League: MLB Sport: Baseball Country: United States Category: Scores & Results

Yankees remember Héctor López on his 97th birthday

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 8, 2026, 3:30 PM

Last updated Jul 8, 2026

Yankees remember Héctor López on his 97th birthday

Summary

The New York Yankees honor Héctor López today on what would have been his 97th birthday. López, a versatile player for the Yankees from 1959 to 1966, was known for his clutch hitting, particularly during the 1961 World Series. Despite a challenging season, he played a key role in Game 5, contributing with an RBI triple and a three-run homer. Following his playing career, López became the first Black manager at the Triple-A level and took on various coaching and scouting roles within baseball.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Héctor López was born on July 8, 1929, in Colón, Panama.
•He played for the Yankees between 1959 and 1966, appearing in five World Series.
•López became the first Panamanian player to play over 1,000 games in MLB.
•He hit an important three-run homer in Game 5 of the 1961 World Series.
•López transitioned to managing and coaching after retiring as a player.

Latest Updates