On April 8, 1969, Aker earned a save in the first game in franchise history, a 4–3 win over the California Angels. However, he began to struggle soon after, going 0–2 with three saves and a 7.56 ERA in 15 appearances for the Pilots. On May 20, Aker was traded to the Yankees for Fred Talbot. After the trade, he ran up a string of 33 consecutive scoreless innings, still a regular season Yankee record. Aker led the Yankees in saves that year and finished both 1969 and 1970 with ERAs of 2.06, despite career-threatening back surgery in the intervening winter. Aker remained a mainstay of the Yankee bullpen until 1972, when New York's acquisition of Sparky Lyle from Boston made Aker expendable. On May 17, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for cash considerations. Aker pitched almost three seasons in the NL, and was standing in the bullpen feet away from where teammate Hank Aaron's historic 715th home run landed on April 8, 1974. After his playing days ended, Aker managed in the minor leagues in 1975–85, winning the Governor's Cup (International League Championship) with the 1982 Tidewater Tides (Mets organization), and was the Cleveland Indians pitching coach from late 1985 to 1987. He left pro baseball after the 1988 season to teach children, and for 20 years offered camps, clinics, and baseball instruction through his "Jack Aker Baseball" academy. In 1997, he was honored by President Bill Clinton with a "Giant Steps Award" for his work teaching at-risk Native American children on reservations in Arizona and New Mexico. Aker is of Potawatomi ancestry. See also List of Major League Baseball annual saves leaders List of Major League Baseball leaders in games finished References External links Jack Aker at Baseball Almanac 1940 births Living people People from Tulare, California Cleveland Indians coaches Major League Baseball pitching coaches Major League Baseball pitchers Baseball players from California Kansas City Athletics players Oakland Athletics players Seattle Pilots players New York Yankees players Chicago Cubs players College of the Sequoias Giants baseball players Atlanta Braves players New York Mets players Grand Island A's players Buffalo Bisons (minor league) managers Norfolk Tides managers Visalia A's players Lewiston Broncs players Albuquerque Dukes players Portland Beavers players Dallas Rangers players Vancouver Mounties players People from West Windsor, New Jersey American people of Potawatomi descent