This Week in Yankees History Megathread

This Week in Yankees History April 7th-April 13th





April 7th

1874-Former Yankees INF and MLB Manager John Ganzel (1903-1904) was born. (1874-1959).
John Ganzel had a cup of coffee with the 1898 Pirates. He then came up to the 1900 Orphans for 78 games (and was with Detroit in the Minors for 22 games). In 1901, he was with the Giants in the NL, then he would spend the 1902 season in the Minors with AA Louisville. For the 1903-1904 Yankees, John would appear in 259 games, while hitting .269 with 9 HRs and 119 RBIs. Then in 1905-1906, he was with Grand Rapids. He came back to the MLB 1 last time in 1907-1908 with the Reds. After his time with the Reds, he would play a few seasons with AA Rochester (IL). John would start managing in 1905-1906 with Grand Rapids and then he would managed the 1908 Reds to a 5th place finish, while serving as the regular 1B. Thereafter, he would managed at AA Rochester (IL) from 1909-1915, sometimes also playing, before coming back to the MLB to manage part of the 1915 season with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops (Federal League). He later would manage the AA Kansas City Blues (AA) for 3 seasons. Next, he would later manage at Laurel and Orlando.

1907-Former Yankees Pitcher Oral “Hildy” Hildebrand (1939-1940) was born. (1907-1977)
On October 26,1938, Pitcher Oral Hildebrand was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with OF Buster Mills to the Yankees for Reserve Catcher Joe Glenn and OF Myril Hoag. For the 1939-1940 Yankees, he will post an 11-5 record with a 2.90 ERA and 2 saves in 34 games. He had appeared 1 game of 1939 World Series against the Reds for the Yankees with no record. On March 30,1941, he was purchased by the AA St Paul Saints (AA) from the Yankees.

1915-The Yankees had purchased Pitcher Ensign Cottrell from the Boston Braves. He had briefly appeared with the Braves, spending most of 1914 season with the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL). He would appear in 7 games for the 1915 Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA.

1933-Former Yankees Reserve OF Bobby Del Greco (1957-1958) was born. (1933-2019)
After being purchased from the Cubs in September of 1957, Reserve OF Bobby Del Greco would hit .459 for his month with the Yankees. Bobby did not appear in the 1957 World Series against the Braves. In 1958, he would only appear in 6 games with the Yankees, while hitting just .200 before being sent down to AAA Richmond (IL), where he hit .267 with 9 HRs and 45 RBIs in 100 games. In April of 1959, Bobby was sold by the Yankees to the Phillies.

1948-Former Yankees Pitcher Rick Sawyer (1974-1975) was born.
On March 19,1974, P Rick Sawyer was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Indians along with OF Walt Williams to the Yankees. The Yankees would send Reserve Catcher Jerry Moses to the Tigers. The Tribe sent Reliever Ed Farmer to the Yankees. The Tigers sent Veteran AL Starter Jim Perry to the Indians. With the 1974-1975 Yankees, Rick Sawyer had no decisions in 5 games. While pitching in the Yankees Minor League system, he went 22-14 in 49 games. On July 31,1976, Rick was sent by the Yankees to the Padres to complete an earlier deal made for OF Gene Locklear on July 10,1976. For the Padres, he would go 12-9 with 4.49 ERA in 74 games.

1952-The Yankees had waived Pitcher Dave “The Squeakin’ Deacon” Madison (1950) to the St. Louis Browns. In 1947, Dave had been signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He appeared in just 1 game for the 1950 Yankees with no decision. He would pitch for the Browns and Tigers before leaving the MLB. Later, he would become a Yankees MLB Scout.

1969-Hall of Fame player Ted Williams makes his MLB Managerial debut for the Washington Senators. Williams loses his 1st MLB game to the Yankees by the score of 8-4 on Opening Day at RFK Stadium. Williams will manage the team for 3 seasons, before moving with the team to Texas in 1972.

1973-Former Yankees Pitcher Brett Tomko (2009) was born.
On February 13, 2009, veteran P Brett Tomko was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. For the Yankees, he went 1-2 with a 5.23 ERA in 15 games before being released by the team. He would finish the 2009 AL season with the Oakland A’s.

1977-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees open defense of their 1976 AL Championship by defeating the Brewers by the score of 3-0. Sparky Lyle recorded the 1st of 26 saves in relief of veteran Starter Catfish Hunter, who went 7-innings of 2-hit ball before getting hit by a line drive by Brewers batter Von Joshua. Yankees new 1977 DH Jim Wynn would hit a HR in his 1st at bat as a Yankees player. It would be the highlight of his brief playing career with the Bronx Bombers. It will be his #291 MLB career HR and his last one as an MLB player.

1996-Former Yankees Reserve INF Hoy Jun Park (2021) was born.
In 2014, the Yankees had signed Shortstop Hoy Jun Park at the age of 18 as an International Free Agent, giving him a signing bonus of $1.1 million dollars. He was a part of a group of International Signees, that also included highly regarded prospect, Wilkerman Garcia. The Yankees had assigned him to the short-season Class A Pulaski Yankees (APPL). In 2019, he would play for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Park had appeared in 113 games at AA level, while hitting .272 with 3 HRs and 41 RBIs. The Yankees had invited him to their 2020-2021 MLB Spring Training Camps. He had started the 2021 season playing for with the AA Somerset Patriots (AANE), then Park was promoted to AAA Scranton (IL), where he hit .327 with 20 HRs and 29 RBIs in 48 games. In July of 2021, he appeared in 1 game with no hits for the team against the Red Sox. On July 21, 2021, he was outrighted by the team. On July 26, 2021, Park was traded to the Pirates by the Yankees along with Minor League INF Diego Castillo for Bucs Reliever Clay Holmes. During the winter of 2022, the Bucs would trade Park to the Red Sox. Then the Red Sox would trade him to the Braves.

2010-New Yankees CF Curtis Granderson quickly makes his presence felt with the "Bronx Bombers". After hitting a HR in his 1st at-bat for the team on Opening Day 2010, April 4th, he hits a game-winning long ball off of Red Sox Closer Jonathan Papelbon in the 10th inning of today's game, which started as a pitching duel between veteran MLB Starters Andy Pettitte and John Lackey, giving the Yankees a 3-1 victory. Bronx Reliever Chan Ho Park redeems his poor Opening Day performance with 3-innings of 1-hit ball in relief to earn his 1st win in Yankees pinstripes, while Closer Mariano Rivera picks up his 2nd save in as many days.

2011-Barely a week into his MLB playing career, Twins 2B Tsuyoshi Nishioka suffers a broken fibula in a collision with a sliding Yankees baserunner Nick Swisher, who is trying to break up the double play. The Yankees will win the game by the score of 4-3. Bronx Starter A.J. Burnett is the winner, benefiting from a 3-run rally in the 4th inning.

2019-Yankees Catcher Gary Sanchez hits 3 HRs and drives in 6 runs to lead the Yankees to a 15-3 beatdown of the Orioles. He has a chance at a 4th HR in the 9th inning, but he flies out to left field against INF Hanser Alberto, pitching mop-up relief. With a 5-4 record, the Yankees are now above .500 for the 1st time this AL season.

2022-The Yankees have Designated for Assignment OF Jession Rosario, who they had claimed on waivers from the Red Sox in March.

April 8th

1909-While at the Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, Highlanders 1B Hal Chase contracts a case of Smallpox. The entire New York team is vaccinated and then quarantined, while traveling north by train. Chase will not be able to report to the team until May. He will play in 118 games for the 1909 Yankees, while hitting .283 with 4 HRs and 63 RBIs.

1946-Former Yankees and A’s Hall of Fame Pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter (1975-1979) was born. (1946-1999)
In 1965, Jim “Catfish” Hunter will make his MLB Pitching debut with the Kansas City A’s. On December 31,1975, Jim will join the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. His Yankees Pitching career record was 63-53 with a 3.58 ERA in 137 games. He had 65 complete games with 11 shutouts for the Yankees. In 1975, he would win 23 games and 17 games in 1976 for the team. He will retire from the MLB at the age of 33 in 1979, after having a 15-year MLB pitching career with the A’s and the Yankees. Jim’s final MLB Pitching career totals was a 224-166 record with a 3.26 ERA in 500 games. Hunter had appeared in 6 ALCS, while appearing in 10 games, posting a 4-3 record with a 3.25 ERA with 3 complete games. In World Series play, Catfish had appeared in 6 series with a 5-3 record with a 3.29 ERA. With the A’s, Jim had posted a 161-113 record with a 3.13 ERA in 363 games. He will win election to the Hall of Fame in 1987. In 1999, Jim “Catfish” Hunter will pass away from ALS disease at the age of 53.

1957-Former Yankees Reserve INF Roger Holt (1980) was born.
In the 4th round (101st pick overall) of the 1977 MLB Amateur Player Draft, INF Roger Holt was selected by the Yankees. Holt was a star in the Minor Leagues (he had the game winning hit in the Minor League World Series). Roger was named the 1980 Yankees Minor League Player of the Year. In 1980, he was called up by Yankees and given the uniform # 55; he would play in 2 games for the team. In those 2 games, Holt had 6 at bats; he struck out twice, walked once and got 1 hit (off of Tigers P Aurelio Lopez). However, the following spring, he was traded to the Rangers for INF Tucker Ashford.

1964-Former Yankees Reserve INF and MLB Umpire, Manager George Moriarty (1906-1907) had passed away. (1884-1964)
INF George Moriarty had brief trials with the 1903-1904 Cubs. In 1905, George had a great season with AA Toledo (AA.) In August of 1905, the Yankees would purchase him from Toledo. For the 1906-1907, Yankees George was a Reserve 3B/1B. He would hit .254 with No HRs and 93 RBIs and 58 stolen bases in 292 games. He had stolen 50 bases for the 1906-1907 teams. On January 14,1909, the Yankees would sell 3B George Moriarty to the Tigers. He would become the new regular 3B for the Tigers. In 1917, Moriarty would became an American League Umpire, which appeared to be his true calling. Later, he would become the Tigers Manager for the 1927-1928 AL seasons, replacing Manager Ty Cobb. He would return to MLB Umpiring from 1929 to 1940. Among famous incidents during his MLB Umpiring career was the time in 1932, when he fought 4 members of the White Sox simultaneously, Milt Gaston, Charlie Berry, Frank Grube and Lew Fonseca, the Player-Manager, after some disagreements about the calling of balls and strikes. He fought them to a draw. Columnist Joe Williams joked afterward that "Moriarty must be slipping; I can remember when he used to take on whole teams as a warm-up". He was given a public reprimand by AL President Will Harridge for this incident, while the Chicago players were fined or suspended. In the 1935 World Series, he had ejected 3 Cubs players, Charlie Grimm, Tuck Stainback and Woody English for heckling the Tigers' Hank Greenberg. He was fined $200 by MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis for not consulting with him prior to the ejections; to this day, Moriarty has ejected more players than any other umpire from World Series play. Still, he was by all accounts an excellent umpire. In 1935, he was named the AL’s best Umpire in a poll of players conducted by The Sporting News. Moriarty was then a Tiger MLB Scout from 1945 to 1958. Among the players that he discovered for the Tigers, was future AL Batting Champion Harvey Kuenn.

