This Week in Yankees History Megathread

This Week in Yankees History December 17th-23rd


December 17th

1919- Former Yankees Minor League and MLB P Johnny Kucab was born. (1919-1977)
Johnny Kucab had pitched for 15 seasons from 1940-1958, 3 in the MLB and 14 in the Minors, losing 4 years to military service. He served in both theaters during World War II. He pitched for the 1950-1952 Philadelphia A’s, appearing in 59 games, while posting a 5-5 record with a 4.44 ERA with 6 saves. Kucab made just 3 starts in his 59 MLB appearances, but one on the final day of the 1950 AL season, was his 1st MLB win and Connie Mack's last game as an MLB Manager. In 1953, John would join the Yankees organization, pitching for AA Birmingham Barons (SA) and the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), while posting a combined 15-8 record. Despite pitching well for the Yankee farm teams, John never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. He would pitch for the 2 Yankees AAA Minor League teams: the Kansas City Blues (AA), then the Denver Bears (AA) until 1958. Overall, John had posted a 42-23 record with 3.99 ERA in 250 games for the Yankees at the AAA level from 1953-1958.

1924-The Yankees get 4-time 20-game winner Urban Shocker back from the St. Louis Browns for 3 pitchers: Reliever Milt Gaston (5-3 in 29 games), Minor League P Joe Giard and Veteran MLB Starter Joe Bush (62-38 with a 3.44 ERA with 4 saves in 115 games). Urban Shocker had led the Browns in wins in each of the past 5 seasons, while posting an overall record of 126-80 with a 3.19 ERA and 20 saves in 260 games. He will be a mainstay on 2 AL pennant-winning staffs for the Yankees. Joe Bush had beaten the Browns 17 straight times after losing to them on June 12, 1922. Urban Shocker will go 46-24 in 3 seasons for the Yankees during his 2nd tour with the team. Urban had pitched for the Yankees in 1916-1917. On September 9,1928, Urban Shocker would pass away from enlarged heart problems.

1934-Former Yankees Reserve 1B/OF Kent Hadley (1960) was born. (1934-2005)
Kent Hadley played college baseball at USC. He was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent with the Tigers in 1956. Then in 1958, he was traded by the Tigers to A’s. He was the A’s regular 1B in 1959, while hitting .253 with 10 HRs and 39 RBIs. Kent would come to the Yankees in the Roger Maris trade with the Athletics on December 11,1959. The Yankees had picked him up just in case, regular 1B Bill Skowron had not fully recover from his broken arm injury that occurred during the 1959 AL season. He would hit .203 with 4 HRs and 11 RBIs in 55 games with the 1960 Yankees as a Reserve 1B for Bill Skowron. After splitting the 1960 season with the Yankees and their AAA Richmond (IL) team, he would go play in the Minor Leagues with 1961 AAA San Diego Padres (PCL). Then in 1962, he went on to play pro baseball in Japan. Hadley became the 1st foreigner to hit a HR in his 1st at-bat in Japan. For the Nankai Hawks, Kent went deep off of hurler Junichi Nakajima on May 1, 1962 in Heiwadai Stadium. Overall, Kent had an unimpressive season at the plate, hitting just .266. The Hawks brought him back in 1963; he improved drastically, cranking out 30 HRs, while batting .295 with 84 RBIs. He made the Pacific League All-Star team; had his best pro season in Japan. In 1964, Hadley hit .263 with 29 HRs and league-high 99 strikeouts. He hit a dramatic game-ending game-winning HR in Game 4 of the 1964 Japan Series that season, taking P Minoru Murayama deep. The blow and his colleague Joe Stanka's stellar pitching helped the Hawks to a 4-3 Series win over the Hanshin Tigers, it would be the last Japan Series title for Nankai.
As Nankai's 1B in 1965, Kent would hit .239 again, while cracking 29 HRs, driving in 86 runners. His power began to fade during the next season, but he did pick up his BA to .279 with 18 HRs. In his final season for the Hawks, Hadley hit just .213 with 14 HRs. In the Opening Game, he hit 1 HR that made him the 1st foreigner to hit 100 Career HRs in Nippon Pro Baseball. At his final game, he was celebrated by his teammate with doage (tossing a person in the air for a few times), which was rather unusual for non-Japanese players. Hadley said one of the proudest parts of his baseball career was playing for Rod Dedeaux (USC), Casey Stengel (Yankees) and Kazuto Tsuruoka (Japan), a famous trio of baseball managers in different settings.

1936-Former Yankees Pitcher Rolland “Rollie” Sheldon (1961-1962,1964-1965) was born.

Before the start of the 1960 AL season, the Yankees had signed P Rolland Sheldon as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had pitched college baseball at Auburn Univ. In the Yankees 1961 MLB spring training camp, Roland was named the winner of James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankees Rookie in the camp. In his rookie season, Rollie would post a 11-5 record with a 3.60 ERA, while appearing in 35 games. In 1962, he would slip to a 7-8 mark with a 5.49 ERA. In 1963, he would miss the entire season due to arm injuries. In 1964, he would bounce back with a 5-2 record with a 3.61 ERA in 19 games. Rollie would finish his Yankees pitching career with a 23-15 record with a 4.14 ERA in 91 games before being traded to Kansas City. On May 3,1965, Rollie was traded by the Yankees along with veteran C/1B/OF Johnny Blanchard to Kansas City for Catcher Doc Edwards. This was a terrible trade made by the Yankees GM Ralph Houk. For the 1965 A' s ,Rollie would go 10-8 with a 3.95 ERA in 32 games. Meanwhile Catcher Doc Edwards was a major failure behind the plate and with the bat for the Yankees. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Rollie had posted a 38-36 record with a 4.09 ERA in 160 games pitching for the Yankees, A’s and the Red Sox. He would pitch in AAA leagues for various MLB teams from 1967 to 1971, before retiring from baseball.

1942-The Yankees had traded Reserve OF Roy Cullenbine and Catcher Buddy Rosar to the Indians for OF Roy Weatherly and INF Oscar Grimes. With the military draft in mind, all 4 players are married with 1 child each. As noted by baseball historian Lyle Spatz, Rosar had been in the doghouse with Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy for leaving the team without permission during the weekend of July 18th-19th to take a civil service police examination in Buffalo. The leave-taking prompted the Yankees to sign veteran NL Catcher Rollie Hemsley, who would play in 31 games for the Yankees, while hitting .294. Rollie would stay with the Yankees as a Reserve Catcher until 1944. Buddy Rosar would finish the 1942 AL season hitting .230 with 2 HRs and 34 RBIs in 69 games that made him expendable. He had been Veteran All-Star Catcher Bill Dickey’s back-up; the Yankees were hoping for him to be his replacement. Overall, as Yankees player, Rosar had appeared in 252 games, while hitting .273 with 7 HRs and 119 RBIs. After being claimed on waivers from the Senators on August 31st, OF Roy Cullenbine had appeared in 21 games for the team; while hitting .364 with 2 HRs and 17 RBIs. He had played in 5 games of the 1942 World Series against the Cardinals, hitting .263 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. Oscar Grimes was a utility INF with the Tribe, who played in 51 games in 1942, while hitting only .179. The Yankees had hoped for him to be 1B Buddy Hassett replacement, when Buddy was drafted into the service. Instead, the Yankees will pick up NL veteran 1B Nick Etten from the Phillies in 1943. Grimes was the Reserve INF for the team until 3B Billy Johnson was drafted in 1944. Then he became the team’s 3B for the 1944-1945 AL seasons. Outfielder Roy Weatherly would replace Joe DiMaggio in CF, who had joined the Army. He would hit .263 with 7 HRs and 28 RBIs in 77 games. The team would lose him to the wartime draft, missing the 1944-1945 AL seasons.

1947-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Charlie Sands (1967) was born. (1947-2016)
On November 28,1966, Catcher Charlie Sands was selected by the Yankees from the Orioles organization in the 1966 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. Charlie would appear in 1 game for the 1967 Yankees. He had played in the Yankees Minor League System through the 1970 baseball season playing for AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL) and the AA Manchester Yankees (EL). On October 15,1970, Charlie was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Minor League Players: Dave Kent and Gary Washington to the Pirates for 3 Minor League Players: Ed Pachec, Jerry Branch and Tom Frondorf. With the Bucs, Charlie was Reserve Catcher for their 1971-1972 teams, while appearing in only 29 games, while hitting .192 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. He made 1 game appearance for the Pirates in the 1971 World Series against the Orioles with 1 at bat with no hits. From 1973-1974, he was with the Angels playing in 60 games, while hitting .216 with 5 HRs and 18 RBIs. He finished his MLB playing career with the 1975 A’s, appearing in only 3 games, while hitting .500 as a DH. Overall, as an MLB player, he had played in 93 games, while hitting .214 with 6 HRs and 23 RBIs.

1949-The Yankees and Tigers swap 1B, with the Tigers getting Richard Kryhoski, while the Yankees take Richard Wakefield, who was signed by the Tigers in 1941 with a $52,000 bonus. Kryhoski would return to the Yankees in the winter of 1954 in the 17-player trade with the Orioles. He had hit .294 with 1 HR and 27 RBIs in 51 games with the 1949 Yankees. Wakefield will appear in only 3 games for the 1950 Yankees, before being released by the team in 1952. Then he will be signed by the Giants.

1953 In a tax-avoidance scheme, the New York Yankees would sell Yankee Stadium and Kansas City properties (Ruppert Stadium) for $6.5 million in a deal with Johnson Corporation and the Knights of Columbus, who immediately lease the property back to the Yankees for 70 years at $240,000 a year. The Johnson Corporation is owned by Arnold Johnson, who will buy Philadelphia Athletics from the Connie Mack Family and then move the team to Kansas City in 1955. He will own team from 1955-1960. In another financial move, Yankees Owners Dan Topping and Del Webb dissolved the New York Yankees Inc.; they would replace the corporation with a simple 2-man partnership, thereby enabling themselves to collect capital gains.

1956-Former Yankees Shortstop Phil Rizzuto signs on as a Yankee Radio-TV announcer for the 1957 AL season. He will be replacing the recently fired Jim Woods on the Yankees broadcasting team, which includes Red Barber and Mel Allen. In 1953, Jim Woods was hired to call the Yankees games alongside Mel Allen and Joe E. Brown. He was fired after the 1956 AL season, when major sponsor Ballantine Beer wanted to make room for former Yankee Shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Yankees GM George Weiss was opposed to this move, he told Woods apologetically it was the only time he had had to fire someone for no reason at all. The veteran announcer Jim Woods would move to the Giants broadcasting team for the 1957 NL season.

1957-Former Yankees Pitcher Bob Ojeda (1994) was born.
On January 28,1994, veteran P Bob Ojeda was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would appear in 2 games for the team with a 24.00 ERA and with no decisions. On May 5,1994, Bob was released by the Yankees. He would finish his MLB Pitching Career with a 115-98 record with a 3.65 ERA and 1 save in 351 games. He had pitched the for Red Sox, Mets, Dodgers, Indians and finishing with the 1994 Yankees.

1961-Former Yankees OF Ping Bodie (1918-1921) had passed away. (1887-1961)
Outfielder Ping Bodie came up the MLB with the 1911 White Sox, playing for the team from 1911 to 1914. He had hit .273 with 20 HRs and 245 RBIs in 517 games for the team. Then he would spend the 1915-1916 seasons playing with the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). In 1917, he was back in the MLB with the Philadelphia A’s playing in 148 games, while hitting .291 with 7 HRs and 74 RBIs. On March 8,1918, Ping Bodie was traded by Philadelphia to the Yankees for 1B George “Tigoa” Burns, who had been acquired by the Yankees from the Tigers. He will appear in 385 games for the 1918-1921 Yankees, while hitting .272 hitting with 16 HRs and 194 RBI’s. He was Babe Ruth’s 1st roommate, when he joined the team in 1920. When asked about what it was like to room with the Bambino, Bodie replied, “It was like rooming with a suitcase.” Ping Bodie was one of the 1st colorful players to wear the Yankees uniform. During the Yankees 1919 MLB Spring Training Camp in Jacksonville, Fla; on April 3,1919, Ping went head-to-head with “Percy the Ostrich” in a pasta-eating contest. He won the feeding contest, when Percy passed out after eating 12 plates of pasta. During the 1921 AL season, Bing was released by the Yankees in August; he had played in only 31 games, hitting only .172 with No HRs and 12 RBIs; missing out on a chance to play in the 1921 World Series against the Giants. After the Yankees went on to win the pennant that year, Ping asked for a half share of the World Series money; but he did not get it from the team. After leaving the Yankees, Ping would continue to play in the Minor Leagues from 1922 to 1928. Ping Bodie’s real name was Francesco Pezzolo. He was the 1st of many Italian baseball players to come from the San Francisco area, that would play for the Yankees

1964-The Yankees have publicly announced that they have fired long-time Television and Radio Voice Mel Allen. This well-known broadcaster popularized the 'going, going, gone' HR call and often said 'how about that' to describe happenings on the ball field. The CBS, Inc. management wanted to bring in younger broadcasters to cover the team on TV and Radio. On September 21,1964, Mel had been told by the Yankees Front Office that his broadcast contract with the team wasn’t going to be renewed for the 1965 season. The Yankees had Phil Rizzuto cover the 1964 World Series on NBC-TV, instead of Mel Allen. He will be replaced in 1965 by NBC’s Joe Garagiola, a former MLB player, who will last for 3 years with the team, before leaving and being replaced by Frank Messer, who comes up from Baltimore in 1969. After the 1966 AL season, Allen’s longtime broadcasting partner Red Barber will be let go by the team.

1968-Former Yankees Reserve OF Curtis Pride (2003) was born.
On May 23, 2003, OF Curtis Pride was purchased by the Yankees from Nashua (AL). Despite being deaf, he was able to play pro baseball. During the 2003 AL season, he did appear in just 4 games with the Yankees, while hitting .083. He had spent most of the 2003 baseball season with AAA Columbus (IL). With the Clippers, Curtis would hit .289 with 7 stolen bases (2nd on the team). On October 14, 2003, Curtis was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. He would sign with the Angles organization for the 2004 AL season.

1987-Former Yankees Reserve INF Donovan Solano (2016) was born.
On December 24, 2015, the Yankees had signed INF Donovan Solano as an MLB Free Agent. He will spend most of the 2016 season with AAA Scranton, playing in 131 games, hitting .319 with 7 HRs and 67 RBIs. He appeared in only 9 games with the 2016 Yankees, hitting .227 with 1 HR and 2 RBIs. On October 10, 2016, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team, after refusing to accept an outright assignment to AAA Scranton (IL).

