1973 New York Yankees

The final standing	4th in AL East
Regular season record	80-82 (.494)
Post-season record	Did not qualify
Divisional rank	7th
ALDS record and opponent	Did not play
AL rank	2nd
ALCS record and opponent	Did not play
World Series record and opponent	Did not play
Manager	Ralph Houk
Captain	–
Top batter	Home run: Graig Nettles, Bobby Murcer (22), Thurman Munson (20), Roy White (18) BA: Ron Blomberg (.329), Bobby Murcer (.304), Thurman Munson (.301) Runs: Roy White (88), Bobby Murcer (83), Thurman Munson (80) RBI: Bobby Murcer (95), Graig Nettles (81), Thurman Munson (74)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Doc Medich: 14-9, 2.95Mel Stottlemyre: 16-16, 3.07
Attendance record	1,262,103 (5th of 12)

1973 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

In the waning echoes of the 1973 New York Yankees season, the once-mighty Bronx Bombers found themselves caught in a somber dance with disappointment, a dance that ended with a fourth-place finish in the American League East and a record of 80-82. It was a season that left the storied franchise gasping for relevance, a far cry from the glory days they had so often relished.

The Yankee saga unfolded against the backdrop of a team in transition, both physically and metaphorically. Manager Ralph Houk, steering the ship through stormy seas, could not rescue the once-proud pinstriped vessel from sinking to depths unbefitting of its legacy. The ominous finality of finishing below .500 haunted the team, a ghostly premonition of the lean years to come.

As the Yankees left their cherished “old” Yankee Stadium, a venerable cathedral of baseball, they also embarked on a forced pilgrimage to Shea Stadium, sharing their home with a National League counterpart. This nomadic existence symbolized the upheaval the team faced, both in terms of its physical space and its standing in the league hierarchy.

The narrative of the 1973 season reads like a tragic novel, with the Yankees arriving in Oakland as a barely breathing entity, a once-dominant force now struggling for survival. Players, torn between the optimism of mathematical possibilities and the harsh reality of their recent performances, found themselves in a twilight zone of shattered dreams.

A sense of impending doom permeated the team, fueled by a decline in both skill and spirit. The Yankees, who had soared to first place for six glorious weeks, now languished six games adrift. The fall from grace was swift, marked by 17 losses in the last 26 games, a grim testament to a team unraveling before its fans’ eyes.

Beneath the surface, deeper currents of discontent flowed. The Yankees, once synonymous with determination and desire, now faced accusations of lacking the intestinal fortitude required for a pennant chase. A pervasive attitude of surrender hung in the air, with players openly admitting to a collective deficiency in grit.

The once-heroic June and July, where solid pitching and hitting masked the team’s intangible weaknesses, felt like a distant memory. The players seemed to have lost the will to fight, their mechanical problems compounded by a glaring absence of resilience.

In the midst of this baseball tragedy, Bobby Murcer and Thurman Munson emerged as the lone beacons of hustle and heart. They defied the prevailing apathy, attempting to inject life into a team that seemed resigned to its fate. Murcer’s leadership, however, was confined to his on-field prowess, lacking the transformative power needed to reignite the team’s collective spirit.

A cry for a leader in the mold of Frank Robinson echoed through the Yankees’ despondent ranks. Manager Houk, respected but unable to lead by example on the field, found himself grappling with a squad yearning for inspiration from within. The absence of a motivator, a figure who could needle players into giving their all, left the Yankees grasping at ephemeral solutions.

For the Yankees, the real tragedy lay not just in their failure to win but in the squandering of talent acquired in the preceding months. As mechanical weaknesses sprouted like leaks in a sinking ship, the team scrambled for stopgap measures, realizing too late that motivation, determination, and desire were commodities they couldn’t buy or trade for.

The 1973 season, etched in the annals of the Yankees’ history, stands as a cautionary tale—an unraveling of a once-mighty dynasty, a narrative of a team that lost not just games but the very essence that had defined its greatness.

1973 New York Yankees: Change of the guard

In the backdrop of the Yankees’ tumultuous 1973 season, the winds of change blew through the franchise in the form of a significant ownership transition. The Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) announced the sale of the New York Yankees to a 12-man syndicate, spearheaded by Michael Burke, the incumbent president of the team, and George M. Steinbrenner. This marked the end of an era, as the Yankees were relinquished from the grasp of a media giant to a group of “absentee owners” led by figures from the business and sports realms.

