Sparky Lyle Autographs, Memorabilia & Collectibles
SPARKY LYLE
Born: July 22, 1944 in DuBois, Pennsylvania
Sparky Lyle
This article was written by Diane MacLennan and is presented in part, courtesy of the Society for American Baseball Research
Why pitch nine innings when you can get just as famous pitching two?" -- Sparky Lyle
He did just that. Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle never started a game in his 16-year major league career, has 238 career saves, and was the first American League relief pitcher to win a Cy Young Award (1977).
"I wonder what Ben Shingledecker thinks of my winning the Cy Young," says Lyle.
Born in DuBois, Pennsylvania on July 22, 1944, Lyle tried out for the hometown teener league team at the age of 13, and was told by Shingledecker, "You can't throw hard enough to be a pitcher." Feeling crushed by this Sparky played only pickup baseball around his neighborhood for the next few years.
In the small coal mining town of Reynoldsville, PA, 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Albert "Sparky" Lyle was known as the Reynoldsville High School football and basketball star, named as an All-Conference end in football and recognized with an honorable mention on Pennsylvania's All-State basketball team. In the spring of his junior year in high school, he started pitching for the DuBois team of the Legion league because Reynoldsville did not have a Legion team.
This article was written by Diane MacLennan and is presented in part, courtesy of the Society for American Baseball Research
Why pitch nine innings when you can get just as famous pitching two?" -- Sparky Lyle
He did just that. Albert Walter "Sparky" Lyle never started a game in his 16-year major league career, has 238 career saves, and was the first American League relief pitcher to win a Cy Young Award (1977).
"I wonder what Ben Shingledecker thinks of my winning the Cy Young," says Lyle.
Born in DuBois, Pennsylvania on July 22, 1944, Lyle tried out for the hometown teener league team at the age of 13, and was told by Shingledecker, "You can't throw hard enough to be a pitcher." Feeling crushed by this Sparky played only pickup baseball around his neighborhood for the next few years.
In the small coal mining town of Reynoldsville, PA, 100 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, Albert "Sparky" Lyle was known as the Reynoldsville High School football and basketball star, named as an All-Conference end in football and recognized with an honorable mention on Pennsylvania's All-State basketball team. In the spring of his junior year in high school, he started pitching for the DuBois team of the Legion league because Reynoldsville did not have a Legion team.
2010-Prime-9 (in person), 1977-1977-World-Series (in person), 1977-1977-MLB-All-Star-Game (in person), 2000-2003-ESPN-SportsCentury (in person), 1978-1978-American-League-Championship-Series (in person), 1977-1977-American-League-Championship-Series (in person), 1976-1976-World-Series (in person), 1976-1976-American-League-Championship-Series (in person), 1973-1973-MLB-All-Star-Game (in person)
Style
-
SPARKY LYLE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL - HFSID 117459Baseball signed by Sparky Lyle in blue ink on the sweet spot. It is a Rawlings Official American League Baseball, Bobby Brown President. Lyle, a relief pitcher, won the Cy Young Award in 1977 and co-authored The Bronx Zoo.Sale Price $135.00
$160.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL - HFSID 304147Baseball signed by "Sparky Lyle", a Rawlings Official American League Baseball with Gene A. Budig's signature in blue ink on the sweet spot. Lyle, a notable relief pitcher and Cy Young Award winner, played from 1967 to 1982.Price: $160.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117523Baseball signed by "Sparky Lyle" and "Dave Cash" in blue ink on a Rawlings Official American League Baseball. Lyle, a Cy Young Award winner, and Cash, a notable second baseman, both had distinguished careers in Major League Baseball.Price: $220.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 112759Photograph of Sparky Lyle in his Yankees uniform, signed with "Sparky Lyle". Lyle, a relief pitcher, became the first American League reliever to win the Cy Young Award in 1977 and co-authored The Bronx Zoo.Price: $120.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH - HFSID 285605Photograph of Sparky Lyle jumping in joy onto the catcher, signed with "Sparky Lyle". Lyle, a notable relief pitcher, became the first American League reliever to win the Cy Young Award in 1977. Includes MLB Authenticity stickers.Sale Price $105.00