1996-MLB Free Agent Starter David “Boomer” Wells signs a 3-year $13.5 million contract with the Yankees. David had pitched for the 1996 Orioles, posting a 11-14 record with a 5.14 ERA in 34 games. He would go 32-14 in 62 games for the Yankees. On February 18,1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve INF Homer Bush and Reliever Graeme Lloyd to the Blue Jays for veteran AL Starter Roger Clemens.

2001-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent OF Rondell White, who had played for the 2001 Cubs to a 2-year player contract. Rondell could never really stay healthy, while he was with the team. He would appear in 126 games for the Bombers, while hitting .240 with 14 HRs and 62 RBIs. On March 19, 2003, he was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Minor League Player Mark Phillips, MLB OF Bubba Trammell and Cash.

2003-After agreeing to basics weeks ago, the Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner and 35-year-old Slugger Gary Sheffield (.330, 39 HRs, 132 RBIs) finalizes a $39 million, 3-year deal, which includes $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The 7-time MLB All-Star Outfielder played with Braves last season. After breaking in with the Brewers in 1988, Gary has spent time playing for the Padres, Marlins and the Dodgers.

2004-A 3-team trade which including Diamondbacks southpaw Starter Randy Johnson and P Kazuhisa Ishii traded to the Yankees with the Dodgers OF Shawn Green and P Brad Penny being sent to the Diamondbacks with Starter Jose Vazquez and Minor League Prospects going to the Dodgers. The blockbuster MLB transaction falls apart as the Dodgers back out of the deal at the 11th hour.

2010-The Yankees bring veteran MLB Reliever Pedro Feliciano across town, signing the rubber-armed reliever from the cross-town Mets. During the Yankees 2011 MLB Spring Training Camp, Feliciano will suffer pitching shoulder injury, causing him to miss the entire 2011 AL season. He never appears with the team at the MLB level. The Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency.

2013-The Yankees continue their off-season spending spree, signing MLB Free Agent 2B Brian Roberts for 1 year deal and veteran MLB Reliever Matt Thornton for 2 years. While those 2 deals are not particularly large, the team gets hit once again with the largest luxury tax payment in MLB at $28 million.

2015-Former Yankees Pitcher Hal “Skinny” Brown (1962) had passed away. (1924-2015)
On September 7,1962, veteran P Hal Brown was purchased by the Yankees from the Orioles. In September of 1962, he would appear in only 2 games for the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record with a 6.75 ERA. On April 21,1963, Hal was purchased by the Houston Colt .45's from the Yankees. Originally, the Red Sox had signed Brown in 1946, as MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had pitched in the MLB from 1951 to 1964. Overall, Hal would finish his MLB pitching career with an 85-92 record with a 3.81 ERA in 358 games. He had pitched for the White Sox, Red Sox, Orioles, Yankees and finished with the NL expansion team, the Colt .45’s

2018-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter J. A. Happ to a 2-year contract. On July 26, 2018, veteran MLB Starter J. A. Happ was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees for MLB INF Brandon Drury and Minor League OF Billy McKinney. He would go 7-0 with a 2.69 ERA in 11 games for the 2018 Yankees. In 2019, Happ went 12-8 with a 4.91 ERA in 31 games for the team.

2018-The Yankees had designated P Parker Bridwell for assignment. On November 26, 2018, Parker Bridwell was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Angels. On December 21, 2018, he will be claimed on waivers from the Yankees by the Angels.

2022-The Yankees have added a bit of Minor League depth by signing 2 players: OF Michael Hermosillo and P Demarcus Evans to Minor League deals. Michael Hermosillo has played for the Cubs the past 2 seasons. He was signed by the Angels, who would to traded him to the Cubs. In 5 MLB seasons, he has appeared in 103 games, while hitting .167 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs. Meanwhile, Evans had been pitching in the Rangers organization since 2015, pitching at the AAA level in 2022. As MLB Pitcher (2020-2021), he carries a 0-2 record with a 4.75 ERA in 29 games. Neither player will appear with the 2023 Yankees at the MLB level, becoming free agents in the fall.

December 18th

1918-The Yankees had signed OF George Halas as MLB Amateur Free Agent. A former College baseball star, he would only appear in 12 games for the Yankees, while batting only .091. He was sent down by the Yankees to the Minor Leagues to learn how to hit a curveball. Later, he would find more success in the world of Professional Football as the Team Owner and Head Coach of the NFL Chicago Bears.

1918- Red Sox OF Duffy Lewis returns from his wartime service with the Navy, when he is traded by the team to the Yankees. He goes along with front-line Pitchers Ernie Shore (58-33) and Dutch Leonard for 2 Pitchers: Veteran Starter Ray Caldwell (96-99 with 3.00 ERA in 248 games) and Elmer “Slim” Love (21-17 with a 3.05 ERA, 1 save in 91 games), Reserve Catcher Roxy Walters (.243 with No HRs and 49 RBIs in 243 games), Reserve OF Frank Gilhooley (.277 with 2 HRs and 55 RBIs in 250 games) and $15,000 Cash. Veteran AL Starter Dutch Leonard refused to report to the Yankees, instead he is sent to the Tigers.
The Tigers had turned down a deal for Dutch Leonard on the 16th. Also, Ernie Shore had also spent the 1918 AL season in the Navy, he would post a 7-10 record with a 4.39 ERA and 1 save in 34 games in 2 seasons with the 1919-1920 Yankees. The Boston Post newspaper reports, "It will take a lot to convince Boston fans that they got the best of this one."

1930-Former Yankees Minor League INF Mike Baxes was born. (1930-2023)
Before the start of 1951 AL Season, INF Mike Baxes was obtained by the Yankees from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) as part of a minor league working agreement. Before the start of 1952 AL season, Mike was returned to AAA Seals (PCL) by the Yankees; after expiration of their minor league working agreement. On September 21,1955, Mike was purchased along with P Bill Bradford and PH/LF Dave Melton by the Kansas City Athletics from the AAA Seals (PCL) for $75,000. He would play in 146 games for the 1956 and 1958 A's, hitting just .217 with 1 HR and 13 RBIs. On April 12,1959, INF Mike Baxes was traded by the Kansas City Athletics along with OF Bob Martyn to the Yankees for Minor League INF Tom Carroll and OF Russ Snyder. Mike was assigned to the Yankees AAA club, the Richmond Virginians (IL). He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. After playing for AAA Richmond, where Mike had played in 100 games, while hitting just .191 with 2 HRs and 4 RBIs; he would leave the Yankees organization. His younger brother, Jim would play for 1 season in the MLB, he would appear with the 1959 Dodgers, then he was traded to the Indians during the season.

1930-Former Yankees 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron was born. (1930-2012)
Bill Skowron had attended Purdue Univ., as a Baseball and Football player: Halfback, Punter and Kicker for the Big 10 Football powerhouse. Prior to the start of the 1951 AL season, he was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spent the majority of his 1st pro season with the Class B Norfolk Tars, where he led the Piedmont League with a .334 average. He had an even better season in 1952, hitting .341 for the AAA Kansas City Blues, while leading the American Association with 31 HRs and 134 RBIs. In 1952, Bill was named the Minor League Player of the Year by The Sporting News. Nonetheless, he was back again in the Minors with the 1953 Blues. With Kansas City, Bill was the regular 1B, while future AL Golden Glove winner 1B Vic Power would play in the outfield. Power would be later traded to the Philadelphia A’s during the 1953 MLB off-season. Reaching the MLB with Yankees in 1954, Skowron initially was platoon with veteran 1B/OF Joe Collins. He had a very successful Rookie season by hitting .340 with a .577 slugging average with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs in 87 games. Bill will hit over .300 in his 1st 4 seasons in the MLB. He was the Yankees regular at 1B by 1956. In the fall of 1956, he hit a Grand Slam HR in Game 7 of the World Series against the Dodgers, as his team won the Fall Classic. Starting in 1957, he began a string of 5 straight AL All-Star Game appearances. In the 1958 World Series, Skowron homered in Game 1, drove in the winning run in Game # 6; he hit a 3-run HR in Game # 7 against the Braves, as the Yankees captured another World Championship. From 1960-1962, he hit more than 20 HRs in each season for the team. Moose was 1 of 6 Yankees to hit more than 20 HRs in 1961, when he clubbed a career-high 28 HRs. He added 2 more World Series titles to his resume in 1961 and 1962. Bill “Moose” Skowron hit .296 in 12 seasons with the Yankees with 156 HRs and 672 RBI's. In 1958, he led the AL 1st Baseman in fielding. He had appeared in 7 World Series with the Yankees and 1 with the Dodgers (1963). During the winter of 1962, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the Dodgers for Starter Stan Williams. During the 1963 NL season, he didn’t hit much for the Dodgers, while appearing in 89 games, hitting just .203 with 4 HRs and 19 RBIs; but his bat came alive in the 1963 World Series against the Yankees. Skowron hit .385 in 4 games with 1 HR and 3 RBIs against his old team. “I was miserable,” he recalled in “Bombers: An Oral History of the New York Yankees,” recorded by Richard Lally. "Twelve years I was with New York, 3 in the Minors, 9 in the Majors. I loved those guys and it killed me to beat them. My uniform might have said Los Angeles, but in my heart, I was always a Yankee.” That winter Bill was sold by the Dodgers to the Senators, later, he would play for the White Sox and Angels before retiring from the game in 1967. Overall, Bill Skowron had hit .282 with 211 HRs and 888 RBIs in 1,658 games. He had batted .293 with 8 HRs and 29 RBIs in 39 World Series games as a member of 5 World Champion clubs. A native of the Chicago area, Bill would work with the White Sox Community Relations Dept. for many years. He was still a very popular player with the Yankees fans on Old Timer’s Day games at Yankee Stadium.

1950-Yankees OF/1B great Tommy "Old Reliable" Henrich calls it a career as an active MLB player. He accepts an MLB Coaching position with the Yankees for the 1951 AL season. As a Yankees player, Henrich had played in 1,284 games, while hitting .282 with 183 HRs and 795 RBIs. He had appeared in 4 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .262 with 4 HRs and 8 RBIs, while playing in 21 games. He was named to the AL All-Star team 5 times during his Yankees playing career. Tommy had played for the team for 11 seasons, missing the 1943-1945 AL seasons due to wartime military service.

1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Scott Nielsen (1986,1988-1989) was born.
On February 14,1984, P Scott Nielsen was traded by the Mariners along with Minor League P Eric Parent to the Yankees for Reserve INF Larry Milbourne. In 1986, Scott went 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA in 10 games for the Yankees. On January 5,1987, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Mike Soper (Minors) to the White Sox for P Pete Filson and INF Randy Velarde. On November 12,1987, Scott was traded by the White Sox along with P Richard Dotson to the Yankees for OF/1B Dan Pasqua, P Steve Rosenberg (Minors) and C/DH/1B Mark Salas. In 1988, he went 1-2 for the team and in 1989; he posted a 1-0 mark for the Yankees. On July 10,1989, Scott was traded by the Yankees to the Mets for Reserve OF Marcus Lawton.

1968-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Hank Severeid (1926) had passed away. (1891-1968)
On July 22,1926, veteran Catcher Hank Severeid was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Senators. He had appeared in 41 games for the 1926 Yankees, while hitting .268. In the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals, he had caught in all 7 games for the Yankees, while hitting .273. He had played in the 1925 World Series with the Washington Senators.

1969- The White Sox would send veteran 3B/1B Slugger Pete Ward to the Yankees for Minor League P Mickey Scott and Cash. Pete Ward was at the end of his MLB player career playing with back problems. With the 1970 Yankees, he will play 1B, while hitting .260 with 1 HR and 16 RBIs playing in 66 games. He will later become a Yankees Minor League Manager. Mickey Scott had never appeared at the MLB level with the Yankees. After his retirement as an active player, Scott would later work for the Yankees organization in various positions.

1973 The Yankees had announced the signing of Richard Williams as their 1974 Manager, precipitating a legal showdown with Oakland A’s Team Owner Charlie Finley. Two days later, AL President Joe Cronin rules that the Yankees cannot sign Williams, since he is still legally contracted with the A’s. Finley would let Williams manage again in the MLB, with the exception of the Yankees.

1986-Former Yankees Reserve 1B Chris Carter (2017) was born.
The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran 1B/OF Chris Carter as a DH/1B for the 2017 AL season. Chris had hit 41 HRs for the 2016 Brewers. He was a major disappointment for the team with the bat and his glove-work at 1B. On July 10, 2017, the Yankees would release him, he had a very weak .201 BA with only 8 HRs with 26 RBIs in 62 games.

1993-Top Yankees Minor League Pitching Prospect Brien Taylor injures his shoulder in a bar fight near his home in North Carolina. The shoulder injury will require surgery that will cause Taylor to miss the entire 1994 Minor League season. Taylor, who had signed for a $1.55 million bonus in 1991, has yet to make it to the MLB. Taylor will never regain his fine pitching form; he will not appear in the MLB. The Yankees will eventually release him.

2002-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran 3B Todd Zeile to a contract. For the 2002 Yankees, he will appear in 66 games, while hitting just .210 with 6 HRs and 23 RBIs. On August 18, 2003, the Yankees would release Todd. He will finish the 2002 MLB season with the Expos.

2009-The Yankees had sign MLB Free Agent and former Yankees 1B/DH Nick Johnson to a 1-year contract with an option for 2011 AL season. He is expected to play DH and bat 2nd in place of MLB Free Agent Johnny Damon, whom the Yankees announced they would not seek to re-sign. Damon was seeking a multi-season contract. Nick Johnson will miss most of the 2010 AL season due to a wrist injury that required season ending surgery.

December 19th

1915-Former Yankees PH/INF Nicholas “Mickey” Witek (1949) was born. (1915-1990)
Infielder Mickey Witek was the 1939 International League Most Valuable Player, while playing for the AA Newark Bears (IL) in the Yankees Minor League system. The Giants had purchased him from the AA Newark Bears (IL). In 1940, the Giants would bring him up to the Majors. He miss the 1943-1946 NL seasons due to his military service in the Coast Guard. He would appear in 2 games for the 1949 Yankees, as a Pinch-Hitter. Overall, Mickey would play in 581 MLB games, while hitting .277 with 22 HRs and 196 RBIs. After the 1950 baseball season, Mickey would retire from baseball, after splitting the season playing at AAA level with the Seattle Rainers (PCL) and the Yankees AAA club, the Kansas City Blues (AA).

