Two deaths in the Yankee family
Posted by: Peter Abraham - Posted in Misc on Mar 25, 2009 
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Johnny Blanchard, a Yankee from 1955-65, passed away today. He was 76.
Blanchard played in five World Series, helping the Yankees win two of them. He was an outfielder and catcher.
The Yankees also lost Arthur Richman, the team’s senior advisor of media relations. A colorful character who was around baseball nearly all his life, Richman was primarily a sports columnist who had close relationships with players like Joe DiMaggio and Don Larsen.
Richman also became close to George Steinbrenner and it was at his suggestion that the Yankees hired Joe Torre as manager.
The Yankees will have statements regarding these men and I will pass those along when they become available.
UPDATE, 3:52 p.m.: Here’s the first release:
NEW YORK YANKEES ANNOUNCE PASSING OF LONGTIME BASEBALL AMBASSADOR ARTHUR RICHMAN
It is with deep sadness that the New York Yankees announce the passing of longtime baseball writer and executive Arthur Richman. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in New York City early this morning with his wife, Martha Richman, and friends by his side. He was 83 years old.
Mr. Richman’s baseball career spanned seven decades, including stops as an executive with the New York Mets and most recently the New York Yankees. He began his career in 1942 as a copy boy at the New York Daily Mirror and worked there for 21 years, authoring one of New York’s most popular columns, “The Armchair Manager.”
The Mirror folded in 1963, and Mr. Richman quickly took a position in the front office of the New York Mets, where he worked for 25 years. In 1989, Mr. Richman went to work for the Yankees, holding the positions of Senior Vice President and Senior Advisor in the club’s media relations department for nearly two decades.
“Arthur Richman made baseball and the New York Yankees an enormous part of his life, and I am grateful for his contributions both personally and professionally,” Yankees Principal Owner/Chairperson George M. Steinbrenner said. “He was a trusted friend and advisor to me, and someone the world of baseball will find impossible to replace. I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife Martha and to the countless others who were fortunate enough to call him a friend.”
Services will be held on Thursday, March 26 at 11:45 a.m. at Riverside Memorial Chapel on 180 W. 76th Street in New York City. He is survived by his wife, Martha. Mr. Richman was predeceased by his brother Milton — an award winning sportswriter and editor for United Press International.
The family asks that any memorial gifts be sent in Arthur’s name to the “Catch 25 Foundation,” established by New York Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. Donations will be dedicated specifically towards the area of the foundation that focuses on Alzheimer’s Disease research and support.
For more information on the foundation, visit www.joegirardi.com. Donations can be sent to Catch 25 Foundation, 220 West Huron, Suite 2001, Chicago, IL, 60654.
UPDATE, 4:58 p.m.: This from the Yankees on Johnny Blanchard:
NEW YORK YANKEES REFLECT ON THE PASSING OF FORMER PLAYER JOHNNY BLANCHARD
Former Yankee Johnny Blanchard passed away this morning at the age of 76 in Minnesota. Signed by the Yankees in 1951, Blanchard made his Major League debut with the club in 1955 at the age of 22. In total, he appeared in 454 games in pinstripes over eight Major League seasons (1955, ’59-65), batting .245 (260-for-1,063) with 34 doubles, 64 home runs and 187 RBI, seeing time as a catcher, first baseman and outfielder. He is one of four players in franchise history to hit a home run in four consecutive at-bats, accomplishing the feat over three games from July 21-26, 1961.
A member of five American League pennant-winning teams from 1960-64 with the Yankees, Blanchard played on World Series championship teams in 1961 and 1962. In five World Series, he batted .345 (10-for-29) with six runs, four doubles, two home runs and five RBI. During the 1961 Fall Classic vs. Cincinnati, he combined to go 4-for-10, including an eighth-inning game-tying solo homer in Game 3 and a two-run homer in the Game-5 Series clincher.
REFLECTIONS FROM TEAMMATES AND MANAGERS
Yogi Berra: “This is a sad day. Johnny was a good friend and a great teammate. He was proud of being a Yankee and always fun to be around. We’ll miss him.”
Moose Skowron: “He was a great guy. He loved people and did a lot for charity. I’ll never forget the year Yogi, Elston and Blanch all hit over 20 homers. He was a key member of that 1961 team and had two clutch homers for us against the Cincinnati Reds in the World Series. I remember we were both signed by the same scout, Joe McDermott. I felt a lot of pride knowing that. He will be missed.”
Bobby Richardson: “He was a great teammate, friend and a true gentleman. He loved the game. Tony Kubek and I were just in New York and spent some time with Johnny. He was a great friend and I’ll miss him tremendously.”
Bob Turley: “Johnny was a funny guy and a great storyteller. He was always happy. Everyone loved him and loved being around him. He was one heck of a hitter, too.”
Ralph Houk: “Johnny was a true Yankee, there’s no doubt about that. Everyone liked him. He would do anything it took to help win a ballgame. He would catch, pinch-hit or go play the outfield if it meant the team had a better chance to win.”
sad news…
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/.....id=4013015
in case you missed it in the previous thread…
Wow, what a sad day. RIP to both men and condolences to their families.
It’s depressing to think about, but Yogi, Whitey, etc… are all growing older and they won’t be around forever. You somehow think your baseball heroes are eternal and even though this day comes for all of us, it’s still a shock because they remain forever young to us.
I never saw Johnny Blanchard play – I was born long after his playing career was over. What kind of player was he and how did he fit in on the Yanks?
