On this day back in 1988, the Yankees sent 23-year-old outfielder Jay Buhner, Minor League prospect Rich Balabon and a player to be named later (Troy Evers) to the Mariners in exchange for 33-year-old first baseman/DH Ken Phelps. The Yanks already had a first baseman by the name of Don Mattingly and Jack Clark was holding down the DH duties, so this trade made a lot of people scratch their heads.
With limited playing time, Phelps never hit his stride. In his two years in pinstripes, he hit .240 with 17 home runs and 51 RBIs. Buhner, however, went on to become one of the most beloved Mariners of all time. In his 14 years in Seattle, he hit .255 with 307 homers and 951 RBIs, and once hit for the cycle. He won a Gold Glove Award in 1996 and was named to the All Star Game. He retired in 2001 and his number 19 hasn’t been reissued since. He joined the likes of Ken Griffey Jr, Randy Johnson, Edgar Martinez and Lou Pinella in the Mariners Hall of Fame. Phelps played for the Athletics and Indians before retiring in 1990.
This trade is widely regarded as the worst the Yanks made during that time and the best the Mariners made. Frank Costanza voiced all of our displeasure straight to the Boss.