1882-Former MLB Player and Long-time Yankees MLB Scout Paul Krichell was born. (1882-1957)
Paul Krichell was an MLB Catcher for the 1911-1912 St. Louis Browns. He had appeared in 87 games for the Browns, while just hitting only .222. Krichell was a key MLB Scout for the Yankees during their rise to baseball prominence beginning in the early 1920s. He is credited with signing such Yankee standouts as 1B Lou Gehrig, P Johnny Allen, 3B Red Rolfe, Catcher Bill Dickey, Pitchers Vic Raschi, Tommy Byrne, Whitey Ford, Shortstop Phil Rizzuto and others. A sarcastic award called the Paul Krichell Talent Scout Award is featured in Bill James' Historical Baseball Abstract and is awarded in each of the decade overviews to a team or scout, who passed on a player that would go on to have a great MLB career. Rizzuto was turned down by both the Dodgers and Giants in their player tryout camps as for being too small, but Krichell saw something special in the youngster.

1930-Former Yankees Reserve OF Gordon Windhorn (1959) was born. (1930-2022)
On March 14,1957, OF Gordon Windhorn was traded along with Pitcher Eli Grba by the Red Sox to the Yankees for OF Bill Renna. In 1952, he had originally been signed by the Giants. The Yankees would send him to Minor Leagues for the 1957 season. In 1958, Gordon was playing for the AAA Denver Bears (AA), where he won the League’s Batting Crown with a .328 BA along with 10 HRs and 72 RBIs. Gordon was selected as the 1959 James P. Dawson Award for being the best Yankees Rookie in their 1959 MLB Spring Training Camp. Gordon would appear in only 7 games for the 1959 Yankees going 0 for 11, before he was sent down to AAA Richmond (IL). On April 5,1960, Gordon was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League INF Richard Sanders to the Dodgers for veteran lefty P Fred Kipp. After being with the Dodgers, Gordon would play in the AL for the A’s and Angels, before traveling to Japan in 1964 to play for Hankyu (JPL) for 5 seasons, hitting .255 with 86 HRs and 217 RBIs in 641 games. Overall, he had appeared in 95 MLB games, while hitting only .176 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs.

1934 The Yankees would sell veteran Reserve OF Sammy Byrd to the Reds. Sammy was known as” Babe Ruth’s legs” as a late inning defensive replacement for the Yankees Slugger. He had played in 565 games for the 1929-1934 Yankees, while hitting .281 with 27 HRs and 155 RBI’s. He had appeared in 1 game with no hits of the 1932 World Series with the Yankees against the Cubs. Sam will play 2 seasons with the Reds before retiring from the game. Later, he will become a very successful PGA Golfer.

1943 Former Yankees OF/DH Walt "No Neck" Williams (1974-1975) was born. (1943-2016)
On April 19,1974, the Yankees had obtained OF Walt “No Neck” Williams along with Pitchers Rick Sawyer and Ed Farmer from the Indians for Reserve Catcher Gerry Moses. Walt Williams had hit .113 and .281 for the Yankees. After the 1975 AL season, the Yankees would release Walt. He went to Japan to play baseball. Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner had helped Walt get a player contact with a Japanese team.

1944-Former Yankees Pitcher Rob Gardner (1970-1972) was born. (1944-2023)
The Twins had originally signed Pitcher Rob Gardner in 1963. The Mets in the 1964 MLB 1st Year Player Draft had selected Rob from the Twins organization. After going 4-10 with the 1965-1966 Mets, he was traded by the team to the Cubs. In 1968, the Cubs would trade him to the Indians. On June 12,1969, Gardner was traded by the Tribe to the Yankees for Minor League C John Orsino. Rob Gardner had posted a 9-5 record with a 3.19 ERA in 23 games with the Yankees between the 2 trades to the A's. He was traded for both of the older Alou brothers. Rob was 1970 Pitcher of the Year International League, while pitching for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs. He had posted a 16-5 record with a 2.53 ERA. His best Yankees season was in 1972, when he posted a 8-5 record with a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts. On April 9,1971, Gardner was traded by the Yankees along with Reliever Ron Klimkowski to the A’s for veteran OF/1B Felipe Alou. On May 26,1971, Rob was traded by Oakland back to the Yankees for veteran C/1B Curt Blefary. On November 24,1972, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later to A’s for veteran OF Matty Alou. The Yankees would send Reserve INF Rich McKinney on December 1,1972 to the Oakland to complete the trade. He would pitch for the A’s and Brewers, finishing up MLB career with an overall record of 14-18 with a 4.35 ERA and 2 saves in 109 games. In 1974, he would pitch in Tigers farm system at AAA level, seeing limited action, before being released by the team. He would return to the Yankees Organization in 1975, pitching for their AAA team, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL), while posting a 0-1 record with a 2.08 ERA in 10 games.

1962-Former Yankees Pitcher Clay Parker (1989-1990) was born.
On December 22,1987, P Clay Parker was traded by the Mariners along with Pitchers Lee Guetterman and Wade Taylor to the Yankees for MLB Starter Steve Trout and Reserve OF Henry Cotto. Clay had posted a 5-6 record with a 3.80 ERA in 27 games for the Yankees. On June 4,1990, Clay was traded by the Yankees along with P Lance McCullers to the Tigers for OF/DH/C Matt Nokes.

1965-Former Yankees INF John “Schoolboy” Knight (1909-1911,1913) had passed away. (1885-1965).
As a 19-year-old rookie, John “Schoolboy” Knight was the regular Shortstop for the 1905 Philadelphia A’s. John would play in the MLB for 8 seasons. On August 20,1908, INF John Knight was purchased by the Yankees from AA Baltimore Orioles (IL). A weak hitter most seasons, he did have an MLB career year with the 1910 Yankees, when he hit .312 with 3 HRs and 45 RBIs in in 116 games. Playing with the Yankees for 4 seasons, John had appeared in 435 games, while hitting .267 with 6 HRs and 171 RBIs. On February 17,1912, John was traded by the team along with a Player to be Named Later to the Senators for C/1B Gabby Street. The Yankees would send C/1B Rip Williams on February 22,1912 to the Senators to complete the trade. On July 7,1913, John was traded by the AA Jersey City Skeeters (IL) to the Yankees for 1B Babe Borton and Cash. John would hit .237 with No HRs and 24 RBIs in 70 games for 1913 Yankees. On December 8,1913, John was purchased by AA Toledo Mud Hens (AA) from the Yankees.

1970-Former Yankees Minor League C and Minor League Coach Tom Wilson was born.
On June 4,1990, Catcher Tom Wilson was selected by the Yankees in the 23rd round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On April 6,1996, he was traded by the Yankees to the Indians for 2 Minor League players: Marc Marini and Ryan Martindale. In 1997 and 1999, he would rejoin the Yankees organization; he would play for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). In 2007, he was a Yankees Minor League Coach for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL.) In 2016, he was a Coach with AAA Scranton (IL).

1974-The race to sign MLB Free Agent All-Star Starter Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry, Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie, North Carolina. The Yankees and Red Sox Representatives are the 1st MLB Teams arrivals. On December 31st, Catfish Hunter will sign with the Yankees.

1978-Former Yankee Reserve INF Andy Cannizaro (2006) was born.
The Yankees had selected INF Andy Cannizaro in the 7th round of the 2001 MLB Amateur Player Draft. They had assigned him to the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees, where he batted .283, but he only stole 5 bases in 8 tries, while grounding into 15 double plays, the most in the NYPL. Then he moved up to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), where he hit .249, then followed with a .276 season for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2004, Cannizaro returned to AA Trenton, where he improved his batting to .314. He would split 2005 Minor League season between the AA Thunder (.248) and the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) hitting .253. In 2006, he had a .276 BA with 32 doubles for the AAA Clippers. Andy made his MLB Player debut with the 2007 Yankees by going 2 for 8 (.250) with 1 HR with 5 runs as a Pinch-Hitter and Pinch-Runner. In the fall of 2007, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He was signed by the Tampa Bay organization. He would appear in 1 game with the 2008 Rays. Also, he has played in the Indians and White Sox organizations before retiring as an active player. Cannizaro was an MLB Scout for the Yankees in the South for 5 years. Then he was an Assistant Coach at Louisiana St. Univ. from 2014-2016. Andy would replace John Cohen as Head Baseball Coach at Mississippi St. Univ., when Cohen was promoted to Athletic Director.

1979-Former Yankees Reliever Rafael Soriano (2011-2012) was born.
On January 18, 2011, the Yankees had signed Reliever Rafael Soriano as an MLB Free Agent. He had been a Closer for the 2010 Rays. He had made the 2010 AL All-Star team. Soriano signed a long-term deal with the Yankees before the start of the 2011 season. He knew of course that he would not be the Closer there, since the great Mariano Rivera had a stranglehold on the job. But Mariano was already into his 40’s, and his heir apparent Joba Chamberlain was struggling with injuries, so there was a possibility to install himself as the set-up man and insurance policy in case something happened to Mo. It was not the case in 2011, as Mariano was his usual outstanding self, and Soriano in turn struggled in his 1st season in the Bronx. His ERA shot up to 4.12 - the worst since his MLB Rookie season, not counting the 3 1/3 innings, he pitched while injured in 2004. He struggled with his health again, being limited to only 42 games; he only struck out 36 batters in 39 1/3 innings. While he was injured or struggling, young David Robinson passed him on the Yankees bullpen depth chart. In the 2011 ALDS, he would pitch 3 times and only gave up a 1 hit in 4 2/3 innings against the Tigers; however, that hit was a solo HR by Delmon Young in the 7th inning of Game 3 on October 3rd, which broke a 4-4 tie and that handed him the loss. He began 2012 season as the 7th-inning specialist in the Yankees bullpen, pitching much well than in his 1st season. When the unthinkable happened, Mo Rivera went down with a season-ending ankle injury in early May, it was Robertson, who stepped into the breach. He quickly earned the save in his 1st outing as the Closer, and it seemed that he was about to grab onto the position for years to come, but everything unraveled quickly: he blew his next save opportunity, then felt pain in his ribs in his next game, being forced onto the DL. Rafael then took over the top job, he quickly asserted himself by converting his 1st 2 save opportunities. He never slowed down, registering his 40th save of the season against his former team, the Rays on September 16th, in the heat of the 2012 AL Pennant race, to reach the mark for the 2nd time of his MLB Pitching career. He finished the 2012 season with 42 savers, 3rd in the AL behind Jim Johnson and Fernando Rodney, with an outstanding 2.26 ERA. He did not allow a run in 4 1/3 innings in the 2012 MLB Postseason, but the Yankees were unable to give him any leads to protect either. After the 2012 season had ended, he decided to opt out of the final year of his Yankees MLB player contract, wanting to cash in on his excellent season by obtaining a long-term deal from an MLB team that would guarantee him a spot as the Team Closer.

1983-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Mike Browning to the Angels for P Curt Brown. In 1983, Curt Brown had appeared in 10 games as a Reliever for the Angels, while posting a 1-1 record with a 7.31 ERA. For the 1984 Yankees, he will go 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 13 games. Mike Browning was a Minor League Pitcher, who went 5-7 with the AA Nashville Sounds (SAL) and 5-1 with AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He never appears in the MLB with the Angels

1984-Former Yankees Pitcher Ian Kennedy (2007) was born.
Pitcher Ian Kennedy was selected by the Yankees in the 1st round of of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would debut in the MLB, a year later. Kennedy was 8-0 with 3 saves and a 0.43 ERA as a high school senior, striking out 76, walking 7 and allowing 19 hits in 49 innings. With Ian Stewart, he helped La Quinta finish 3rd in the nation. Baseball America named him a 2nd-team All-American, joining pitchers like Chad Billingsley and John Danks. Following his Sr. year, Cardinals had drafted him in the 14th round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but Kennedy instead opted to attend the Univ. of So. California. As a freshman, Ian had a 7-2, 2.91 record with 120 strikeouts in 93 innings. He was 2nd in the Pacific-10 Conference in ERA, trailing only Kevin Gunderson. He made the All-Conference team, but he lost the Freshman of the Year Pac-10 honors to Tim Lincecum. Baseball America chose him as a 1st-team freshman All-American, joining Lincecum and Wade LeBlanc at the top of the staff. He would join Team USA's college group that summer, going 3-1 with a 3.81 ERA and 40 strikeouts (most on the staff) in 26 innings. In the 2004 World University Championship, Kennedy went 2-0 with a 1.59 ERA and 17 K in 11 innings for the champs. He led the team in wins in that tournament. As a sophomore, Kennedy went 12-3 with a 2.54 ERA and fanned 158 batters in 117 innings, allowing 85 hits and 38 walks. He was chosen as a 1st-team All-American by Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America. He tied Dallas Buck for the Pac-10 lead in wins and led in strikeouts while finishing 3rd in ERA. He was named the Conference Pitcher of the Year. He tied for 7th in NCAA Division I in wins and fanned the most batters in that division, 4 ahead of close runner-up Luke Hochevar. Back with Team USA for another go-around, Kennedy went 4-1 with a 2.89 ERA. He tied for the team lead in wins and allowed only 11 hits in 28 innings that summer. Kennedy slipped to 5-7, 3.90 in a disappointing junior year. He was scouted by Bill Mele and Jeff Patterson, the Yankees still took him with the 21st overall selection of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft; they would signed him for a $2.25 million bonus, more than 13 of the 20 players chosen before him got. He made his pro debut that year, making 1 start for the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). Kennedy was 0-2 with a 4.45 ERA for the West Oahu CaneFires that winter, but he was 3rd in Hawaii Winter Baseball with 45 strikeouts, trailing Rick Vanden Hurk and Chamberlain. In 2007, Kennedy would zip through the Yankee farm system. He would make stops with the Class A Tampa Yankees (6-1, 1.29 ERA, 72 K in 63 IP, .183 opponent BA), Class AA Trenton Thunder (5-1, 2.59 ERA) composite minor league record with 163 strikeouts in 146 1/3 innings and a .208 opponent BA. Kennedy was a September call-up, one of many Yankee prospect pitchers to debut that season, following Joba Chamberlain, Philip Hughes, Tyler Clippard and Chase Wright. He would retired his 1st opponent in the MLB, Akinori Iwamura, to start a 1-2-3 inning. An Alex Rodriguez error set up 2 unearned runs in the 2nd on a double by Josh Wilson. B.J. Upton added a 6th-inning HR but Kennedy finished up with the win in a 9-6 victory, being charged with 3 runs (1 earned) in 7 innings, with 6 strikeouts and 5 hits allowed. Kennedy would finish the 2007 season with 3 starts for the Yankees with a 1-0 record with a 1.89 ERA in 19 innings. Kennedy would spend the 2008 season bouncing between the MLB and Minors. In 10 games with the Yankees, Kennedy had failed to get a decision, while pitching to an 8.17 ERA. He managed to keep his minor league ERA down to 2.22 ERA, while pitching for the GCL Yankees, Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) and the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees. Kennedy would miss much of the 2009 season with an aneurysm in his right arm. He was able to appear in a handful of games in the minors and had pitched 1 inning at the MLB level. In the fall of 2008, he would pitch in the Arizona Fall League, where he put up a 4.25 ERA and walked only 5 batters, while striking out 28 hitters. On December 8th, Kennedy was traded to the Diamondbacks in a 3-team deal that netted the Yankees OF Curtis Granderson from the Tigers. The Diamondbacks also had acquired P Edwin Jackson from Detroit. They would send pitchers Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers. The Yankees would also sent Minor League OF prospect Austin Jackson and MLB P Phil Coke to the Tigers. On November 2, 2023, Ian had announced his MLB player retirement. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a 104-114 record with a 4.16 ERA and 66 saves in 497 games.