$120.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - PRINTED PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED IN INK - HFSID 327570Photograph of Sparky Lyle, signed in blue ink with the inscription "Sparky Lyle". Captioned for Lite Beer, it depicts the All-star pitcher who became the first American League reliever to win the Cy Young Award in 1977.Price: $100.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - TRADING/SPORTS CARD SIGNED - HFSID 327920Baseball card signed by Sparky Lyle in blue felt tip, referencing his achievement as the first American League reliever to win the Cy Young Award. Lyle, a relief pitcher for the Yankees, co-authored The Bronx Zoo.Sale Price $85.00
$100.00
-
SPARKY LYLE - TRADING/SPORTS CARD SIGNED - HFSID 2453Sports card signed: "Sparky/Lyle", featuring Sparky Lyle in Yankees uniform and concealing the ball in his glove. Lyle, a notable relief pitcher, won the Cy Young Award in 1977 and co-authored The Bronx Zoo.Price: $90.00
-
BOBBY BONDS - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117537Baseball signed by 18 baseball greats, including Bobby Bonds, Graig Nettles, Tug McGraw, and Paul Blair. This Official American League Baseball features signatures from legendary players, including Joe Rudi and George Foster.Price: $600.00
-
BOSTON RED SOX - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL CIRCA 1969 WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 135552Baseball signed by nineteen members of the 1969 Boston Red Sox, including "Carl Yastrzemski", "Bobby Doerr", and "Tony Conigliaro". Features official Joseph E. Cronin American League Ball. Notable signers include two Hall of Famers and players from the 1967 and 1975 World Series.Price: $450.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117562Baseball signed by 22 baseball greats, including Kent Tekulve, Rollie Fingers, Bert Campaneris, and Bo Belinsky. Signatures in black ink include Manny Sanguillen, George Foster, and Doug Decines. Official American League baseball with Bobby Brown's presidency.Price: $800.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117565Baseball signed by 21 baseball greats, including "Kent Tekulve, Bert Campaneris, Dave Kingman, Bill Campbell, Vida Blue, Dick Williams, Bill Madlock, Cecil Cooper, Steve Garvey, Tug McGraw, Mark Fidrych, Sparky Lyle, Paul Blair, Al Oliver, Earl Weaver, Mike Marshall, Graig Nettles, and Don Money", along with signatures in black ink by "Manny Sanguillen, George Foster and Doug Decines." Official American League baseball.Sale Price $675.00
$800.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117561Baseball signed by 26 baseball legends including Kent Tekulve, Rollie Fingers, Bill Madlock, and Paul Blair. Featuring signatures in black ink from players such as Bobby Bonds and George Foster. Official American League baseball by Bobby Brown.Price: $700.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117556Baseball signed by 25 players, including Kent Tekulve, Rollie Fingers, Cecil Cooper, and Paul Blair. This official American League baseball includes signatures in black ink from notable players and is associated with Bobby Brown, President.Sale Price $675.00
$800.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117550Baseball signed by 24 legendary players including Kent Tekulve, Rollie Fingers, Bert Campaneris, and Paul Blair. Signatures in black ink from notable players and officials, including Doug Decines and Manny Sanguillen, on an official American League baseball.Price: $600.00
-
KENT "TEKE" TEKULVE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 117563Baseball signed by 22 legends, including Kent Tekulve, Rollie Fingers, Bert Campaneris, and Paul Blair. Signatures include "Bobby Bonds, Manny Sanguillen, George Foster, and Doug Decines" in black ink. Official American League baseball by Bobby Brown.Price: $600.00
-
RICH "GOOSE" GOSSAGE - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED BASEBALL WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 291810Official League RPB-3 baseball co-signed by 14 pitchers, including "Rich Gossage", "Dennis Eckersley", and "Lee Smith", all with over 225 career saves. Signatures are noted as being in overall fine condition.Sale Price $425.00
$500.00
-
THE NEW YORK YANKEES - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 322351Photograph of Yankee Stadium signed by over 75 New York Yankees players, including "Billy Gardner", "Enos Slaughter", "Sparky Lyle", and "Phil Rizzuto". The signatures are present on the outer margins, leaving space for additional autographs.Sale Price $925.00
$1,100.00
-
THE NEW YORK YANKEES - JERSEY SIGNED WITH CO-SIGNERS - HFSID 293083Jersey signed by four New York Yankees members from the 1970s, including "Sparky Lyle", "Mike Torrez", "Ron Guidry", "Ron Swoboda", near the logo on the chest. Three signers were part of the 1977 World Championship team.Sale Price $325.00
$400.00

