Post by fwclipper51 on Jun 8, 2024 17:26:37 GMT -5
This Week in Yankees History June 9th-June 15th
June 9th
1902-Former Yankees and MLB Baseball Executive Roy Haney was born. (1902-1983)
Roy Hamey was a long-time MLB Front Office Executive. He had spent time as a General Manager for the Kansas City Blues (Yankees top AA club), Pirates (1945-1950), Phillies (1954-1958) and the Yankees (1959-1963). He was the 1st true General Manager of the Pirates, as the Pirates Team President had previously handled the GM duties. With the Yankees, he had served under GM George Weiss as Assistant GM and Farm Director. In October of 1960, he had replaced retiring Weiss as the new Yankees General Manager. In December of 1960, he oversaw the Yankees entering the expansion team era, handling player decisions concerning the 1st AL player draft. In 1963, Roy would step down as Yankees GM due to various health reasons, with Yankees Manager Ralph Houk becoming the new Yankees GM. Roy would work continue to work with the team as a MLB Scout. Meanwhile Yankees Co-Team Owner Dan Topping had named MLB Player-Coach Yogi Berra to become the team’s manager for the 1964 AL season. It was a decision that Houk didn’t like, because he wanted his own man to manage the 1964 Yankees.
1912-Former Co-Team Owner of New York Yankees Dan Topping Sr. (1945-1964) was born. (1912-1974).
Del Webb grew up in California. He had to quit school and work as a carpenter's apprentice when his family was ruined in 1913. Then he would worked in the Oakland, CA shipyards during World War I. He had played semi-pro baseball as a pitcher after the war but hurt his arm before he could land a professional contract. He had contracted typhoid fever from an inmate during a game at San Quentin prison in 1928 and almost died. He would move to Phoenix, AZ to restore his health and started a small construction company, which became quite prosperous thanks to government building contracts during the New Deal period. He developed a network of privileged contacts, and this was how MacPhail eventually approached him when he was trying to put together a syndicate to purchase the Yankees. Along with Business Partner Del Webb and MLB Executive Larry McPhail, they brought the New York Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert family estate in January of 1945. After the 1947 World Series victory over the Dodgers, they bought out their Business Partner Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping would sell the Yankees to CBS, Inc. in 1964. Dan Topping Sr. would hold minority business interest in the Yankees until the fall of 1966, before selling it to CBS. Dan’s son Dan Topping Jr. would be the Yankees General Manager briefly during the 1966 AL season replacing Ralph Houk, who had stepped down from the position to become Yankees Manager after his firing of Manager Johnny Keane in May of 1966. Dan was replaced in the fall of 1966, when his father sold his remaining 10% interest in the team to CBS. His replacement would be former Yankees Team Owner Partner Larry MacPhail’s son, Lee.
1915-At the Polo Grounds‚ the White Sox would pound the Yankees by the score of 13-0‚ as White Sox Starter Eddie Cicotte allows just 2 Yankee hits. Chicago OF Braggo Roth leads the Pale hose hitting attack by hitting a HR‚ triple and a single.
1920-The visiting Tigers knock him out of the game, Bronx Slugger Babe Ruth has a single‚ 2 walks; he is hit with a pitch. The Tigers are playing without their Star player Ty Cobb‚ who is out 10 days with an injured knee.
1922-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park‚ the Yankees use a courtesy runner against the White Sox. On a 2-out single to the Shortstop‚ Yankees Catcher Wally Schang is injured in the 6th inning, when he slides into 1st base‚ he is replaced by Reserve Catcher Al DeVormer. After the 3rd out‚ Wally Schang returns to catching. When Schang reaches base in the 8th inning‚ DeVormer again runs for him‚ this time staying in to catch the rest of the game.
1927-At Yankee Stadium‚ the Bronx Bombers win for the 3rd straight time over the White Sox winning the game by the score of 8-3. The Yankees would knock out Chicago Starter Ted Blankenship out of the box in the 7th inning. Yankees batter Ray Morehart hits Reliever Bert Cole's 1st pitch for a 3-run HR. Then Slugger Babe Ruth follows with a triple and then he steals home. The Yankees had scored 6 runs in the 7th inning.
1928-Indians OF Charlie Jamieson starts his 2nd triple play in 3 weeks‚ this time against the Yankees in the 2nd inning. Yankees OF Ben Paschal is on 3rd base and 2B Tony Lazzeri on 1st‚ when Jamieson snags a line drive hit by Yankees batter 3B Joe Dugan. Charlie's quick throw to 1B Lew Fonseca nabs Lazzeri‚ Ben Paschal is out at home, when he tries to score. Again‚ the Tribe are on the losing end‚ as the Bronx Bombers would win the game by the final score of 7-3.