1967-Former Yankees Minor League P Rich Batchelor was born.
In 1990, the Yankees had signed P Rich Batchelor as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On August 31,1993, Rich was traded by the Yankees to the Cardinals for veteran MLB All-Star Closer Lee Smith.

1972-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Gus Fisher (1912) had passed away. (1885-1972)
On April 9, 1912, the Yankees had purchased Catcher Gus Fisher from the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians). Current staring Catcher Jeff Sweeney was staging a player contract holdout. The Yankees were left only with veteran Catcher Gabby Street as their 1912 starting Catcher. As a 1911 Naps Rookie, he had hit .261 in 70 games. He would appear in 10 games for the 1912 Yankees with just 1 hit, batting .100. He would never play in the MLB again. From 1913 to 1922, he would play at the high-level Minor Leagues until his player retirement at 36.

1975-Veteran MLB All-Star OF Frank Robinson makes his debut as the 1st MLB Black Manager. Rachel Robinson, the widow of Jackie Robinson, throws out the ceremonial 1st pitch before a crowd of 56,204 fans at Cleveland. As the Player-Manager for the Indians, Frank Robinson hits a HR in his 1st at-bat, helping the Indians to a 5-3 victory over the Yankees. For Robinson, it is his 8th Opening Day HR, setting an MLB record.

1983-Former Yankees Minor League C Bobby Wilson was born.
On December 13, 2012, Catcher Bobby Wilson was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He had played for the 2008-2012 Angels as a Reserve Catcher, while appearing in 109 games, hitting .208. He did not appear at the MLB level with 2013 Yankees, he was with AAA Scranton (IL). After the 2013 AL season had ended, Wilson was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.

1983-Former Yankees Non-Roster Catcher Chris Iannetta (2020) was born.
On February 3, 2020, the Yankees had signed veteran MLB Catcher Chris Iannetta to a Minor League Contract with an invitation to the 2020 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp. He is a 14-season Veteran MLB Catcher, who has appeared in 1,197 games, while hitting .230 with 141 HRs and 502 RBIs. Chris has played for the Rockies (twice), Angels, Mariners and the Diamondbacks. In 2019, he played for the Rockies, hitting just .222 with 6 HRs and 21 RBIs in 52 games. After the 2019 NL season had ended, the Rockies had granted him MLB Free Agency. He was at the 2020 Yankees Alternate Spring Training site, just in case of an injury to the team’s MLB Catchers Gary Sanchez and Kyle Higashioka. During the 2020 AL season, Chris would announce his player retirement from the MLB.

1985-At Fenway Park, 46-year-old Phil Niekro starts for the Yankees, becoming the 2nd oldest pitcher ever to start in an MLB Opening Day. Only Jack Quinn for the 1931 Brooklyn Robins was older at age 47. The Red Sox hitters chase Niekro after 4 innings, behind the pitching of Starter Oil Can Boyd, who coasts to a 9-2 victory. Niekro walks 4 Boston batters in the 3rd inning, including 2 with the bases loaded, to lose his 7th opener in a row (6 with the Braves), the worst Opening Day pitching record ever. Red Sox Sluggers Tony Armas, Dwight Evans and Jim Rice would stroke HRs for Boston.

1993-Indians Slugger Carlos Baerga becomes the 1st player in MLB history to switch-hit HRs in the same inning. In the 7th inning, Baerga connects against Yankees Relievers Steve Howe and Steve Farr. Baerga's HR outburst helps the Indians to a 15-5 victory over the Yankees.

2003-At Yankee Stadium 2003 Home Opener, with 33,109 Yankees fans chanting his name, Hideki Matsui hit his 1st MLB HR, a Grand Slam HR shot off of the Twins Starter Joe Mays in the 5th inning to provide the lead, Yankees will win the game by the score of 7-3. Yankees Veteran All-Star Starter Andy Pettitte picks-up the win, he is now 2-0, as Twins Starter Joe Mays takes the lost, falling to a 1-1 record. The Yankees are now 6-1 for the 2003 AL season, while the Twins fall to a 3-7 mark in the AL Central Division.

2003-Former Yankees Minor League Player Bing Russell had passed away. (1926-2003)
Bing Russell was a Minor League player in the Yankees farm system, playing for the Class D Carrolton (GA-AL League) in 1948-1949. Later Bing became a Hollywood actor most known for his work in the NBC-TV show "Bonanza.” Russell would return to baseball in the 1970s as team owner of the Port Mavericks (NWL). His son, actor Kurt Russell, played with the Dodgers organization for part of his Minor League career, until shoulder injuries ended his pro baseball career. Russell's Grandson,Catcher Matt Franco went on to play in the MLB with the Pirates.

2005-Former Yankees Pitcher Al “Two Gun” Gettel (1945-1946) had passed away. (1917-2005)
In 1936, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Al Gettel as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the Yankees, Al would post a 15-15 record with 3 saves in 53 games. On January 22,1943, Al was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Ed Levy and $10,000 Cash to the Blue Jays (aka Phillies) for 1B Nick Etten. On March 26,1943, Al Gettel and Ed Levy were returned to Yankees. The Yankees would send Catcher Tom Padden and P Al Gerheauser on March 26, 1943 to the Blue Jays to complete the trade. On December 6,1946, Al was traded by the Yankees along with P Gene Bearden and OF Hal Peck to the Indians for Catcher Sherman Lollar and Reserve INF Ray Mack. Al "Two-Gun" Gettel had a 197-137 record in a Minor League pitching career that spanned from 1936 through 1959. His greatest success in the Minors came in the Pacific Coast League in the 1st half of the 1950s. Al went 23-7 with a 3.62 ERA for the 1950 AAA Oakland Oaks, placing him 2nd in the PCL in victories. In 1952, he would lead the PCL with 284 innings pitched. A year later, he was named the top pitcher in the PCL, after going 24-14 with a 3.20 ERA for the Oaks. He would lead the league in wins, innings (309) and complete games (30). Gettel also appeared in the MLB in all or parts of 7 seasons between 1945-1955, pitching for 6 different teams with his best season coming with the Indians in 1947, when he went 11-10 with a 3.20 ERA. As an MLB Pitcher, Gettel had a 38-45 record with a 4.28 ERA, while appearing in 184 games. While playing in the Pacific Coast league in the early 1950’s, Al had appeared in several B-Western films, earning him his player nickname of “Two-Gun.”

2011-The Red Sox finally record their 1st win of the 2011 AL season after starting out 0-6 by defeating their arch-rivals the Yankees by the score of 9-6 in their 2011 AL season home opener. Dustin Pedroia hits a HR in his 1st at-bat with his team down 2-0, he finishes the day with 3 hits and as many RBIs to lead the Boston hitting attack. Red Sox Starter John Lackey is the winner in spite of giving up 6 Yankee runs over 5 innings of work.

2012-For only the 2nd time in the history of the AL, the Yankees and Red Sox, both have a 0-3 record. Tampa Bay completes a sweep of the Bronx Bombers at home as Rays Starter Jeremy Hellickson throws a 3-hit shutout on his 25th birthday.

2022-Rachel Balkovec makes MLB history, when she manages her 1st game with the Yankees Class A Tampa Tarpons of the Florida State League. She is the 1st female manager in the history of Organized Baseball. The Tarpons would defeat the Lakeland Flying Tigers by the score of 9-6.

April 9th

1888-Former Yankees Pitcher James “Hippo” Vaughn (1908,1910-1912) was born. (1888-1966)
For the Yankees, hurler James “Hippo” Vaughn would post a 22-30 record with a 3.18 ERA in 72 games, before going to the Senators on waivers during the 1912 AL season. In 1913, Hippo will be picked by the Cubs, becoming a 20-game winner for 5 NL seasons with the team, before finishing his MLB Pitching career with them in 1921. He was 1-2 with a 1.00 ERA for the Cubs in the 1918 World Series. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 179-136 record with a 2.49 ERA in 390 games.

1912-The Yankees had purchased Catcher Gus Fisher from the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians). Fisher as a Cleveland Rookie Catcher in 1911, he had hit .261 in 70 games. He would only appear in 10 games for the Yankees as a reserve catcher before being sent to the Minor Leagues, he would never return to the MLB.

1953-Pittsburgh's 1-sided pre-season victory over the defending World Champions Yankees notwithstanding, today's main attraction is 21-year-old Mickey Mantle, as the Yankees' young phenom becomes just the 3rd batter in Forbes Field's 44-year history; after Babe Ruth (1935) and Teddy Beard (1950) to clear the 89-FT-high RF roof.

1959-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Mark Freeman to Kansas City for MLB P Jack Urban. Freeman had spent 8 seasons in the Yankees farm system, pitching at the AAA level for the past 3 seasons. He had never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. Mark would appear in 3 games with the 1959 A’s before they sold him back to the Yankees on May 8,1959, who in return would send him to AAA Seattle (PCL). Jack Urban was a former Yankees Minor League hurler, who had posted a 15-15 record with the 1957-1958 A’s. The Yankees would send back him to AAA Richmond (IL). He would be picked up by the Cardinals later on during the 1959 AL season, while appearing in 8 games for them; finishing up his MLB Pitching career that season.

1961-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Brian Dorsett (1989-1990) was born.
On November 17,1988, Catcher Brian Dorsett was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for Minor League P Eric Schmidt. For the Yankees, he had appeared in just 22 games, as a Reserve Catcher, while hitting .228 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. He would spend of his most of his time in the Yankees organization, playing for their AAA team, the Columbus Clippers (IL.) On November 19,1990, Brian was released by the team. He would be signed by the Padres organization.

1963-Bronx Bomber 1B Joe Pepitone becomes the last Yankee to hit 2 HRs on Opening Day at Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium as the Yankees beat the Athletics by the score of 8-2. A crowd of 20,976 fans watch Yankees Starter Ralph Terry throw a complete game victory; while A’s Starter Diego Segui takes the loss. Also, Yankees Catcher Elston Howard hits a 2-run HR in the game. There were 5 other times that a Yankee hitter did as much in the history of the Yankees: Roger Maris (1960), Mickey Mantle (1956), Russ Derry (1945), Babe Ruth and Sammy Byrd on April 12, 1932.

