Ken Kravec was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1973. Ken pitched for AA Knoxville from 1973-1975. After a good season in 1975 (14-7, 2.41 ERA), Ken was brought up in September and made one start and one relief appearance (0-1, 6.23 ERA)
In 1976 Kravec was in the minors (8-5, 4.33 ERA in 24 games for the AAA Iowa Oaks) until mid-August. He was with the White Sox for the rest of the season and was 1-5 with a 4.89 ERA in 8 starts.
At 0:40 there is some footage of Ken warming up in the bullpen during one of the "shorts" games the White Sox played in 1976
Kravec was in Iowa to begin the 1977 season. After pitching well for the Oaks, Ken was brought up in late May. At the time of his recall Ken was leading the American Association in strikeouts
Ken pitched well for the White Sox and won 11 games in 1977.
Kravec struggled a bit in 1978 and was sent to the minors for a couple of weeks in May after starting the season 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA. Ken was recalled on May 16 and spent the rest of the season with the White Sox. Kravec pitched better after his minor league stint and was 11-16 with a 4.08 ERA in 30 starts.
Ken had his best year in 1979, leading the White Sox in victories. He was 15-13 with a 3.74 ERA in 35 starts and had a save in his only relief appearance. It looks like wildness was a problem for Kravec -- he led the AL in hit batsmen both in 1978 (10) and in 1979 (14).
In 1980 Kravec struggled with muscle spasms behind his shoulder in spring training and started the season coming back from a pinched nerve in his back. Ken was a starter until early July, but after posting a 6.19 ERA he was put in the bullpen. He made two appearances before going on the disabled list in late July. Kravec missed about a month and then made a few more appearances in August and September. Ken ended up with a 3-6 record and a 6.94 ERA.
During spring training in 1981 Kravec was traded to the Chicago Cubs for reliever Dennis Lamp. The White Sox had a surplus of young left-handed starters. Ken started the year as a starter and had a good first start. But Kravec was roughed up in his next two starts and went to the bullpen. After the strike Ken was put back in the starting rotation. For the season Kravec was 1-6 with a 5.06 ERA in 24 games (12 starts).
In 1982 Kravec split the season between AAA (2-6, 6.98 ERA in 14 starts) and the Cubs (1-1, 6.12 ERA in 13 games). After the 1982 season Ken became a free agent.
Kravec pitched in AA for the Oakland A's organization but he hung 'em up after the season.
Ken made two appearances for the Class A Fort Myers Royals in 1987.
Kravec was a scout for the Kansas City Royals in 1989 when he signed to play in the Senior League.
1977 Stats:
Chicago White Sox: 11-8, 4.10 ERA in 26 games (25 starts)
Billy Martin started his major league career in 1950 as a second baseman with the New York Yankees. Martin was a favorite of manager Casey Stengel.
In 1953 Billy set a record for a six-game World Series with 12 base hits.
Martin played for the Yankees until 1957. Several Yankee players were involved in an altercation at the Copacabana nightclub during a celebration of Billy's 29th birthday. Martin was traded to the Kansas City A's on June 15.
Billy was heartbroken over being traded from the Yankees. He played for six teams from 1957-1961.
After his playing carer Martin went into coaching. He was the third base coach for the 1965 AL pennant-winning Minnesota Twins.
The Twins won the AL West in 1969, but they were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Championship Series and Martin was fired after the season. Billy flattened one of his pitchers (Dick Bosman) after he had gone after pitching coach Art Fowler. Bosman was upset with Fowler after he had reported to Martin that Bosman hadn't run all of his sprints. Teammate Bob Allison was involved as well and sustained some damage while trying to break things up.
Billy was hired to manage the Detroit Tigers in 1971. He ran the club for three years and won the AL East title in 1972. Martin resigned as manager during spring training in 1973 but was talked into returning to the team. In September 1973 the Tigers fired Martin. Martin had been suspended for ordering his pitchers to throw spitballs against the Cleveland Indians in response to Gaylord Perry being "allowed" to throw the spitter.
The Yankees won the AL Pennant in 1976 but were swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series.
The 1977 New York Yankees got a lot of ink in the press. They were controversial and they didn't get along well, but they were a great team. The Yankees fought off late season challenges by the Boston Red Sox and the Baltimore Orioles to win the AL East by 2 1/2 games. The Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship Series and the LA Dodgers in the World Series to claim their first World Championship since 1962.
The Oakland A's hired Martin to manage the team in 1980. Billy injected new life into the club and the A's finished above .500 in 1980. The A's won the AL East during the 1981 strike season but were knocked out of the playoffs by the Yankees.
The A's faltered in 1982 as several pitchers were injured. Billy was fired by the A's after the season. Soon after his firing by the A's, Martin was hired to manage the Yankees again for the 1983 season.
During this stint as Yankee manager, Martin was involved in the infamous "Pine Tar Game" when he protested a home run hit by George Brett of the Kansas City Royals. The umpires upheld Martin's protest, which caused a memorable reaction by Brett. Martin was suspended twice during the season for run-ins with umpires. After the 1983 season Martin was transferred to an "adviser" for the Yankees and was replaced as manager by Yogi Berra.
Billy became manager of the Yankees again in 1985 after the controversial firing of Yogi Berra. He missed some time while recovering from a punctured lung suffered when he was getting an injection for back spasms. Martin suffered a broken arm during an altercation with pitcher Ed Whitson in a hotel barroom in September. Even with all of these incidents, the Yankees won 97 games and finished second in the AL East.
June 18 - Martin and Reggie Jackson almost come to blows in the dugout during a nationally televised game. Jackson didn't hustle while retrieving a base hit and Martin sent Paul Blair out to replace Reggie in the middle of the inning. Martin came close to losing his job because of the incident and because of feuds with several players, but he survived and finished the season with the club.
July 19 - Reggie Jackson is accused by a 13-year-old boy of roughing him up after the All Star Game in New York.
Record: 100-62, .617, 1st in AL East, 2 1/2 games ahead of Baltimore and Boston
Attendance: 2,103,092 (1st in AL)
Team Batting: .281 (2nd in AL)
Team HR: 184 (3rd in AL)
Team Stolen Bases: 93 (7th in AL)
Team ERA: 3.61 (3rd in AL)
Team Fielding: .979 (3rd in AL)
All Stars: Willie Randolph (starting 2B), Reggie Jackson (starting RF), Thurman Munson (C), Graig Nettles (3B), Sparky Lyle (P)
Manny Mota was a pinch hitter by this time in his career. He made only one appearance in the field in 1977 -- the rest of his appearances were as a pinch hitter. Mota made the most of his appearances, batting .395 in 38 at bats.
Dave LaRoche split the 1977 season between Cleveland and California. On May 11 Dave was traded with Dave Schuler to the Angels for Bruce Bochte, Sid Monge, and $250,000. LaRoche struggled with the Indians, but he was a much better fit in the Angels' bullpen and he had a good year.
1977 Stats:
Cleveland Indians: 2-2, 4 saves, 5.30 ERA in 13 games
California Angels: 6-5, 13 saves, 3.10 ERA in 46 games
After starting as shortstop for the Braves in 1976, Darrel Chaney was a part-time 2B and SS in 1977. He missed the first month of the season and also missed a lot of time in August. Chaney was used as a pinch hitter 15 times in 1977, which seems odd considering his stats for the year.