1986-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB Catcher Butch Wynegar to Angels for P Ron Romanick and a Player to be Named Later. Butch Wynegar had played for the team for 4 ½ seasons, while hitting .259 with 27 HRs and 128 RBIs in 449 games. He had suffered from mental medical issues during the 1986 AL season, which cause him to leave the team on July 31,1985, which lead to his placement on the Restricted List and losing his MLB Players pay. In turn, Butch sued the team, the Yankees Front Office worked out a deal to settle the medical issues. Ron Romanick had split time between the AAA Edmonton Trappers (PCL) going 5-8 and with the Angels, where he went 2-3. He never appears in the MLB with the Yankees. The Player to be Named later was Minor League P Alan Mills, who was assigned to the Yankees Class A team, the Prince William Cannons (CL).

1991-Yankees veteran Reliever Steve Howe is arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been suspended by the MLB 5 times for Drug and Alcohol problems.

2002-The Japan's most heralded player, 28-year-old OF Slugger Hideki Matsui (.334, 50 HRs, 107 RBIs), reaches a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a $21 million, 3-year contract. "Godzilla" the 3-time MVP of Japan's Central League, had rejected the Yomiuri Giant's $33 million, 4-year offer opting to play for the Yankees. He will play for the Yankees 2003-2009. Matsui appeared in 916 games, while hitting 140 HR’s and 597 RBIs with a Yankee career BA of .290. In 2003-2004, he was named to the AL All-Star team. In 2005, he hit .305 for the Yankees. He was named the 2009 MLB World Series MVP for hitting .615 (8 for 13) with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs against the Phillies. In 2 World Series with the Yankees, Matsui finished with a .389 BA with 4 HR’s and 12 RBI’s. In 6 ALDS, he would hit .261 with 3 HR’s and 10 RBI’s. In 3 ALCS, Matsui had hit .333 (10 for 81) with 2 HR’s and 17 RBI’s. After the 2009 World Series, Matsui left the Yankees to sign an MLB Free Agent contract worth 6.5 million dollars with the Angels.

2003-Former Yankees Minor League OF Carmen Mauro had passed away. (1926-2003)
In a 10-player trade made on December 16,1953, the Yankees would send Minor League 1B/OF Vic Power, 3B Jimmy Finigan, 1B Don Bollweg, OF Bill Renna, C Jim Robertson and P John Gray to the Philadelphia A's. They would send veteran 1B/PH Eddie Robinson, INF Loren Babe, Starter Harry Byrd, Outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro to the Yankees. Carmen never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was assigned by the Yankees to their AAA club, the Kansas City Blues (AA). He would spend the next 5 seasons in the Minor Leagues. Mauro would retire from pro baseball in 1958.

2008-Former Yankees Pitcher Dock Ellis (1976-1977) had passed away. (1945-2008)
On December 11,1975, veteran NL Starter Dock Ellis was traded by the Pirates along with P Ken Brett and Minor League 2B Willie Randolph to the Yankees for MLB Starter George “Doc” Medich. Dock went 17-8 with the 1976 Yankees. In 1977, he was 1-1 with a 1.83 ERA in 3 starts when on April 27,1977, Dock was traded by the Yankees along with Rookie OF Larry Murray and veteran Reserve INF Marty Perez to Oakland for veteran Starter Mike Torrez, who would go 14-12 for the 1977 Yankees. Doc Ellis would go 1-5 with 9.69 ERA in 7 games with the A’s. On June 15,1977, Doc Ellis was purchased by the Rangers from the A’s, he will go 10-6 with a 2.90 ERA in 23 games for the team.

2014-The Yankees had traded INF Martin Prado and P David Phelps to the Marlins in exchange for P Nathan Eovaldi and 1B/OF Garrett Jones. The Bronx Bombers will also get Minor-League P Domingo German in the deal as well; also, the Yankees will send $6 Million to Miami to offset part of Prado's MLB player contract salary.

2014-The Dodgers would end the Yankees' 15-year streak of owning MLB's biggest payroll. When the luxury tax calculations are in for the year, the Dodgers owe $26.6 million, based on a payroll of $257 million. The Yankees also need to pay the tax levied on payrolls above $189 million, and their bill is $18.3 million, down from $28 million in 2013.

2014-The Yankees had acquired P Gonzalez Germen from the Mets in exchange for Cash considerations. Germen, 27, did not record a decision in 25 relief appearances with the 2014 Mets, while posting a 4.75 ERA (30.1IP, 16ER). Also, he had spent time with the Mets AAA club, Las Vegas (PCL), going 3-1 with 6 saves and a 2.38 ERA (22.2IP, 6ER) in 18 appearances out of the bullpen. To make room for Germen on the Yankees 40-man roster, P Preston Claiborne was DFA.

2017-For the 4th straight year, the Dodgers are assessed the largest luxury tax payment in MLB, meanwhile the Yankees have to make a payment for the 15th straight year - in spite of going through a successful youth movement before the season. The Dodgers will have to pay $36.2 million and Yankees $15.7 million. Three other teams are assessed much smaller amounts.

2019-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter Gerrit Cole to a 324 Million-Dollar player contract. He had posted a 20-5 record with a 3.50 ERA in 33 games for the 2019 Astros. Gerrit posted a 1-1 record with a 3.86 ERA in 2 games against the Nationals in the 2019 World Series. Cole has an MLB Pitching career record of 94-52 with a 3.22 ERA in 192 games with the Pirates and Astros (2013-2019). He will become the 2020 Yankees No. 1 Starter.

2019-The Players Association files a grievance on behalf of Yankees OF Jacoby Ellsbury, who was released earlier this month with 2 years remaining on a $153 million player contract signed before the 2014 AL season, The Yankees are trying to void the contract, claiming that Ellsbury underwent unauthorized medical treatment, whereas the Association claims that this is simply a ploy to circumvent what was a guaranteed contract. The dispute is likely headed to arbitration.

December 20th

1903-Former Yankees 2B James “Buttons” Williams (1903-1907) was born. (1876-1965)
Before the start of 1901 AL Season, 2B James Williams had jumped from the NL Pirates to the AL Baltimore Orioles (pre-Highlanders). Jimmy would play with the Yankees from 1903 to 1907. While not as good as he had been in previous seasons, he had led the Yankees in slugging percentage in 1903. He was in the top 10 in the AL in HRs in 1905-1906 and in RBIs during the 1903-1904 and 1906-1907 AL seasons. Overall, he had played in 940 games with the team, while hitting .277 with 15 HRs and 356 RBIs. On November 5,1907, he was traded by the Yankees along with INF Hobe Ferris and OF Danny Hoffman to the St. Louis Browns for P Fred Glade, OF Charlie Hemphill and 2B Harry Niles. He would finish out his MLB playing career with the 1908-1909 Browns. From 1910-1915, he would play in the Minor Leagues for the AA Minneapolis Millers (AA), while hitting over .300 twice.

1881-Former Yankees (1907), MLB Catcher and Manager, HOF Baseball Executive Wesley “Branch” Rickey was born. (1881-1965)
On February 28,1907, Catcher Branch Rickey was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Yankees for INF Joe Yeager. Branch playing with a bad shoulder, he would appear in 52 games, hitting just .182 with No HRs and 15 RBIs for the 1907 Yankees. When he left the MLB in 1907, Rickey returned to college to earn a Law degree. Rickey was the head coach at OWU in 1903-1904 and 1907-1909. While working on his degree at the Univ. of Michigan, Rickey would also serve as that University's Head Baseball Coach. In 1913, Rickey returned to the Browns, this time as a Baseball Executive. He served as Manager at the end of the 1913 AL season. The Browns crept out of the cellar under Rickey in 1914 and 1915; but they remained in the AL 2nd division. Rickey's most important contribution to the team was probably his signing of George Sisler, a former player for Rickey at Michigan, who had been declared an MLB Free Agent because of irregularities in his initial MLB signing. From 1916-1918, Rickey was out of baseball, as he served in the military during World War I. He returned to St. Louis in 1919, this time with the Cardinals. As the Team President and Manager, Rickey brought the team to its 1st sustained success in over 30 years; the 1921 and 1922 teams were the 1st since the 1890 and 1891 versions to finish with winning records in consecutive NL seasons. In 1925, he was replaced as the team’s Manager by the Cardinals Team Owner. He became strictly a Baseball Executive. Rickey was the creator of the Minor League Farm System in the 1930’s, while working for the Cardinals. Then in 1947, his MLB contract signing of Negro League Star 2B Jackie Robinson with the Dodgers to break the MLB Color Player barrier. Then, he would work for the Pirates Front Office in the early 1950’s. In 1959, he tried to start a 3rd MLB League called the Continental League, forcing the AL and NL to new teams’ expansion in 1961 and 1962. He would finish his MLB Executive career as a Special Advisor to the Cardinals. In 1965, he would suffer a fatal heart attack. In 1967, Branch Rickey was elected as a Baseball Executive to the Hall of Fame.

1885-Former Yankees INF/OF Charles “Paddy” John Baumann (1915-1917) was born. (1885-1969)
On March 3, 1915, INF/OF Charles “Paddy’” John Baumann was sent from the AA Providence Grays (IL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. He had played for the 1911-1914 Tigers, while hitting .272 with 1 HR and 40 RBIs in 95 games, while splitting playing with the AA Grays. Charles “Paddy” Bauman would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 61 RBIs in 204 games for the 1915-1917 Yankees. Paddy would play in the Minor Leagues from 1917 to 1928, before retiring from the game at the age of 42.

1888-Former Yankees Reserve 1B and MLB Coach Fred “Bonehead” Merkle (1925-1926) was born. (1888-1956)
On June 17,1925, veteran MLB 1B Fred Merkle was purchased by the Yankees from the AA Rochester Tribe (IL) for $6,000. Fred Merkle had played in the MLB for 16 seasons with the 1907-1916 Giants, 1917-1920 Cubs, 1916-1917 Dodgers and the 1925-1926 Yankees. He had appeared in 1,638 MLB games, while hitting .273 with 61 HRs and 740 RBIs. Fred was at the end of his fine MLB playing career, when he joined the Yankees; he had played in the Minor Leagues with AA Rochester (IL) from 1921-1925. He would appear in only 8 games for the Yankees, while hitting .333. He would become a Yankees MLB Coach for the 1925-1926 AL seasons. He had played in 5 World Series with the Giants, Dodgers and the Cubs, hitting .239 with 1 HR and 9 RBIs in 27 games. Fred was nicknamed for a play he made in his 1907 Rookie season with the Giants. It was known as the “Merkle Bonehead play” something that happened when he was a Rookie in the heat of the 1908 NL Pennant race (the "mistake" he committed was one that had typically been overlooked by Umpires till Johnny Evers warned the umps that he would insist on compliance in the future). Although he was called "bonehead" in the press for the remainder of his MLB Playing career, his teammates consistently described Merkle as one of the smartest players that they knew and the only player who Giants Manager John McGraw would consult on matters of strategy. He managed the AA Reading Keystones (IL) for part of 1927 season. In 1953, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

1899 Former Yankees Pitcher George Pipgras (1923-1924,1927-1933) and AL Umpire (1939-1946) was born. (1899-1986)
On January 3,1923, P George Pipgras was traded by the Red Sox along with OF Harvey Hendrick to the Yankees for Catcher Al DeVormer and Cash. George post a 93-64 record with a 4.04 ERA in 247 games for the Yankees. He threw 84 complete games along with 13 shutouts as a Yankees Starter. George’s best season as a Yankee Starter was in 1928, when he posted a 24-13 record with 3.38 ERA along with 22 complete games in 48 games. Pipgras had appeared in 3 World Series (1927-1928,1932) for the Yankees, while posting a 3-0 record with a 2.77 ERA. On May 12,1933, George was purchased by the Red Sox from the Yankees for $100,000 Cash. He went 9-9 in 26 games for Boston, before retiring as an active player in the winter of 1935. He was a Minor League Umpire in the NYPL in 1936-1937; then George would work in the Eastern League in 1938. George Pipgras would become an AL Umpire from 1939 to 1946. Afterwards, he was an MLB Scout and instructed Umpires.

1903 In an unpopular trade in Boston, the Pilgrims (aka Red Sox) send Starter Long Tom Hughes to the Highlanders for lefty hurler Jesse Tannehill, who was 15-15 for the 1903 Yankees. Hughes had posted a 20-7 record for the 1903 AL Champs; he had jumped to the AL from the NL Chicago team in 1902. Hughes will come up short in the Bronx, going 7-11 with a 3.70 ERA in 19 games. He will be shipped to the Senators for veteran hurler Al Orth in July. Meanwhile Jesse Tannehill will win 20 games for the 1904 Pilgrims (aka the Red Sox). Jesse will finish his MLB Pitching career with a 132-73 record.

1921-The Yankees GM Edward Barrow raided his old team the Red Sox again; when he came away with Starting Pitchers Bullet Joe Bush (16-9), Sad Sam Jones (23-16) and Shortstop Everett ”Deacon” Scott (.246 with 7 HRs and 349 RBIs in 1,096 consecutive games played) in exchange for Team Captain and Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (.257 with 36 HRs and 428 RBIs in 1,219 games), who later goes on to the Senators that winter to the Senators, 3 Pitchers: Veteran hurler Jack Quinn (8-7 with a 3.78 ERA in 33 games), Starter Rip Collins (25-13 with a 4.16 ERA and 1 save in 64 games), Bill Piercy (5-5 with 2.98 ERA in 15 games) and $50,000 Cash.

1928-The Yankees had released veteran Reserve INF Mike Gazella. He had played in 162 games as a Reserve INF for the 1923,1926-1928 Yankees; while hitting .241 with No HRs and 56 RBIs. He would appear in 1 game with no hits for the team in the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals. Mike would continue to play in the Minor Leagues from 1930-1939. He was a Minor League Manager from the 1935-1949 seasons for the White Sox, Yankees and the Braves organizations before retiring from baseball.

