June 29, 1977 – Dick Tidrow

The 1977 season was dominated by the personalities, and the performances, of players like Reggie Jackson and Thurman Munson, and of course Billy Martin and George Steinbrenner, but when you win a World Series, you need critical contributions up and down the roster, whether they’re loud, or they’re quiet.

Count right-handed pitcher Dick Tidrow in the quiet column. The man they called “Dirt” was a vital cog on the Yankees staff because he was such a versatile player. He could start, he could eat long relief innings, and if you needed him to bridge or close, he could do that, too.

Tidrow joined the Yankees in 1974, coming over from Cleveland in the trade that also brought first baseman Chris Chambliss to the Bronx in exchange for Fred Beene, Tom Buskey, Steve Kline, and Fritz Peterson. It remains one of the best deals the Yankees ever consummated.

Tidrow had been a starter in Cleveland, and in 1974, he fit into the Yankee rotation of manager Bill Virdon quite nicely. He made 25 starts and went 11-9 with a 3.87 ERA. The following year, with Catfish Hunter and Larry Gura joining the team, Tidrow shifted to the bullpen and for the next three years, that’s where he largely resided.

As the Yankees won two pennants and a World Series between 1975-77, Tidrow appeared in a combined 133 games, and he was the last man on the mound in 73 of those games, registering 20 saves when Sparky Lyle wasn’t available.

In 1978, after Mike Torrez left via free agency and injuries curtailed the usefulness of Don Gullett, Ken Holtzman and Andy Messersmith, Tidrow returned to the rotation and made 25 saves with a record of 7-11 and a 3.84 ERA.

Tidrow’s claim to fame may be the game he pitched on Aug. 25, 1976. He took over for struggling Ed Figueroa in the seventh inning, and went on to pitch 10.2 scoreless innings, the longest relief stint in the history of the team. That night against the Twins he allowed just four hits before being lifted in the 18th inning of a game the Yankees eventually won 5-4 in the 19th inning.

That was quintessential Tidrow. That night, despite all that great work, he didn’t even get credit for the victory which went to Grant Jackson who pitched just two innings. But Tidrow’s contribution was vital as it so often was during the Yankees run of championship success.

He worked as a Yankee scout from 1985-93 before joining the front office of the San Francisco Giants, and during his time in the scouting and personnel department, he was won three more World Series rings.

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