Ralph Terry – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Ralph Terry wrapped up his baseball career in 1967 after 12 seasons in Major League Baseball. Even so, his influence on the sport lingers long after he retired.

The right-handed pitcher from Oklahoma spent most of his time with the New York Yankees. He knew both devastating loss and sweet victory on baseball’s grandest stage.

His path took him from a promising high school kid to the heart of World Series history. That’s quite a ride.

Most fans remember Terry for two unforgettable World Series moments: giving up Bill Mazeroski’s famous walk-off home run in 1960, then bouncing back to win Game 7 of the 1962 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. These moments shaped his career and left a lasting mark on baseball history.

His story shows how one pitch can flip everything in baseball, for better or worse.

Terry pitched for four teams: the Yankees, Kansas City Athletics, Cleveland Indians, and New York Mets. He finished with a 107-99 record and a 3.62 ERA, facing some of the best hitters of his time.

His journey included championship rings, personal setbacks, and the wild pressure that comes with pitching in the biggest moments.

Ralph Terry’s Baseball Career Overview

Ralph Terry pitched in Major League Baseball for twelve seasons from 1956 through 1967. He put up a 107-99 record and a 3.62 ERA while moving through four teams.

His best years came with the Yankees in the early ’60s. He became a key part of five straight championship teams, making clutch pitches in two World Series Game Sevens.

Early Years in Major League Baseball

Terry debuted on August 6, 1956, with the Yankees at just 20 years old. He actually won his first game, beating the Boston Red Sox 4-3.

He struggled a bit to find his place early on. In 1957, he played only seven games before the Yankees traded him to the Kansas City Athletics on June 15, part of a big seven-player swap.

A serious car wreck in November 1957 almost ended his career. He crashed while driving alone at night, rolling his car several times after falling asleep.

The accident left him with a hip socket injury, and he spent seven weeks in traction.

Somehow, Terry bounced back and pitched 216⅔ innings for Kansas City in 1958. He nearly threw a perfect game that season, tossing a one-hitter against Washington on August 22 and facing just 28 batters in a 1-0 win.

Teams Played For

Terry played for four MLB teams during his twelve seasons.

New York Yankees (1956-1957, 1959-1964)

• First stint: 1956-1957 (traded to Kansas City)
• Second stint: 1959-1964 (got him back from Kansas City)
• This was the most successful part of his career

Kansas City Athletics (1957-1959, 1966)

• First stint: 1957-1959 (traded from Yankees)
• Second stint: 1966 (short return)
• He really developed his pitching in that smaller ballpark

Cleveland Indians (1965)

• Just one season with Cleveland
• Kind of a transition year

New York Mets (1966-1967)

• Last team before retiring
• The Mets released him in 1967, and that was it

Terry’s best years definitely came during his second run with the Yankees from 1959-1964. He went 73-49 with a 3.41 ERA, helping power the team’s championship streak.

Pitching Style and Signature Achievements

Terry stood 6’3″ and weighed about 195 pounds. He threw right-handed, using great body control and a smooth delivery to command his fastball.

His biggest achievement came in 1962, when he led the American League with 23 wins and posted a 4.0 WAR. That season was the highlight of his career.

Terry’s World Series performances really stand out. In 1960, he gave up Mazeroski’s walk-off homer that won the championship for Pittsburgh. Two years later, he pitched a complete game shutout in Game 7 against San Francisco, getting Willie McCovey for the final out with runners on second and third.

The 1962 Game 7 was something special. Terry threw twelve “Golden Pitches” in the ninth inning—those are pitches in Game Seven’s bottom of the ninth when the road team leads.

No pitcher has ever thrown more Golden Pitches in a World Series.

Pivotal World Series Moments

Ralph Terry went through baseball’s ultimate highs and lows in two unforgettable World Series. Those games defined his career and are still talked about today.

1960 World Series and Bill Mazeroski’s Iconic Home Run

The 1960 World Series between the Yankees and Pirates was about as dramatic as it gets. Terry entered Game 7 in relief, bottom of the ninth, score tied 9-9.

Bill Mazeroski came up first. Terry threw, and Mazeroski smashed a walk-off home run over Forbes Field’s left wall.

That shot made Mazeroski the first player to end a World Series with a walk-off homer. Terry became one of just two pitchers ever to give up a World Series-ending home run.

Even though the Yankees outscored Pittsburgh 55-27 in the series, they lost the title. Terry’s pitch to Mazeroski instantly became baseball legend.