1931-Former Yankees Minor League OF and MLB Player and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-1975) was born. (1931-2021)
In 1950, the Yankees had originally signed OF Bill Virdon as an MLB Amateur Player; he would play in the Yankees farm system from 1950 to 1953; reaching AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In the spring of 1954, he was traded along with P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger to the Cardinals for veteran All-Star OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, while playing for the Cardinals, he won the NL Rookie Of Year Award. Bill would later go on to be an NL All-Star OF with the Pirates. He would hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. Then he would manage the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace long-time Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who had resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He is the only modern era Yankees Manager to not win a game at Yankee Stadium. Bill’s tenure as the Yankees Manager was when the team played their home games at Shea Stadium (1974-1975) during the remodeling of Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Bill was named The Sporting News American League Manager of the Year, for his 2nd place finish in the AL East with the Yankees. He had helped Bobby Murcer become a better MLB Outfielder in 1974. Bill had moved Elliot Maddox to CF, Bobby Murcer went to RF. The 1975 AL season was marred with injuries to key Yankees players such as OF Bobby Bonds, OF Lou Piniella and veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre. After being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 midseason by Billy Martin, Virdon would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL.
1933-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx ties a MLB record with another HR‚ his 5th HR in 3 games and his 12th of the 1933 AL season‚ but the A's bow to the Yankees by the score of 7-6. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits his 12th HR of the season; his Bronx teammate Tony Lazzeri hits a 3-run HR in the 8th inning to ice it. The sweltering heat in the East (NYC) sets a heat record for the date with 97 degrees) causes both teams starters to end early; A’s Starter Jim Peterson leaves after walking the leadoff batter: After 5 innings, Bronx Starter Jumbo Brown collapses in the Yankees dugout, he has to be carried away to the clubhouse.
1936-St. Louis Browns Manager Rogers Hornsby makes his 2nd and last appearance of the 1936 AL season as he replaces the injured Jim Bottomley at 1B. The Browns would beat the league-leading Yankees by the score of 5-3‚ when “The Rajah” draws a walk to force in the winning run and Beau Bell follows with another walk.
1946-The New York Times have reported that the Giants and the Yankees had agreed to a best of 3 exhibition series with the winner to receive the William O’Dwyer Trophy. O’Dwyer was the Mayor of New York City from 1946 to 1950. Over the years the teams had play in exhibition series games, but not on a regular basis. As early as 1912, the Yankees and Giants played a game at the Polo Grounds to raise funds for the American victims of the HMS Titanic disaster. There were a few games played during the 1930’s to help out NYC Depression Relief Funds. On June 26,1944, there was a benefit’s game with all 3 New York MLB teams to raise funds for the War Relief effort.
1946-The Yankees will draw 66,545 fans for their doubleheader with the Indians at Yankee Stadium, breaking 1-million attendance mark in the earliest date in MLB history. The Tribe takes the opener by a score of 9-5, while the Yankees come back to win the nightcap by a score of 7-4.
1947-The 2nd place Yankees drop a 9-8 decision to the woeful White Sox. Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds issues 8 walks and Reliever Bill Bevens would allow 3 more free passes. Bronx Closer Joe Page walks none in the 9th inning, but Yankees Catcher Aaron Robinson allows a pop-up drop in front of the plate for a single and 2 hits later‚ the White Sox score the winning run. Yankees Johnny Lindell and White Sox hitter Luke Appling, each hit HRs in the game.
1959-At Yankee Stadium‚ the Yankees would edge Kansas City by the score of 9-8 in 13 innings. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning‚ off of veteran starter Murry Dickson‚ but it is Hector Lopez's single that wins it for the Yankees in the 13th inning.
1961-In a rain-interrupted game in at Yankee Stadium‚ Yankees CF Mickey Mantle's 3-run HR in the 3rd inning is the difference in an 8-6 win over the A’s. His Yankees teammate, Roger Maris also HRs‚ the 3rd time during the 1961 AL season, that the M&M Boys have gone deep in the same game.
1969-The Yankees had purchased veteran Knuckleball hurler Ken Johnson from the Braves for undisclosed amount of cash. He had a 0-1 record with 1 save in 9 games with the 1969 Braves. Johnson would appear in 12 games for the 1969 Yankees, while posting a 1-2 record along with a 3.46 ERA. In August of 1969, the Yankees will sell Ken to the Cubs for the waiver price of $20,000 Cash.
1973-At Kansas City‚ the Yankees rally for 5 runs in the 9th inning to stop the Royals by the score of 6-4. Newcomer Yankees hurler Pat Dobson pitches 5 innings in relief, as he only allows 1 Royals hit to win the game. The Bombers move into 1st place in the AL East with the victory.