1965-U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson joins 47,878 fans for the opening of Harris County Domed Stadium (aka the Astrodome). The Astros will win an MLB Exhibition Game against the Yankees by the score of 2-1 in 12 innings. Yankees All-Star CF Mickey Mantle hits the 1st-ever indoor HR in the new ballpark.

1965-Former Yankees Reserve OF/1B Hal Morris (1988-1989) was born.
The Yankees in the 8th round of the 1986 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected OF/1B Hal Morris. He would play in only 38 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .184 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. Hal had won the 1989 International League’s Batting Title with a .326 BA, along with 17 HRs and 66 RBIs, while playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers. On December 12,1989, Hal was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Rodney Imes to the Reds for MLB P Tim Leary and OF Van Snider. Hal’s best position was 1B, but he was blocked there by the presence of Yankees AL All-Star 1B Don Mattingly. After retiring as active player, Hal was an MLB Scout for the 2008 Pirates. In 2011, he would be an MLB Scout for the Red Sox. In 2012, Hal became the Head of Pro Scouting for the Angels, he would hold that post until 2016.

1967-Former Yankees Reliever Graeme Lloyd (1996-1998) was born in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.
Reliever Graeme Lloyd came to the Yankees in the trade with the Brewers that saw P Bob Wickman and OF Gerald Williams go to the Brewers. He was awful in the regular AL season for the 1996 Yankees, posting a 17.47 ERA in 13 games (managing barely 5 2/3 innings of work), but he was outstanding in the 1996 AL Post-Season, being used 8 times and allowing no runs on 1 hit and no walks, while striking out 5 batters in 5 1/3 innings. The Yankees won their 1st World Series title since 1978 that year. Lloyd was still on their pitching staff, when they won another title in 1998, once again keeping a clean ledger in the post-season (in only 3 appearances though). He would post a 4-3 record with 3.51 ERA and 1 save in 109 games before being traded by the Yankees along with veteran Starter David Wells to the Blue Jays for AL All-Star hurler Roger Clemens on February 18,1999.

1971-The Oakland A’s had traded veteran 1B/OF Felipe Alou to the Yankees in exchange for 2 Pitchers: Rob Gardner and Ron Klimkowski. Felipe Alou will appear in 131 games for the team; while hitting .289 with 8 HRs with 69 RBIs. During the 1972 AL season, Felipe Alou's younger Brother, Matty will join him in Yankee pinstripes. The team will acquire him in another deal made with the A’s. Ron Klimkowski had been obtained by the Yankees from the Red Sox in the 1967 Elston Howard trade in. He had pitched for the 1969 Yankees. while appearing in 3 games. In 1970, he had pitched in 45 games for the team, while posting a 6-7 record. After he had pitched for AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL), winning 16 games with a 2.53 ERA. Rob Gardner had a 1-0 record with the team in 1970. He had only appeared in 2 games with 1971 Yankees, while Klimkowski hadn’t made a season appearance yet.

1985-Former Yankees Reliever Dave Robertson (2008-2014, 2017-2018) was born.
David Robertson was selected by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut the next summer. Robertson made his MLB Pitching debut with the 2008 Yankees, then he emerged as one of the team's most reliable relievers in 2009, when he contributed to the team's 2009 World Series title with a 3.30 ERA in 45 games coupled along with 63 strikeouts in 45 2/3 innings. He kept a clean sheet in 5 postseason appearances that year, including 2 1/3 innings against the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. His ERA rose to 3.82 in 2010, but he still pitched in 64 games and again he struck out over a batter per inning. In 2011, though, he emerged as perhaps the best Middle Reliever in baseball, making the AL All-Star team on the strength of a 4-0 record and a sparkling 1-0 ERA in 70 games. He struck out an even 100 batters that season, in only 66 2/3 innings and gave up only 1 HR all season. The Yankees had signed former Rays Closer Rafael Soriano to a big MLB Free Agent contract the previous off-season, with a view to grooming him to eventually succeed the great Mariano Rivera in the Closer role with the Bronx Bombers. However, Soriano struggled and Robertson's tremendous performance pushed him up to the top of the depth chart as Mariano's Set-Up man in the Yankees bullpen. David had started the 2012 AL season secure in his role as the # 2 man in the Yankees bullpen and pitched lights out in his 1st 12 outings, giving up a mere 7 hits and 3 walks in 12 innings while striking out 21 batters and not allowing a single run. When Rivera went down with a torn knee ligament in a freak accident on May 3rd, it was him and not Soriano who was anointed by Manager Joe Girardi to take over Mo's huge shoes. In his 1st game in the new role, on May 8th, he preserved a 5-3 win over the Rays, striking out Slugger Carlos Pena with the bases loaded in nailing his 1st save opportunity. It was only the 4th save of his MLB pitching career, but it was clear that he had the stuff and poise to rack up many, many more. However, in his 2nd outing in the new role on May 9th, things went awry, as he blew a 1-0 9th inning lead against the Rays, loading the bases with none out and then allowing a sacrifice fly by B.J. Upton and a 3-run HR by Matt Joyce to be charged with a blown save and the 4-1 loss. He then got more bad news on May 15th, when he was placed on the DL with a strained muscle in his ribcage. By the time he returned, veteran Reliever Rafael Soriano had claimed the Closer's job and would end the 2012 AL season with 40 saves. He ended the season with a record of 2-7 with a 2.67 ERA in 65 games. He then won Game 3 of the ALDS against the Orioles by the score of 3-2 in 12 innings. In 2013, Rivera was back for his last MLB season with Robertson was in his familiar role of set-up man. Both men were excellent, with Rivera going out pitching as well as he ever had and Robertson putting up a 2.04 ERA in 70 games with 3 saves and 77 strikeouts in 66 1/3 innings. He was anointed the new Yankees' Closer in 2014, he quickly picked up a couple of saves without giving up a run, but he had to go on the DL after his 3rd outing. This time, however, his understudy did not steal his job and he was able to close games again when he returned later in April. His 3rd save was recorded against the Angels on April 26th. He ended up with 39 saves for the season, to go along with a 4-5 record and a 3.08 ERA; with 96 strikeouts in 64 1/3 innings. However, in a surprising development, he opted to leave the Yankees, when he became an MLB Free Agent after the 2014 season was over. Instead signing a 4-year deal worth $46 million with the White Sox on December 8, 2014. With Chicago, David went 15-10 with a 3.28 ERA with 84 saves in 129 games. On July 19, 2017, the White Sox traded Robinson along with 3B Todd Frazier and Reliever Tommy Kahnle to the Yankees for MLB Reliever Tyler Clippard and 3 Minor League players: Pitcher Ian Clarkin, Outfielders Tito Polo and Blake Rutherford. His 2017 pitching record with the White Sox was a 4-2 mark with a 2.70 ERA with 13 saves in 30 games. With the 2017 Yankees, Dave would post a 5-0 record with a 1.03 ERA and 1 save in 30 games.
In the 2017 AL post season, he went 2-0 in 8 games. In 2018, Robertson had another good season, recording an 8-3 mark with a 3.23 ERA and 5 saves in 69 games for the Yankees. He had allowed just 46 hits in 69 2/3 innings, while striking out 91 opponents. He pitched a scoreless inning in the ALWC against the A’s and 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the ALDS, where the Yankees were eliminated by the Red Sox. Following the season, he was an MLB Free Agent again. Overall, as a Yankee Pitcher, Robinson would post a 38-22 record with a 2.75 ERA and 53 saves in 501 games. On January 3, 2019, he would sign a 2-year deal with the Phillies for a minimum of $23 million. He was expected to slot back into the Closer's role in the City of brotherly love, displacing the 2018 Phillies team closer Seranthony Dominguez.

1989-Yankees AL All-Star LF Rickey Henderson gets his 800th MLB career stolen base in a 4-3 Yankees loss to the Indians.

1989-Former Yankees Minor League 1B Ryan McBroom was born.
Ryan McBroom had attended West Va. Univ. The Royals had selected him in the 36th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he did not sign with the team instead returned to finish college. He was then drafted in the 15th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Blue Jays. He was assigned to their Class A Short Season team, the Class A Vancouver Canadians (NWL). In 70 games, McBroom had batted .297 with 11 HRs and 59 RBIs. His 11 HRs tied for the NWL HR lead. He began the 2015 season with the Lansing Lugnuts (MWL). He was named a Midwest League Midseason All-Star. At that time, McBroom was batting .307 with 16 doubles. Ryan was named the 2015 Midwest League MVP, becoming the 3rd Blue Jays prospect to win the award after Kevin Pillar and Brian Dopirak. He played in 127 games in 2015, while hitting .315 with 12 HRs and 90 RBIs. For the 2016 Minor League season, Ryan was assigned to the Advanced-A Dunedin Blue Jays (FSL). McBroom played in 119 games for Dunedin in 2016, as well as appearing in 9 games with the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats (EL). He would hit a combined .266 with 22 HRs and 85 RBIs. After the 2016 AL season was completed, the Blue Jays would assigned McBroom to the Mesa Solar Sox (AFL.) He had appeared In 7 games for the Sox before being removed from the team’s roster due to an injury. On July 23, 2017, McBroom was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees organization for Reserve INF Rob Refsnyder. He had hit .243 with 45 Runs, 12 HRs and 54 RBIs in 96 games for the AA New Hampshire Fisher Cats (EL). The Yankees had assigned him to their AA team, the Trenton Thunder (EL). He would play in the Yankees organization until August 31, 2019, when he was traded to the Royals for future considerations. The Royals would bring him up to the MLB, when team rosters expanded in September; Ryan would make his MLB Player debut on September 3rd, starting at 1B, while going 1 for 3 with a walk in a 6-5 win over the Tigers. In November of 2021, the Royals would release Ryan to play pro baseball in one of the Baseball Pro Leagues in Asia.

1992-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent P Shawn Hillegas, who had been released by the Indians. He would pitch in the Yankees farm system at the Class A and AAA levels, until he was called up to the Bronx. He would appear in 26 games for the team, while posting a 1-8 record with a 5.31 ERA; the Yankees would release him on August 22,1992.

1993-At Comiskey Park in Chicago, Bo Jackson, the former Royals All-Star Slugger, now with the White Sox hits a HR in his 1st at-bat after coming back from major hip replacement surgery from an sports injury, while playing pro football in the NFL. The White Sox, however, lose the game to the Yankees by the score of 11-6. Jackson will never regain his AL All-Star form as an MLB player, due to the hip injury from playing in the NFL.

2004-The Yankees and their current Manager Joe Torre agree to a 3-year contract extension. The new contract also includes an additional 6-year deal in which the 62-yearold Manager will serve as a team advisor through the 2013 MLB season.

