On July 21, 1988, the New York Yankees make the infamous “Ken Phelps Trade” with the Seattle Mariners. The Yankees acquire the veteran first baseman/DH for promising outfield prospect Jay Buhner and minor league prospect Rich Balabon, and a player to be named later (Troy Evers) to the Mariners in exchange for 33 year-old Phelps.
Phelps will remain with the Yankees for parts of only two seasons, while Buhner will emerge as a star, reaching the 40-home run mark in 1995, ’96, and ’97.
It is not often a trade makes a sit-com but, this trade became the subject of Seinfeld lore when Frank Costanza asked the actor-portrayed George Steinbrenner (Larry David) why he traded away Buhner in a 1996 episode titled The Caddy.
Frank: What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?!? He had 30 home runs, and over 100 RBIs last year. He’s got a rocket for an arm. You don’t know what the hell you’re doin’!
Steinbrenner: Well, Buhner was a good prospect, no question about it. But my baseball people loved Ken Phelps’ bat. They kept saying “Ken Phelps, Ken Phelps.”
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