1940-Former Yankees Pitcher Thad Tillotson (1967-1968) was born. (1940-2012)
In 1960, the Dodgers had signed P Thad Tillotson as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He never appeared with the Dodgers at the MLB level. After being obtained from the Dodgers for veteran MLB INF Richard “Ducky” Schofield on September 10,1966, he recorded a 4-9 mark with 4.56 ERA in 50 games for the Yankees. He had spent 1967 and part of 1968 AL seasons with the Yankees. Also, he was also with their AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL) from 1968 to 1970, posting a winning record each season with the team. In 1971, he would pitch for Nankai in Japan Professional Baseball League, before retiring from the game.

1946-With the trade for veteran Catcher Al Lopez, the Indians would send young Catcher Sherman Lollar and Veteran 2B Ray Mack to the Yankees for Minor League Pitchers Gene Bearden, Al Gettel and OF Hal Peck. After they acquired him from the Philadelphia A’s in June; Peck had suffered a nervous breakdown; he never would play in a game for the 1946 Yankees. Sherman Lollar will play in just 33 games as a Reserve Catcher in his 2-seasons with the club, having Gus Niarhos, Ken Silvestri, Yogi Berra and Ralph Houk ahead of him. After appearing in 1 game as a pinch-runner during the 1947 AL season, veteran 2B Ray Mack was traded to the Cubs. Gene Bearden, as a Rookie knuckle-ball pitcher in 1948, will win 20 games for the Tribe and the lead the AL in ERA. It will be his best season as an MLB Pitcher.

1949-Former Yankees OF/DH Oscar Gamble (1976,1979-1984) was born. (1949-2018)
On November 22,1975, OF Oscar Gamble was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson. Oscar hit will hit only .232 with 17 HRs and 57 RBIs in 1976. On April 5,1977, Oscar was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Minor League hurlers: Bob Polinsky, La Marr Hoyt and $200,000 Cash to the White Sox for Shortstop Bucky Dent. On August 1,1979, Oscar was traded by the Rangers along with Players to be Named Later and Minor League OF Amos Lewis to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later and veteran MLB OF Mickey Rivers. The Rangers would send Pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson on October 8, 1979 to the Yankees to complete the trade. The Yankees will send Minor League Pitchers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy on October 8,1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Oscar would hit well for the Yankees, until various injuries finally slowed him down. In 7 seasons with the Yankees, Oscar Gamble had played in 540 games; while hitting .259 with 87 HRs and 276 RBI’s. In the World Series with the Yankees, Oscar would hit .214 in 6 games. He will finish out his MLB Playing career with the 1985 White Sox. The Cubs had originally signed him as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had played for the 1969 Cubs,1970-1972 Phillies,1976,1979-1984 Yankees, 1977, 1985 White Sox,1978 Padres and the 1979 Rangers.

1954-New York Yankees Pitcher Bob Grim, who had posted a 20-6 record with a 3.26 ERA and 1 save in 37 games is named AL Rookie of the Year. After spending 2 years on active duty in the Army, Bob came into to the 1954 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, as a non-roster invitee; he would make the team’s pitching staff.

1966-The Yankees had acquired veteran AL Shortstop Richard Howser from the Indians for Minor League P Gil Downs and Cash. He was at the end of his fine MLB playing career because of back problems. After retiring as an active player, Howser will become a Yankees MLB Coach; later an MLB Manager for the team in 1980. Gil Downs never appeared with the Yankees or the Indians at the MLB level. The Yankees had drafted him from the White Sox organization in 1963 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.

1965-Former Yankees Reliever AL Lyons (1944,1946-1947) had passed away. (1918-1965)
Reliever Al Lyons went 1-1 with a 5.49 ERA in 19 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Pirates in 1947. Al will finish his MLB Pitching career with the 1948 Boston Braves. He didn’t make any appearances for the Braves in the 1948 World Series. Overall, he had recorded a 3-3 record with a 6.30 ERA in 30 MLB games. From 1949 to 1955, Lyons had pitched in the Pacific Coast League for various teams. During the 1956 season, he would briefly manage a Yankees Class C Minor League team, the Modesto Reds (CAL). Later, he would become a Mets MLB Scout from 1962 until his death in 1965.

1966-Former Yankees Reserve INF Edward “Doc” Stephen Farrell (1932-1933) had passed away. (1901-1966)
Doc Farrell started his MLB playing career with the 1925 Giants. He would be a part of the Giants infield until he was traded along with Kent Greenfield and Hugh McQuillan to the Braves for Larry Benton, Zack Taylor and Herb Thomas on June 12,1927. In "Doc’s MLB career it would be this split season in 1927 that he would have his best year at the bat, hitting a combined .316 for the Giants and the Braves. Farrell would be in the NL through 1930 season, along with his earlier stints with the Giants and the Braves. He would be with both the Cardinals and the Cubs in 1930. "Doc" would spend 1931 season with the AA Los Angeles Angels (PCL), where he had by far his best season anywhere as he would play in 185 games; he had 727 at-bats and hitting for a .327 BA with 11 HRs. Then Doc Farrell would play for the 1932-1933 Yankees, where he was used at a Reserve INF, appearing in only 70 games, while hitting just .231 with No HRs and 10 RBIs. In 1934, Doc Farrell was with the Yankees AA club, the Newark Bears (IL), hitting .233 in 88 games. In 1935, he hit at a .405 clip in 17 games for the AA Bears, this ended his 3-season Minor League career with a .301 hitting average. On December 19, 1934, "Doc" was sent by the Yankees to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete an earlier deal made on November 21,1934. The Yankees had sent Players to be Named Later and Cash to San Francisco Seals for OF Joe DiMaggio. "Doc" refused to report to his new team in 1935. He instead hooked up with the 1935 Red Sox, where he appeared in only 4 games. He apparently went into the dental profession. This move ended Doc Farrell’s pro baseball career. He had finished his 9-season playing career with a .260 BA with 10 HRs and 213 RBIs in 591 games. Farrell has the distinction of being the only player in MLB history to play for the New York Yankees and the Giants, the Boston Braves and the Red Sox.

1973-In siding with the A’s Team Owner Charley Finley, AL President Joe Cronin rules that the Yankees cannot sign the A’s former Manager Richard Williams for the 1974 AL season. The Yankees had announced a deal with the former A’s skipper 2 days earlier, that he was replacing former Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who had resigned as Manager at the end of the 1973 AL season. The Yankees will end up signing former Pirates Manager Bill Virdon as their MLB manager for the 1974 AL season. Bill had originally signed as an Amateur player with the Yankees, but he was traded away in spring of 1954 to the Cardinals in the Enos Slaughter trade. He was a NL All-Star CF for the Cardinals and the Pirates during his MLB playing career. Ralph Houk will sign with the Tigers as their Manager for the 1974 AL season. Williams will end up managing the Angels for the 1974 AL season; after reaching an agreement with Finley to release him from his Oakland Manager’s contract that he could manage any MLB team; but not the Yankees.

1974-The Yankees had released veteran All-Star Starter Sam McDowell. After being purchased from the Giants in 1973, Sam would post a 6-10 record with a 4.20 ERA in 34 games for the Yankees. Sam was still battling drinking problems that eventually will end his MLB Pitching career. After finishing out his MLB pitching career with the Pirates by going 2-1 with a 2.83 ERA in 14 games, he would retire from the game in 1975. He had originally come up to the MLB with the 1960 Indians. As an MLB hurler, Sam had posted a 141-134 record with a 3.17 ERA in 425 games. He had led AL Pitchers in Strikeouts 5 times during his MLB Pitching career.

1984-The Yankees had traded veteran OF Steve Kemp, Shortstop Tim Foli and Cash to the Pirates for Shortstop Dale Berra, P Alfonso Pulido and Class A Minor League OF Jay Buhner. In 2 seasons with the Yankees, Steve Kemp had played in 203 games; while hitting .264 with 19 HRs and 90 RBIs. Tim Foli had hit .252 with No HRs and 16 RBIs in 61 games for the Yankees. Dale Berra was expected to platoon at 3B with Mike Pagliarulo for the 1985 AL season. He had only hit .238 with the Pirates, plus he had made 30 errors at Shortstop. Pulido would spend the 1985 season at AAA Columbus (IL). Jay Buhner would be assigned to the Yankees Class A team, the Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL).

1986-The Yankees had released veteran MLB P Bob Shirley. The team will resign him in January of 1987. Bob will post a 14-20 record with a 4.05 ERA with 5 saves in 165 games as a Yankee hurler.

1988-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran Catcher Jamie Quirk. He will appear in only 13 games, hitting only .083 before being released by the Yankees on May 13,1988.

1989-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran Catcher Rick Cerone. Rick had been with the 1988-1989 Red Sox. He had hit .243 with 4 HRs and 48 RBIs in 102 games with the 1989 Red Sox. He was expected to be the back-up catcher to starting Catcher Bob Geren. He will appear in only 49 games as a Reserve Catcher for the team, while hitting .302 with 2 HRs and 11 RBIs. His 1990 AL season was plagued by a knee injury, he would be released by the team at the end of the season.

1993-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent OF/DH Luis Polonia (1989-1990,1994-1995, 2000). Luis Polonia would be a Reserve OF and occasional DH for the Yankees during his 3 tours with the team. He would appear in a total of 276 games with the team, while hitting .296 with 6 HRs and 88 RBI’s.

1996-The Yankees had granted MLB Free Agency to 3 players: Pitchers Billy Brewer and Scott Kamieniecki and Reserve INF Luis Sojo.

2000-Former Yankees Minor League OF Mickey Mantle Jr. passed away. (1953-2000)
Mickey Mantle Jr. was the son of Yankees HOF OF/1B Mickey Mantle and the nephew of Ray Mantle and Roy Mantle, who both played in the Yankees Farm System in the 1950’s. He played for the 1978 Class A Alexandria Dukes, going a miserable 4 for 57 for a .070 average, along with 26 strikeouts. He had 3 walks, 3 runs, 2 RBI, no extra-base hits and no steals. In the outfield, he had fielded .947 with 1 assist in 17 games.

2003-The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Free Agent Reserve INF Homer Bush. He will appear in 4 games with no hits for the 2004 Yankees, unable to make a comeback from his various leg and hip injuries. Homer had been with the Yankees during the late 1990’s.

2004-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter Carl Pavano to a 4-year contract. Carl Pavano will post a 9-8 record in 26 games during his injury riddled 4-season stay with the 2005-2008 Yankees. The teams will grant him MLB Free Agency; he will sign with the Twins.

2004-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran INF Tony Womack. He will hit only .249 with No HRs and 15 RBIs in 108 games for the 2005 Yankees. On December 8, 2005, he was traded by the team along with Cash to the Reds for 2 Minor League players: Infielders Benjamin Himes and Kevin Howard. After the completion of their 2005 Minor League season, both players would be released by the Yankees organization.

2007-Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Byrne (1943,1946-1951,1954-1957) had passed away. (1919-2007)
Before the start of the 1940 AL season, the Yankees MLB Scout Paul Krichell had signed Pitcher Tommy Byrne as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Tommy went 72-40 with a 3.93 ERA and 12 saves in 249 games in 10 seasons with the Yankees. He won 15 games each during the 1949 and 1950 AL seasons. Tom was named to the 1950 AL All-Star team. On June 15,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $25,000 Cash to the St. Louis Browns for veteran Pitcher Stubby Overmire. Tommy was re-obtained by the Yankees in September of 1954 from AAA Seattle Rainers (PCL). Tom would finish the 1954 season for the Yankees with a 3-2 record with a 2.70 ERA in 5 games, throwing 4 complete games. In 1955, he won the AL Comeback Player of the Year Award by going 16-5 with a 3.15 ERA in 27 games for the Yankees. He would pitch 2 more seasons for the team, before retiring after the 1957 World Series. Tommy appeared in 4 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 1-1 record with a 2.53 ERA in 6 games. His overall MLB pitching record was 85-69 with a 4.11 ERA in 281 games. He had pitched for the Yankees (twice), Browns, White Sox and the Senators. Tommy would lead the AL in walks, 3 times (1948-1951). After his baseball retirement, he would become the Mayor of Wake Forrest, NC and the Owner of the Wake Forrest, NC Country Club.

2018-The Yankees had signed 2 MLB Free Agent Pitchers: Danny Coulombe and Rex Brothers to Minor League contracts with invitations to their 2019 MLB Spring Training Camp. Both Pitchers will be assigned to AAA Scranton (IL) at the close of the 2019 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp.

2022-The New York Yankees announced that they have re-signed 4-time All-Star and 2022 AL MVP Player OF Aaron Judge to a 9-year MLB contract extending through the 2031 season. Judge, 30, hit an AL-record 62 HRs and batted .311/.425/.686 (177-for-570) with 133R, 28 doubles, 131 RBIs, 111 BB and 16 SB in 157 games during his AL MVP campaign with the Yankees in 2022. His 62 HRs were the 7th-most in a single season in MLB history as he became just the 4th MLB player to reach the mark, joining Barry Bonds (73 HR in 2001 with (Giants), Mark McGwire (70 HR in 1998 and 65 HR in 1999 with Cardinals) and Sammy Sosa (66 HR in 1998, 64 HR in 2001 and 63 HR in 1999 with the Cubs). He also became just the 2nd MLB player to hit at least 62 HRs and record at least 16 stolen bases in a single season, joining Sosa who accomplished the feat in 1998 with the Cubs (66 HR/18 SB). In 2022, Judge led the MLBs in HRs, runs scored, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS (1.111), extra-base hits (90), total bases (391) and WAR (11.4, FanGraphs) and tied for 1st in RBI (1st in AL). He ranked 2d in walks (1st in AL) and intentional walks (19, 2nd in AL), 5th in batting average (2nd in AL), 6th in multi-hit games (52, 4th in AL) and tied for 8th in hits (177, 5th in AL). According to ESPN Stats & Information, he was the 1st player to lead (outright or tied) the MLB in HRs, runs scored, extra-base hits and RBI since Mickey Mantle in 1956. Judge led the MLB in HR by 16, the largest gap to lead the MLB in a single season since Philadelphia-AL's Jimmie Foxx (58) led the MLB in 1932 by 17 over Yankees Babe Ruth (41). Judge also led the AL in HR by 22, the largest gap by any AL player since Babe Ruth (54) led the AL in 1928 by 27 HR over his Bronx teammate Lou Gehrig (27). He also became the 9th Yankee to lead the Majors in HR in a single season (outright or tied) and set the Yankees’ all-time single-season HR mark, surpassing Roger Maris (61 in 1961) in the penultimate game of the season.