2006-Former Yankees Minor League INF and MLB Player/Manager Billy Hitchcock had passed away. (1916-2006)
In 1938, Billy Hitchcock was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Johnny Nee as an MLB Amateur Free Agent, but a knee injury sustained playing football kept him from playing until the following year, when he played for the 1939-1941 AA Kansas City Blues (AA.) A knee operation after the 1939 season would improve his range in the infield. With Phil Rizzuto’s promotion to the Bronx, Hitchcock was moved to Shortstop from 3B, where he had been playing. He would hit a solid .296 with 59 RBIs and 24 stolen bases. Sports Writer Joe Williams reported in “The Sporting News” at least 6 big league clubs are after him” (TSN, 9/11/1941), he was unable to beat out Rizzuto as Shortstop of the Yankees, then he was sold to the Tigers. On April 14,1942, Billy was 25 years old, when he broke into the MLB. After serving with the military in World War II, he would rejoin the Tigers. Later, he would played for the 1946 Senators; the 1947 St. Louis Browns, 1948-1949 Red Sox, 1950-1952 A’s and then he would return to the Tigers again in 1953, where he played his final MLB game on August 27,1953 at the age of 37. Next, Billy would manager in the Minor Leagues for the Tigers and Braves organizations. He was a long-time MLB Coach with the Tigers. Then he moved to the Orioles organization, briefly serving as an interim Manager. He later moved to the Braves organization. Billy had retired from baseball in 1967. But in 1969, he came back to the MLB with the new NL Expansion Team, the Montreal Expos in 1969; when his former Braves Boss John McHale had persuaded Hitchcock to serve as Special Assignment Scout and then as Director of Minor League Instruction for the Expos. Billy Hitchcock then would serve as the President of the Southern League from 1972-1980.

2013-The Yankees use the long ball, as they bang out 5 HRs of their own in crushing the Indians by the score of 14-1. Indians Starter Carlos Carrasco gives up 7 Yankee runs before being ejected by Home Plate Umpire Jordan Baker for throwing at Yankees batter Kevin Youkilis in the 4th inning. Ironically, Carrasco had just finished serving a 5-game suspension incurred in 2011, but only served at the start of the season as he has undergone Tommy John surgery and been out of the MLB in the meantime. He claims that he slipped on the pitch to Youkilis, which comes just after a HR by Yankees 2B Robinson Cano; he will receive an 8-game suspension this time. Veteran Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte is the winner for the Yankees.

2022-Former Yankees Pitcher James “Jim” Bronstad (1959) had passed away. (1936-2022)
Before the start of 1955 AL season, Pitcher Jim Bronstad was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. From 1955-1964, Bronstad had spent 10 years in pro baseball, mostly pitching in the high Minor Leagues, after the 1958 season. His best pro season came with the 1957 AA Binghamton Triplets (EL), where he posted a 15-8 record along with a 3.38 ERA. Jim's Minor League record showed that he had appeared in 272 games, while recording an 86-95 mark along with a career 3.74 ERA. With the 1959 Yankees, Jim Bronstad would post a 0-3 record with a 5.56 ERA along with 2 saves in 16 games. On July 26,1959, the Yankees would option him to AAA Richmond (IL), clear roster space for newly acquired P Gary Blaylock from the Cardinals. Jim would spend the 1960-1963 seasons pitching for the Yankees AAA Club, the Richmond Virginians (IL). On March 23,1963, the Senators would purchase Jim from the Yankees. He made it back to the MLB during the 1963-1964 AL seasons for stints as a Reliever for the Senators, finishing his MLB Pitching Career with a 1-7 record with an 5.48 ERA and 3 saves in 45 games.

2023-Former Yankees Minor League P Paul Hinrichs was born.(1925-2023)
Paul Hinrichs was the son of a minister and was also a ministry student himself. During his years in pro baseball, Paul was known as the "Pitchin' Parson." After starring in both baseball and basketball at Concordia Univ. in St. Paul, MN, Paul was signed as an MLB amateur free agent with the Tigers on June 10, 1945. He was assigned to the Lubbock Hubbers (WTX-NMXL) in 1946. The right-hander threw a 10-6 record with a 2.76 ERA at the league. He was back with Lubbock in 1947, letting them know he was for real as he won 19 games, while losing only 6, while pitching 214 innings along with a 3.36 ERA. In 1948,Hinrichs was declared a free agent by MLB Commissioner Happy Chandler, who ruled the Tigers had too many players under contract. Paul would signed with the Yankees on November 15th. One matter should be brought to light here, that when Commissioner Chandler ruled Paul a free agent that the Yankees would pay him a $60,000 bonus for signing with their organization at that time. This has long been rumored around the league, but it was never substantiated. The "Pitchin' Parson" was with the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) in 1949 and 1950, winning 9 but losing 14 games in his 2-year stop. Paul looked good enough for the Red Sox; they would draft him from the Yankees organization in the 1950 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He would go to the mound 4 times early in 1951 for the Red Sox, pitching only 3 1/3 innings and developing a 21.60 ERA, which will get you sent elsewhere. In this case, it was to the Pacific Coast League, with the AAA San Francisco Seals, where the 25-year-old went 0-3 and bid good-bye to pro baseball. Hinrichs would finished out his 6-year minor league run at this time with a 47-40 record and a 3.86 ERA. After baseball, Parson Hinrichs would spend 36 years as a Lutheran minister throughout the country in South Carolina, Missouri, Illinois and California before retiring in Madisonville, KY.

April 10th

1896-Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Bob” McGraw (1917-1918,1920) was born. (1896-1978)
For the Yankees, Bob McGraw had appeared in 24 games, while posting a 1-2 record with a 4.14 ERA. On July 29,1919, McGraw was traded by the Yankees along with Shortstop Allen Russell and $40,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Carl “Sub “Mays. In 1920, Bob would return to the Yankees, appearing in 15 games with no decisions.

1913-In a game, which features U.S. President Woodrow Wilson throwing out the 1st pitch, as the Highlanders become the “Yankees.” Playing their 1st game under their new nickname, however the Yankees would lose to the Washington Senators by the score of 2-1, as future HOF Starter Walter Johnson picks up the win for Nats.

1921-Former Yankees Minor League 1B Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors” was born. (1921-1992)
In 1941, Yankees Super Scout Paul Krichell noted that Minor League 1B Chuck Connors was left unprotected by the Dodgers. He would sign him to a Minor League contract for the Yankees organization. Chuck would replace Joe Collins at 1B with the Norfolk Tars (PL), Chuck would hit .264 and slugged .408. His Tars teammate Pitcher Bill Wight recalled that Connors often would recite “Casey at the Bat”, Shakespeare or other poetry. In 1942, Chuck was drafted into the Army. Chuck related that he would write to Dodgers GM Branch Rickey in 1946, asking for the Dodgers to reacquire him. The Yankees would waive him on April 23,1946, the Dodgers would claim their old 1B prospect back. Chuck would appear in 67 games for the 1949-1950 Dodgers and the 1951 Cubs, while hitting .238. While playing with the AAA Los Angeles Angels (PCL), Chuck started acting in Hollywood in minor film roles. When shoulder injuries ended his pro baseball career, he became a full-time actor in Hollywood, while starting in several TV network series, “The Rifleman” “Arrest and Trial” on ABC-TV and then “Branded” on NBC-TV. Also, he made many action movies during his long Hollywood acting career.

1946-Former Yankees 1B/DH (1980-1982) and General Manager Bob Watson (1996-1997) was born. (1946-2020)
On November 8, 1979, Veteran 1B Bob Watson was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. In 1979, Bob had played for the Red Sox, hitting .337 with 13 HRs and 53 RBIs. Watson had played for the Astros from 1966 to June,1979, while hitting .297 with 139 HRs and 782 RBIs in nearly 1,1400 games. He was expected to replace the recently traded regular Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss. He had hit .307 with 13 HRs and 68 RBIs for the 1980 Yankees. In 1981, Bob suffered a groin injury that limited him to playing in only 59 games, while hitting just .212. On April 23,1982, Bob was traded by the Yankees to the Braves for Minor League P Scott Patterson. His Yankees playing career totals were a .282 BA with 19 HRs with 83 RBIs. He would finish his MLB playing career with a .295 BA along with 184 HRs and 989 RBIs in 1,832 games. After his MLB playing career had ended, Watson was an Oakland A’s MLB Coach for 3 seasons. Then he was the Assistant GM of the Astros from 1989 to 1993. Bob Watson became the 2nd African-American General Manager in MLB history, when he was named to that post with the Astros in 1994. Later, he would hold the General Manager position with the Yankees in 1996-1997. Afterwards, Bob would work in the MLB Commissioner’s Offices, before retiring from baseball.

1950-Former Yankees OF/1B/DH Ken Griffey Sr. (1982-1986) was born.
Ken Griffey Sr. played for the 1973-1981 Reds. In 6 NL seasons, he would hit over .300 for the team. Along with his Reds teammates George Foster and Cesar Geronimo, he filled out the outfield for the great Reds teams that won the World Series in 1975 and 1976, which were known as the "Big Red Machine.” In 1976, he was 2nd in the NL in batting average and 8th in the NL MVP voting. On November 4,1981, Ken was traded by the Reds to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later and Minor League P Brian Ryder. The Reds were about to lose him to MLB Free Agency. On December 9, 1981, the Yankees would send Minor League P Freddie Toliver to the Reds to complete the trade. Moving to the Yankees at the age of 32, he would play 4 1/2 seasons in the Bronx before being traded to the Braves. As a Yankee player, Ken had appeared in 551 games, while hitting .285 with 47 HRs with 251 RBIs. On June 30,1986, Ken was traded by the Yankees to the Braves along with Reserve INF Andre Robertson for OF Claudell Washington and Minor League INF Paul Zuvella. After playing parts of 3 seasons with Braves, he moved on to play parts of 1989-1990 NL seasons back with the Reds (beginning at age 38), before finishing up with the Mariners in 1990: where by then his son Ken Griffey, Jr. was a regular. He was the 1st of 2 fathers to play with his son in the same MLB game (Tim Raines is the other). He had received a World Series ring for the Reds' 1990 World Championship, even though he was no longer a member of the team by the time the 1990 World Series had rolled around. His MLB lifetime BA was .296, while he had appeared in nearly 2,100 MLB games with over 2,100 hits in a playing career of 19 MLB seasons. Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. hold the record for the most hits by an MLB Father-Son duo (4,924).