1973-Former Yankees Pitcher Kemp Wicker (1936-1938) had passed away. (1906-1973)
For the 1936-1938 Yankees, Pitcher Kemp Wicker would post a 9-5 record with a 4.95 ERA in 24 games. He had appeared in 1 game of the 1937 World Series for the team against the Giants with no record. On February 6,1939, Kemp Wicker was purchased along with Minor League Catcher Chris Hartje by the Dodgers from the Yankees for $50,000 cash.
1974-Former Yankees DH/OF Randy Winn (2010) was born.
On February 8, 2010, veteran OF Randy Winn was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. The Yankees will release Randy Winn in May of 2010, after he had appeared in only 29 games for the team, while hitting just .213 with 1 HR and 8 RBI’s. He will finish the 2010 MLB season with the Cardinals.
1977-Bronx Shortstop Bucky Dent’s 3-hits highlight a Yankees 10-1 victory at Milwaukee County Stadium over the Brewers with Yankees Starter Don Gullet picking up his 5th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Jason Anderson (2003, 2005) was born.
On June 5,2000, P Jason Anderson was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft. In 2003, Jason had appeared in 22 games for the Yankees, while posting a 1-0 record. On July 16, 2003, Anderson was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Players Ryan Bicondoa and Anderson Garcia to the Mets for NL All-Star Reliever Armando Benitez. On June 1,2004, Jason was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Indians. For the 2004 Yankees, he had appeared in 3 games, while posting a 1-0 record. On February 15, 2006, Jason was selected off waivers by the Padres from the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees hurler, Jason would post a 2-0 record with a 5.47 ERA in 25 games for the team.
1980-Former Yankees OF/Pitcher Yhency Brazoban was born.
Yhency Brazobán was signed by Yankees MLB scout Victor Mata in July 1997. He made his pro debut the next summer with the DSL Yankees. Brazobán had started his pro career as an outfielder but with his cannon arm, as well as his offensive ineptitude, prompted the Yankees to convert him to the mound in 2002. He would reached the majors in 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a solid 1st season, going 6-2, with a 2.48 ERA in 31 games. He had pitched 74 times in 2005, but his ERA ballooned up to 5.33 and his record fell to 4-10. He did record 21 saves, whole filling in for an injured Eric Gagné. He only pitched 11 times in the MLB over the next 3 seasons, with no record and ERAs of 5.40 or higher each season, as injuries sapped his effectiveness. He also spent time in the minor leagues in 2007 and 2008. After missing all of 2009, Yhency pitched mostly in the Mexican League in 2010, then he would finished with the AAA Buffalo Bisons (IL). In 2011, he began the year in the Rangers organization, going 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA for the AAA Round Rock Express. As the Rangers were not ready to bring him up to the MLB, he asked for his player release and signed with the Diamondbacks on June 2nd. After a few games with the AAA Reno Aces, he made it back to the majors on June 29, 2011. He could not hold on to a job, giving up 4 runs in 6 innings over 6 outings. He would finished that season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Nippon Professional Baseball), having been sold to them by Texas in July.
1981-At Royals Stadium, the Yankees would beat the Royals by the score of 8-5 by using 4 relief pitchers. Jeff Nelson started the game followed by Dave LaRoche, then Mike Griffin and the game was closed out by Closer Rich Gossage, who picks up his 17th save of the 1981 AL season. LaRoche goes 4 plus innings, picking up his 3rd victory of the season. Yankees knock out Royals Starter Juan Berenguer, who was replaced by Reliever Renie Martin, who took the loss, dropping his record to a 1-3 mark. Yankee’s sluggers Dave Winfield and Graig Nettles would hit HRs for the Yankees.
1992-The Yankees had traded swingman Lee Guetterman to the Mets in exchange for veteran Reliever Tim Burke. For the 1988-1992 Yankees, Lee Guetterman had compiled a 21-19 record with a 3.73 ERA and 2 saves in 233 games. For the 1992 Yankees, Lee was 1-1 with a 9.53 ERA in 15 games. Meanwhile for the 1992 Mets, Tim Burke was 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA in 23 games. Neither Pitcher had a save for their teams. Burke was a former Yankees Minor League Pitcher, who had been traded to the Expos. For the 1992 Yankees, Reliever Tim Burke will appear in 23 games; while posting a 2-2 record with a 3.25 ERA. After the 1992 AL season had ended, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. He will be signed by the Reds, but Tim will never appear with 1993 Reds at the MLB level, ending his MLB pitching career.
1993-Former Yankees Pitcher Jonathan Holder (2016-2020) was born.
Jonathan Holder was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Mississippi St. Univ. After pitching for AAA Scranton (IL) in 2016, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.65 ERA and 16 saves in 33 games. He would make his MLB Pitching debut with the team in September of 2016, while appearing in 8 games in relief with no decisions. In 2020, he had posted a 3-0 record with 4.98 ERA in 18 games. In December 2, 2020, Jonathan was nontendered by the team becoming an MLB Free Agent. He would finish his Yankees Pitching career with a record of 10-6 with a 4.38 ERA and no saves in 151 games. On December 17, 2020, he would sign a 1-year MLB deal with the Cubs for the 2021 NL season.
