Yankee 21
02-19-2002, 06:49 PM
Yankees bring back Jim Leyritz
1996 World Series hero signs minor-league contract
By Mark Feinsand
MLB.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- World Series heroes always have a special place in the hearts of the Yankees. Jim Leyritz, who hit a huge home run for the Bronx Bombers in the 1996 Fall Classic, was signed by New York on Tuesday to a minor-league contract.
Leyritz, who has been working out at the Yankees' Tampa complex, has been invited to the team's Major League Spring Training camp.
Last season, the 38-year-old batted .296 (21-for-71) with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 19 games for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. On June 1, he had his contract purchased by the San Diego Padres and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Portland Beavers, where he batted .261 (12-for-46) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 games.
Leyritz will compete for a utility spot with the Yankees, and may also have a shot at the backup catcher's role.
"No promise ... no nothing," Leyritz said. "It's an opportunity. I want to come here and get a foot in the door. We'll see what happens."
Leyritz's biggest Yankee moment came in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, when his three-run home run in the eighth inning off Mark Wohlers tied the game 6-6, turning around the momentum of the series. The Yankees won that game to even the series, and took the next two games for their first championship since 1978.
In all or parts of nine seasons with the Yankees, he has batted .263 with 58 homers and 252 RBIs in 577 games. For his big-league career, he is batting .264 with 90 home runs and 387 RBIs in 903 games with the Yankees, Anaheim Angels (1997), Texas Rangers (1997), Boston Red Sox (1998), San Diego Padres (1998-99) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2000). Leyritz originally signed with the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 24, 1985.
1996 World Series hero signs minor-league contract
By Mark Feinsand
MLB.com
TAMPA, Fla. -- World Series heroes always have a special place in the hearts of the Yankees. Jim Leyritz, who hit a huge home run for the Bronx Bombers in the 1996 Fall Classic, was signed by New York on Tuesday to a minor-league contract.
Leyritz, who has been working out at the Yankees' Tampa complex, has been invited to the team's Major League Spring Training camp.
Last season, the 38-year-old batted .296 (21-for-71) with four home runs and 15 RBIs in 19 games for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League. On June 1, he had his contract purchased by the San Diego Padres and was assigned to their Triple-A affiliate, the Portland Beavers, where he batted .261 (12-for-46) with five home runs and 10 RBIs in 16 games.
Leyritz will compete for a utility spot with the Yankees, and may also have a shot at the backup catcher's role.
"No promise ... no nothing," Leyritz said. "It's an opportunity. I want to come here and get a foot in the door. We'll see what happens."
Leyritz's biggest Yankee moment came in Game 4 of the 1996 World Series, when his three-run home run in the eighth inning off Mark Wohlers tied the game 6-6, turning around the momentum of the series. The Yankees won that game to even the series, and took the next two games for their first championship since 1978.
In all or parts of nine seasons with the Yankees, he has batted .263 with 58 homers and 252 RBIs in 577 games. For his big-league career, he is batting .264 with 90 home runs and 387 RBIs in 903 games with the Yankees, Anaheim Angels (1997), Texas Rangers (1997), Boston Red Sox (1998), San Diego Padres (1998-99) and Los Angeles Dodgers (2000). Leyritz originally signed with the Yankees as a non-drafted free agent on Aug. 24, 1985.