1962-Bronx Bomber Slugger Mickey Mantle hits his last Opening Day HR. The Mantle’s HR ball lands some 425 feet from home plate into the RF/CF bleachers at Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees nip the Orioles by the score of 7-6. The 1962 Opening Day game at Yankee Stadium draws a crowd of 22,978 fans. Veteran AL All-Star hurler Whitey Ford starts the game, but he gets no decision, he is relieved by Ralph Terry, who goes 2 innings for the win while Closer Luis Arroyo picked up the save. Orioles Pitcher Hal “Skinny” Brown takes the loss in relief of Starter Billy Hoeft. Veteran 2B Johnny Temple hits a solo HR for the Birds.

1967-Former Yankees Reserve OF Mike Humphreys (1991-1993) was born.
On June 1,1988, Mike Humphrey was selected by the Padres in the 15th round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would never appear with the Padres at the MLB level. On February 7,1991, the Padres sent Minor League OF Mike Humphreys to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on December 3,1990. On that day, the Padres would send a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for OF Oscar Azocar. Mike Humphreys would appear in just 54 games with Yankees as a reserve outfielder, while hitting just .176.

1971-Former Yankees Reliever Al Reyes (2003) was born.
On March 24, 2003, veteran MLB Reliever Al Reyes was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Al would appear in 13 games for the Yankees with no record along with a 3.18 ERA. On July 25, 2003, Reyes was released by the team.

1976-Milwaukee 3B Don Money hits a 9th-inning Grand Slam HR to give the Brewers, an apparent 10-9 lead over the Yankees. The Umpires, however, rule that Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss had called timeout prior to the pitch. After heated discussion by Brewers Manager Alex Grammas, Milwaukee batter Don Money returns to the plate, hits a sacrifice fly as the Brewers lose the game to the Bombers by a score of 9-7.

1982-The Yankees had traded hard-throwing Set-up man Ron Davis and Minor League INF Prospect Greg Gagne and P Paul Boris to the Twins for Shortstop Roy Smalley. The trade breaks up the Yankees' devastating bullpen combo of Ron Davis and Goose Gossage. On June 10,1978, Ron Davis had been obtained by the Yankees in the Ken Holtzman trade with the Cubs. He would record a 27-10 mark with a 2.93 ERA and 22 saves in 144 games. This trade seals fate of former Yankees starting Shortstop Bucky Dent, he will be traded later to the Rangers in August. Greg Gagne would have a successful MLB playing career, starting with the Twins in 1985.

1982-Former Yankees Reserve OF Chris Dickerson (2011-2012) was born.
On June 5, 2000, OF Chris Dickerson was selected by the Yankees in the 32nd round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he did not sign with the team. On June 3, 2003, Chris was selected by the Reds in the 16th round of the 2003 MLB Amateur Player Draft. On August 9, 2010, Chris was traded by the Reds to the Brewers for MLB OF Jim Edmonds. Dickerson did not figure in the Brewers' long-term plans, so at the end of their 2011 MLB Spring Training Camp, they would trade him to the Yankees for MLB P Sergio Mitre. He had a chance to become the as the Yankees' 4th Outfielder, but he would suffer an injury in his 1st spring training game with the team, setting him back. He would play in 57 games for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, while hitting .241, showing little power. He did get into 60 games for the Yankees as a Reserve Outfielder, but he only went to bat 50 times with a .260 BA. He would score a run in his only appearance in the ALDS, when the Yankees lost in 5 games to the Tigers. In 2012, he spent most of the season in AAA, before being recalled to the Bronx; when team MLB rosters were expanded on September 1st. With the 2012 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, he had hit .316 with 24 doubles and 7 HRs, his 1st really productive season since 2008. He started a game in place of injured CF Curtis Granderson on September 2nd he would hit a 2-run HR off the Orioles P Chris Tillman in his 1st at-bat of the 2012 AL season. As a Yankees player, he had appeared in 85 games, while hitting .266 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs. On January 11, 2013, Chris was released by the Yankees. On January 29, 2013, Chris was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Orioles.

1986- Former Yankees Starter Cory Kluber (2021) was born.
Cory Kluber was drafted by the Padres in the 4th round of the 2007 MLB June Amateur Draft from Stetson Univ. (DeLand, FL). He would never appear with the Padres at the MLB level. On July 31, 2010, he was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Padres to the Indians. The Padres would send P Nick Greenwood to the Cardinals. Meanwhile the Indians would send veteran MLB P Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals. While the Cardinals would send P Ryan Ludwick to the Padres. With the Tribe, Corey would win 2 AL Cy Young Awards 2014 and 2017. He was named to the 2016-2018 AL All-Star teams pitching staffs. On December 15, 2019, Corey was traded by the Indians along with Cash to the Rangers for P Emmanuel Clase and OF Delino DeShields. In 2020, he had appeared in just 1 game with the Rangers before being injured and missing the rest of the 60-game 2021 season. On October 30, 2020, Cory was granted MLB Free Agency by the Rangers. On January 15, 2021, news emerged that the Yankees were prepared to sign him for 1-year deal at $11 million pending a successful physical exam. He would join the Yankees 2021 starting rotation with an MLB lifetime Pitching record of 98-58 with a 3.16 ERA in 209 games. Not only did he pass the physical, but he claimed the 2nd spot in the Yankees' rotation at the start of the 2021 season. On May 19th, he joined the incredible parade of no-hitters being thrown that season, notching what was already the 6th 9-inning no-hitter of the year, 1 day after Tigers Starter Spencer Turnbull had pitched one. He would defeat the Rangers by the score of 2-0, allowing just 1 walk, while striking out 9 Texas batters. He needed only 101 pitches to complete what was the 1st no-no thrown by a Yankees pitcher in the 21st Century; already the 2nd to be thrown at the Rangers' new ballpark, Globe Life Field, following Padres Starter Joe Musgrove on April 9th. He had to leave his next start, against the Blue Jays on May 25th, after just 3 innings, complaining of shoulder fatigue. He was placed on the IL and was expected to miss at least 2 months. In fact, he only returned on August 30th to pitch for the team. He would make another 6 starts until the end of the season, picking up a win and no loss. Overall, he had posted a 5-3 record with 3.83 ERA in 16 starts. Cory did not pitch in the 2021 AL postseason as the Yankees were ousted at the 1-game Wild Card Game stage by the Red Sox. On November 3, 2021, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would sign a 1-year deal with the Rays for the 2022 AL season. In March of 2024, he announced his MLB player retirement.

1989-At Yankee Stadium, Blue Jays Starter Dave Stieb throws a 1-hit, 8-0 shutout against the Yankees, giving him 3 one-hitters in his last 4 starts dating back to the previous September.

1998-The Yankees would draw the largest regular-season crowd ever at the new Yankee Stadium as 56,717 fans attend the 1998 AL Home Opener against the Oakland A’s. Then the Yankees crush the club scoring mark by winning the 1998 Opening Day slugfest by the score of 17-13.

2007-Former Yankees Reserve 1B Richard Kryhoski (1946-1949) had passed away. (1925-2007)
In 1946, 1B Richard Kryhoski was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Yankees. In 1949, he had appeared in 54 games for the team, while hitting .294 with 1 HR and 27 RBIs. In 1950, he was traded by the Yankees to the Tigers for 1B Richard Wakefield. Richard would return to the Yankees in 17-player trade in winter of 1954 with the Orioles. In March of 1955, the Yankees will sell him to the Kansas City A’s. He will play in 21 games for the A’s before being sent to their AAA team in Columbus, Ohio. At the end of the 1955 Minor League season, he would retire from baseball. His final MLB player career totals were a .265 BA with 45 HRs and 231 RBIs in 569 games.

2010-The Yankees' Starter CC Sabathia flirts with a no-hit bid before giving up a 2-out single to the Rays' Kelly Shoppach in the 8th inning. Having reached his pitch count limit, he then exits the game, but he is credited with the Yankees 10-0 win.

2011-On the ESPN Sunday-Night Telecast game, the Red Sox shut out the Yankees by the score of 4-0, thanks to a dominating performance by Starter Josh Beckett, who gives up only 2 Yankee hits in 8 innings; while striking out 10 Yankee batters. The Red Sox strand 16 base runners, but they manage to squeak a run off of Yankees Starter CC Sabathia on Mike Cameron's infield single in the 3rd inning, before tacking on a few insurance runs late in the game. Boston Starter Josh Beckett and Closer Jonathan Papelbon combine to retire the final 17 Yankee batters in order.

2014-As usual, sparks fly in the 1st meeting of the 2014 AL season between the Yankees and Red Sox. The Bronx Bombers defeat the Red Sox by the score of 4-1 behind the starting pitching of Michael Pineda, but Boston's broadcasters claim they have detected pine tar on Pineda's pitching hand. The Yankees' hurler dismisses the claim, saying it is just sweat mixed with dirt, while Home Umpire Brian O'Nora states that nothing of concern was brought to his attention.

2015-The Yankees and Red Sox lock horns in a 19-inning marathon, the game ending with the Red Sox coming out on top by the final score of 6-5 at 2:13 AM. The game is further lengthened by a 16-minute delay caused by a power outage in the 12th inning at New Yankee Stadium. Yankees 3B Chase Headley forces extra innings with a HR off of Red Sox Reliever Edward Mujica with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th, then David Ortiz and Mark Teixeira exchange solo HRs in the 16th inning, and both teams score once in the 18th as well further extending the game. Xander Bogaerts scores the winning run on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts; this time Red Sox Reliever Steven Wright, in his 5th inning of relief work, keeps the Yankees from scoring.

2018-The Red Sox win their 1st confrontation of the 2018 AL season with their arch rivals the Yankees by knockout. The 14-1 victory is Boston's 9th straight win after a loss on Opening Day. It is highlighted by a 9-run 6th inning, the most runs allowed by the Yankees pitching staff in an inning in 2 decades. Red Sox Slugger Mookie Betts goes 4 for 4, as he scores 5 runs, also he hits a Grand Slam HR in the big inning to lead the Sox to their victory.

April 11th

1917-On Opening Day 1917 was played at the Polo Grounds, Boston Starter Babe Ruth pitches a 3-hitter in shutting down the Yankees. The Red Sox win the game by the score of 10-3. Yankees Starter Ray Caldwell takes the complete game loss. Ruth's performance marks the start of good things to come. He will win a total of 24 games this AL 1917 season, while leading the AL pitchers with 35 complete games.

1928-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the 1928 Opening Day for Connie Mack’s A’s as they host the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers would chase A’s Starter Lefty Grove as they win the game by a score of 8-3. Yankees veteran Starter Herb Pennock picks-up the win with a complete game, allowing only 7 A’s hits, while giving up just 3 runs. Either team hits a HR in the game.