The price tag for this historic transaction was $10 million in cash, a figure that raised eyebrows given its seemingly modest value in the contemporary sports market. Notably, it was $3.2 million less than CBS had paid for the franchise in 1964, the last year the Yankees clinched the American League pennant. Despite the perceived bargain, both Burke and Steinbrenner assured the public that the change in ownership would not adversely affect the loyal fanbase.

Mayor Lindsay, in his role as the Yankees’ landlord, welcomed the news of the ownership shift, emphasizing the city’s commitment to a $24 million program aimed at buying and modernizing Yankee Stadium. The city’s perspective portrayed the Yankees as valuable assets, reinforcing the notion that their presence was integral to the Bronx and the broader New York City community.

The syndicate, with only Burke and Steinbrenner present at the announcement, kept the identities of the other partners shrouded in mystery, teasing their introduction in the coming weeks. The secrecy added an air of intrigue to the transition, leaving fans and observers eager to learn who would be part of this new chapter in Yankees history.

The sale itself didn’t catch anyone entirely off guard, as Burke had hinted at CBS’s openness to offers in the preceding July. What did surprise some was the perceived low valuation of the franchise and CBS’s decision to sell at a significant loss compared to their initial purchase. The $10 million price tag for the Yankees, labeled a “bargain” by Steinbrenner, contrasted sharply with recent sports transactions, with other teams and franchises fetching higher sums.

As Burke, surrounded by photographs showcasing the Yankees’ storied history, explained the rationale behind the sale, he highlighted CBS’s desire to divest from a team that no longer comfortably fit into their plans. The Yankees’ fluctuating fortunes on the field, coupled with a dip in attendance, contributed to the decision to part ways with the franchise. Burke, a seasoned executive with a history tied to the Yankees, reflected on advising CBS to buy the team in 1964 and now finding himself at the helm of its sale.

The new ownership group, despite adopting an “absentee ownership” stance, expressed commitment to the team’s continued residence in New York. The transition came at a pivotal moment for the Yankees, capping their 50th anniversary in the “old” Yankee Stadium and paving the way for a temporary relocation to Shea Stadium while their home underwent significant reconstruction in 1974–1975.

The sale of the Yankees in 1973 became not just a financial transaction but a turning point in the team’s narrative, setting the stage for a new era under the stewardship of a diverse syndicate led by Burke and Steinbrenner. Little did they know that this ownership change would precede a period of both trials and triumphs for the New York Yankees, ultimately reshaping their destiny in the world of baseball.

1973 New York Yankees in videos

Postseason

(Did not qualify – Eliminated in Regular Season)

