New York Yankees guest instructor and former Mets center fielder Lee Mazzilli was struck in the head by a ball in batting practice last week and was taken to a local hospital where he was admitted and spent two nights there.
Ron Guidry visited with Mazzilli at his home over the weekend after he was released from the hospital.
“He’s pretty good,” Guidry reporters at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Saturday. “His swelling is down.”
The incident happened during a batting practice session for players who were not on the Yankees travel roster for a road game against the Astros in West Palm Beach, Fla. The ball apparently struck Mazzilli near his right temple and eye.
In his only stint as a major league manager, Mazzilli led the Orioles to a 78-84 record and third-place finish in the American League East in 2004 and a 51-56 record in 2005 before he was fired Aug. 5. He served as first base coach for the Yankees under Joe Torre from 2000 to 2003 and bench coach in 2006.
Mazzilli, who turned 64 today, served two stints with the New York Mets (1976-81 and 1986-89) and also played for the Texas Rangers (1982), Yankees (1982), Pittsburgh Pirates (1983-86) and Toronto Blue Jays (1989).
Mazzilli’s best two years were in 1979 and 1980. He represented the Mets in the All-Star Game at Seattle in ’79, and hit a game-tying homer in the eighth inning and drove in the winning run in the ninth with a bases-loaded walk.
The following year, Mazzilli hit 18 homers with 76 RBI and 41 stolen bases.
Drafted by the Mets 14th overall in 1973, Mazzilli played 10 seasons with the Amazins, batting .264/.357/.396 with 237 extra-base hits, 404 runs and 152 stolen bases. Mazzilli was a fan favorite in Flushing, hitting mostly in the leadoff spot and playing a solid center field that featured his basket catch – an homage to Willie Mays.
Mazzilli was also a Yankees coach under Joe Torre from 2000 to 2003 and Torre’s bench coach in 2006. He managed the Orioles in 2004 and 2005 and has been a guest instructor for the Yankees for several seasons now.
We hope he gets well soon and wish him a very Happy Birthday.
