Wasn't a Yankee for very long, but was a very key member of the 77 and 78 WS championship teams as a reserve a OF. Had a huge hit to lead-off the 9th in Game 5 of the 77 ALCS, that sent the Yankees on their way to a 3-run rally to beat the Royals and go to the WS. One of my favorites as a Yankee as a teen-age player in HS playing the OF. For those who don't know much about him - Blair is easily one of the top 5 best defensive OFers of all-time, and probably had a top 3 arm ever. Guy could peg it with anyone.
^^^^ He was another star who suffered from being hit in the face that changed his hitting but he was one of the best I ever saw in CF. Besides, you know how some guys look great in a uniform, Paul Blair was one.
There's a great story that goes with that MB. After Blair got that key hit in the 77 ALCS, Munson was celebrating with Blair (who apparently was close to Blair, and worked with him) told him 'the fat guy can't stir a drink, but can teach you how to hit!".
I spent much of the 60's and 70's deployed and in those days Baseball was a challenge to follow to time changes, field commitments and the like. I knew that Blair was a fine player and came back in time to catch him in the '77 and '78 finales. One AFNE highlight though was video the Billy/Reggie confrontation after Blair was sent to right field.
A class guy who will be missed. Now this was a ballplayer who had tremendous skills, defensively and offensively.
Man, who remembers that collision back against KC in 78 in the OF between Blair and Jax? Tried to find a clip of it to post here, but couldn't find one. Reggie was built like a LB, and Blair ran like a gazelle. Incredibly, neither guy was hurt badly.