1973 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR	Salary
Bernie Allen	34	L	R	6′ 0″	175	Apr 16, 1939	12	17	14	-0.1	$32,500
Felipe Alou	38	R	R	6′ 0″	195	May 12, 1935	16	93	71	-1.3
Matty Alou	34	L	L	5′ 9″	160	Dec 22, 1938	14	123	123	1.4	$70,000
Fred Beene	30	B	R	5′ 9″	155	Nov 24, 1942	5	19	4	3
Ron Blomberg	24	L	R	6′ 1″	195	Aug 23, 1948	4	100	86	2.6
Tom Buskey	26	R	R	6′ 3″	200	Feb 20, 1947	1st	8	0	-0.5
Johnny Callison	34	L	R	5′ 10″	175	Mar 12, 1939	16	45	37	-1.6	$42,500
Horace Clarke	34	B	R	5′ 9″	175	Jun 2, 1939	9	148	141	0.6	$42,500
Casey Cox	31	R	R	6′ 5″	200	Jul 3, 1941	8	1	0	-0.1	$30,000
Rick Dempsey	23	R	R	6′ 0″	190	Sep 13, 1949	5	6	3	-0.1	$12,500
Pat Dobson	31	R	R	6′ 3″	190	Feb 12, 1942	7	22	21	0.6
Wayne Granger	29	R	R	6′ 2″	165	Mar 15, 1944	6	7	0	0
Jim Ray Hart	31	R	R	5′ 11″	185	Oct 30, 1941	11	114	91	0.1	$24,500
Mike Hegan	30	L	L	6′ 1″	188	Jul 21, 1942	8	37	35	0.2	$30,000
Mike Kekich	28	R	L	6′ 1″	196	Apr 2, 1945	7	5	4	-0.6
Steve Kline	25	R	R	6′ 3″	200	Oct 6, 1947	4	14	13	0.1
Hal Lanier	30	R	R	6′ 2″	180	Jul 4, 1942	10	35	22	0	$33,500
Sparky Lyle	28	L	L	6′ 1″	182	Jul 22, 1944	7	51	0	1.4	$70,000
Jim Magnuson	26	R	L	6′ 2″	190	Aug 18, 1946	3	8	0	-0.3
Lindy McDaniel	37	R	R	6′ 3″	195	Dec 13, 1935	19	47	3	3.3	$48,000
Sam McDowell	30	L	L	6′ 5″	190	Sep 21, 1942	13	16	15	0.5	$75,000
Doc Medich	24	R	R	6′ 5″	225	Dec 9, 1948	2	34	32	4.8
Gene Michael	35	B	R	6′ 2″	183	Jun 2, 1938	8	129	127	-0.9	$55,000
Jerry Moses	26	R	R	6′ 3″	210	Aug 9, 1946	7	21	17	0.1	$28,000
Thurman Munson	26	R	R	5′ 11″	190	Jun 7, 1947	5	147	142	7.2
Bobby Murcer	27	L	R	5′ 11″	160	May 20, 1946	7	160	160	5.1	$100,000
Graig Nettles	28	L	R	6′ 0″	180	Aug 20, 1944	7	160	159	5.6	$48,000
Dave Pagan	23	R	R	6′ 2″	175	Sep 15, 1949	1st	4	1	0.2	$6,000
Fritz Peterson	31	B	L	6′ 0″	185	Feb 8, 1942	8	31	31	0.7	$75,000
Celerino Sanchez	29	R	R	5′ 11″	160	Feb 3, 1944	2	34	11	-0.2
Duke Sims	32	L	R	6′ 2″	197	Jun 5, 1941	10	4	3	0.2
Fred Stanley	25	R	R	5′ 10″	165	Aug 13, 1947	5	26	21	0.3	$12,500
Mel Stottlemyre	31	R	R	6′ 1″	178	Nov 13, 1941	10	38	38	4.1
Ron Swoboda	29	R	R	6′ 2″	195	Jun 30, 1944	9	35	10	-0.8
Otto Velez	22	R	R	6′ 0″	170	Nov 29, 1950	1st	23	23	0.4	$7,800
Roy White	29	B	R	5′ 10″	160	Dec 27, 1943	9	162	162	3.5

1973 New York Yankees: Player additions, transactions, and trades

November 1972

• November 24: Traded a player to be named later and Rob Gardner to the Oakland Athletics. Received Matty Alou. The New York Yankees sent Rich McKinney (December 1, 1972) to the Oakland Athletics to complete the trade.
• November 27: Traded John Ellis, Jerry Kenney, Charlie Spikes, and Rusty Torres to the Cleveland Indians. Received Jerry Moses and Graig Nettles.

January 1973:

• January 10: Drafted Craig Mitchell in the 3rd round of the 1973 amateur draft (January Secondary), but did not sign the player.

February 1973

• February 28: Traded Tony Solaita to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Received George Kopacz.

March 1973

• March 24: Returned Steve Blateric to the Cincinnati Reds as part of a conditional deal.
• March 30: Sent Wade Blasingame to the St. Louis Cardinals as part of a conditional deal.

April 1973

• April 5: Traded Frank Baker to the Baltimore Orioles. Received Tommy Matchick.
• April 17: Purchased Jim Ray Hart from the San Francisco Giants. Released Casey Cox.

May 1973

• May 7: Signed Mike Ferraro as a free agent.

June 1973

• June 5: Drafted Mike Heath in the 2nd round of the 1973 amateur draft. Drafted Kerry Dineen in the 4th round of the 1973 amateur draft. Drafted LaMarr Hoyt in the 5th round of the 1973 amateur draft. Drafted Garth Iorg in the 8th round of the 1973 amateur draft.
• June 7: Purchased Sam McDowell from the San Francisco Giants. Traded players to be named later, Wayne Nordhagen, and Frank Tepedino to the Atlanta Braves. Received Pat Dobson. The New York Yankees sent Dave Cheadle (August 15, 1973) and Al Closter (September 5, 1973) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade.
• June 12: Traded Mike Kekich to the Cleveland Indians. Received Lowell Palmer.

July 1973

• July 30: Signed Jerry Kenney as a free agent.

August 1973

• August 7: Traded a player to be named later and cash to the St. Louis Cardinals. Received Wayne Granger. The New York Yankees sent Ken Crosby (September 12, 1973) to the St. Louis Cardinals to complete the trade.
• August 13: Bernie Allen player rights sold to the Montreal Expos.
• August 18: Received Mike Hegan from the Oakland Athletics as part of a conditional deal. Released Johnny Callison.

