[Merkle923]

That is in fact a fungo machine. The Yankees used them in spring training off-and-on from the early '60s (see below) into the '70s. Basically the same premise as today's T-Shirt launcher, so providentially put in the hands of interns and part-time workers from a team's promotions department and aimed at fans.

Below left is a shot of previous model, with Jim Hegan, Wally Moses, Frank Crosetti and manager Ralph Houk in Fort Lauderdale in a shot that dates to 1962 or 1963.

Of equal interest to the Bill Virdon weapon is the guy standing behind it in uniform 63. Unless you think that's Jorge Posada's uncle Leo (who wore the uniform number as a spring training instructor in 1975), it has to be...Bobby Cox (who wore 63 as a spring training instructor in 1974).