That moment stuck with Terry for two years. Yankees fans let him have it for the pitch that cost New York the championship.

Redemption in the 1962 World Series

Terry got his shot at redemption in the 1962 World Series against the San Francisco Giants. He won 23 games in the regular season and took over as the Yankees’ ace.

In Game 7, Terry pitched a complete game shutout through eight innings. The Yankees clung to a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

The Giants loaded the bases with two outs. Willie McCovey came up, and the winning run was just 90 feet away.

McCovey lined a rocket toward right, but Yankees second baseman Bobby Richardson made a diving catch to end it.

Terry took home World Series MVP honors for his efforts. He pitched two complete games and allowed only three earned runs in 18 innings.

That win finally gave Terry the redemption he’d been chasing. He went from World Series goat to hero in just two years.

Influence of Forbes Field on the Outcome

Forbes Field played a big part in both of Terry’s most famous World Series moments. The Pittsburgh ballpark’s dimensions made things tricky for pitchers.

The left field wall was 365 feet from home plate. Mazeroski’s home run just barely cleared it, showing how the ballpark could change everything.

Forbes Field’s big foul territory gave pitchers a little more leeway on certain pitches. But the short left field favored right-handed hitters like Mazeroski.

Terry later admitted that different ballpark dimensions might have changed both outcomes. Every stadium has its quirks, and they definitely shaped these legendary moments.

Career Milestones and Honors

Ralph Terry got his biggest recognition during his championship years with the Yankees. He won World Series MVP honors in 1962 and led the American League in wins that same year.

He also picked up a couple of All-Star selections and put up some impressive numbers as a starting pitcher.

World Series MVP and Awards

Terry’s top honor came in 1962 when he won the World Series MVP award. He went 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA against the Giants, striking out 16 batters in 25 innings over three games.

His MVP run included a huge 1-0 shutout in Game 7, beating Giants ace Jack Sanford. That game ended with Bobby Richardson snagging McCovey’s line drive, completing Terry’s redemption after the heartbreak of 1960.

Terry won two World Series with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962. He made two All-Star teams in 1962 and led the league with 23 wins, cementing his status as one of the game’s top pitchers.

Standout Seasons and Notable Statistics

Terry’s best season was 1962, no question. He went 23-12 with a 3.19 ERA in 39 starts, pitching 298⅔ innings and racking up 176 strikeouts against just 57 walks.

His 1961 season was almost as good—he finished 16-3 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 starts.

Over his career, Terry posted a 107-99 record and a 3.62 ERA in 12 seasons. He struck out exactly 1,000 batters in 1,849⅓ innings.

He completed 20 shutouts and picked up 11 saves. In five World Series appearances from 1960-1964, Terry went 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA.

Notable Opponents and Teammates

Ralph Terry went up against some of baseball’s all-time greats during his 12-year career from 1956 to 1967. His most famous showdown was with Pittsburgh’s Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series.

He also played alongside future Hall of Famers like Roger Maris during the Yankees’ championship runs.

Facing Bill Mazeroski

Terry’s most memorable opponent was Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski. Their clash in Game 7 of the 1960 World Series is still one of baseball’s most dramatic moments.

It happened in the bottom of the ninth at Forbes Field. Terry came in with the score tied 9-9, and Mazeroski stepped up.

On Terry’s second pitch, Mazeroski sent it over the left field wall. That home run gave Pittsburgh a 10-9 win and the championship.

Terry carried that loss for years. The moment defined both players’ careers. He later called it the toughest experience of his baseball life.

He got his shot at redemption in 1962, helping the Yankees beat the Giants in another Game 7 World Series finale.

Playing Alongside Roger Maris

Terry shared the field with Roger Maris during the Yankees’ glory years. They were teammates from 1960 to 1964, winning three World Series together.

Maris joined the Yankees in 1960, right as Terry became a regular starter. Terry watched Maris break Babe Ruth’s home run record in 1961, smashing 61 homers.

The two developed a strong working relationship. Terry appreciated Maris’s defense in right field—Maris often made key catches that saved runs.

During their time together, Terry went 73-49. The Yankees won American League pennants in 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964.

Both contributed to the Yankees’ 1961 championship run. Terry finished 16-3 that year while Maris set the new home run mark.

Games Against National League Teams

Terry faced National League teams mainly in the World Series and during spring training. His biggest NL matchups were in the 1960 and 1962 World Series.