December 21st

1911-Former Yankees Minor League OF Nino Bongiovanni was born. (1911-2009)
Nino Bongiovanni had played for the 1938-1939 Reds, as a Reserve Outfielder. He had hit .259 with No HRs and 16 RBIs in 68 games. He had played in 1 game of the 1939 World Series against the Yankees with no hits. On January 27,1940, the Reds would send 2 Outfielders: Nino Bongiovanni and Frenchy Bordagaray to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made In August of 1939. On August 5,1939, the Reds sent Players to be Named Later and $40,000 Cash to the Yankees for 1B Vince DiMaggio, who was playing for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA) in the Yankees Minor League organization. In 1941-1942, Nino would play in the Yankees organization with their 2 AA teams: the Kansas City Blues (AA) and the Newark Bears (IL).

1927-After his release by the Senators, the Yankees had signed veteran MLB Starter Stan “The Silent Pole” Coveleski. Stan will post a 5-1 record with a 5.74 ERA in 12 games for the 1928 Yankees. He didn’t appear in the 1928 World Series for the Yankees. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 215-142 record along with a 2.88 ERA in 450 games. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1969. He had appeared in the 1920 World Series with the Indians, while posting a 3-0 record. In 1925, he had appeared with the Senators, while posting a 0-2 record. Overall, Stan pitched in the MLB starting with the 1912 Philadelphia A’s, 1916-1924 Indians and the 1925-1927 Senators. He would finish up his MLB Pitching career with the 1928 Yankees by going 5-1 with a 5.74 ERA in 12 games before being released by the team in August; when the team had acquired veteran hurler Tom Zachary from the Senators.

1947-Former Yankees OF/INF Elliot Maddox (1974-1976) was born.
On March 23,1974, OF Elliot Maddox was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers for $60,000 Cash. Elliot had played well for the Yankees in OF, replacing Bobby Mercer as the Yankees CF during the 1974 AL season, with Mercer moving to RF. He would hit .303 and .307 for the Yankees during the 1974-1975 AL seasons. During the 1975 AL season, he injured his knee, while playing on the outfield turf at Shea Stadium. With the arrival of Billy Martin as the new Yankees Manager in August of 1975, Elliot's days as a Yankees player were numbered. After getting 2nd knee operation without the Yankees front office approval; the team would trade Elliot. On January 20,1977, he was traded by the team along with Reserve OF Rick Bladt to the Orioles for veteran AL Golden Glove OF Paul Blair. His final Yankees career player numbers were a .299 BA with 4 HRs and 71 RBIs in 210 games. 

1948-Former Yankees DH/OF Dave Kingman (1977) was born.
On September 15,1977, MLB veteran Slugger Dave Kingman had been purchased for Cash from the Angels. Kingman will appeare in 8 games during September of 1977 for the Yankees, while hitting .250 with 4 HRs and 7 RBIs. Since he was acquired by the team after the August 31st MLB trade deadline, Dave was unable to play for the Yankees in the 1977 World Series against the Dodgers. The Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency, he would sign with the Cubs.

1972- Former Yankees Reliever LaTroy Hawkins (2008) was born.
The Yankees had signed veteran Reliever LaTroy Hawkins as an MLB Free Agent. He went 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA and no saves in 11 games for the Yankees before being traded on July 30, 2008 by the team along with Cash to the Astros for Minor League INF Matthew Cusick, who never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.

1973-AL President Joe Cronin rules that former Yankees Manager Ralph Houk is free from all contractual obligations with the team. Cronin’s reasoning was that Ralph Houk’s Manager contract was made by CBS, Inc., not with the New Team Owner George Steinbrenner. At the end of the 1973 AL season, Houk had resigned from his Manager’s job with the Yankees, he still had 2 years left on his current Yankees Manager’s contract. He is now free to sign with any MLB team for a Managers job for the 1974 MLB season. Houk had left the Yankees because of personnel issues with new Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner. A long-time Yankees organization man for over 35 years as a Player, Minor League Manager, MLB Coach, Manager and then as a General Manager, Ralph Houk didn’t trust the new inexperience team owner. He would finish his Yankees 11-season Manager career with a 944-806 record along with 3 AL Flags and 2 World Championships. He would sign with the Tigers for the 1974 AL season, bringing along with him, his long-time Yankees MLB Coach Jim Hegan (1960-1973).

1977-Former Yankees Reserve INF D'Angelo Jimenez (1999) was born.
In 1994, the Yankees had signed INF D’Angelo Jimenez, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He was a player in their farm system from 1995 through part of 2001. He was with AAA Columbus (IL) in parts of 5 seasons, blossoming in 1999, when he posted hitting stats of .327; a highly touted prospect often mentioned in the same breath with then up-and-coming INF Alfonso Soriano. Jimenez was brought up for a cup of coffee in 1999 for the Yankees; he hit .400 in 7 games. Then a serious off-season car crash almost curtailed his pro baseball career and his life that winter. He would survive the auto accident with a broken neck, spending all of 2000 and into 2001 seasons recovering from his auto accident injuries. As questions abounded if he would ever return to his previous form, the Yankees in urgent need of relief pitching, had traded him to the Padres for veteran Reliever Jay Witasick on June 23, 2001.

1977-Former Yankees Reliever Buddy Carlyle (2011) was born.
On December 23, 2003, Reliever Buddy Carlyle was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Buddy will spend the 2004 baseball season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On October 15, 2004, the Yankees granted him MLB Free Agency. On December 2, 2010, he was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He would post a 0-1 record with a 4.70 ERA in 8 games for the 2011 Yankees.

1980-Former Yankees Pitcher Royce Ring (2010) was born.
On January 5, 2010, P Royce Ring was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Royce would appear in 5 games with the 2010 Yankees with no record. On November 5, 2010, the Yankees had granted Royce his MLB Free Agency.

1987- In several MLB roster moves the Yankees had released MLB veterans OF/1B/DH Mike Easler and OF/DH/1B Ron Kittle. Also, they had signed veteran MLB Starter Tommy John as an MLB Free Agent.

1988-Former Yankees Pitcher Asher Wojciechowski (2021) was born.
The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent P Asher Wojciechowski to a Minor League Player contract with an invitation to their 2021 MLB Spring Training Camp. He has an MLB pitching career record of 9-15 with a 5.95 ERA in 57 games. He pitched in the MLB with the 2015 Astros, 2017 Reds and the 2019-2020 Orioles. Asher was originally selected by the Blue Jays in the Compensation Round A of the 2010 1st -Year Player Draft. He became the 1st college baseball player from the Citadel to be selected in the 1st round of the MLB Baseball’s Draft. He didn’t make the Yankees 25-man team roster out of spring training camp. He was sent to AAA Scranton (AAA East). On July 21,2021, the Yankees had purchased his Minor League player contract. He appeared in 1 game for the team, making a start against the Phillies with a no-decision. On July 22, 2021, Asher was DFA by the Yankees. After no team had claimed him, he became an MLB Free Agent, rather than report to AAA Scranton. (IL)

1995-After considering an attractive player contract offer from their AL East rivals, the Orioles, MLB Free Agent Starter David Cone re-signs with the Yankees for a 3-year deal worth $18 million.

1995-The Yankees had sold veteran P Rick Honeycutt to the Cardinals. After being purchased from Oakland on September 25,1995, Rick would post a 0-0 record with a 27.00 ERA in 3 games with the Yankees

1997-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent P Darren Holmes, who would post a 0-3 record with a 3.33 ERA and 2 saves in 34 games for the 1998 Yankees. On March 30,1999, he was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to the Diamondbacks for P Ben Ford and Catcher Izzy Molina.

1998-The Yankees had granted veteran OF/DH Daryl Strawberry his MLB Free Agency. Daryl had hit .247 with 24 HRs with 57 RBIs. He will re-sign with the Yankees in April of 1999

2002-The Yankees had granted OF/1B/DH Shane Spencer and P Christian Parker their MLB Free Agency. Christian Parker will resign with the team on December 30th. Spencer will be signed by the Indians; he leaves with the Yankees with a .263 BA with 43 HRs and 167 RBIs in 345 games. Parker had 0-1 with in 1 game with the team in 2001.

2003- he Yankees would grant the following players: OF Karim Garcia and OF/DH Dave Dellucci, MLB Free Agency. Dave Dellucci leaves the Yankees looking for more playing time. He will sign with the Rangers.

2005-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher (1976-1977) and long-time Orioles MLB Coach and Catcher Elrod Hendricks had passed away. (1940-2005).
On June 15,1976, Catcher Elrod Hendricks was traded by the Orioles along with P Doyle Alexander, OF Jimmy Freeman, P Ken Holtzman and Reliever Grant Jackson to the Yankees for Catcher Rick Dempsey, Pitchers Tippy Martinez, Rudy May, Scott McGregor and Dave Pagan. Elrod would appear in 34 games with the Yankees as a Reserve Catcher, while hitting just .234. On October 20,1977, Elrod was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees, he would be signed by the Orioles.
After retiring as an active player in 1979, he became an Orioles MLB Coach. He appeared in 4 World Series with the Orioles, and the 1976 World Series with the Yankees. He had appeared in 14 World Series games, while hitting .238 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs.

2005-The Yankees would grant Reliever Wayne Franklin his MLB Free Agency. On April 4, 2005, Wayne Franklin was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. For the 2005 Yankees, he had posted a 0-1 record with a 6.39 ERA in 13 games. He will spend most of the 2005 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).

2022-The Yankees had announced that Aaron Judge has been named Team Captain, becoming the 16th player to receive the honor in franchise history, and just the 2nd since 1996.The honor was bestowed during today’s press conference at Yankee Stadium by Yankees Managing General Partner Hal Steinbrenner. On hand at today’s press conference to celebrate Judge’s new 9-year contract with the club were former captain Willie Randolph (captain from March 4, 1986 – Oct. 2, 1988) and the Yankees’ most recent captain, Hall of Famer Derek Jeter, who held the title from June 3, 2003, through his final season in 2014. Jeter’s tenure in the role was the longest of any Captain in team history. Aaron Judge is a native of Linden, Calif., is a homegrown Yankee. He was originally selected by the club in the 1st round (32nd overall) of the 2013 1st-Year Player Draft out of Fresno State. Over parts of 7 seasons with the Yankees (2016-2022), he has batted .284/.394/.583 (748-for-2,638) with 535 R, 121 doubles, 4 triples, 220 HRs, 497 RBIs, 472 BB and 40 SB in 729 games. A 6’7”, right-handed hitting outfielder, Judge was named the AL Rookie of the Year in 2017, batting .284 (154-for-542) with 52 HRs and 114 RBIs. Most recently in 2022, Judge was named AL MVP, hitting an AL-record 62 HRs and batting .311/.425/.686 (177-for-570) with 133 R, 28 doubles, 131 RBIs, 111 BB and 16 SB in 157 games.

ALL-TIME LIST OF YANKEES CAPTAINS & BACKGROUND RESEARCH EXPLAINED:

The function of a team captain in baseball has changed over time. Early 20thcentury baseball rules required teams to designate an active, uniformed player as captain to do many things a modern-day manager typically would handle, such as changing pitchers, positioning fielders and talking with umpires. Non-playing managers at that time were limited to directing players from within the confines of the dugout. However, by the mid-1910s, managers assumed the modern responsibilities they have today, and the designation of captain became largely ceremonial. Based on best available records and a review of historical newspaper accounts, the list below represents the all-time list of Yankees captains. (Please note that extensive research efforts were not able to confirm a team captain for the 1912 season. Additionally, Everett Scott took on the role of “acting captain” during the 1922 and 1923 World Series but is not included in the team’s all-time list).
1. P/Manager Clark Griffith:1903-1905, 2. Shortstop Norman “Kid” Elberfeld: 1906-1908, 3. OF Willie Keeler: 1909, 4.1B Hal Chase: 1910-1911, 5. Manager Frank Chance: start 1913 – midseason, 6. INF Rollie Zeider: Midseason 1913 - End of season 7. Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh: 1914-1921, 8. OF Babe Ruth: 3/13/1922-5/25/1922*, 9. 1B Lou Gehrig: 4/12/1935-1939, 10. Catcher Thurman Munson: 4/17/1976-8/2/1979, 11. 3B Graig Nettles: 1/29/1982-3/30/1984, 12. 2B Willie Randolph: 3/4/1986-10/2/1988, 13. Pitcher Ron Guidry: 3/4/1986-7/12/1989, 14.1B Don Mattingly: 2/28/1991-1995,15. Shortstop Derek Jeter: 6/3/2003-2014 .16. OF Aaron Judge: 12/21/2022-present  *Ruth did not play in the team’s 1st 33 games of the season. He was an active captain for just 6 total games from 5/20-25/1922.

2022-The Yankees have announced they have resigned current MLB Pitching Coach Matt Blake to a new 3-year contact. The new deal had been done 2 weeks ago by GM Cashman, but it was not officially announced by the team until today at Carlos Rodon press conference held at Yankee Stadium.

2022-The Yankees announced that they have signed 2-time All-Star LHP Carlos Rodón to a 6-year MLB contract extending through the 2028 season. In 2022, Rodón, who is 30, went 14-8 with 1 complete game and a 2.88 ERA (178.0IP, 131 H, 59 R/57 ER, 52 BB, 237 K, 12 HR) over 31 starts with the Giants. He had posted MLB career highs in wins, innings pitched, strikeouts, double-digit strikeout games (11) and games started. A 2-time All-Star (2021, 2022), Rodón is 56-46 with 3complete games and a 3.60 ERA (847.1 IP, 731 H, 368 R/339 ER, 319 BB, 947 K, 91 HR) in 152 career games (147 starts) with the White Sox (2015-2021) and Giants (2022). He has also finished in the top-6 of Cy Young voting twice (5th in 2021 and 6th in 2022). Originally selected by the Brewers in the 16th round of the 2011 1st-Year Player Draft, Rodón did not sign and played at No. Carolina St. Univ. for 3 seasons (2012-2014). The White Sox then made him the 3rd overall pick of the 2014 1st-Year Player Draft. On March 16, 2022, he had signed with the Giants, inking a 2-year MLB contract extending through 2023 with a player opt-out following the 2022 season. He had exercised that option on Nov. 6, 2022, making him an MLB Free Agent.

2022-The Yankees announced they’ve Designated Reliever Lucas Luetge for Assignment. This move creates a 40-man roster spot for veteran Reliever Tommy Kahnle, who has officially signed a 2-year MLB Free Agent deal. In 2022, Luetge had posted a 4-4 record with 2.67 ERA and 2 saves in 50 games for the team. In 2021, the Yankees had signed him as an MLB Free Agent, he had posted a 4-2 record along with a 2.74 ERA and 1 save in 57 games. The Yankees will have a week to trade Lucas or put him on waivers. Tommy Kahnle had briefly pitched for the Dodgers last season, while appearing in 13 games with no decisions and 1 save. The Dodgers would grant him MLB Free Agency in the 2022 off-season.