1996-Former Yankees Minor League P Garrett Whitlock was born.
Pitcher Garrett Whitlock was drafted by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, AL). Having arm injuries in 2020, the Yankees didn't protect him the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On December 10, 2020, Garrett was drafted by the Red Sox from the Yankees in the 2020 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He would be kept by Boston. He is currently on the 60-Day IL
with an arm injury.
1997-The Yankees had traded P David Weathers to the Indians for OF Chad Curtis. In 1997, Weathers was 0-1 with a 10.00 ERA for the team, before being sent down to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). After being obtained from the Marlins for P Mark Hutton, he went 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA. Weathers did improve his pitching in the 2006 AL Postseason with a 2-0 record with a 0.82 ERA in 7 games. Overall, Dave had posted a 0-3 record with a 9.57 ERA in 21 games for the 1997-1998 Yankees. Chad Curtis will hit .291 with 12 HRs and 50 RBIs in 93 games for the 1997 Yankees. He was originally signed with the Angels, then he was traded by the team to Tigers, who then traded him to the Dodgers in July of 1996. In the winter of 1996, he was signed by the Tribe as an MLB Free Agent. For the 1997 Indians, Chad had hit .207 in 22 games. An excellent fielder and base runner, Curtis had a lifetime .268 BA with 161 stolen bases in his MLB playing career.
2002-At Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 55,335 fans, Yankees Starter Roger Clemens holds the Giants to just to 2 runs, allowing just 7 hits along with 9 strikeouts in 8 innings of work. Yankees Reliever Steve Karsay closes the game for the Bombers picking up his 2nd save of the 2002 AL season with a scoreless 9th inning. Yankees DH Nick Johnson has 1 hit with 2 RBIs, also Yankees batters Robin Ventura and Rondell White drive in runs in the game. Giants’ Starter Felix Rodriguez takes the lost.
2009-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Woodson “Woodie” Held (1954, 1957) had passed away. (1932-2009)
Before the start of the 1951 AL Season, Woodie Held was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play in the Yankees farm system, reaching AAA in 1954, while playing for the Kansas City Blues (AA), hitting .262 with 9 HRs and 52 RBIs in 112 games. Woodie Held appeared in 4 games with no hits with the 1954 Yankees. He was unable to break into the regular Yankees infield or outfield. He would play for the 1955-1957 AAA Denver Bears (AA) under Manager Ralph Houk. With each AAA season at Denver showing an increase HR power for the Bears. His best season was in 1956, when he would hit .276 with 35 HRs and 125 RBIs in 154 games. He had appeared in 1 game with the 1957 Yankees before being sent down to AAA Denver again. On June 15,1957, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry and OF Bob Martyn for P Ryne Duren, Outfielder’s Jim Pisoni and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson. During the 1958 AL season, the A’s traded him and 1B/OF Vic Power to the Indians for OF Roger Maris. The Indians had him play the infield for them, mainly at Shortstop. As an MLB player, Held would play with the Yankees, A’s, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels and the Senators during his MLB player career. With the 1966 Orioles, Woodie finally went to the World Series, but he did not appear in any games for the team against the Dodgers. When Held would finish his MLB playing career in 1969, he had appeared in 1,390 games, while hitting .240 with 179 HRs with 559 RBIs. Former Yankees All-Star 2B Bobby Richardson called Woodie Held the best fielding Shortstop that he ever saw play. In 2009, Woody would pass away from brain cancer.
2010-At Camden Yards in Baltimore, Yankees Ace CC Sabathia goes 7 innings allowing only 2 Orioles runs as the Yankees defeat the Orioles by the score of 4-2. Bronx Reliever Joba Chamberlain and Closer Mo Rivera close out the game with 2 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 Oriole hit. Rivera picks-up his 14 save of the 2010 AL season. Sabathia improves his 2010 AL season pitching record to 6-3. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano leads the Yankees hitting attack with a 3 for 4 performance at the plate, while driving in 1 run. Baltimore Starter Chris Tillman takes the lost for the Birds; he is still winless for the 2010 AL season now with a 0-2 mark.
