Dec. 7, 1962 - Honors continue to pour in on the world champion Yankees. Tom Tresh, their versatile young infielder-outfielder, today was named the American League’s Rookie of the Year for 1962. There was never a doubt the winner would be Tresh, as he played a dual role as a rookie with the Bombers. Starting the season as a fill-in at shortstop, while Tony Kubek was serving his time in the Army, Tom handled that job with exceptional skill for 111 games. With the return of Kubek, Tresh was switched to the equally difficult left-field sector of Yankee Stadium. He distinguished himself in the World Series, his three-run homer (pictured) winning the fifth game from the Giants, and his spectacular catch of Willie Mays’s clout in the left-field corner saving the decisive seventh. Tresh, a native of Detroit, became the fourth Yankee to win the award. Gil McDougald won it in 1951, Bob Grim in 1954, and Tony Kubek in 1957.
