Beautiful 1980 New York Yankees Team Signed American League Baseball JSA COA

Attractive Rawlings official American League (MacPhail) baseball signed by 26 members of the 1980 Yankees. After the team’s forgettable 1979 season was marred by poor performance and the death of catcher and captain Thurman Munson, the team came back under the guidance of manager Dick Howser, finishing in first place in the AL East with a 103-59 record. The club was then swept by the Kansas City Royals in the AL Championship series, prompting team owner George Steinbrenner to issue a public apology to fans for the team’s poor performance. A few more wins, however, and the team would have gone down among the great Yankee clubs. Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson set the pace with a .300 batting average with 41 home runs and 111 runs batted in. New catcher Rick Cerone became a matinee idol to rival shortstop Bucky Dent, batting .277 with 85 RBI. First baseman Bob Watson batted .307. Tommy John won 22 games, Ron Guidry won 17, and relieverRudy May went 15-5 in 41 appearances.