A Look Back: Remembering Yankees’ Sensation Tom Tresh

Yesterday would’ve marked the 76th birthday of former New York Yankees’ infielder and outfielder Tom Tresh. What made Tresh so special in Yankee lore, is that prior to current shortstop and team captain Derek Jeter, Tresh was the last Bombers’ shortstop to win American League Rookie of the Year honors in 1962. During that World Championship campaign, which also happened to be the last of an era, Tresh hit .286 with 20 home runs and 93 driven in. Not bad for a 23-year-old rookie out of…you guessed it, just like Jeter, the State of Michigan. Tresh was the son of former big league catcher Mike Tresh.

In seven full seasons in the Bronx, a period that would bear witness to the crumbling of the once-mighty Yankees, along with the end of icons Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford in New York, Tresh continued to produce for a less than stellar franchise. He would make the American League All-Star team twice (1962 & 1963), and would finish in the top 20 for American League Most Valuable Player voting four times. His highest finish being ninth, in 1965. That season, he hit .279 with 26 home runs and 79 RBI. He also won his only Gold Glove award as an outfielder.

Tresh during his Yankees’ career, played both the infield and outfield, and would serve managers Ralph Houk, Yogi Berra and Johnny Keane in an almost super-utility role during the 1960s in New York. He had four 20 or more home run seasons, along with five 60 or more RBI seasons. After 45 games with the Yankees during the 1968 season, the Bombers sent Tresh to the Detroit Tigers, where he would finish the final 94 games of his big league career. He retired at the end of the 1968 season at the age of 31.

More from Yankees News

• Did Yankees fans bully Hal Steinbrenner into signing Aaron Judge, Carlos Rodón?
• Andrew Benintendi-White Sox deal proves Yankees were right to prioritize Carlos Rodón
• Twins already bailing on Gary Sánchez emphasizes Yankees’ trade failure
• New Yankees No. 2 Carlos Rodón hates Astros, dominates them
• 3 cost-effective free agents who can fill out Yankees roster after Aaron Judge deal

Tom Tresh remained in his native Michigan, where he worked for Central Michigan University. He is also the inventor of the Slide-Rite, which is a tool used to help young players learn the proper techniques of sliding in sports such as baseball, soccer, and softball. On October 15th, 2008, Tresh passed away at the age of 70 from a massive heart attack.

While Tresh might not be considered one of the greatest Yankees of all-time, he certainly made his mark on the franchise during one of their least successful periods in franchise history during the 1960s. Here’s wishing a belated Happy Birthday to the late Tom Tresh.