2021-Former Yankees Starter Art Ditmar (1957-1961) had passed away. (1929-2021)
In 1948, Pitcher Art Ditmar was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Philadelphia A’s. In 1954, Ditmar would get his 1st look at the Majors, when the Athletics would use him in 14 games, as he would post a 1-4 record with a 6.14 ERA. Also, he would spend time during the 1954 season with the A’s AAA club Ottawa (IL) by going 6-12 with a 3.56 ERA. One of Art's highlights in MLB Baseball came in 1954, that he was the winning pitcher in the final game ever played by the A's at Shibe Park in Philadelphia before their franchise shifted to Kansas City in 1955. "It was a game against the Yankees," recalled the rubber-armed right-hander. "Casey Stengel wanted to get every good hitter he could into the lineup. Yogi Berra would play 3rd base and Mickey Mantle played Shortstop. I pitched 6 innings and Marion Fricano finished." In 1955, he would post a 12-12 record in the 1st MLB season in Kansas City; then in 1956, he would win 12 games again, but he also had 22 loses, giving him the lead for the AL Pitchers that season. On February 19,1957, Art was traded by the A’s along with Players to be Named Later, Infielders Wayne Belardi, Jack McMahan and Veteran Pitcher Bobby Shantz to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, MLB Players OF Irv Noren, Pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman, INF Billy Hunter and Minor League INF Milt Graf. The Yankees would later send Minor League P Jack Urban to the Athletics to complete the trade. Kansas City would in return would send 2 Infielders: Curt Roberts and Rookie INF Clete Boyer to the Bronx to complete the trade. Yankees GM George Weiss considered him to be the “ace” in the trade along with veteran starter Bobby Shantz. With the 1957 Yankees, Art would post an 8-3 record with a 3.26 ERA and 6 saves in 46 games. In 1958, he would post a 9-8 record with a 3.42 ERA and 4 saves in 38 games. In 1959, he would post a 13-9 record with a 2.90 ERA and 1 save in 38 games. As a Starter for the 1960 Yankees, Art would have a 15-9 record with a 3.06 ERA in 34 games. He had led the 1960 Yankees starters with his 15 wins. Also, that 1960 season, Art had finished 4th in the AL in ERA and Wins. Ditmar had failed to win both of his 2 1960 World Series starts against the Pirates. He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees in 1957-1958 against the Braves, then against the Pirates in 1960. He went 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 5 World Series games for the Yankees. In the 1960 World Series against the Pirates, he lost the 1st and 5th games. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is still the target of criticism as to why he started Ditmar in the opening game instead of Whitey Ford. Ditmar defended his manager's decision. "Whitey had arm trouble. I think Casey figured he would be better off pitching the 2nd game in Forbes Field rather than Yankee Stadium with the short right field. The controversy was that Ford could have pitched 3 games if necessary. The thing is he didn't even pitch the 2nd game. The Yankees veteran right-hander Bob Turley started the 2nd game and we won 16-3."
During the start of the 1961 AL season, while suffering from arm problems, Art would only post a 2-3 record with a 4.64 ERA in 12 games for the Yankees, before being traded back to Kansas City on June 14,1961 along with Rookie OF/INF Deron Johnson for veteran Starter Bud Daley. His Yankees pitching career record was an 47-32 mark with a 3.24 ERA and 11 saves in 168 games. He would finish out his MLB Pitching career in May of 1962 with overall MLB pitching record of 72-77 with a 3.98 ERA and 14 saves in 287 games. A graduate of American International College in Springfield, MA, Art Ditmar became the Director of Parks and Recreation in Brook Park, Ohio. He would coach the baseball and basketball teams at the school, while working on his Master's Degree. He would retire to Myrtle Beach, SC; he will be the 1st to tell you that he wasn't the pitcher of record, when Pirates 2B Bill Mazeroski hit his epic shot HR in 9th inning of Game 7 in the 1960 World Series.
2022-The Twins would open the bottom of the 1st against the Yankees with 3 consecutive HRs off of Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole at Target Field, by Luis Arraez, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. This is the 1st time in franchise history this has happened, but the game is far from over. The Twins hit 2 more long balls off of Cole, a 2nd by Buxton and 1 by Trevor Larnach and chase him in the 3rd, leading 7-3 at the end of the inning. But the Yankees come back with 4 HRs of their own, including 2 from Joey Gallo and a game-tying 2-run blast by Aaron Hicks in the 6th. They go ahead in the 7th when Aaron Judge leads off the inning with a double off of Jhoan Duran, followed by a single by Anthony Rizzo. They add another run that inning and 1 in the 8th to earn a wild 10-7 win.
June 10th
1870-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Pat McCauley (1903) was born. (1870-1917)
For 1903 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Pat McCauley would appear in only 6 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .053.
1892-Former Yankees Reserve OF Frank Gilhooley (1913-1918) was born. (1892-1959)
On August 25,1913, OF Frank Gilhooley was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. Frank will appear in 259 games for the Yankees, while hitting .277 with 2 HRs and 55 RBI’s. On December 18,1918, Frank was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Ray Caldwell and Slim Love, Catcher Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and P Ernie Shore.
