Jim Coates had an on and off 1961 season on the hill.
But when the money was on the table, so was Jim.
He started the season in the bullpen. He even pitched one inning of the season openor against Minnesota. Coates gave up 1 run and the Yankees took a spanking, 6-0.
Then he started his first game 11 days later against Baltimore, in the second game of a doubleheader. The game is notable because it was actually called after 7 innings. Coates pitched 5 innings, gave up 7 hits and 3 earned runs an left with a 5-3 lead.
He was denied his first win, however, as the Orioles scored twice in the bottom of the 7th inning of Bill Stafford.
Coates would pitch just once more in April, on the last day of the month. It was a scoreless inning in a 2-1 Yankee loss to the Senators.
In May, Jimmy would pitched 11 times, all in relief. He would be quite effective as he went 5-2 with 2 saves in those appearances. His 5th win was most impressive, as he tossed 6 innings of scoreless, 2-hit relief against the Chi Sox in a 5-3 Yankee win.
Earlier, he pitched in both games of a May 14th doubleheader against the Tigers, who would hound the Yankees all season long. In the first game, he tossed a scoreless 11th inning (using the number 11 alot, eh?) for his second win on the season. Then in the nightcap, he tossed 5 innings of 1 run, 2 hit ball for his third win.
These fine performances dropped his ERA to 2.48 by the end of the month, and a spot in the starting rotation in June.
June 5th brought in a win (against the Twins) for Coates, who was now 6-2. He allowed 8 hits and just 2 earned runs in 8 innings of work. But his next 2 starts saw him allow 11 earned runs in 7.2 innings. So it was back to the bullpen, where he would earn two more saves, but no more wins.
July was a month of exclusive relief, but Coates wasn't any more effective. Curiously, he didn't suffer any losses, nor did he pick up a win or a save.
But of the 8 games he pitched that month, he was routed in 4 of them, pushing his ERA to 4.74.
Manager Ralph Houk must have had faith in him, because in August, Jim was inexplicably back in the rotation. But it proved to be a fine move.
First, he went all the way in a 2-1 nailbitter over the Twins on the 5th (4 hits allowed). Then he shutout the expansion Angels on another complete game 4 hitter. On Auguest 13, in the second game of a doubleheader against Washington, he again went 9. This time, though, he allowed 10 hits and 4 runs. The Yankees scored 9 runs themselves, however, and Coates' record was now 9-3.
Just when he finds his grove...
The wheels then came off the chariot!
Aug 18 vs Cleveland, 2.2 IP, 7H, 5ER, 1BB, 0K
Aug 24 vs Los Angeles, 3.2 IP, 6H, 2ER, 5BB, 1K
So it was back to the bullpen, where he pitched 3 innings, 1 run, 4K against the Twins on last day of August. He did not get a decision, and the two above losses sent his record to 9-5.
In September, Coates was back in the starting rotation and this time he really came through.
Another 4 hitter, this time against Minny on September 5th, brought him to double digits in wins. Then his next start, a 6 inning, 5 hitter against the Indians, put him to 11-5, and that would be his last decision of the season.
His next start was his last on the season. Against the Chicago White Sox on September 14, again the second game of a doubleheader, Coates pitched 7.1 innings, gave up 8 hits, but just one run. The Yankees eventually lost the game 4-3. Coates, though, he brought down his ERA to 3.66.
And it continued to drop despite just pitching out the 'pen. He was credited with a hold on September 23 against the Red Sox, pitching 3 fine innings. Then against Baltimore four days later, he tossed 3 innings of 1 hit ball. Finally, on the 30th, he went 2 innings, gave up 2 hits, no runs and had 3 strikeouts for the save, his 5th of the season.
Coates' final numbers for 1961 were: 11-5, 5 saves, 1 hold, and an ERA of 3.44 for 141 1/3 innings pitched.
Ford actually started the inning. Right off the back, Elio Chacon singled. That was it for Ford.
So it was Coates pitching in the 6th inning, harnessing a 4-0 lead, a runner on first and no one out. Eddie Kasko flied out, Vada Pinson grounded out. Chacon was now on second, but Wally Post flied out to end the inning.
The Yankees added three runs in the top of the 7th to extend their lead to 7-0 and Coates continued his fine outing by retiring Gene Freese, Gordy Coleman and pinch hitter Gus Bell in order.
Pitcher (and later, writer) Jim Brosnan, who had given up the three runs in the seventh, settled down, and did likewise to the Yankees in the top of the eighth. Coates had to face another pinch hitter, Jerry Lynch in the bottom of the frame, but Jim struck him out. Chacon this time could only pop out, and Kasko grounded out to Tony Kubek.
The Reds third pitcher of the game Bill Henry easily retired the Yankees on two strikeouts and a pop-up in the top of the ninth. Now Coates was just three outs away from preserving the shutout.
Pinson popped out to Skowron at first. But then Frank Robinson walked and then Post singled to left. Coates was going to have to earn it.
He bore down to strikeout Freese.
Then Coleman flied out to Hector Lopez in right. The Yankees had won 7-0, Coates had gotten then save. They would win game 5, 13-5 to win the series 4-1.
References
The World Series Of 1961. Dir.
Lew Fonseca. Prod. Dick Borden. Perf. Mel Allen. Major League Baseball
Productions., 1961. DVD.
Golenbock, Peter. "1961." Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print. pp. 405-445.
Mantle, Mickey and Herskowitz, Mickey. All My Octobers. Harper Collins, 1994, pp. 129-145.
Smith, Ron. The Sporting News Presents 61*: The Story Of Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle And One Magical Summer. St. Louis: Sporting News, 2001. Print.
Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 16 Aug. 2011.
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