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George Steinbrenner Goofed: The Al Leiter Trade

was one of the worst trades the New York Yankees under George Steinbrenner ever made.

On April 30, 1989, the Yankees sent 23-year-old left-hander Al Leiter to the Toronto Blue Jays for 30-year-old slugging outfielder Jesse Barfield.

A major reason given was that the Yankees were upset with the chronic blister problems Leiter suffered on the fingers of his pitching hand.

At first, it seemed that Mr. Steinbrenner had gotten the better of the trade. Barfield hit 18 home runs for the 1989 Yankees, although he batted a Mark Reynolds-like .240.

In 1990, a season Yankees fans don't recall with fondness; Barfield hit 25 home runs and raised his batting average to .246, although he struck out 150 times, a number that Mickey Mantle, who ...

Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - New York Yankees


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