1894-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Fred “Bootnose” Hofmann (1919-1925) was born. (1894-1964)
Reserve Catcher Fred Hofmann had appeared in 213 games with the Yankees, while hitting .245 with 7 HRs and 53 RBIs. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1923 World Series for the team against the Giants with no hits. On May 29,1925, Fred was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, P Oscar Roettger and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for INF Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees sent Reserve INF Ernie Johnson to the Saints to complete the trade. Fred would return to the MLB, playing with the 1927-1928 Red Sox. After his MLB active playing career had ended, Fred would become a Minor League Manager for the Cardinals organization. Then he would move to the St. Louis Browns' organization as a MLB Coach beginning in 1938. After a 12-year stint as an MLB Coach for the Browns, Hofmann became an MLB Scout for the franchise from 1950 to 1964, staying with the team when they relocated and became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. He had filled in several times as a Manager for teams in the Orioles' farm system during the 1950s.
1900-Former Yankees Pitcher and Minor League Manager Garland Braxton (1925-1926) was born. (1900-1966)
Garland Braxton had appeared in 40 games with the Yankees, while posting a 6-2 record with a 3.53 ERA and 2 saves. On October 19,1926, he was sent by the Yankees to the Senators to complete an earlier deal made on August 27,1926. The Yankees would send Players to be Named Later to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Dutch Ruether. After retiring as an active MLB player, Garland would manage in the Yankees Minor League System with the 1944-1945 Norfolk Tars (PL) and the 1946 Binghamton Triplets (EL).
1903-Detroit Tigers Shortstop Kid Elberfeld‚ who was suspended for abusing an Umpire‚ is traded to the Highlanders for 2 Infielders: Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. It is the 1st MLB trade in the team’s short AL franchise history. The Highlanders' 1st trade is a good one as "The Tabasco Kid,” was currently hitting .341‚ will be a key ingredient in New York's rise as contenders in 1904. Elberfeld had been accused by the Tigers Manager Edward Barrow of deliberately throwing games recently, as a ploy to get him traded by the team. The veteran MLB Shortstop Herman Long was 37 years old at the end of his MLB playing career. He had played in 22 games for the 1903 Highlanders team, while hitting just .188. Ernie Courtney was in 2nd season in the MLB, he was playing Shortstop for the Yankees, while hitting .266 in 25 games for the club.
1905-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny “Deacon Danny” MacFayden (1932-1934) was born. (1905-1972)
On June 5,1932, Pitcher Dan MacFayden was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for 2 hurlers: Ivy Andrews, Hank Johnson and $50,000 in Cash. For the Yankees, Dan would post a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games. On June 4,1935, he was selected off waivers by the Braves from the Yankees.
1906-The White Sox would manage just 1 hit off of Bronx Starter Al Orth, but they still beat the Yankees by the score of 1-0 on an unearned run. In the 3rd inning‚ 2 errors and a hit batsman score the Chicago winning run. Fielder Jones has the lone White Sox hit‚ a 6th-inning single.
1909-Tigers Starter George Mullin's winning streak reaches 11 games with a 2-1 win over the Yankees. On June 15th‚ he will finally lose a game to the Philadelphia by the score of 5-4.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth became MLB’s Career HR leader by hitting his 120th HR off of Tribe Starter Jim Bagby Sr. in the 3rd inning. The Indians won the game by a score of 8-6. Former NL Slugger Roger Connor (1880-1897) held the MLB HR record until that time.
1922-At Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth's 2-run HR in the 3rd inning off of Browns Starter Urban Shocker‚ ties the game. Shocker then hits Bombers’ batter 3B Frank Baker and a double‚ single‚ 2 errors on the same play and a sacrifice fly score 4 more Yankee runs. Shocker then sends Yankees Starter Carl Mays sprawling on 3 straight pitches before walking him‚ he fires his 1st pitch right at OF Whitey Witt. The Yankees score 6 runs off of Shocker‚ another 6 runs off of Browns Relievers to win the game by the score of 14-5. A foul fly in the 7th inning beans St. Louis Browns Team Owner Phil Ball‚ who was sitting behind the Browns dugout. He has a slight head concussion that requires 4 stitches.
1929-Former Yankees Minor League C Hank Foiles was born.
In November of 1947, Catcher Hank Foiles was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Hank never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. From 1947 to 1951, he would play in the Yankees farm system. On November 19,1951, Hank was drafted by the Reds from the Yankees organization in the 1951 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He was a Reserve Catcher in the MLB from 1953-1964, while playing for the Reds, Cubs, Pirates, Indians, Orioles, A’s and finishing with the 1964 Angels. His best MLB player season was in 1957 with the Pirates, hitting .270 and making the NL All-Star team.
1933-He's not there for his hitting, A’s Starter Lefty Grove strikes out 5 times‚ a MLB 1st in the 20th century‚ but his Philadelphia A’s team will beat the Yankees by the score of 9-5. Lefty will hit .086 for this 1933 AL season.
