El pasado mi\u00c3\u00a9rcoles 21 de julio de 2010 falleci\u00c3\u00b3 en su casa de Winter Haven, Fla el manager de los Yanquis de Nueva York, Tigres de Detroit y Medias Rojas de Boston. De inmediato im\u00c3\u00a1genes de mis lecturas sobre los Yanquis de comienzos de los a\u00c3\u00b1os sesenta tintinearon en la pantalla de mis recuerdos. El eco de sus declaraciones y de algunos de los peloteros de esos equipos reson\u00c3\u00b3 en alg\u00c3\u00ban lugar de mi cr\u00c3\u00a1neo.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Algunas veces cuando tienes grandes jugadores, puedes echarlo a perder todo, \u00c3\u00a9l nunca hizo eso. Nunca se exced\u00c3\u00ada en sus funciones. Era probablemente, m\u00c3\u00a1s que un estratega, un psic\u00c3\u00b3logo\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, dijo Tony Kubek el campocorto de los Mulos de Manhattan a principios de los sesenta.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Para m\u00c3\u00ad sencillamente era aquel estoico hombre que resist\u00c3\u00ada en el dugout todos esos momentos dif\u00c3\u00adciles que le toc\u00c3\u00b3 vivir entre 1966 y 1973. Me toc\u00c3\u00b3 escuchar y leer los juegos de sus \u00c3\u00baltimas 4 temporadas con los Yanquis. En 1970 lleg\u00c3\u00b3 segundo de Baltimore y los a\u00c3\u00b1os siguientes mantuvo al equipo sobre .500 a excepci\u00c3\u00b3n de 1973. Houk fue qui\u00c3\u00a9n le insufl\u00c3\u00b3 a Thurman Munson en su temporada de novato (1970), la confianza para establecerse en la Gran Carpa. Le dijo que pod\u00c3\u00ada ganar m\u00c3\u00a1s juegos con su defensa, que se despreocupara del bateo. Munson termin\u00c3\u00b3 bateando .302 ese a\u00c3\u00b1o, adem\u00c3\u00a1s de ganar el premio de Novato del A\u00c3\u00b1o.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Sus mejores temporadas como manager fueron las tres primeras con los Yanquis. Conquist\u00c3\u00b3 la Serie Mundial de 1961 amparado por los bates de Mickey Mantle y Roger Maris, y tambien la de 1962. En el s\u00c3\u00a9ptimo juego de aquel Cl\u00c3\u00a1sico de Octubre ante los Gigantes de San Francisco y ganando 1-0 en el cierre del noveno, Houk sali\u00c3\u00b3 a conversar con su pitcher Ralph Terry,\u00c2\u00a0 Matty Alou corr\u00c3\u00ada en tercera, Willie Mays en segunda. Con dos outs, Houk le pregunt\u00c3\u00b3 a Terry si prefer\u00c3\u00ada lanzarle o pasar por bolas a Willie McCovey. El pitcher contest\u00c3\u00b3 que quer\u00c3\u00ada lanzarle y Houk confi\u00c3\u00b3 en \u00c3\u00a9l. McCovey bate\u00c3\u00b3 una l\u00c3\u00adnea trepidante que se incrust\u00c3\u00b3 en el guante del segunda base Bobby Richardson.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Ralph fue un gran hombre de b\u00c3\u00a9isbol que manejaba bien a sus peloteros y estos daban lo mejor por \u00c3\u00a9l\u00e2\u20ac\u009d, dijo el inquilino del Sal\u00c3\u00b3n de la Fama de los Tigres Al Kaline en una declaraci\u00c3\u00b3n emitida por el equipo. \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Era muy respetado y a todos les gustaba compartir con \u00c3\u00a9l. Disfrut\u00c3\u00a9 mucho jugando para \u00c3\u00a9l mi \u00c3\u00baltimo a\u00c3\u00b1o\u00e2\u20ac\u009d.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Houk se comi\u00c3\u00b3 las verdes en Detroit desde 1974 hasta 1977 cuando la mejor ubicaci\u00c3\u00b3n que obtuvo fue un cuarto lugar. En 1978 termin\u00c3\u00b3 con marca de 86-76. Esa temporada le dio la oportunidad de jugar al camarero Lou Whitaker y al campocorto Alan Trammell, quienes se convertir\u00c3\u00adan en la piedra angular del equipo que gan\u00c3\u00b3 la Serie Mundial de 1984. En 1976 Houk tambien le dio la oportunidad de lanzar a un joven llamado Mark \u00e2\u20ac\u0153El P\u00c3\u00a1jaro\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fydrich y este fue capaz de terminar la campa\u00c3\u00b1a con marca de 19-9, 2.34 de efectividad (tope en Grandes Ligas), gan\u00c3\u00b3 el premio Novato del A\u00c3\u00b1o, lider de la Liga Americana en juegos completos (24), quinto en la Liga Americana en boletos por cada 9 innings (1.91), quinto en la Liga Americana en blanqueos (5), tercero en la Liga Americana en WHIP (1.079).<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0En 1981 se convirti\u00c3\u00b3 en manager de los Medias Rojas de Boston. El cuarto manager hasta ese momento de cinco que han dirigido a los Yanquis y los Medias Rojas. Frank Chance dirigi\u00c3\u00b3 a los Yanquis en 1913 y 1914 y a Boston en 1923. Joe McCarthy Yanquis: 1930-46. 8 Series Mundiales. Medias Rojas: 1948-50. 2 segundos y un tercer lugar. Bucky Harris. Medias Rojas: 1934. cuarto lugar. Yanquis: 1947-48. 1 Serie Mundial. Cuarto lugar. Don Zimmer. Medias Rojas: 1976-80. 1 quinto. 2 segundos y dos terceros lugares. Yanquis: 1999. interino de Joe Torre.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Houk dej\u00c3\u00b3 los siguientes n\u00c3\u00bameros con los Yanquis ante los Medias Rojas: 100 ganados, 98 perdidos (1961-63, 1966-73). Gan\u00c3\u00b3 5 de 11 series particulares y una qued\u00c3\u00b3 igualada.<\/p>\n
