Frank Lary

In The Sporting News, Joe Falls wrote: "As far as Frank Lary is concerned, the war between the states never did end. There merely was an 89-year interlude between Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 1865 and Lary's arrival in the major leagues in 1954. The objective has remained the same: rout the Yankees."

He became the first pitcher to win seven games in one year against the Yankees since Ed Cicotte accomplished the feat in 1916.

Frank Strong Lary (April 10, 1930 – December 13, 2017) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (1954–1964), New York Mets (1964, 1965), Milwaukee Braves (1964), and Chicago White Sox (1965).

Lary was born in Northport, Alabama, in April 1930 as the sixth of seven children in the family.

He was raised with his six brothers at a two-bedroom house in his family's farm near Northport.

His father, Joseph Milton "Mitt" Lary, was a cotton farmer and a former semipro spitball pitcher, who coached young Lary and five of his brothers when they were not working in the farm.

His mother, Margaret, was a fiddle maker.

Lary attended Tuscaloosa County High School and then went on to play baseball for the University of Alabama.

His older brother Al Lary was briefly a pitcher for the Chicago Cubs, but spent most of his baseball career in the minor leagues.

Lary followed his older brothers to the University of Alabama, where he had a 10–1 record in 1950 and won two more games in the College World Series.

Lary dropped out of Alabama after two years to play professional baseball.

After his performance in the 1950 College World Series, Lary signed a $6,000 contract with the Toledo Mud Hens, the Detroit Tigers' American Association farm club.

He began his minor league career playing at Thomasville, Georgia, in the Georgia–Florida League.

After winning four consecutive games in Thomasville, he moved to Jamestown, New York, in the PONY League, where he compiled a 5–2 record.

His total of 1,269 batters faced was the highest total by a pitcher in the American League during the 1950s.

During his years with the Tigers, Lary became known as "The Yankee Killer."

Lary missed the 1951 and 1952 seasons due to service in the U.S. Army.

He was considered a leading prospect with the Buffalo Bisons of the International League in 1953 and 1954.

During the 1953 season, he compiled a 17–11 record and threw a no-hitter against Ottawa.

In 1954, he compiled a 15–11 record and won 10 of his last 12 games.

Lary was called up to the Tigers late in the 1954 season, making his Major League debut on September 14.

He played in parts of 11 seasons for the Tigers, and his 123 wins rank tenth in team history.

The latter nickname was won due to his 27–10 record against the New York Yankees from 1955 to 1961.

In 1955, Lary stepped into the Tigers' rotation as a starter and compiled a record of 14–15 in 36 games.

He had a 27–10 record against the New York Yankees from 1955 to 1961, years during which the Yankees won six American League pennants.

Lary also was known by the nickname "Taters" after a teammate noticed him write "Taters" for potatoes on a dining car order during a 1955 road trip.

"He has been 'Taters' around the clubhouse and in the dugout ever since."

He led the American League with 21 wins in 1956 and ranked second in the same category with 23 wins in 1961.

In 1956, Lary compiled a 21–13 record and became the Tigers' first 20-game winner since Hal Newhouser won 21 games in 1948.

His record was 17-3 after July 1.

Lary also led the American League in multiple statistical categories in 1956, including wins (21), games started (38), innings pitched (294), hits allowed (289), hit batsmen (12), and batters faced (1,269), and finished 17th in the voting for Most Valuable Player in the American League.

In 1956, he compiled a record of 5–1 against a Yankees team that had an overall record of 97–57.

In 1958, he was 7–1 against a Yankees team that had an overall record of 92–62.

He was also 5–1 against the Yankees in 1959.

Yankees manager Casey Stengel once delayed the appearance of his star pitcher, Whitey Ford, by one day so Ford would not have to face Lary.

Stengel explained to reporters, "If Lary is going to beat us anyway, why should I waste my best pitcher?"

Lary was selected to the American League All-Star team in 1960 and 1961 and won the Gold Glove Award in 1961.

He was known variously as "Taters", "Mule", and the "Yankee Killer."

A good hitting pitcher, Lary defeated the Yankees 4–3 on May 12, 1961, by hitting a lead off home run in the top of the ninth inning.

This took place immediately following the ejection of teammate, outfielder Rocky Colavito, who had bolted into the stands at Yankee Stadium when he observed a Yankee fan tussling with his father.