1934-Philadelphia A’s OF Doc Cramer hits for the cycle‚ but the Yankees would still beat the A's by the score of 7-3 on Lou Gehrig's 2nd Grand Slam HRs of the 1934 AL season.
1941-At Comiskey Park in Chicago, a crowd of 2,832 fans watched the Yankees down the White Sox by the score of 8-3. The Bronx Bombers break open the Tuesday day game with 5 run rally in the 6-inning. They will get a complete game victory from their Starter Steve Peek; whose 1941 pitching record is now 3-1. Chicago Starter Johnny Rigney takes the loss for the White Sox, going 7 innings, while giving up 11 Yankees hits and 8 earn runs along with 4 walks. The Bronx Bomber’s hitting attack is led by Frank Crosetti’s Grand Slam HR and a 2-run HR blast from OF Charlie Keller. The Yankees are now 29-22 with 2 ties for the 1941 AL season.
1956-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Brad Gulden (1979-1980) was born.
On February 15,1979, Minor League C Brad Gullen was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for OF/1B Gary Thomasson. In 1978, Brad had played for the Dodgers AAA club, the Albuquerque Dukes, hitting .294. He led all PCL Catchers in assists, putouts and double plays. He appeared in 42 games as a Reserve Catcher for the 1979-1980 Yankees, while hitting .168. After Thurman Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979, Brad was one of the 2 young Catchers (other; Jerry Narron), who were used by the club. He spent most of the 1980 season playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On November 18,1980, Brad was traded by the Yankees along with $150,000 Cash to the Mariners for a Player to be Named Later and Reserve INF Larry Milbourne. On May 18,1981, the Mariners would send Catcher Brad Gulden back to the Yankees to complete the trade. On April 5,1982, Brad was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for Reserve Catcher Bobby Ramos. On October 26,1982, Brad was repurchased by the Yankees from the Expos. After the 1983 AL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1957-Tigers Starter Frank Lary gives up a 3rd-inning HR to Mickey Mantle in Detroit‚ but he still beats the Yankees by the score of 9-4. Mickey Mantle now leads the AL with 13 HRs; Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams is 2nd in the AL with 10 HRs.
1960-At Yankee Stadium‚ Bronx Slugger Mickey Mantle cracks his 3rd HR in 3 days to ruin a good relief effort by Indians Richard Stigman. The 8th-inning HR solo shot gives the Bronx Bombers a 4-3 win over the Tribe.
1961-At Yankee Stadium‚ ex-Yankees OF Hank Bauer, now playing for the Kansas City A’s, hits an inside-the-park HR over Mickey Mantle's head into the Centerfield Monuments, but Mantle's HR in the bottom of the 8th off Rookie A’s Reliever Bill Kunkel cements the Bombers 5-3 victory over the A’s.
1966-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Fred Talbot and Catcher Bill Bryant from the Kansas City A’s for OF Roger Repoz and 2 hurlers: Bill Stafford and Gil Blanco. For the Yankees, Fred Talbot went 14-24 with a 3.99 ERA in 89 games before being unloaded to the Seattle Pilots in 1968. Jim Bouton wrote about him in his famous baseball book “Ball Four.” Reserve Catcher Bill Bryant will appear in 43 games for the 1966-1967 Yankees; while hitting .210 with 5 HRs and 7 RBIs. He will be selected in the 1967 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft by the Senators from the Yankees Organization. For the Yankees, Rookie P Gil Blanco went 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 17 games. He will post a 2-4 record with a 4.70 ERA in 11 games for the A’s. Veteran Yankees Starter Bill Stafford was recovering from pitching arm injuries. At the time of trade, he was 5-0 with AAA Richmond (IL) expecting a call-up to the Bronx for a start in Detroit. Which raised some questions marks in the NYC Sports Media about need of the trade for P Fred Talbot. Bill had gone 43-35 with a 3.48 ERA and 9 saves in 96 games for the 1960-1966 Yankees. Stafford had appeared in the 1960-1962 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 4 games.
1973-Former Yankees Minor League C Tom Padden had passed away. (1908-1973)
On December 27,1939, veteran Catcher Tom Padden was purchased along with INF Alex Kampouris by the Yankees from the Giants organization. Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level, instead he was sent to their AA team, the Newark Bears (IL). Tom had previously played in the MLB with the 1932-1937 Pirates. On March 26,1943, the Yankees would send P Al Gerheauser and C Tom Padden to the Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on January 22,1943. On January 22,1943, the Yankees sent to the Phillies for Unknown Compensation, Pitcher Al Gettel and 1B/OF Ed Levy returned to original team on March 26,1943.
1975-The Yankees sponsor “Army Day” at their temporary home‚ Shea Stadium (Yankee Stadium is being refurbished). During a ceremonial 21-gun salute‚ glass is splintered‚ the ballpark is filled with smoke‚ as part of the Shea Stadium Outfield fence is blown away and another part is set afire.