1954-To make room for promising Rookie OF Wally Moon, the Cardinals have traded long-time OF great Enos Slaughter to the Yankees in exchange for 4 Minor League Players: OF Bill Virdon, P Mel Wright, Catcher Hal Smith and OF Emil Tellinger. In 1955, Bill Virdon would become the NL Rookie of the Year with the Cardinals; later he was a starting OF for the Pirates during the 1950-1960’s. Hal Smith was another in a string of young Yankee Catchers, who were traded away because due to the presence of AL All-Star starting Catcher Yogi Berra. Pitcher Mel Wright had gone 11-2 with the 1953 AAA Kansas City Blues (AA). Bill Virdon and Mel Wright would return to the Yankees in 1974 as Manager and MLB Pitching Coach. Enos Slaughter would play 5 seasons with the Yankees in between a brief stay with the Kansas City A’s, before retiring after the 1959 MLB season finishing his long MLB playing career with the Braves.

1965-Former Yankees Minor League OF Turner Ward was born.
On June 2,1986, OF Turner Ward was selected by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 1986 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. In the Yankees Minor League system, he would play for 3 seasons, 2 in Class A Leagues and 1 in AAA with the Columbus Clippers (IL), while hitting .251 in 133 games. On March 19,1989, Ward was traded by the Yankees along with Catcher Joel Skinner to the Indians for veteran MLB OF Mel Hall. He later would become a Minor League Manager.

1969-At Detroit’s Tiger Stadium, the Yankees would score 7 runs in the last 2 innings of the game to beat the Tigers by the score of 9-4. A crowd of 14,015 fans watched this Friday evening game. Yankee hitters Roy White and Joe Pepitone, each hit 2-run HRs in the Bronx Bombers victory. Yankees Rookie Starter Bill Burbach goes 6 innings, allowing only 2 Tiger runs with 5 hits and 3 strikeouts, but he gets a no-decision. Veteran Bronx Reliever Lindy McDaniel relieves him, throwing 3 innings of work is the winner. Veteran Tigers Starter Earl Wilson takes the lost.

1973-The Yankees would beat the Indians at Yankee Stadium behind a 4-0 complete game shutout by Veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre as he beats Tribe Starter Jim Perry, who also throws a complete game. A crowd of 5,059 fans attend the Wednesday day game at the Stadium. Yankees DH Johnny Callison goes 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs in the game, while Ron Bloomberg plays 1B for the Bombers, going 1 for 3 with 1 RBI. Neither team hits a HR in the game.

1980-Former Yankees All-Star 1B Mark Teixeira (2009-2016) was born.
In late December 2008, 1B Mark Teixeira had signed a contract as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees for an 8-year term; making him one of the highest-paid players in the MLB. The Orioles had also sought Teixeira, who is a native from Maryland, but they could not compete with the Yankees' contract offer. After a slow start, Teixeira took his accustomed place among be baseball's best sluggers in his initial season in Yankees’ pinstripes. He will hit .292 in 2009, along with 43 doubles, 39 HRs, 122 RBIs and 103 runs scored. He led the AL in total bases (344), HRs, RBIs and extra-base hits, while forming a formidable tandem in the middle of the Yankees' batting order with Alex Rodriguez. He was a leading candidate for the 2009 AL MVP Award, finishing 2nd in the voting behind Twins 1B Joe Mauer. He would pick up both an AL Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger Award at 1B, while being named to the AL All-Star team. He was not as hot during the post-season, but he still contributed with 2 HRs, 10 runs and 8 RBIs towards the Bronx Bombers' conquest of their 1st World Series title since 2000. On August 2, 2011, Teixeira hit HRs from both sides of the plate for the 12th time in his career in a win over the White Sox, giving him the all-time record ahead of Eddie Murray and Chili Davis. The 2 long HR balls also gave him his 8th consecutive 30-HR MLBs. As injuries from the past few seasons has affected Mark’s playing ability, he would retire from the Yankees at the end of the 2016 AL season. His Final Yankees player career totals were a .248 BA with 206 HRs and 622 RBIs in 958 games. As an MLB player, he would finish with a lifetime .268 BA along with 409 HRs and 1,298 RBIs in 1,862 MLB games.

1988-Former Yankees Reserve INF Pete Kozma (2017) was born.
Peter Kozma was selected by the Cardinals in the 1st round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would reach the MLB in 2011. He began 2011 season with the AAA Memphis Redbirds before being called up by the Cardinals in May. From 2011-2015, he would play in 275 games for St. Louis, while hitting .222 with 3 HRs and 52 RBIs. In November of 2015, the Cardinals would grant him MLB Free Agency. The Yankees would sign him as MLB Free Agent. In 2016, he would play for their AAA club at Scranton (IL). He had appeared in 130 games for the team, while hitting .209 with 2 HRs and 32 RBIs. He would receive a Non-Roster invitee to the Yankees 2017 MLB Spring Training Camp. Pete made the MLB 25-man roster, when the Yankees need experience MLB infield help due to an injury to their starting Shortstop Didi Gregorius. During the 2017 AL season, the Rangers would select Peter on waivers from the Yankees. He had appeared in only 11 games for the team, while hitting just .111.

1988-Former Yankees MLB Scout Rush Schon (1977-1979) had passed away. (1918-1988)
Second baseman Russ Schon had played in the Minor Leagues on-and-off from 1940 to 1949. Not much of a power hitter -- as records indicate, he hit only 1 HR in 1,773 career at-bats -- but he still wasn't completely anemic with his bat, hitting .289 in 540 at-bats for the 1940 Class D DeLand Red Hats and .300 in 490 at-bats for the same club in 1941. After missing 1942 to 1945 seasons to service in the Navy during World War II; he would return to hit .306 in 112 games for the 1946 Jackson Senators. He also played for the Evansville Braves that year. In 1947, he would hit .310 in 255 at-bats for the Selma Cloverleafs. After not playing in 1948 to serve as the Univ. of Kansas baseball team’s Head Coach, he would hit .328 with a .408 on-base percentage in 67 at-bats for the 1949 Hutchinson Elks. He was also the 1st of 3 managers for the Elks that year, being replaced by Howard McCormick on May 24th. He later became a longtime MLB Scout, working for the Phillies (1950-1953), Braves (1954-1961), Angels (1961-1965), the Mets (1966-1976) and the Yankees (1977-?). He had signed, among others, Yankees Pitcher Clay Christiansen.

1992-In Detroit, before a crowd of 15,952 fans on a Saturday game, the Yankees would beat the Tigers by the score of 8-1. Yankees Starter Tim Leary goes 8 innings, while allowing only 4 Detroit hits and 1 Tiger run to pick-up the victory along with relief help from Lee Guetterman. Tigers Starter Bill Gullickson is tagged with the loss. Yankees hitting attack is led by HRs by Randy Velarde (solo), Don Mattingly (2-Runs) and Mel Hall (solo).

2009-At Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium, a crowd of 31,271 fans watched the Yankees down the Royals by the score of 6-1 in a Saturday game. Yankees Starter C. C. Sabathia picks-up his 1st victory of the 2009 AL season by going 7.2 innings with relief help from Reliever Jose Veras. The Royals Starter Horacio takes the loss. Yankees hitter Nick Swisher has a big day at the plate with a 2-run HR and a triple.

2018-In the Yankees' 10-7 win over the Red Sox, Yankees batter Tyler Austin charges the mound after Boston Reliever Joe Kelly drills him with a 97 mph fastball in the 7th inning; he suspects that the pitch is in retaliation for a hard slide that he made into Red Sox Shortstop Brock Holt in the 3rd inning, which also had cleared both 2 team’s benches. Both Austin and Kelly are ejected from the game, as are Yankees MLB 3B Coach Phil Nevin and Reliever Tommy Kahnle.

2019-Former Yankees Pitcher Scott Sanderson (1991-1992) had passed away. (1956-2019)
After being purchased on December 31,1990 from the Oakland A’s, Scott Sanderson would post a 28-22 record with a 4.35 ERA in 67 games for the Yankees. In 1991, Scott had a 16-10 record with a 3.81 ERA in 34 games for the Yankees. In 1992, Sanderson had a 12-11 mark with a 4.93 ERA in 33 games for the team, before leaving the club in December of 1992 for MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Angels. He would finish his MLB Pitching career in 1996, with an overall pitching record of 163-143 along with a 3.84 ERA in 472 MLB games.

2021-The Yankees would sell Reserve INF Thairo Estrada (2019-2020) to the Giants. With the Yankees, he had appeared in 61 games as a Reserve INF, while hitting just .214 with 4 HRs and 15 RBIs.

April 12th

1895-Former Yankees OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) was born.(1895-1986)
In 1919, Sammy Vick was the regular RF for the Yankees, while hitting .248 with 2 HRs and 27 RBIs in 106 games. Then the Yankees would acquire OF/P Babe Ruth from the Red Sox, the Babe would play RF in 1920; as a result, Vick's playing time as a starter was greatly reduced. Sammy’s Yankees player career totals were a .246 BA with 2 HRs and 46 RBIs in 169 games. On December 15,1920, OF Sammy Vick was traded by the Yankees along with INF Del Pratt, Catcher Muddy Ruel and P Hank Thormahlen to the Red Sox for Pitchers Harry Harper and Waite Hoyt, INF Mike McNally and Catcher Wally Schang. Later, he would become a Minor League Manager.

1922-Former Yankees Pitcher Bill Wight (1946-1947) was born.
(1922-2007)
Yankees MLB Scout Joe Devine had signed Pitcher Bill Wight as a High School Jr. He would begin his pro baseball career in 1941. He would miss the 1943-1945 baseball seasons due to wartime military service. For the 1946-1947 Yankees, he would post a 3-2 record with a 3.83 ERA in 15 games. On February 24,1948, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with P Fred Bradley and C Aaron Robinson to the White Sox for Starter Eddie Lopat. Eventually, he would pitch for 8 MLB teams from 1946-1958. Bill was the mound for the Yankees, White Sox, Red Sox, Tigers, Indians, Orioles, Reds and the Cardinals. He was renowned for his pickoff move, once he picked off Yankees’ base-runner Mickey Mantle twice in a game. For 37 years, he would work in MLB Scouting, signing INF Joe Morgan for the Astros, before moving to the Braves organization; where he spent 32 years with the team. He had signed future MLB players Dusty Baker, Dale Murphy, Bob Horner and David Justice for the Braves.

1927-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees beat the Philadelphia Athletics by the score of 8-3 before the largest confirmed paid Opening Day attendance in MLB baseball history, to that time (73,206 fans) as Yankees veteran Starter Waite Hoyt pitches a complete game victory. A’s Starter Lefty Grove takes the loss, giving up all 8 Yankee runs in 6 innings of work. Yankees hitting attack is led by a triple by INF Mark Koenig and doubles hit by CF Earl Combs, 1B Lou Gehrig and 2B Tony Lazzeri. Meanwhile Yankees Slugger OF Babe Ruth goes 0 for 3 at the plate in the game.

