By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN — The Yankees family lost its third member in two weeks on Wednesday.
Ralph Houk, the man who managed the star-studded team in the early 1960’s and saw them through two World Series Championships, passed at age 90.
Houk’s grandson, Scott Slabadon, said that he “died peacefully of natural causes after having a brief illness,” the New York Daily News reported.
“He was a good player’s manager,” Yankee senior advisor Gene Michael told the New York Post. Michael played for Houk from 1968-73. “He took care of the players and stuck up for the players. It was easy to play for Ralph Houk.”
Houk was known to the Yankee family as “The Major” because of his time served in the Army during World War II. He fought the Battle of the Bulge, received the Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.
He was also the first skipper to part ways with “The Boss,” George Steinbrenner, who died of a heart attack July 13.
The third Yankee that passed this month was "The Voice of God" announcer Bob Sheppard.
During his stint at the Yankee helm, Houk managed 3,157 games and won 1,619, with a winning percentage of .514.
He originally came to the Yankees in 1947 as a backup catcher, but only played 91 games through 1954, hitting .272 with no home runs, according to the Daily News. He became a manager because Yankees director LeeMacPhail saw leadership qualities in him, and asked him to manage the Bombers in 1955.
He also managed the Tigers in Detroit from 1974-78 and the Boston Red Sox from 1981-84, but his heart was with the Yankees, former players say.
“He had the Yankees’ spirit, the Yankees’ winning attitude,” former Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek told the Post. “He had all the qualities that make a special manager.”
He is survived by his daughter, Donna Houk Slaboden, his son, Robert Houk, four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
