Former Yankee, Marine Hank Bauer dead at 84

[browntown653]

R.I.P.

NEW YORK -- Hank Bauer, the tough ex-Marine who set a World Series record with a 17-game hitting streak for the New York Yankees and later managed the Baltimore Orioles to the 1966 title, died Friday. He was 84.

During 14 seasons in the major leagues, a career that spanned from 1948-61, Bauer became a three-time All-Star outfielder, helping the Yankees win seven World Series titles and nine AL pennants. He spent his first 12 seasons with the Yankees and his final two with the Kansas City Athletics.

In his final Series appearance, he hit .323 with four homers and eight RBIs as the Yankees beat the Milwaukee Braves in seven games in 1958.

Bauer managed the Kansas City A's to ninth-place finishes in 1961 and 1962, then took over as manager of the Orioles in 1964.

In 1966, he managed the Orioles to a 97-63 record and a World Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Bauer left the Orioles during the 1968 season, and his final managing job was with the Oakland A's the following year.

Bauer was a pallbearer at former teammate Mickey Mantle's funeral in 1995.

Bauer joined the Marines shortly after Pearl Harbor and saw action in several battles. He maintained his hard edge throughout his career on the field.

[Jim Colyer]

I remember Bauer as a kid. He was one of my favorites.

New York Yankees http://jimcolyer.com/papers/entry?id=41