1933-Former Yankees MLB Batting Coach Charlie Lau (1978-1979), a renowned MLB Batting Instructor and MLB player was born. (1933-1984)
In 11 MLB seasons (1956-1967), Catcher Charlie Lau had played in 527 games. He would hit .255 with 16 HRs and 140 RBIs. He had played for the Tigers, Braves (twice), Orioles and the A’s (twice). He would finish up his MLB playing career with the 1967 Atlanta Braves. Charlie Lau, whose MLB career batting average was .255, earned his MLB fame as the 1971-1977 Kansas City Royals MLB Batting Coach, where his star pupil was AL All-Star 3B George Brett. Lau also served as an MLB Batting Coach for the 1969 Orioles, 1970 Oakland A’s, 1978-1979 Yankees and the 1980-1982 White Sox. He was the author of the popular baseball book, titled “The Art of Hitting .300.” On April 12,1984, Charlie Lau would die from colon cancer, he was only 50 years old.

1942-Former Yankees Pitcher Dale Roberts (1967) was born. (1942-2010)
In 1963, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Dale Roberts as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1967, Dale would earn a September call-up with the club, after going 9-4 with a 2.97 ERA for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL) that season. He would make his MLB pitching debut on September 9th against the Red Sox, entering the game in the bottom of the 8th inning with his club down by the score of 6-1. He pitched 1 frame, allowing Mike Andrews to score on a Jerry Adair single. On September 16th, he made his only other Yankees MLB appearance, pitching the 8th inning against the Indians. With his team down by the score of 5-1, when he came into the game, he hit the 1st 2 batters that he faced, Chuck Hinton and Leon Wagner. After retiring Max Alvis, he walked Tony Horton to load the bases. Joe Azcue, then singled to drive in Hinton. Roberts ended his MLB Pitching career with 2 earned runs in 2 innings spread over 2 games. After the 1967 AL season was finished, Dale Roberts was dealt to the Braves along with Reserve Catcher Bob Tillman for Minor League INF Bobby Cox. He would pitch 3 more seasons in the Minor Leagues, ending his active playing days in 1970, after brief stints appearing in the Angels and Phillies organizations.

1948-The Yankees had released veteran Pitcher Surgeon “Spud” Chandler, he had retired. (1937-1947).
Spud Chandler went 109-43 (WP .717) with a 2.84 ERA in 211 games for the Yankees. He had completed 109 games with 26 shutouts for the team. He won 20 games twice for the Yankees in 1943 (20-4 record) and 1946 (20-8 record). Chandler had won the 1943 AL MVP Award. Spud was named to the AL All-Star Team in 1942-1943 and 1946; he missed the 1944-1945 MLB seasons due to military service. He would come back to the Yankees in 1946, posting a 20-8 record with a 2.10 ERA. In 1947, he led the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.46 mark. Spud would appear in 4 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 2-2 record with a 1.62 ERA in 6 games. His best World Series for the Yankees was in 1943, when he went 2-0 against the Cardinals. Later, he would become an MLB Pitching Coach for the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s.

1948-The Yankees would sell Pitcher Butch Wensloff to the Indians. Earlier that spring, the Yankees had sold him to the Phillies, but Butch had a salary dispute with the Phillies front office; so, they returned him to the Yankees. In 1943, he had replaced Red Ruffing in the Yankees starting rotation, when Ruffing was drafted by the Army. He would post a 13-11 record with a 2.54 ERA and 1 save in 29 games. He would miss the next 2 seasons due to wartime service in the Army. He had missed the 1946 AL season due to an arm injury. In 1947, he would return to the team, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.61 ERA in 11 games.

1953-Former Yankees Minor League OF Mickey Mantle Jr. was born. (1953-2000)
Mickey Mantle Jr. was the son of Mickey Mantle and nephew of Yankee Minor League Players Ray Mantle and Roy Mantle. He had played for the 1978 Alexandria Dukes, going a miserable 4 for 57 for a .070 average with 26 strikeouts. He had 3 walks, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, no extra-base hits and no steals. In the outfield, he had fielded .947 with 1 assist in 17 games. He left the Yankees organization briefly played in the Rangers organization, before ending his pro baseball career. Mickey Jr., the oldest of the 4 Mantle sons -- a switch-hitting outfielder like his father -- had played amateur baseball in Florida as a teenager. At age 24, he joined the Yankees organization, playing in the low Minor Leagues. After 1 season, he moved to the Rangers' farm system, but he abruptly quit in the face of overwhelming news media attention. ''It was sick,'' he recalled. ''Not many 24-year-olds walk out of an insurance office and make the major leagues.'' In 2000, Mickey would pass away from cancer.

1959-The Yankees had traded Reserve Shortstop Tommy Carroll and Minor League OF Russ Snyder to Kansas City for INF Mike Baxes and OF Bob Martyn. Tommy Carroll was a Yankees “Bonus Baby” signing in 1954, who had to stay on the MLB roster for 2 seasons. He played in only 50 games for the 1955-1956 Yankees; then he would miss more playing time serving on active duty in the Army. So, his playing skills were not being fully developed. He would only play in 14 games for the A’s before being sent back to the Minor Leagues. At the end of 1959 AL season, Tom would retire from baseball. He enjoyed a long diplomatic service career with the U.S. State Dept. OF Russ Snyder had been optioned to AAA Richmond (IL) earlier in the week. Despite a strong 1958 Minor League season, there was no room on the Yankees 25-man MLB roster for him. He would go on to have successful MLB playing career playing for 5 teams in 12 MLB seasons, while hitting .271. Bob Martyn was a former Yankees farmhand, who was sent to AAA Richmond (IL) along with MLB INF Mike Baxes, who either returned to play in the MLB again.

1960-Former Yankees Minor League C Bill Lindsey was born.
On April 27,1981, Catcher Bill Lindsey was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Bill never played for the Yankees at MLB level. On December 24,1986, the Yankees would send Lindsey to the White Sox to complete an earlier deal made in July of 1986. On July 30,1986, the Yankees had sent a Player to be Named Later, C/DH Ron Hassey and OF/INF Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for DH/1B/OF Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. In 1987, Bill had appeared in 9 games, just hitting .188 with the White Sox.

1970-Plaques honoring 2 former HOF Yankees Centerfielders: Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium. The plaques are located in Center Field, he will eventually be moved to "Monument Park" beyond the Left Field fence; when Yankee Stadium is renovated in 1974-1975.

1973-Former Yankees Reliever Antonio Osuna (2003) was born.
On January 15, 2003, Reliever Antonio Osuna was traded by the White Sox along with Minor League P Eddi Candelario to the Yankees for MLB Starter Orlando Hernandez. While working out of the 2003 Yankees bullpen, he would post a 2-5 record with a 3.73 ERA in 48 games. In November of 2003, he was granted by MLB Free Agency by the team. He would be signed by the Padres.

1985-Former Reserve OF Brennan Boesch (2013) was born.
On March 15, 2013, OF Brennan was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would appear in 23 games for the team, while hitting .275 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. On July 19, 2013, he was released by the Yankees.

1996-Current Yankees Reliever Dennis Santana (2024) was born.
Lefty reliever Dennis Santana had posted a 1-0 record with 5.91 ERA in 9 games for the 2023 Mets. He was originally signed as an Infielder by the Dodgers in 2013; who would convert him to the mound in 2014. He would pitch for the 2018-2021 Dodgers, who would trade him to the Rangers (2021-2022). Dennis has an MLB pitching record of 8-14 with a 5.17 ERA and 1 save in 143 games. For the 2024 season, he is pitching for AAA Scranton. On April 5, 2024, he was recalled from AAA Scranton by the team.

2013-The Yankees turn only their 2nd triple play since the 1969 AL season in defeating the Orioles by the score of 5-2. With 2 men on in the 8th inning, Orioles’ batter Manny Machado hits a hard grounder to Yankees 2B Robinson Cano. The play then goes 4-6-5-6-5-3-4 as Alexi Casilla is caught in a rundown between 2nd and 3rd base, and Machado is erased, when he attempts to take 2nd base during that time. It is the 1st time that a triple killing has taken that particular circuitous route.

April 13th

1866-Former Yankees Reserve INF Herman Long (1903) was born. (1866-1909)
On October 25,1902, Veteran NL INF Herman Long had jumped from the NL Boston Beaneaters to play for the New York Highlanders in the AL. Herman had appeared in just 22 games for the team, while hitting just .188. On June 10,1903, Long was traded by the Highlanders along with Reserve Rookie Shortstop Ernie Courtney to the Tigers for Veteran Shortstop Kid Elberfeld.

1875-Former Yankees INF (1903-1909) and MLB Manager (1908) Norman “Tabasco Kid “Elberfeld was born. (1875-1944).
After Yankees Manager Clark Griffth had quit the team in a dispute with Yankees Team Co-Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery; Norman “Tabasco Kid” Elberfeld went 27-71 as the 1908 Yankees Player/Manager. On June 10,1903, he was traded by the Tigers to the Highlanders for 2 Shortstops: Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. Norman was nicknamed “The Tabasco Kid” because of his bad temper on the playing field. His best Yankees player season was in 1906, when he hit .306 with 2 HRs and 31 RBIs as the team’s starting Shortstop. As a Yankees player, he had appeared in 667 games, while hitting .268 with 4 HRs and 257 RBIs. On December 14,1909, “Kid” was purchased by the Senators from the Yankees for $5,000 Cash. The Yankees had wanted to trade him to the Senators for young Pitcher Walter Johnson and Catcher Gabby Street. The Nats would turn down that trade idea instead they bought Elberfeld for straight cash. Later, he would become a Minor League Manager.

1879-Former Yankees OF/1B Jake Stahl (1908) was born. (1879-1922)
On October 13,1907, 1B Jake Stahl was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the White Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees would send 2B Frank LaPorte to the Americans (aka Red Sox). Then the Americans would send 3B Freddy Parent to the White Sox. Jake, who was a 1B, was moved to the Outfield by the Yankees; who already had Hal Chase starting at 1B. He would appear in 75 games for the 1908 Yankees team, while hitting .225 with 2 HRs and 42 RBIs. On July 10,1908, Jake was purchased by the Red Sox from the Yankees.

1890-Former Yankees Pitcher George Shears (1912) was born. (1890-1978)
For the 1912 Yankees, George Shears would appear in 4 games with a 0-0 record with a 5.40 ERA.

1891-Former Yankees Reserve OF Charlie Mears (1914) was born. (1891-1962)
For the 1914 Yankees, Reserve OF Charlie Mears would appear in just 4 games, while hitting .286, No HRs with 1 RBI.