In 1960, Terry struggled against the Pirates, losing Game 4 and giving up Mazeroski’s series-ending homer in Game 7.

The 1962 World Series against San Francisco went better. Terry dominated the Giants in Game 7, pitching a complete game shutout through eight innings.

His last pitch to Willie McCovey became legendary. McCovey hit a line drive right at second baseman Bobby Richardson for the final out. That moment completed Terry’s redemption story.

He also faced NL teams in spring training down in Florida. Those games helped him get ready for the regular season grind against American League opponents.

Encounters with the Cubs

Terry barely crossed paths with the Chicago Cubs, mostly because they played in different leagues. The Cubs belonged to the National League, and Terry spent nearly all his time in the American League.

He mainly ran into the Cubs during spring training games in Florida. These exhibition games gave Terry a chance to pitch against Cubs hitters without the usual pressure.

Sometimes, Terry faced Cubs players who had switched leagues. Those matchups added some fun storylines to the season.

The Cubs never met Terry in the World Series during his career. Chicago hadn’t even reached the Series since 1945, long before Terry ever took the mound in the majors.

Retirement and Post-Baseball Life

Ralph Terry wrapped up his 12-year Major League Baseball career with the New York Mets in 1967. After that, he headed to Kansas and chased a second career as a professional golfer.

Retiring in 1967

Terry’s final season happened with the New York Mets in 1967. His career stretched from 1956 to 1967, and he pitched for four different teams.

He finished with 338 regular season games and a 3.62 earned run average. Over his 11-plus seasons, Terry racked up 107 wins.

The 1967 season closed out a career that included two World Series championships with the Yankees in 1961 and 1962. He really peaked in 1962, leading the American League with 23 wins.

Once the Mets released him, Terry chose to retire from professional baseball at just 31. He’d built a reputation as a reliable pitcher, even if some World Series moments stuck in fans’ memories.

Life After Professional Baseball

After stepping away from baseball, Terry moved to Kansas and started working as a professional golfer. He settled in Larned, Kansas, which happened to be his wife Tanya Simmons’ hometown.

Terry married Tanya in 1960 and called Larned home from then on. That small Kansas town became his permanent base after his baseball days.

He shifted to professional golf, showing off his athletic range beyond the diamond. Terry kept his ties to sports alive and found a new path for himself.

In 2015, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame inducted him, honoring his baseball achievements. He was still living in Larned when he received that recognition.

Terry got involved in charitable work, like serving as honorary chairman of the Southwestern Bell Telephone Charity Golf Tournament. People knew him for his gracious personality and his love for sharing baseball stories.

Legacy and Lasting Impact

Ralph Terry made a real mark on Major League Baseball, especially with his World Series heroics and that unusual spot as the only pitcher to both surrender and throw game-winning pitches in championship-deciding games. His MVP outing in the 1962 World Series locked him into baseball history.

Influence on Major League Baseball History

Terry’s impact on the game went way beyond his 107 career wins and 3.62 ERA. He became the first pitcher to experience both sides of World Series drama in Game Seven, which is kind of wild if you think about it.

His 1962 performance against the San Francisco Giants showed off some serious mental toughness. Terry threw 12 “Golden Pitches” in the bottom of the ninth, more than anyone else in World Series history with that much on the line.

The American League took notice in 1962 when Terry led with 23 wins. That was just two years after he suffered that crushing loss to Bill Mazeroski in the 1960 World Series.

Terry played right through the Yankees’ golden era from 1956 to 1967. He helped power several championship teams and played a part in building the franchise’s early 1960s dynasty.

Enduring Associations with Iconic Moments

Terry’s forever tied to two of baseball’s wildest moments. In the 1960 World Series Game Seven, Mazeroski blasted a walk-off home run off Terry’s pitch, and honestly, that ending still echoes through the sport.

But in 1962, Terry got his shot at redemption. He retired Willie McCovey with runners on second and third, and that last out handed the Yankees the championship, plus Terry picked up the World Series MVP.

Baseball historians love to talk about Terry’s ninth-inning heroics in 1962. They call it one of the best clutch pitching displays in World Series history.

The way he handled all that pressure—especially facing future Hall of Famers like Willie Mays and McCovey—really showed his mental toughness.

In 2015, the Oklahoma Sports Hall of Fame honored Terry for everything he gave to baseball. His story of fighting through tough moments and finding redemption still sticks with fans and players, doesn’t it?