Part of what makes baseball so special is that the great players and characters never go away. Stories about Ruth, Mantle and Yogi will be just as entertaining 50 years from now. I suspect the classiness and heads up play of Jeter will be legend especially when contrasted with the awesome play and total off field mess of Arod.
Johnny Blanchard was a special character. A close friend with Mantle, Maris, Boyer and Richardson. That’s an odd mixture of four guys. One of three Yankee catchers to hit 20+ homers in 1961. When he was traded to KC in ’64, he cried for days and tried to get NY to cancel the trade. when they told him it was finally a chance for him to play every day, he said he’d rather be the Yankees bullpen catcher than play full time for anybody else.
RIP, Johhny Blanchard and Arthur Richman
“I think we need to relegate AJ to Burnett and let Jackson have some catchy name. How about Austin Power?”
prefer Action Jackson, myself. Cuz it would be best nickname, in the game
Boston Dave:
you right on D’Angelo Jimenez and Soriano. Well at least, Jimenez was higher on my prospect list at the time.
incidentally, it looked like Soriano would be a Chicago Cub years ago. And then Brian Cashman elected to trade for David Justice (and not Sammy Sosa)
Wow, sad news. My condolences to family and friends.
RIP Johnny Blanchard.
A short article on Johnny Blanchard and his 4 consecutive homers in 3 games (2 pinch hit).
Johnny Blanchard, Four Straight Hommers – July 21- 22, 1961
Most people associate home run hitting and the Yankees with 1961 and Roger Maris. But it was also the time of Johnny Blanchard. The third string catcher nearly quit in 1960 when Casey Stengel toyed with
activating 40-year-old Jim Hegan as a back up to Yogi Berra when Elston Howard was hurt. Casey was glad he didn’t go for Hegan; Blanchard had a career year and was adequate behind the plate. And he also did some special home run hitting.
On July 21, Johnny B hammered a ninth inning, two out, pinch hit grand slam home run at Fenway Park to push the Yanks to an 11-8 victory over the Red Sox. The next day Blanchard hit another ninth inning, pinch hit homer to spark a second come-from- behind victory over Boston.
On July 26, the man they called “Super- Sub” slashed his third and fourth home runs at Yankee Stadium against the Chicago White Sox. The homers drove in four runs as the Yanks beat the White Sox, 5-2.
Four straight homers over three games tied a major league record. Not bad for a guy who was ready to pack in his career the year before.
Blanchard’s career was essentially spent as a third string catcher: He played in 516 games, batted .239, hit 67 home runs. In the World Series he caught fire; in 15 games he batted .345 and had five home runs.
In 1965, the Yankees traded him to to Kansas City. The “Super- Sub” sat in the Yankees clubhouse and sobbed away. Mickey Mande sat down next to Blanchard and attempted to cheer him up.
“Don’t take it so hard, John. Just think, in Kansas City you’re going to get a chance to play.”
“Hell, I can’t play, Mick. That’s why I’m crying.”
But Blanchard could play especially on July 21- 22, 1961 – when his bat was lit by lightning.
Austin Jackson used to get wild “Action Jackson” chants at Class A Charleston from the folks on the 3rd base line near the visitors bullpen. It was always very amusing. I vote for it.
Here’s a little more background on the late great Johnny Blanchard. His career stats are linked in the upper left panel.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....8;c_id=nyy
To all the NYC transit users out there, come May 31 say hello to the 2.50$ fare.
Weekly cards 31$ Monthly cards 103$
Of course this all comes with service cuts.
take it Metro North RR fares, will be/are raised as well then
Getting really excited for my first game!!
http://www.newsday.com/sports/.....9407.story
Can someone tell me what happened to the surplus they had a few years ago. I really don’t understand how you go from being in the black to the red. I guess it really comes down to awful money management. Giving out huge bonuses to the big wigs, buying expensive desks, garbage cans etc. But who ends up getting hurt? The same people that always do, the descent hard working people!
the Yankees have many $300, $400 seats they can’t sell…
good.
Johnny Blanchard was my coach when I went to Yankees Fantasy Camp 2 years ago. Johnny looked like he loved being a ball player and being around the game even after health problems a few years earlier. I’m not going to say he was the most involved manager, but he was always quick to make a joke, sign a ball or answer a question. He signed his ball for me Johnny Blanchard, 1960-1961 World Champion. Rest in Peace Johnny, hopefully in heaven you can be a 25 year old running the field and winning championships again.
Opening day is sold out. I looked for best available and there was nothing.
Sad news about Johnny Blanchard, another boy-hood hero gone. That part of life seems to get a bit smaller everyday.
That name – Johnny Blanchard – was a real ball player’s name in my mind as a kid. Even now it sings out like something Ring Lardner or Damon Runyon made up – Johnny Blanchard.
GB7, That was a wonderful and heart felt tribute to Johnny Blanchard…..I remember him well….We’re losing too many from that amazing Yankee era….Saddens me ….
Very sad day
I had a chance to interview Johnny last August on my show. Great guy and an interesting interview. If your interested in hearing it you can download it at my radio archive below
http://nybaseballdigest.com/?p=1781
Johhny Blanchard was one of The Mick’s pallbearers as was Hank Bauer. Whitey and Yogi are the only ones left.
Sounds like rumors only with a Melky deal . . . .
http://yes.mlblogs.com/archive.....abrer.html
Johnny we hardly knew ye!