1913-Former Yankees and MLB Scout Rip Tutor was born. (1913-2004)
Rip Tutor was a long-time scout (1956-2004?) for the Kansas City Athletics, Yankees, Orioles (1968-1975), Mariners (1977-1989), Brewers (1990-1991), Angels (1993- ) and the Braves. His signees included Greg Briley, Roy Clark, Wayne Garland, Erik Hanson, Pat Lennon, Ron Musselman, Donell Nixon and Jim Presley.

1915-Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes (1943-1946) was born. (1915-1993)
Oscar Grimes was the son of MLB Player Ray Grimes. On December 17,1942, INF Oscar Grimes was traded by the Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and Catcher Buddy Rosar. He was a Reserve INF for the team 1943. Oscar would become a regular Yankees INF during the 1944-1945 AL wartime seasons, hitting .279 and .265. In 1945, he was selected to the AL All-Star team, but he didn’t play in the game. Overall, as a Yankees player, he would appear in 281 games; while hitting .266 with 9 HRs and 96 RBIs. On July 11,1946, INF Oscar Grimes was purchased by the Athletics from the Yankees.

1919-The Yankees would release 3 players; Outfielders Ham Hyatt (1918) and Hugh High (1915-1918) and Pitcher Ed Monroe (1917-1918). All 3 players released by the team would continue playing baseball in the Minor Leagues for the 1919 season.

1921-In the 1921 AL Season Opener for the Yankees played at the Polo Grounds, Bronx Slugger Babe Ruth goes 5-for-5 as Yankees Starter Carl Mays beats the Philadelphia A’s by the score of 11-1. Mays pitches a complete game victory, while allowing only 3 A’s hits and 1 run, while striking out 2 batters. Bronx 3B Aaron Ward hits a HR for the Bombers.

1933-At Yankee Stadium, the 1932 World Champion Yankees open their 1933 AL season against the Red Sox. The 1933 Opening Day game attracts a crowd of 40,000 fans, who see the Yankees edge Boston by the score of 4-3. After the Red Sox score 1 run in the 1st inning, Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits a 3-run HR off Boston Starter Ivy Andrews in their 1st inning of the game. Yankees Shortstop Frank Crosetti knocks in the winning run of the game in the 4th inning. Yankees Starter Lefty Gomez holds Boston to just 3 runs, despite allowing 12 Red Sox hits, 3 walks and 1 strikeout.

1954-The Yankees would lose to the Senators by the score of 5-3 in 10 innings on a 2-run HR by Nats Slugger Mickey Veron off of Yankees Reliever Allie Reynolds at Griffith Park in Washington, D.C. The 1954 Opening Day Game for the Senators draws a crowd of 27,160 fans. Both team’s starters Yankees Whitey Ford and Nats Chuck Stobbs pick up a no decision. Yankees OF Hank Bauer goes 2 for 5 with 3 RBIs to lead the Yankees hitting offensive in the game. Nats Reliever Sonny Dixon picks-up the 1st win of the 1954 Nats AL season.

1973-Former Yankees Pitcher Mark Leiter (1990) was born.
On September 29, 1988, P Mark Leiter was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees, he had been released by the Orioles in August. He would post a 1-1 record with a 6.84 ERA in 8 games. On March 19, 1991, Mark was traded by the Yankees to the Tigers for INF Torey Lovullo. He is the older brother of former Yankees Pitcher Al Leiter.

1979-Former Yankees Minor League INF/OF Frankie Kelleher had passed away. (1916-1979)
In 1936, Frankie Kelleher was signed by the Yankees West Coast Scout Joe Devine. The Yankees would send Kelleher to Class C Akron (MAL), where he would hit .348, 17 HRs and 61 RBIs in 56 games. He had earned a promotion to the Yankees’ top farm club, the AA Newark Bears (IL), where he would play parts of 6 seasons. In 1937, Kelleher was a regular backup and sometime starter at 3B on an Oscar Vitt-managed team that finished 109-43; considered to be one of the best teams in minor-league baseball history. Playing in Newark alongside future Yankee players: Joe Gordon, Tommy Henrich, Charlie Keller, Spud Chandler, Babe Dahlgren and Willard Hershberger. Kelleher would hit .306 with 11 HRs and 48 RBIs in 92 games. In 1938, after a brief stint with the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), Kelleher had his 1st brush with the PCL, playing 18 games with the AA Oakland Oaks, before returning to Newark to play 77 games, hitting .282 with 12 HRs, while playing the OF, 3B and 1B. He would spent all of 1939 with Newark Bears, but he had played in just over half of the team’s games, batting .278 with 12 HRs, mostly at 3B, while Tommy Holmes, Wally Judnich, and Buster Mills would patrol the Bears outfield. With so much talent on his Newark teams, Kelleher found himself in a constant state of flux. With the exceptions of pitching, catching and playing 1B, he had stints at every position on the field for the Bears. Returning to the PCL in 1940, Kelleher had played 68 games with Jack Lelivelt’s AA Seattle Rainiers, hitting .281 with 7 HRs. Back east with Newark in 1941, the 24-year-old Kelleher had a breakout season, finally settling into a job as the Bears’ everyday LF, playing in 151 games and hitting .274 with an International League-leading 37 HRs, with 125 RBIs and 106 runs scored. The Bears continued to be a formidable force, winning 100 games for Manager Johnny Neun. Yankees Vice President Yankees and GM George Weiss of the Newark Bears, said that in consultation with Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy, that McCarthy was wary of the right-handed Kelleher’s potential in the Bronx, relative to the short porch at Newark. “He didn’t like the prospect of Kelleher’s long outs in Yankee Stadium,” Weiss had told Sports Writer Shirley Povich in 1943. On July 16,1942, Frankie was traded by the Yankees to the Reds for Minor League INF Joe Abreau and Veteran MLB P Jim Turner. Playing with the 1942 Reds, he would hit just .167 with 3 HRs in 38 games before returning to the Minor Leagues, playing in the PCL with the AA Hollywood Stars until 1954.

1981-Former Yankees Minor League INF and MLB Scout Troy Caradonna was born.
Troy Caradonna has been a player, MLB Scout and Sports Agent. Caradonna had hit .281 as a college baseball freshman at Duke Univ., he hit .322 as a sophomore, then he hit .288, as a junior and .309 as a College senior, starting each season. Undrafted, he was signed by the Yankees. He was 1 for 14 for the Class A short season 2003 Staten Island Yankees, then he would hit .234 as their #3 catcher in 2004. Overall, he had batted .216 with 9 runs and 9 RBIs in 43 games as a pro, while fielding .984 at catcher with 6 passed balls in 25 games. He would work for the Yankees from the 2005-2007, scouting Scott Patterson. He then became a Sports Agent.

1983-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Steve Pearce (2012) was born.
On March 12, 2012, INF/OF Steve Pearce was signed by the Yankees as MLB Free Agent. He had started his MLB playing career with the Pirates. As a Reserve INF/OF, Steve would appear in 12 games for the 2012 Yankees, he hit just .160 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.While he was with their AAA club Scranton (IL), where he played in 52 games, hitting a solid .321 with 15 doubles and 11 HRs. The Orioles brought his MLB player contract from the Yankees. After 28 games for the Orioles, during which he hit .254 with 3 HRs. Pearce was claimed on waivers by the Astros at the end of July. He got into 21 games with the Astros, again hitting .254, but with no HRs. A month later, the Yankees purchased him back, wishing to add an experienced bat for the home stretch with starting 1B/DH Mark Teixeira hampered by a pulled muscle. He went 4 for 25 in 12 games in the Bronx; he was placed on waivers once more at the end of September. The Orioles would pick up Steve again, although it was too late for him to see any game action with the Birds. Then Steve would play for the 2018 Red Sox, winning the 2018 World Series MVP Award. In the winter of 2018, He would sign an MLB Free Agent contract to return to the team for the 2019 season.

1995-Former Yankees Minor League OF Hal Peck (1946) had passed away. (1917-1995)
On June 19,1946, OF Hal Peck was purchased by the Yankees from the Philadelphia A’s. He did not appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 6,1946, OF Hal Peck was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Pitchers: Gene Bearden (Minors) and Al Gettel to the Indians for Reserve Catcher Sherman Lollar and veteran INF Ray Mack.

2001-Former Yankees Reserve OF Stanley “Frenchy” Bordagaray (1941) had passed away. (1910-2001)
On January 27,1940, OF Stanley “Frenchy” Bordagaray was sent by the Reds to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 5,1939. The Reds would send Players to be Named Later and $40,000 Cash to the Yankees for veteran 1B Vince DiMaggio, who playing for their AA Club, the Kansas City Blues (AA). On January 27,1940, the Reds would send 2 Outfielders: Frenchy Bordagaray and Nino Bongiovanni to the Yankees to complete the trade. Bordagaray would take 1B Vince DiMaggio's spot in the AA Kansas City Blues lineup and he would excel with the club. He would beat-out his teammate INF Jack Saltzgaver, he would hit .350 and delivered. Frenchy would finish the AA season with a .358 BA along with 39 doubles, 8 triples, 31 steals and 214 hits. He would lead the American Association in hits. He was also 2nd in batting average (.011 behind Ab Wright), 4 steals behind league leader and Blues teammate Phil Rizzuto and he tied Harry Walker for 2nd in doubles, 1 behind Ted Gullic. The Kansas City Blues went 95-57 to finish 1st in the league led by Bordagaray along with future Yankees Phil Rizzuto, Jerry Priddy and Johnny Lindell in their line-up. For the 1941 Yankees, he would hit .260 in 36 games as Reserve Outfielder. On March 23,1942, Frenchy was purchased by the Dodgers from the Yankees. He would finish up his MLB playing career with the 1945 Dodgers.

2010-The Yankees receive their 2009 World Series Championship Rings in a ceremony before their 2010 Home Opener at New Yankee Stadium. Hideki Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP, gets to join his former teammates for the ceremony, as he now plays for today’s' visitors, the Angels. The Yankees bang out 13 hits for a 7-5 home opener victory. Veteran Bronx Bomber Starter Andy Pettitte picks up the Yankees win with 6 scoreless innings.

2022-Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hits 3 HRs and adds a double for good measure to lead the Blue Jays to a 6-4 win over the Yankees. Having just turned 23, he is the 2nd youngest player ever to have 2 3-HR games, trailing only Boog Powell.

2023-Former Yankees Minor League INF Mike Baxes had passed away. (1923-2023)
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. For the 1956 and 1958 A's, he would play in 146 games, hitting just .217 with 1 HR and 13 RBIs. On April 12,1959, INF Mike Baxes was traded by Kansas City 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.