September 1973

• September 6: Matty Alou player rights sold to the St. Louis Cardinals. Felipe Alou selected by the Montreal Expos off waivers.
• September 24: Selected Duke Sims off waivers from the Detroit Tigers.

1973 New York Yankees: Player debuts

• Tom Buskey – 08-05-1973 – 26 years old
• Dave Pagan – 07-01-1973 – 23 years old
• Otto Velez – 09-04-1973 – 22 years old

1973 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA
C	Thurman Munson	26	147	576	519	80	156	29	4	20	74	4	6	48	64	0.301
1B	Felipe Alou	38	93	293	280	25	66	12	0	4	27	0	1	9	25	0.236
2B	Horace Clarke#	34	148	650	590	60	155	21	0	2	35	11	10	47	48	0.263
SS	Gene Michael#	35	129	446	418	30	94	11	1	3	47	1	3	26	51	0.225
3B	Graig Nettles*	28	160	641	552	65	129	18	0	22	81	0	0	78	76	0.234
LF	Roy White#	29	162	723	639	88	157	22	3	18	60	16	9	78	81	0.246
CF	Bobby Murcer*	27	160	672	616	83	187	29	2	22	95	6	7	50	67	0.304
RF	Matty Alou*	34	123	538	497	59	147	22	1	2	28	5	2	30	43	0.296
DH	Jim Ray Hart	31	114	378	339	29	86	13	2	13	52	0	2	36	45	0.254
DH	Ron Blomberg*	24	100	338	301	45	99	13	1	12	57	2	0	34	25	0.329
1B	Mike Hegan*	30	37	143	131	12	36	3	2	6	14	0	0	7	34	0.275
RF	Johnny Callison*	34	45	142	136	10	24	4	0	1	10	1	1	4	24	0.176
RF	Otto Velez	22	23	92	77	9	15	4	0	2	7	0	1	15	24	0.195
SS	Hal Lanier	30	35	90	86	9	18	3	0	0	5	0	0	3	10	0.209
SS	Fred Stanley	25	26	75	66	6	14	0	1	1	5	0	0	7	16	0.212
DH	Celerino Sanchez	29	34	67	64	12	14	3	0	1	9	1	1	2	12	0.219
C	Jerry Moses	26	21	64	59	5	15	2	0	0	3	0	0	2	6	0.254
2B	Bernie Allen*	34	17	62	57	5	13	3	0	0	4	0	0	5	5	0.228
DH	Ron Swoboda	29	35	47	43	6	5	0	0	1	2	0	0	4	18	0.116
C	Rick Dempsey	23	6	13	11	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	3	0.182
DH	Duke Sims*	32	4	12	9	3	3	0	0	1	1	0	0	3	1	0.333
	Team Totals	30.2	162	6064	5492	641	1435	212	17	131	616	47	43	489	680	0.261
	Rank in 12 AL teams				10	10	5	9	12	6		11	2	11	1	4

1973 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Mel Stottlemyre	31	16	16	0.5	3.07	38	38	0	19	4	0	273	259	112	93
SP	Doc Medich	24	14	9	0.609	2.95	34	32	2	11	3	0	235	217	84	77
SP	Fritz Peterson*	31	8	15	0.348	3.95	31	31	0	6	0	0	184.1	207	93	81
SP	Pat Dobson	31	9	8	0.529	4.17	22	21	0	6	1	0	142.1	150	72	66
SP	Sam McDowell*	30	5	8	0.385	3.95	16	15	1	2	1	0	95.2	73	47	42
SP	Steve Kline	25	4	7	0.364	4.01	14	13	1	2	1	0	74	76	39	33
CL	Sparky Lyle*	28	5	9	0.357	2.51	51	0	45	0	0	27	82.1	66	30	23
RP	Lindy McDaniel	37	12	6	0.667	2.86	47	3	32	1	0	10	160.1	148	54	51
RP	Fred Beene	30	6	0	1	1.68	19	4	11	0	0	1	91	67	21	17
RP	Jim Magnuson*	26	0	1	0	4.28	8	0	8	0	0	0	27.1	38	17	13
RP	Tom Buskey	26	0	1	0	5.4	8	0	6	0	0	1	16.2	18	12	10
	Wayne Granger	29	0	1	0	1.76	7	0	6	0	0	0	15.1	19	7	3
	Mike Kekich*	28	1	1	0.5	9.2	5	4	0	0	0	0	14.2	20	15	15
	Dave Pagan	23	0	0		2.84	4	1	2	0	0	0	12.2	16	4	4
	Casey Cox	31	0	0		6	1	0	1	0	0	0	3	5	3	2
	Team Totals	29.6	80	82	0.494	3.34	162	162	115	47	10	39	1427.2	1379	610	530
	Rank in 12 AL teams		7	6		3				8	2	4	12	4	2	2

