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Albert Walter Lyle was born July 22, 1944
in DuBois, Pennsylvania. By the time he was almost twenty
his pitching had caught the attention of baseball folks
outside of his small town. In 1964 he was signed by
the Baltimore Orioles organization. In time he was traded
to Boston. On July 4, 1967 he made his professional
debut as Sparky Lyle, number twenty-eight. He stayed
with them till 1971 when he donned a uniform of pinstripes.
From 1972 to 1978 he was a relief picture
for the Yankees. During this time he helped the Yankees
win three American League Championship titles. He also
appeared in two World Series. In 1976 the Yankees lost
the big one, but they took it in 1977. He was a three
time All Star during the years 1973, 1976 and 1977.
In 1972 and 1976 he lead the American League (AL) in
saves. To top it off in 1977 he received the Cy Young
Award. The first AL reliever to ever do so.
The year 1978 was not a real good year
for Sparky. More and more younger pitchers were being
brought in, and he saw he was on his way out. Not that
he agreed, nor did he go quietly.
He tried his pitching hand with the Texas
Rangers in 1979 and part of 1980. During 1980 he was
traded to the Philadelphia Phillies where he lasted
till 1982. It was in 1981 that he helped the Phillies
win their division series. This gave him the opportunity
to play in his sixth post season. During part of 1982
he shared time with the Chicago White Sox. It was during
this time he realized his signature slider had lost
some of its spark.
While he had a good fast ball and curve
ball it was his slider that mostly got the job done.
While with Boston, all those years ago, he met Ted Williams.
Lyle says Williams took his aside, and gave him some
advise. At the time not many pitchers used a slide ball.
Williams said that was fine with him as it was the only
pitch he could not hit. That day Sparky began to learn
it, and get it down. Ted Williams' advice was good.
In 1980 he was still simmering over his
time with the Yankees. So much so that he co-authored
a book with Peter Golenbock. The name of the book was
“The Bronx Zoo”. In it he made his feelings
clear about playing for the Yankees. It helped, a little,
to vent his frustrations. In 1990 he wrote another book
called “The Year I Owned The Yankees: A Baseball
Fantasy”. In 1991 it went into paperback form with
a few changes. Co-author David Fisher was brought in.
One change was the name. The paperback version is called
“Year I Owned The Yankees”.
Once he stopped playing he did television
commercials for Miller Lite Brewing Company. That and
some VIP hosting with the Claridge Casino in Atlantic
City kept him busy enough. By 1988 he thought he had
enough, and would just play golf. So for ten years,
till 1998, golf and personal appearances is what he
did. Then the urge to wear number 28 came again.
The Independent League
is just that. They are Independent and not affiliated
with any of the professional baseball organizations.
Players consist of mostly former minor and major league
players. The Somerset Patriots of Bridgewater, New Jersey
was formed in 1998. They were part of the young Independent
Atlantic League. They wanted a manager who knew the
game, and whom people might know and come out to see.
Sparky, as long as he could wear number 28, agreed to
give it a try. Sparky, like getting the slider down,
got the managing thing down also. In 2001, 2003 and
2005 he managed the team to the Atlantic League Pennant.
In 2005 he reached his 500th win. This made him the
manager with the most wins in the Atlantic League. To
date, 2006, he still remains the only manager in the
Patriots club history.
Almost everyone over a certain age remembers
his prominent handlebar mustache. Something he still
has. He is also remembered for some of his quotes. Early
in his career he once said “Why pitch nine innings
when you can get just as famous pitching two?”
Reactions vary depending on who heard it. It is suspected
one of his quotes made it into the movies. His version
was “Don’t think. When you start thinking
is when you start getting your (something) beat.”
In the movie “Bull Durham” the pitcher was
advised “Don’t think. It can only hurt the
ball club!”
Perhaps Sparky Lyle did not think much
while on the mound. But with his achievements, endorsements,
personal appearances, authoring, and now managing he
did some thinking somewhere.
I think he did just fine.
Signed autographs as seen available through
"Autographed
To You".
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