Phil Linz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Philip Francis (Phil) Linz (born June 4, 1939 in Baltimore, Maryland) is a former backup infielder in Major League Baseball. From 1962 through 1968, Linz played for the New York Yankees (1962-65), Philadelphia Phillies (1966-1967[start]) and New York Mets (1967[end]-1968). He batted and threw right handed.

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, Linz was playing "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his harmonica, which annoyed manager Yogi Berra, and led to an angry confrontation.

This altercation convinced the Yankees' front office that Berra had lost control of the team and could not command respect from his player. 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 a seven-season career, Linz posted a .235 batting average with 11 home runs and 96 RBI in 519 games played.