1973 New York Yankees: Monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (19)	9	10	0.474
May (28)	15	13	0.536
June (29)	19	10	0.655
July (32)	17	15	0.531
August (27)	9	18	0.333
September (27)	11	16	0.407

Record vs. opponents/ Team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Baltimore Orioles (18)	9	9	0.500
Boston Red Sox (18)	4	14	0.222
California Angels (12)	6	6	0.500
Chicago White Sox (12)	4	8	0.333
Cleveland Indians (18)	11	7	0.611
Detroit Tigers (18)	11	7	0.611
Kansas City Royals (12)	6	6	0.500
Milwaukee Brewers (18)	8	10	0.444
Minnesota Twins (12)	9	3	0.750
Oakland Athletics (12)	4	8	0.333
Texas Rangers (12)	8	4	0.667

1973 New York Yankees All-Stars

• Bobby Murcer
• Sparky Lyle
• Thurman Munson

1973 New York Yankees: Awards and honors

Gold Glove

Thurman Munson

All-Star Appearances

• Bobby Murcer
• Sparky Lyle
• Thurman Munson

Other Achievements

• Bobby Murcer finished 9th in AL MVP Voting.
• Doc Medich finished 3rd in AL Rookie of the Year Voting.

1973 New York Yankees: Bobby Murcer’s six-figure symphony

Bobby Murcer’s ascent to a $100,000 contract with the New York Yankees before the 1972 season marked a watershed moment in baseball history. The significance of this monumental contract was underscored by the fact that Murcer became only the second player in Yankees history, following in the legendary footsteps of Mickey Mantle, to command a base salary of $100,000 for a single season.

The negotiation and signing of this contract were emblematic of Murcer’s growing stature in the baseball world. Recognized for his exceptional skills on both sides of the field, Murcer’s achievements had not only caught the attention of fans but also positioned him as a pivotal figure within the Yankees organization. His ability to contribute significantly to the team’s performance made him deserving of a salary that mirrored his impact.

As the 1972 season unfolded, Murcer’s performance validated the faith the Yankees had placed in him with the lucrative contract. On March 6, 1973, he once again entered the negotiation arena, seeking and successfully securing another $100,000 salary for the upcoming season. This made him only the third Yankee to reach the coveted six-figure mark, a testament to his continued excellence on the field.

During the 1973 season, Murcer showcased his prowess, finishing third in the league in hits with an impressive tally of 187. His batting average of .301 ranked him fourth in the league, and he displayed his prowess as a run producer, landing seventh in RBIs with 95. These stellar statistics solidified his standing as one of the premier players in the American League.

Beyond his offensive contributions, Murcer’s defensive skills were equally noteworthy. Leading the American League in assists for the second time in four years, he demonstrated a well-rounded mastery of the game. His exceptional performance earned him a spot on the Sporting News All-Star team for the third time in his career, a testament to his consistent excellence.

Accolades continued to pour in for Murcer as he earned Second-team All-MLB honors by both the AP and NEA for the third time in three seasons. Though narrowly missing his second Gold Glove, finishing fourth in the voting among American League outfielders, Murcer’s impact on the field was undeniable.

One of the defining moments of Murcer’s remarkable 1973 season occurred on July 13, when he etched his name in the annals of baseball history. In a spectacular performance against the Kansas City Royals, Murcer smashed three home runs, accounting for all five runs in a 5–0 victory. This extraordinary feat showcased his ability to single-handedly carry the team to victory and further solidified his reputation as a clutch performer.

In retrospect, Bobby Murcer’s $100,000 contract signings before the 1972 and 1973 seasons were not just financial milestones but symbolic acknowledgments of his status as a cornerstone player for the New York Yankees. His exceptional contributions on both offense and defense demonstrated why he deserved to be among the elite earners in the league. Murcer’s legacy, carved through these seasons, resonates as a testament to his talent, dedication, and the historic significance of those landmark contracts.

How do you rate the 1973 New York Yankees team?