offense and helped secure a crucial win. It was moments like these that cemented his place in Yankees lore as a player who thrived under pressure. Rivers wasn’t just known for his skills—his personality was larger than life. Whether it was his trademark shuffle to the plate, his habit of twirling the bat after every pitch, or his unique lexicon (he famously called people “Gozzlehead”.

His one-liners are legendary. The rumor is when Reggie Jackson bragged about his IQ being 160, Mickey quipped, “Out of what, 1,000?” His approach to life? Equally unforgettable:

“Ain’t no sense worrying about things you got no control over, ’cause if you got no control over them, ain’t no sense in worrying. And ain’t no sense worrying about things you got control over, ’cause if you got control over them, ain’t no sense worrying.”

Asked by Bleeding Yankee Blue about his closest teammates during his Yankees years, Rivers gave an answer that perfectly captured his team-first mentality:

“Oscar Gamble, Roy White, Catfish Hunter, Chris Chambliss, Thurman Munson, and Ken Holtzman. But in all fairness, I can probably name 10 more because I was close to the whole team.”

That sense of camaraderie and loyalty is a big reason why Mickey remains so beloved.

Even though Rivers left the Yankees in 1979, his connection with the team and its fans has never wavered. His stooped shuffle to the plate, lightning-quick speed, and knack for making something out of nothing are memories that continue to bring smiles to the faces of those who saw him play.

Today, Rivers stays connected with fans through his vibrant social media presence, sharing stories, cracking jokes, and reminding everyone why he’s one of the most colorful figures in Yankees history.

His clutch performances, charismatic personality, and deep bond with teammates make him a legend who transcends the game. Yankees fans don’t just remember Mickey—they celebrate him, proving that his impact, both on and off the field, is truly timeless.

--Alvin Izzo

BYB Yankee History Contributor

THE YANKEES ROVING FIREMAN

A lot has been written about the Yankees Big 3 in the Bullpen. It gives the Yankees a lot of options on how to manage the end of the game. Most of the chatter has been about the obvious orientations, First there’s the 6-inning game scenario. The one where the Big 3 pitch the last 3 innings – one guy for the 7th, one for the 8th, and one for the 9th. Then there’s the Well Rested scenario. The one where 2 of the Big 3 pitch the 8th and the ninth, and someone is always resting, guaranteeing that pitchers arms are fresh every game. Which always leads to a debate about who has the 9th – Andrew Miller or Aroldis Chapman. I don’t understand why Dellin Betances is always the odd man out for the ninth, but that’s another article for another time.

I think there’s another scenario that could win the Yankees more games, or, at least, save them from blowouts. I call it the roving fireman. The concept is simple. You have a closer ready to pitch in any inning, as soon as you need a fireman to put out the fire. It’s kind of a throwback to the old days when closers weren’t designated to the ninth inning. They came in when the game was in jeopardy. Some days the game is jeopardy much earlier than the ninth. Some days a starter just doesn’t have it. They’ll go 3 or 4 innings, give up 5 or more runs, and it turns into an extended spring training game for some kid to get a shot in a game that’s already lost. However, what if those games become winnable?

Imagine the scenario where it’s the top of the 3rd, you're holding a one-run lead. Your starter loads the bases by allowing the first three batters to reach. He has already thrown nearly 60 pitches and he hasn’t retired a batter this inning. He’s already given up a home run earlier in the game. This isn’t his day. Do you pull him? That was the scenario on June 23. Michael Pineda was on the mound against the Phillies. Joe Girardi left him in and he went on to give up 7 runs on 6 hits over the next 2/3 of an inning. By the time Girardi finally pulled him, the Yankees were down 8-2 and would end up losing 11-8.

Now imagine you had a closer who could enter the game in the 3rd inning of a distressed game, in a scenario like the one I just described, knowing you had another closer for the ninth. Could Andrew Miller have shut it down, maybe allowing one run max on a slow grounder or a sacrifice fly? It would be a 2-2 tie in the 4th, the Yankees bring in a long reliever for 3 innings like the one that followed Pineda, have  Betances and Chapman close it out. They likely win the game.  Interesting, right?

Those of you who are old enough to remember the Yankees in the 1970s know that I’m ripping a page out of the playbook of one of my favorite managers of all time, Billy Martin. In 1977, the Yankees faced the Kansas City Royals in the best of 5 ALCS. Down 2 games to 1, the Yankees are facing elimination. They staked Ed Figueroa to a 4-0 lead in the 3rd inning.

Then he bled 2 runs in the bottom of the third. The Yankees tacked on 1 in the top of the fourth. With a 5-2 lead, Ed Figueroa was back in trouble. After a four-pitch walk and a double brought the Royals back within 2, Billy Martin had seen enough. He went to the bullpen and Dick Tidrow was in the game. Tidrow gave up a double and a walk, putting the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Royals Stadium was rocking. Martin went to the bullpen again.

This time, it was Sparky Lyle. The closer. In the fourth inning. People were in shock. As Martin said after the game, he needed his best pitcher. His best pitcher went on to pitch the most famous 5+ inning save in the history of baseball.

Now, back to the present. I began to wonder how often this scenario happens. In 2015, a starter gave up 4 or more runs and failed to complete 6 innings 28 times. Of those 28 times, the starter gave up more runs than the difference in the game 9 times. Two of those nine games were against Toronto. When you think about the fact that the Yankees finished 6 games behind Toronto, How would this option have helped us last year? I don’t know how far the Yankees go, but I’m pretty sure Dallas Keuchel throws a 3-hit shutout against the Blue Jays instead of the Yankees. Or something like that.

There was a day when no one had a concept of a setup man before the closer. Until Joe Torre tried it and won big. Having 3 closer-caliber relief pitchers gives Joe Girardi a lot of options. This is one of the most interesting ones. I don’t know if he’s thought of it, but used properly, this could be the next innovative idea for managing the bullpen.

--Ike Dimitriadis, 
BYB Senior Staff Writer
Twitter: @KingAgamemnon






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