[1] After five years in the New York Yankees' farm system, in which he batted .304 with fifteen home runs mostly at shortstop, Linz made the big league club out of Spring training 1962.

This increased versatility earned Linz a semi-regular position in the Yankees' line-up for 1964, when he made a career high 417 plate appearances.

Manager Ralph Houk moved into the GM position, while Yankees legend Yogi Berra assumed managerial responsibilities.

As recounted in Jim Bouton's book, Ball Four, following a Yankee road loss to the Chicago White Sox on August 20, 1964, Linz was playing a plaintive version of "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his harmonica in the back of the team bus.

Berra found the sad cowboy style mixed with a children's nursery rhyme a bit mocking of the team, and told Linz to pipe down.

[5] This altercation convinced the Yankees' front office that Berra had lost control of the team, and could not command respect from his players.

As a result, the decision was made to fire Berra at the end of the season regardless of the fact that the Yankees eventually won the American League pennant.