Los n\u00c3\u00bameros de Houk con los Medias Rojas ante los Yanquis: 24 ganados, 21 perdidos (1981-1984). Se adjudic\u00c3\u00b3 tres de las 4 series particulares la otra qued\u00c3\u00b3 igualada.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0 La marca general de Houk como manager de los Yanquis fue: 944 ganados, 806 perdidos (.539). Tres primeros lugares entre 1961 y 1963. \u00c3\u0161ltimo lugar en 1966. Noveno lugar en 1967. Quinto lugar en 1968 y 1969. Segundo en 1970. Cuarto del \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc71 al \u00e2\u20ac\u02dc73.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0La marca general de Houk como dirigente de los Medias Rojas fue: 283 victorias, 259 derrotas (.522). Quinto lugar en 1981. Tercero en 1982. Sexto en 1983. Cuarto en 1984.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0 Durante su estad\u00c3\u00ada en Boston le dio la oportunidad de empezar a mostrar su capacidad a peloteros como Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst y Marty Barrett, parte de la espina dorsal del equipo que gan\u00c3\u00b3 el bander\u00c3\u00adn de la Liga Americana en 1986<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Houk se retir\u00c3\u00b3 del b\u00c3\u00a9isbol\u00c2\u00a0 luego de servir como asistente especial del gerente general de los Mellizos de Minnesota Andy MacPhail, entre 1987 y 1989. All\u00c3\u00ad disfrut\u00c3\u00b3 del triun fo en la Serie Mundial de 1987 ante los Cardenales de San Luis.<\/p>\n
\u00c2\u00a0Alfonso L. Tusa C.<\/p>\n
On July 21st<\/sup>, 2010; Ralph Houk, the skipper of the New York Yankees, the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox died in his Winter Haven, Fla.\u00c2\u00a0 home. Immediately the images of my readings about the Yankees from the beginning of the sixties flashed in my mind. The reflected sound of his statements and of some of his players\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 bounced against the back of my skull.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0\u00e2\u20ac\u0153Sometimes when you have good players, you can mess it up and he didn’t do that,” Tony Kubeck, the short stop of those Yankees, said. “He didn’t overmanage. He was probably, more than a strategist, a handler of men.”<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0According to what I watched from the Tv, Houk was that stoic man who resisted in the Yankees dugout all those hard times he had to deal with from 1966 through 1973. I listened to the radio and read about his last four seasons with the Yanks. In 1970 he arrived second to Baltimore and the next years he kept the team playing over .500 but 1973. Houk was the one who inspired Thurman Munson in his rookie season (1970) by telling him that he didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t have to worry about hitting because he could win more games with his defense behind the plate. Munson finished hitting for .302 that season and won the Rookie of the Year Award.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0His best seasons as manager were his first three with the Yankees. He won the 1961 World Series behind Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris bats and Whitey Ford pitching. He repeated the World Series in 1962. In the seventh game of that October Classic before the San Francisco Giants, the Yankees won 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth inning. Houk jogged to the mound to talk to his pitcher Ralph Terry. Matty Alou ran in third, Willie Mays in second with 2 outs. Houk asked Terry what he wanted to do. To walk Willie McCovey or to face him. Terry said that he wanted to face McCovey. Houk trusted Terry. McCovey hit a powerful line drive that stopped in the second baseman glove Bobby Richardson.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0“Ralph was a great baseball man who handled his players well and they played hard for him,” Tigers Hall of Famer Al Kaline said in a statement released by the team. “He was well respected and a fun guy to be around. I enjoyed playing for him during my last year.”<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Houk assumed the revamping process of the Detroit Tigres from 1974 to 1977. The best classification he got was a fourth place in 1977. In 1978 he finished with an 86-76 record, the only time he finished over .500 (winning percentage) during his period in Detroit. That season Houk gave the chance of playing everyday to second baseman Lou Whitaker and short stop Alan Trammell who later became the cornerstone of the team that won the World Series in 1984. In 1976, Houk also gave the chance of pitching in the Tigers rotation to a young man named Mark \u00e2\u20ac\u0153The Bird\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Fydrich. Fydrich finished the season with a 19-9 record, 2.34 ERA (the best in MLB), won the Rookie of the Year Award, completed 24 games (leader in the American League), fifth in the AL with 1.91 walks per nine innings pitched, fifth in the AL with 5 shutouts, third in the AL with a 1.079 WHIP.