BILL SKOWRON
The Yankees were loaded in the 1950s and right through to1964. Mickey Mantle certainly is a name that surfaces in any Yankee discussion of that era, but the one who I remember is Bill Skowron. Also known affectionately as “Moose.” The name was the result not of size, but a lousy haircut that made him look like Mussolini and that was eventually migrated into Moose.
Skowron was simply not a big home run hitter. In his career, his highest total was 28 and for his career just 211. Skowron never led the league in any notable offensive category – RBI, runs, slugging and with RBI Skowron never came close to having a season with a 100. Skowron was excellent, but not spectacular first baseman, either.
The key is Fenway Park. What would Skowron have accomplished with a park far friendlier to his pull hitting? The numbers give some insight into that and why I considered him the most feared Yankee at Fenway. In 106 games and 378 at-bats, Skowron hit 24 home runs and had 77 RBI. Skowron was a .282 career hitter, but at Fenway that jumped to .333 and a .965 OPS.
In 1889 at-bats at Yankee Stadium Skowron hit just 60 home runs as far too many shots went to the deepest parts of their Death Valley. At Fenway that home run total would have doubled.