#158 Jerry Kenney

If there was ever a sustained low point for the Yankees before the free agent era, it was the latter half of the 1960’s....Mickey Mantle was ailing and nearing the end of the line calling it quits March 1^st 1969....Jerry and teammate Bobby Murcer were both tabbed as the rays of hope for the franchise....both brought youth and promise and were fresh from coming off a military hiatus in 1968....As is well known Murcer wound up Mantle’s eventual CF replacement but initially he was inserted at 3^rdbase... Jerry was the first real heir apparent to the Mantle's NY Centerfield....On May 13^th Kenny deployed at 3^rd and Murcer to the outfield mostly right...stayed that way for the rest of the season....Kenny’s rookie season was highlighted good speed and a .256 BA....liability: light hitting....a poor 1970 season demonstrated Jerry not even the the answer to the 1967 vacancy left by Clete Boyer....1971 nevertheless retained Yankee employment platooning 3^rd base spot with Danny Cater....rebounded with a .262 average....1972;  lost time as Yankees were trying new avenues at 3^rd....relegated mostly to SS....trade to Cleveland for 1973 resulted in a handful of plate appearences and his outright release one month into the season....returned to Yankee minor league system....never made a return call to the majors....stopped playing baseball 1978....hometown Beloit Wisconsin.