Ralph Houk, The Major, has died. I remember as a small boy, that Houk became manager of the Yankees in 1961 and won three pennants and two World Series titles before being promoted to General Manager. They should have kept him as manager. I remember two things about Houk, after all these years, he had a temper and he knew how to win. He was famous for his passionate arguments with umpires. Houk is tied with Billy Martin for 14th most major league ejections!
Above this, Houk was a true war hero! During WWII, he enlisted in the armed forces, became an Army Ranger, and received a battlefield commission, rising from private to major. He was a combat veteran of Bastogne and the Battle of the Bulge, and was awarded the Silver Star, Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
Tommy Lasorda played for Houk, briefly, in Denver. Lasorda said that he styled his managerial ways after Ralph Houk.
R.I.P. Major