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0In 1981 Houk accepted to manage the Boston Red Sox. He became the fourth skipper who has managed both the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. There have been five skippers who have managed both teams: Frank Chance managed the Yanks in 1913 and 1914, and the Red Sox \u00c2\u00a0in 1923. Joe McCarthy, Yankees: 1930-46. 8 World Series. Red Sox: 1948-50. 2 second places and a\u00c2\u00a0third one. Bucky Harris. Red Sox: 1934. fourth place. Yankees: 1947-48. 1 World Series. Fourth place. Don Zimmer. Red Sox: 1976-80. 1 fifth place. 2 seconds and two thirds places. Yankees: 1999. substitute of Joe Torre.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0The record of Ralph Houk as the Yankees skipper before the Boston Red Sox was: 100 wins, 98 losses (1961-1963, 1966-1973). He won 5 of 11 particular series between the 2 teams. One series ended tied.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0The record of Houk as the Red Sox skipper before the New York Yankees was: 24 wins, 21 losses. He won 3 of the 4 particular series. One series ended tied.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0The general record of Houk as the Yankees skipper was: 944 wins, 806 losses (.539).Three first places from 1961 through 1963. Last place in 1966. Ninth place in 1967. Fifth places in 1968 and 1969. Second place in 1970. Fourth places in 1971, 1972, 1973.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0The general record of Houk as the Red Sox skipper was: 283 wins, 259 losses (.522). Fifth place in 1981. Third place in 1982. Sixth place in 1983. Fourth place in 1984.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0During his period in Boston, Houk gave the chance of beginning to play regularly to players as Wade Boggs, \u00c2\u00a0Roger Clemens, Bruce Hurst and Marty Barrett, part of the core of the team that won the American League pennant in 1986.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Houk retired from baseball after serving as special assistant of the Minnesota Twins general manager Andy MacPhail between 1987 and 1989. He enjoyed the victory in the 1987 World Series versus the Saint Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n \u00c2\u00a0Alfonso L. Tusa C.<\/p>\n Alfonso is a writer whose work has been featured in Venezuela\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s daily newspaper, El Nacional and in the magazine Gente en Ambiente, and he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s collaborated on several articles for newspapers, including the daily paper Tal Cual. He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s also written three books and biographies for SABR\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s BioProject.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" El pasado mi\u00c3\u00a9rcoles 21 de julio de 2010 falleci\u00c3\u00b3 en su casa de Winter Haven, Fla el manager de los Yanquis de Nueva York, Tigres de Detroit y Medias Rojas de Boston. De inmediato im\u00c3\u00a1genes de mis lecturas sobre los Yanquis de comienzos de los a\u00c3\u00b1os sesenta tintinearon en la pantalla de mis recuerdos. El eco de sus declaraciones y de algunos de los peloteros de esos equipos reson\u00c3\u00b3 en alg\u00c3\u00ban lugar de mi cr\u00c3\u00a1neo.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":75,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[9389,9383,145,5012,9381,9382,4259,1794,9387,8484,8569,2712,2571,746,9386,5434,56,1054,9385,9384],"class_list":["post-7045","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-bolas","tag-de-mis-recuerdos","tag-dugout","tag-gigantes-de-san-francisco","tag-huella","tag-matty-alou","tag-medias-rojas-de-boston","tag-mickey-mantle","tag-novato","tag-noveno","tag-ralph-houk","tag-ralph-terry","tag-roger-maris","tag-thurman-munson","tag-tigres","tag-tony-kubek","tag-willie-mays","tag-willie-mccovey","tag-winter-haven","tag-yanquis"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7045","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/75"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7045"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7045\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7045"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7045"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/seamheads.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7045"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}