The New York Yankees’ 1982 season was the 80th season for the Yankees….as the team finished in fifth place in the American League Eastern Division with a record of 79-83….finishing 16 games behind the AL Champion Milwaukee Brewers….resulting in the Yankees enduring their first losing season since going 80-82 in 1973….the team’s final season at the original Yankee Stadium before the 1976 renovations. The Yankees were managed by Gene Michael, Bob Lemon, and Clyde King…..playing their home games at Yankee Stadium.
In the off-season prior to the 1982 campaign….the Yanks released 1B-DH Eric Soderholm….and 6 days later….they traded OF Willie McGee to the St. Louis Cardinals for Bob Sykes.…then on November 4, 1981, they traded Brian Ryder (minors) and OF Freddie Toliver to the Cincinnati Reds for Ken Griffey (Sr.). On November 17, 1981, 3B Aurelio Rodríguez was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for OF Mike Lebo (minors)….followed by a March 30, 1982 trade of Andy McGaffigan and Ted Wilborn to the San Francisco Giants for P Doyle Alexander.
During the regular season on April 27, 1982, Reggie Jackson returned to Yankee Stadium with the Angels….where he broke out of a terrible season-starting slump to hit a home run off former teammate Ron Guidry….as the at-bat began with Yankee fans who were angry at Yankee owner George Steinbrenner for letting Jackson get away….starting the “REG-GIE” chant…. and ended it with the fans chanting “Steinbrenner sucks!”. By the time of Jackson’s election to the Hall of Fame, Steinbrenner had begun to say that letting him go was the biggest mistake he has made as Yankee owner. On September 5, 1982, SS Roy Smalley hit home runs from both sides of plate for New York Yankees….and during the 1982 season….future NFL Hall of Fame QB John Elway played baseball for the New York Yankees’ Oneonta single-A farm club….posting a .318 average and knocking in a team-high 24 runs with no errors in 42 games.
MLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Rich “Goose” GossageMLB – Original Baseball Card 1981 New York Yankees OF Bobby BrownMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Catcher Rich CeroneMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees 2B Willie RandolphMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees SS Bucky DentMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Rick ReuschelMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Catcher Johnny Oates MLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Lou PinellaMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Dave RighettiMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees 1B Bob WatsonMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees SS Larry MilbourneMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Bobby MurcerMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees 3B Graig NettlesMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Tommy JohnMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Rudy MayMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Jerry MumphreyMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Oscar GambleMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees Pitcher Ron GuidryMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Reggie JacksonMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 New York Yankees OF Dave WinfieldMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 All-Star Infielders Kansas City Royals 2B Frank White & New York Yankees SS Bucky DentMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 Autograph New York Yankees SS Larry MilbourneMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 Autograph Cincinnati Reds / New York Yankees OF Ken GriffeyMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 California Angels / New York Yankees OF – DH Don BaylorMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 Seattle Mariners / New York Yankees Pitcher Shane RawleyMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 California Angels / New York Yankees SS Bert CampanerisMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 Minnesota Twins / New York Yankees SS Roy SmalleyMLB – Original Baseball Card 1982 Detroit Tigers / New York Yankees OF Steve Kemp