2022-The Yankees announced that Pitcher Junior Fernández has been Designated for Assignment. The club has recently made their MLB Free Agent signings of returning Slugger Aaron Judge and former Giants Starter Carlos Rodón official. The team needed to open an MLB 40-man roster spot. Junior Fernandez had pitched for the 2022 Cardinals and Pirates. The Yankees had picked him up on waivers from the Pirates in the current off-season.

December 22nd

1938-Former Yankees OF/1B/DH Matty Alou (1973) was born. (1938-2011)
On November 24,1972, OF/1B Matty Alou was traded by Oakland to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later and P Rob Gardner. He would join his older Brother Felipe Alou on the 1973 team. On December 1,1972, the Yankees would send Reserve INF Rich McKinney to Oakland to complete the trade. Matty was a major disappointment for the Yankees, despite hitting .296, but he showed very little power, by just hitting only 2 HRs along with only 28 RBIs in 123 games. On September 6,1973, Matty was purchased by the Cardinals from the Yankees. His older Brother Felipe was sold to the Expos on that same day.

1953-Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Underwood (1980-1981) was born. (1953-2010)
On November 1,1979, Starter Tom Underwood was traded by the Blue Jays along with C Rick Cerone and OF Ted Wilborn to the Yankees for 1B Chris Chambliss, Reserve INF Damaso Garcia and P Paul Mirabella. Tom would go 13-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 38 games for the 1980 Yankees, slipping to a 1-4 record in 9 games in 1981; before being traded on May 20,1981 along with veteran 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the A’s for 1B Dave Revering, OF Mike Patterson and Minor League P Chuck Dougherty. His brother Pat, also he pitched in MLB with the 1979-1983 Tigers.

1955-Former Yankees OF/INF James “Queenie” O’Rourke (1908) had passed away. (1883-1955)
Outfieler James “Queenie” O’Rourke was son of Hall of Fame player Jim O'Rourke. He had attended Yale Univ. in 1901, then the College of the Holy Cross in 1904-1905. He came to the MLB in 1908, after his father had retired from the game. He had played in 34 games for the team with 108 at-bats, while hitting .234 with 0 HRs and 4 RBIs with the Yankees towards the end of the 1908 AL season, playing mostly Outfield and Shortstop.

1968-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher and Minor League Manager Benny Bengough (1923-1930) had passed away. (1898-1968)
On August 1,1922, the Yankees had purchased Catcher Benny Bengough from the AA Buffalo Bisons (IL) for undisclosed amount of money. He would hit .257 with 0 HRs and 81 RBIs in 317 games for the Yankees as a Reserve Catcher. Benny's MLB playing career was hampered by an arm injury, but he still managed to play 8 seasons with the Yankees. He would appear in 2 World Series with the 1927-1928 Yankees, just hitting .176 in 6 games. On October 24,1930, Benny was purchased by the AA Milwaukee Brewers (AA) from the Yankees. He would finish up his MLB playing career with the 1931-1932 St. Louis Browns, hitting .250 in his final MLB active player seasons. His final MLB playing career totals was a .255 BA with 0 HRs and 108 RBIs in 411 games. After his active playing days in the MLB were over, Benny Bengough continued to play in the Minor Leagues.
Also, he would manage in the Yankees Farm System. He would manage the 1934-1935 Class D Washington Generals (PSA). Then he would move up to the 1936-1937 Class C Joplin Miners (WL). Next, he was a Minor League Coach for the 1938-1939 AA Newark Bears (IL). Bengough was an MLB Coach for the 1940-1943 Senators, then he was with the 1944-1945 Braves, finishing up his baseball career with the 1946-1958 Phillies.

1982-Versatile OF/DH/1B Lee Mazzilli is traded for the 3rd time this year. The Yankees would send him to the Pirates for 4 Minor League Players: P Tim Burke, OF Don Aubin, C John Holland and Shortstop Jose Rivera. For the 1982 Yankees, he had hit .266 with 6 HRs and 17 RBIs in 37 games. Of the 4 young Minor League players obtained by the Yankees, only Tim Burke will appear in the MLB with 1985 Montreal Expos.

1986-The Yankees had released veteran Reliever Mike Armstrong. For the 1986 Yankees, he had gone 0-1 with 9.35 ERA in 7 games. Mike will be re-signed by the team in January of 1987. He will be released by the team during their 1987 MLB Spring Training Camp; he will be picked up by the Indians for the 1987 AL season. Overall, for the Yankees, Mike had posted a 3-3 record with a 3.06 ERA with 1 save in 52 games.

1987-Former Yankees Pitcher Bobby Hogue (1951-1952) had passed away. (1921-1987)
On July 31,1951, hurler Bobby Hogue was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with INF Kermit Wahl and $10,000 Cash to the Yankees for veteran MLB OF Cliff Mapes. With the 1951-1952 Yankees, Bob Hogue would post a 4-5 record with a 4.61 ERA and 4 saves in 33 games. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1951 World Series against the Giants with no decisions. On August 4,1952, Bobby was selected off waivers by the Browns from the Yankees.

1987-Former Yankees Reliever Zach Britton (2018-2022) was born.
Hurler Zack Britton made his MLB Pitching debut with the 2011 Orioles. Britton was the Orioles' 3rd round pick in the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft out of a Texas high school. He began his pro career that same year with the Rookie-level Bluefield Orioles (APPYL), going 0-4 with a 5.29 ERA in 11 starts. In 2007, he would move up to the Aberdeen IronBirds (NYPL), where he did better, posting 6-4 record with a 3.68 ERA in 15 starts. Britton continued to improve in his 1st year of full-season ball, with the 2008 Delmarva Shorebirds (SAL) where he was 12-7, 3.12 ERA, giving up only 118 hits in 147.1 innings. He continued to move up 1 level per season in 2009, spending the year with the advanced Class A Frederick Keys (CL), where he lowered his ERA for the 4th straight year, bringing it down to 2.70 in 25 games with a 9-6 record. After the season, he was named the League's Pitcher of the Year and made the Baseball America top 100 prospect list for the 1st time, earning the 63rd spot on the prestigious list. In 2010, he started the year with the AA Bowie BaySox (EL) and continued to figure among his circuit's best pitchers, putting up a record of 7-3 with a sparkling 2.48 ERA in 15 games. Now on a faster track to the MLB, Britton was promoted in mid-season to the AAA Norfolk Tides (IL), where he was only 3-4, but with a very good 2.98 ERA. Overall that season, his ERA was 2.70 in 27 games, with 124 strikeouts in 153.1 innings.He was selected to pitch for the USA team in the 2010 Futures Game. Relieving Jeremy Hellickson to open the 3rd inning, he allowed a leadoff single to Francisco Peguero, but then he retired Brett Lawrie, Osvaldo Martínez and Yonder Alonso. He was relieved by Zack Wheeler. After the season, his ranking on the Baseball America top 100 prospects list jumped 35 spots to #28. Having mastered every level of the O's farm system, Zack Britton headed to spring training in 2011 with an inside track for a job in the team's starting rotation. He earned the job, when he put up a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings in the Grapefruit League, then was masterful in his MLB Pitching debut facing the Rays at Tropicana Field on April 3rd. In 6 innings, he gave up only a run on 3 hits, striking out 6 batters, to earn credit for the Orioles' 5-1 win. He continued to pitch well in the season's 1st weeks; on May 1st, he beat the White Sox 6-4 to run his record to 5-1. He began to struggle afterwards; he was sent down to the Minors in early July to right things. It did not really seem to work, as he was rocked on his return, giving up 9 runs in only 1/3rd of an inning in the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Yankees on July 30th, as the Bombers rolled to a 17-3 win. In 2014, Britton was moved to the Orioles bullpen, where he immediately found his true calling on the mound. That 1st season, he saved 37 games along with a 1.65 ERA to help lead the Orioles to an Eastern AL Division title. He saved a pair of games as the O's swept the Tigers in the ALDS. In the ALCS against the Royals, however, he gave up a run on 3 hits and 4 walks in 2 1/3 innings as the Orioles were swept in turn. In 2015, he had another very solid season, going 4-1 with a 1.92 ERA and 36 saves in 64 games. He was named to the AL All-Star team for the 1st time, but the Orioles did not make the 2015 AL postseason. In 2016, he had a season as good as any 1-inning closer had ever put together: in 69 outings, he posted a 2-1 record with 47 saves in 47 opportunities, pitched 67 innings during in which he gave up a mere 38 hits, 18 walks, struck out 74 and allowed a total of 4 earned runs for a microscopic ERA of 0.54. He set an MLB record with a stretch of 43 consecutive appearances without allowing a run, from May 5th to August 22nd. The Orioles played in the ALWC Game against the Blue Jays in a closely-fought game that took 11 innings to decide in favor of Toronto, but much to the puzzlement of the team's fans, he was left on the bullpen bench as Manager Buck Showalter was waiting to use him in a save opportunity that never came.

He had returned to the MLB All-Star Game that season as he led the AL in both saves and games finished; then he was named the recipient of the Mariano Rivera Award as the best relief pitcher in the AL. In 2017, Zach got off to a fast start by recording 5 saves by April 14th; but then he had problems with a forearm strain. He returned for a couple of games in early May, but on May 6th, he was placed on the DL, as he was expected to miss 2 months. The Orioles had also started the season strong, but began to thread water as soon as their ace closer was on the shelf. He only came back on July 5th. He did not get a chance to save another game until July 23rd, in his 8th appearance since his return. That save, coming in a 9-7 win over the Astros, was a historic one, as it marked the 55th straight save opportunity that Britton had converted successfully, setting a new AL record; the mark had been held by Tom Gordon and Zach had tied it on April 14th, before going to the DL for the 1st time. It was still well short of the MLB mark of 84 held by Éric Gagné, however. He eventually ran the streak to 60 saves before faltering on August 23rd, blowing a 2-run lead over the A’s by giving up 3 straight hits and a sacrifice fly. He finished the season with a 2-1 record with a 2.89 ERA with 15 saves, 29 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 1/3 innings in 38 games, a far cry from his historic season the year before. The Orioles then received some more bad news during the off-season, when Zach suffered a ruptured Achilles' Tendon, while sprinting during a workout. He underwent surgery on December 21st, putting him out of action for at least 4 months. In 2018, he did not appear in his 1st game of the season until June 12th. He pitched very effectively, except for 1 bad outing on June 23rd ,when he gave up 4 runs in a third of an inning against the Braves. He kept a clean sheet in 14 of his 15 other appearances for the O's, going 1-0 with 4 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 15 1/3 innings. With the team in last place and looking to re-build, he was on the radar screen for a number of MLB teams looking to improve their bullpens before the July 31st MLB Trading Deadline. On July 24th, it was the Yankees, who had won the auction, obtaining him in return for 3 young Minor League Pitchers: Dillon Tate, Josh Rogers and Cody Carroll. He was joining a team that already had 3 closers in place with Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances and David Robertson. He would go 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA with 3 saves in 25 games. He helped out the Yankees bullpen, when Closer Aroldis Chapman went on DL with knee problems. In the 2018 AL Postseason, he went 0-0 in 4 appearances with the Yankees. On January 11, 2019, he was resigned as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would make 66 appearances out of the Yankee pen in 2019, pitching to a 3-1 record, with 1.91 ERA and 3 saves. He put together 8 innings of 1 run ball in the postseason, with an impressive 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the vaunted Astros lineup, as the Yankees bowed out in 6 games in the ALCS. In 2020, he had another good year in the pandemic-shortened season, going 1-2, with a 1.89 ERA with 8 saves (which might not look like many, but represented the 7th most in the AL that year) in 20 games. In the postseason, he had pitched 4 times, giving up a pair of runs in his only outing against the Indians in the ALWCS, then holding the Rays scoreless in 4 innings of work in the ALDS. His 2021 season lasted from mid-June to mid-August, for a total of 22 outings, as injuries took away chunks at the start and at the end of the season. The 2nd injury was the most serious one, as he needed to undergo Tommy John surgery. His ERA was 5.89 and he had recorded just 1 save, while his control was badly off, with 14 outs issued in just 18 1/3 innings. The TJ surgery took place on September 8th and kept him out of action until September 24, 2022. He never looked right in 3 outings, giving up 6 walks in just two-thirds of an inning. On October 1st, he went back on the 60-day IL, meaning he would miss the 2022 postseason. In November of 2023, Zach would announce his MLB player retirement.

1987-The Yankees would send troubled MLB Starter Steve Trout and Reserve OF Henry Cotto to the Mariners for 3 Pitchers: Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker and Minor League P Wade Taylor. Trout had gone 0-4 with a 6.60 ERA in 14 games (9 starts) with the 1987 Yankees. Reserve OF Henry Cotto had played in 137 games for the Yankees, while hitting .242. Lee Guetterman had gone 11-4 for the Mariners, while Clay Parker was 0-0 in 3 appearances for Seattle in 1987. Wade Taylor, a young Minor League Pitcher was assigned to the Yankees Class A team, the Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL).

1988 The Yankees had signed veteran MLB P Richard Noles as an MLB Free Agent. He had posted a 4-2 record in 44 games with the 1987 Cubs and Tigers. During the 1989 AL season, Noles will not pitch for the Yankees at the MLB level, instead spending the season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). After the 1989 AL season, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency.

1989 The Yankees had signed veteran INF Damaso Garcia as an MLB Free Agent. He will spend the 1990 season playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On March 10,1975, he was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had previously appeared in 29 games with the 1978-1978 Yankees as a Reserve INF, while hitting just .228 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. On November 1,1979, Damaso Garcia was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and P Paul Mirabella to the Blue Jays for Catcher Rick Cerone, P Tommy Underwood and OF Ted Wilborn.

1997- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent P Darren Holmes. Darren had posted a 9-2 record with a 5.34 ERA along with 3 saves with the 1997 Rockies, as a Swingman for the team. He had an MLB Pitching career record of 28-22 with 55 saves. With the 1998 Yankees, Holmes went 0-3 with a 3.33 ERA and 2 saves in 34 games. He had spent 5 weeks in the DL with lower back disc problems. On March 30,1999, Darren was traded by the team along with Cash to the Diamondbacks for P Ben Ford and Reserve C Izzy Molina.

1999-The Montreal Expos would obtain Starter Hideki Irabu from the Yankees in exchange for Minor League P Jake Westbrook and 2 Players to be Named Later. Pitcher Christian Parker will be one of those players named. The Expos would later send P Ted Lilly to the Yankees on March 17,2000 to complete the trade. Westbrook had gone 11-5 with a 3.92 ERA with 1999 AA Harrisburg Senators (EL). He had a 42-25 record in 4 seasons in the Expos farm system. Irabu had a 29-20 record with a 4.80 ERA in 74 games in 3 seasons with the Yankees. Both Westbrook and Lilly will become MLB All-Stars, while Irabu will win 2 games in 2 seasons in Montreal before being released for disciplinary reasons.

