Description: This lot features the 2004 UD Yankee Classic Classic Scripts Phil Linz Auto #AU24 PSA 8! --- Through Jim Bouton's book Ball Four, he may be best known for the so-called "Harmonica Incident," on August 20, 1964. On the team bus, after a Yankee loss to the Chicago White Sox, Linz was in the back playing a plaintive version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his harmonica. Yankee manager Yogi Berra thought the sad cowboy style mixed with a children's nursery rhyme was mocking the team. He told Linz to pipe down. Linz didn't hear and kept playing. Berra became infuriated and called back from the front of the bus, "If you don't knock that off, I'm going to come back there and kick your ass." Linz couldn't hear the words over the music, so he asked Mickey Mantle, "What he say?" Mantle responded, "He said to play it louder." This led the famous confrontation when Berra stormed to the back of the bus, slapped the harmonica out of Linz' hands, and the instrument hit Joe Pepitone's knee. This altercation convinced the Yankees' front office that Berra had lost control of the team and could not command respect from his players. As a result, the decision was made to fire Berra at the end of the season. And even though the Yankees eventually won the pennant, Berra was fired. Linz is probably remembered more for this comical confrontation than for anything he accomplished on the field. In the 1973 The Great American Baseball Card Flipping, Trading and Bubble Gum Book, authors Brendon C. Boyd and Fred C. Harris remarked (p. 43) about "...the impression engendered in the hearts of all true Yankee-haters everywhere, by his mere presence in the New York lineup, that the end of the Yankee Golden Era had finally arrived." In a seven-season career, Linz posted a .235 batting average with 11 home runs and 96 RBI in 519 games played. After shortstop Tony Kubek was sidelined with a back injury that eventually ended his career, Linz started at shortstop during the 1964 World Series. David Halberstam, describing the series in his book October 1964, attributes the Yankee loss in part to the ineffectiveness of the Linz-Bobby Richardson combination in the middle of the Yankee infield. Here’s a great looking example of the 2004 auto card here. This beauty has 4 great looking corners, 4 super nice borders and a blazing surface with full gloss, color and clarity. The reverse is crisp and clean with pack fresh background color, near perfect centering and no marks or blemishes of any kind. Buyer adds 2.50 for ship insured, US customers only. Please email with questions. Always combined shipping on multiple purchases. Thanks, and good luck.
Price: 39.99 USD
Location: Springvale, Maine
End Time: 2025-01-27T02:23:57.000Z
Shipping Cost: 2.5 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Return shipping will be paid by: Seller
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Card Size: Standard
League: Major League (MLB)
Autographed: No
Set: 2004 UD Yankee Classic
Grade: 8
Player/Athlete: Phil Linz
Year Manufactured: 2004
Material: Card Stock
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Vintage: Yes
Sport: Baseball
Type: Sports Trading Card
Year: 2004
Parallel/Variety: Classic Scripts
Card Name: Phil Linz
Original/Reprint: Original
Manufacturer: Upper Deck
Professional Grader: Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)
Features: Chase
Team: New York Yankees
Card Number: AU24
Season: 2004
Card Manufacturer: Upper Deck