 In November 1962, Kunkel was again a Rule 5 draft selectee, this time by the New York Yankees.With the 1963 Yankees, he made 22 relief appearances with a 3–2 record and 2.72 ERA in innings pitched.Kunkel was on the Yankees' roster for the 1963 World Series, but he did not make an appearance, as the Yankees were swept by the Dodgers.