2005-The Yankees had agreed to terms with veteran All-Star CF Bernie Williams on a 1-year contract for the 2006 AL season. For the 2005 Yankees, he had hit .249 with 12 HRs and 64 RBIs in 141 games.

2006-The Yankees had signed former Cuban National Team Baseball player 1B Juan Miranda as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 3 seasons with the team, Juan had appeared in 46 games, while hitting .253 with 4 HRs and 14 RBIs. On November 18, 2010, he was traded by the Yankees to the Diamondbacks for Minor League P Scottie Allen, who never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.

2009-The Yankees had reacquired veteran Starter Javier Vazquez from the Braves in a 5-player deal that sees MLB OF Melky Cabrera and 2 Minor League players: Pitchers Michael Dunn and Arodys Vizcaino head to Braves, while Reliever Boone Logan joins Vazquez in the Bronx. Vazquez had previously pitched for the 2004 Yankees. In the winter of 2003, the Expos had received 1B Nick Johnson, P Randy Choate and OF Juan Rivera from the Yankees for Starter Javier Vazquez.

2013-Former Yankees Reserve C/DH Ed Hermann (1975) had passed away at the age of 67, following a long battle with Prostate Cancer. (1946-2013)
After a 1975 MLB Player contract dispute with the White Sox front office, the team would trade 1974 AL All-Star Catcher Ed Herrmann to the Yankees. On April 1,1975, Catcher Ed Hermann was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for 4 Minor League Players: P Fred Anyzeski, 1B John Narron, 1B Ken Bennett, C Terry Quinn and Cash. He had signed a 1975 MLB Player Contract with the Yankees for $50,000 Cash. None of the young Yankee players traded ever appear in the MLB for the White Sox. As a DH/Reserve Catcher for the 1975 Yankees, Ed would hit .255 with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs in 80 games. On February 20,1976, he was purchased by the Angels from the Yankees.

December 23rd

1882-Former Reserve OF George Whiteman (1913) was born. (1882-1947)
Reserve OF George Whiteman would appear in only 11 games for the 1913 Yankees, while hitting .344 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. He would return to the MLB in 1918 with the Red Sox playing in 71 games, while hitting .266. George had played in 6 games of the 1918 World Series for Boston, while hitting .250.

1889-Former Yankees INF/OF Fritz “Flash” Maisel (1913-1917) was born. (1889-1967)
With the 1913-1917 Yankees, INF/OF Fritz Maisel had appeared in 502 games, hitting .243 with 6 HRs and 131 RBIs, while stealing 183 bases. In 1914, Fritz would set the club record for most stolen bases in a season with 74. He led the team in steals 3 times during this Yankees playing career. On January 22,1918, Fritz was traded by the Yankees along with P Nick Cullop, 2B Joe Gedeon, C Les Nunamaker, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 Cash to the St. Louis Browns for veteran Starter Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt. He was the 3B for the Minor League AA team, the Baltimore Orioles (IL) from 1911 to 1913 and from 1919 to 1928. Fritz would manage the team from 1929 to 1932. He would become an MLB Scout for the MLB Baltimore Orioles from 1954 to 1967. In 1959, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.

1889-Former Yankees OF Cozy Dolan (1911-1912) was born. (1889-1958)
Cozy Dolan had appeared in 37 games for the Yankees, while hitting .256 with No HRs and 17 RBIs. On May 31,1912, Dolan was purchased by AA Rochester (IL) from the Yankees. Also, Dolan had played in the MLB with the Reds, Phillies, Pirates, Cardinals and the Giants. Dolan was a Giants MLB Coach, an incident that happened late in the 1924 season. On September 27th, Jimmy O'Connell offered Phillies Shortstop Heinie Sand $500 to throw a game. When questioned by MLB Commissioner Judge Landis, O'Connell said that he was told by Dolan to make the offer. Dolan's response to each question was "I don't remember." Judge Landis banned both players from organized baseball for life.

1898 Former Yankees Reserve OF Henry “Hinky” Haines (1923) was born. (1898-1979)
For the 1923 Yankees, Henry Haines would appear in 28 games, while hitting only .160 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1923 World Series against the Giants with no hits. Also, he had played NFL Pro Football. Henry was a member of the New York Giants Football team which in 1927, won its 1st NFL championship. He is the only athlete to have played on National Championship teams in both Baseball and Football.

1924-Former Yankees Minor League OF Bob Marquis was born. (1924-2007)
Bob Marquis would start his pro career in 1947 with the Lufkin Foresters (LSL) hitting .346 with 22 doubles and 16 triples in 140 games. His 145 runs tied Lew Morton for the Lone Star League lead; no player scored more runs in the league's history. He was sent to the Class A Beaumont Exporters (TXL) in the Yankees farm system in an unknown transaction. He had played in 4 games for the Exporters, going 0-for-1 at the plate. In 1948, he played for Beaumont (2 games) and the Quincy Gems (126 games), hitting a combined .333 with 15 HRs, 18 triples and 21 doubles. He led the Three-I League with 108 runs and 164 hits. Bob would split the 1949 season between Beaumont (TXL) playing 20 games and the AA Binghamton Triplets (EL) playing in 106 games, hitting a combined .236 in 453 at-bats. He hit .293 in 151 games for Beaumont in 1950. In 1951, Bob played for the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), where he hit .278 in 123 games. He played for the Blues again in 1952, hitting .246 in 97 games. On August 28,1952, he was traded by the Yankees to the Reds along with Minor League OF Jim Greengrass, Pitchers Ernie Nevel, Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 Cash for veteran NL All-Star Starter Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell. He had appeared in 40 games for the 1953 Reds, while hitting .273. On July 11,1953, Bob was purchased by AAA Portland Beavers (PCL) from the Reds. He would spend 61 games in the Minor Leagues in 1953 with the AAA Portland Beavers (PCL), where he would hit .271. Then he would hit .282 with 16 triples in 143 games for the Class A Beaumont Explorers (TXL).

1929-Former Yankees Pitcher AL “Bozo” Cicotte (1957) was born. (1929-1982)
In 1948, the Yankees had signed P Al Cicotte as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the 1957 Yankees, Al would post a 2-2 record with a 3.03 ERA and 2 saves in 20 games. On May 14,1958, he was purchased by the Senators from the Yankees. Al was the Great-Nephew of Hall Of Fame Pitcher Eddie Cicotte.

1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Tim Leary (1990-1992) was born.
In 1979, Tim Leary was a former #1 MLB Amateur Player Draft pick by the Mets. On December 12,1989, he was traded by the Reds along with Reserve OF Van Snider to the Yankees for Rookie OF/1B Hal Morris and Minor League P Rodney Imes. In 1990, Tim would post a 9-19 record along with a 4.11 ERA in 31 games, then in 1991, he had a 4-10 mark with a 6.49 ERA in 28 games. In 1992, he would post a 5-6 record in 18 games before being traded by the Yankees on August 22,1992, along with Cash to the Mariners for Minor League OF Sean Twitty, who never appears at the MLB level with the Yankees. Tim Leary’s overall pitching record for the 1990-1992 Yankees was a 18-35 mark with a 5.12 ERA in 77 games.

1969-The Yankees had signed OF/1B Otto Velez as an Amateur MLB Free agent. Otto will play for the Yankees from 1973-1976, while playing in 65 games, hitting .255 with 6 HRs and 28 RBI’s. On November 5,1976, Otto was selected by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as the 53rd pick in the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft.

1977-Former Yankees Pitcher Shawn Chacon (2005-2006) was born.
On July 28, 2005, Shawn Chacon was 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA back as a Starter for the 2005 Rockies before being dealt to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Pitchers: Eduardo Sierra and Ramon Ramirez. For the 2005 Yankees, he would post a 7-3 record with a 2.85 ERA, snapping the 2-20 skid, he had been on since the 2003 MLB All-Star break. For the 2006 Yankees, the veteran right-hander had a 5-3 record with a 7.00 ERA; when he was traded to the Pirates for INF Craig Wilson. Overall, for the 2005-2006 Yankees, Shawn had posted a 12-6 record with a 4.69 ERA in 31 games.

1981-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent OF/1B Dave Collins for a reported $750,000 a year for at least 3 seasons. Collins, who stole 79 bases for the Reds in 1979, he will end up being a bust as a Yankees player, appearing in 111 games; while hitting .252 with 3 HRs and 25 RBIs. After 1 season in Yankee pinstripes, he will be traded to the Blue Jays. On December 9,1982, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Class A 1B Fred McGriff, P Mike Morgan and Cash to the Blue Jays for OF Tom Dodd and veteran MLB Reliever Dale Murray.

1987-The Yankees had signed Closer Dave Righetti as an MLB Free Agent. For the 1987 AL season for the Yankees, Dave would post an 8-6 record with a 3.51 ERA and 31 saves in 60 games as the team’s Closer. He was named to the 1987 AL All-Star team.

1996-The Yankees would grant Starter Jim Abbott and INF Randy Velarde their MLB Free Agency. Randy Velarde will sign a 3-year deal with the Angels. Jim Abbott will sign with the White Sox.

1996-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent P Dave Eiland. Dave had been drafted by the Yankees in the 7th round of the 1987 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Univ. of So. Florida (Tampa, FL). He would post a 5-9 record in 34 games for the 1988-1991 Yankees, before granted his MLB Free Agency. Then Dave was with the 1992-1993 Padres, going 0-5 in 17 games before being released by the team. In 1994, he would rejoin the Yankees organization, posting a 9-4 record at AAA Columbus (IL). In 1995, he will appear in 4 games for the team, while posting a 1-1 record with a 6.30 ERA. He will spend the 1997 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). Dave would finish his MLB Pitching career with the 1998-2000 Rays.

2004-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher (1980-1981) Minor League and MLB Manager Johnny Oates had passed away. (1946-2004)
In 1980-1981, John Oates had appeared in 49 games, hitting just .189 as a Reserve Catcher for the Yankees. Oates would become a Manager in the Yankees Minor League organization, managing with the AA Nashville Sounds (SL) and the 1982-1983 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He was an MLB Coach for the 1984-1987 Cubs. Then he managed the AAA Rochester Red Wings (IL) in the Orioles organization. In 1988, Oates became an Orioles MLB Coach from 1989-1991. Oates was named Manager of the Orioles in May of 1991. From 1991-2001, he would manage the Orioles, and then he went on to manage the Rangers. Seven of his 11 MLB teams played over .500 baseball, while he managed them.

2005-Former Red Sox All-Star OF MLB Free Agent Johnny Damon signs a 4-year player contract with the AL Eastern Division rival, the Yankees. Johnny will appear in 576 games for the Yankees, while hitting .285, with 77 HRs and 296 RBI’s. He hit .364 for the Yankees in the 2009 World Series against the Phillies. In the winter of 2009, Johnny will leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, signing with the Tigers for the 2010 AL season. The Yankees front office did not want to sign him to a multi-year deal that he wanted.

2019-The Yankees had traded former Pitching Prospect Chance Adams to the Royals for Minor League Shortstop Cristian Perez, who had hit .252 for a Royals Class A team. Adams had been DFA to clear an MLB Roster spot for the MLB Free Agent signing of All-Star Starter Gerrit Cole.

2022-The Yankees have signed 4 players to Minor League contracts: left-handers Tanner Tully and Nick Ramirez, righty Ryan Weber and INF Jamie Westbrook. Tanner Tully had spent his entire career in the Cleveland system. A 26th round pick in 2016, he worked his way to the MLB for the 1st time this year. Tully had appeared out of Terry Francona’s bullpen 3 times, allowing 4 runs in 6 innings. He spent the bulk of the season at AAA Columbus, where he started 24 of 28 outings. Through 122 innings, the Ohio State product put up a 4.72 ERA with a modest 18.5% strikeout percentage but an excellent 4.9% walk rate. The 28-year-old doesn’t throw hard, averaging just under 91 MPH on his fastball during his MLB time. He’s a quality strike-thrower who has gotten average or better grounder rates in the minors of late. He’ll presumably open the year at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and serve as rotation or long relief depth. During the 2023 minor league season, the Yankees will grant Tully his player contract release, to take a player offer from a Korean League team. That’s a role with which Ryan Weber is also familiar. He had spent the 2022 campaign in the Yankees organization, shuttling on and off their roster whenever the club needed to cover some innings. The 32-year-old made 5 appearances for the Yankees, all in relief. He had allowed just 1 run across 10 2/3 innings with a trio of strikeouts and a walk. That marked his 8th consecutive year logging some MLB action, he has a 5.02 ERA across 177 2/3 career frames. Like Tully, Weber is a soft-tossing control specialist. He consistently racks up grounders on over half the batted balls he allows, including a robust 53.5% rate in 39 2/3 frames for Scranton this past season. Weber walked just 3% of opponents with the RailRiders, albeit with a 16.5% strikeout rate. Nick Ramirez, 33, adds some left-handed relief depth to the mix. He appeared in the MLB in each season between 2019-2021, suiting up with the Tigers and the Padres. Between the 2 clubs, he has posted a 4.55 ERA with a 20.4% strikeout rate and 9.5% walk percentage across 110 2/3 innings. For the 2023 Yankees, Weber will post a 1-0 record with a 3.14 ERA and 1 save in 8 games. On November 2, 2023, the Yankees will place Ryan Weber on waivers, if he was not claimed, he will become an MLB Free Agent.
Nick Ramirez had spent the entire 2022 campaign working out of the bullpen with the Mariners AAA affiliate in Tacoma. He had a nice season, working to a 2.93 ERA with a 23.7% strikeout percentage and 46% ground-ball rate through 55 1/3 frames. That wasn’t enough to crack an excellent Seattle bullpen, but he’ll try to work his way back to the MLB in the Bronx. For the 2023 Yankees, Nick will post a 1-2 record with a 2.56 ERA with 1 save in 32 games. INF Jamie Westbrook has yet to play in the MLB. The 27-year-old has played almost a decade in the Minors, spending parts of 4 seasons at AAA. He looked like to be under consideration for an MLB call when the Tigers acquired him from the Brewers in an April trade. That proved not to be, as the former 5th-round draftee would spend the season at AAA Toledo. Jamie Westbrook has hit .248 across 499 plate appearances, showing solid plate discipline without much power. He’s primarily a 2B but he has experience in the corner outfield; he’ll add some defensive flexibility to the upper levels of the Yankees minor league system. For 2023, Westbrook will spend the 2023 season playing in AAA with Scranton, while hitting .294 with 21 HRs and 65 RBIs in 117 games.