1977-Yankees Starter Ron Guidry does it again, stopping the Twins by the score of 4-1 with 9th inning help from Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle. The key Yankees hit in the game was a 2-run double by 2B Willie Randolph.
1978-The Yankees would sent former NL Starter Ken Holtzman back to the Cubs‚ his 1st MLB team in exchange for Minor Leaguer P Ron Davis. Holtzman proved to be a major disappointment in New York, going 12-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 44 games for the team. He didn’t get along with Yankees Manager Billy Martin, who at times just let him sit in the Yankees bullpen. Ken will not recapture his old pitching form with the Cubs. Minor League Reliever Ron Davis will blossom in 1979, when his 14-2 mark sets a record for most wins by a Rookie MLB Reliever. He will form the Yankees bullpen duo of Gossage and Davis, being the set-up man.
1989-Former Yankees Reserve OF Zoilo Alomonte (2013-2014) was born.
Outfielder Zoilo Almonte was signed as a 16-year-old in 2005, made his pro baseball debut in the 2006 Dominican Summer League. He came to the U.S. in 2007, spending 2 summers with the GCL Yankees. He would begin 2013 season at the AAA level with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL). In June, Zoilo was called up to the Yankees. He would make his MLB Player debut on June 19th as a pinch-hitter against the Dodgers, the following night, he would get his 1st MLB hit, a single off of Rays Reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Then he would hit his 1st MLB career HR on May 21st against Rays P Roberto Hernandez, as part of a 3-for-4 evening and followed that with a 3-RBI game the following day. He would finish the 2013 AL season with a .236 BA with 1 HR and 9 RBIs. In 2014, he would only appear in 13 games for the Yankees, while hitting only .139 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. After the 2014 AL season, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be sign by the Braves. In the winter of 2015, he was granted his MLB Free Agency by the Braves. He would play for a pro team in the Mexican League from 2016-2017.
1998-Yankees OF Tim Raines steals the 800th base of his MLB playing career in New York's 6-2 victory over his old team, the Montreal Expos. He is the 5th player in MLB history to reach that milestone. The Yankees would lose CF Bernie Williams to the DL, when he injures his knee sliding.
2002-In MLB Inter-League play, the Yankees would beat the Diamondbacks by the score of 7-5. On the 1st pitch he sees in the Majors‚ Yankees Rookie OF Marcus Thames hits a HR off of D-backs Ace Randy Johnson.
2005-The 1919 MLB Player contract that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees brings in a staggering $996‚000 at auction.
2007-Former Yankees Long-Time Minor League Manager Vern Hoschiet (1948-1960) had passed away. (1922-2007)
In 1948, Vern Hoscheit took over as Manager for the Yankees farm club, the McAlester Rockets (SSL), leading them to the best record in the league. He would stay with McAlester through the 1951 Minor League season, taking league titles in 1950 and 1951. Then he would move up to the Joplin Miners (WA) in 1952, guiding them to the best record and playoff win. Vern moved to the Three-I League, taking over the 1953-1956 Quincy Gems and winning league titles in 1953 and 1954 (his 4th and 5th in a row). When the Yankees had switched their affiliate from Quincy to the Peoria Chiefs, he would move to Peoria in 1957. In 1958, he moved to the Greensboro Yankees (CL) guided them for 2 seasons. Vern Hoscheit was the last President of the 3-I League in 1960-1961. Next, Vern was an Orioles MLB Scout from 1962-1967. In 1968, he was an Oriole MLB Coach. From 1965-1967, he also was in charge of the Orioles team in the Florida Instructional League. He was then a member of the 1969-1974 Oakland A’s MLB Coaching staff. In 1976, he would join the Angels organization. In 1983, Hoscheit would guide the GCL Mets. From 1984-1987, he was a Mets MLB Coach.
2010-He may not be accompanied by the hoopla that surrounds the Nationals young hurler Stephen Strasburg, but the Orioles' Jake Arrieta matches the Nats phenom in at least one respect: by winning his MLB Pitching debut, a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. He gives up 3 Bronx runs in 6 innings before the Orioles bullpen takes over, with David Hernandez picking up his 1st MLB career save. Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez leaves the game with a groin strain in the 2nd inning, 4 days, after suffering a similar problem in a game against the Blue Jays.
2020-Former Yankees OF/DH Claudell Washington (1986-1988,1990) had passed away from Prostate Cancer at age of 65. (1954-2020)
On June 30,1986, veteran OF Claudell Washington was traded by the Braves along with Minor League INF Paul Zuvella to the Yankees for veteran OF/1B Ken Griffey Sr. and Reserve INF Andre Robertson. His best Yankees season was in 1987, when he hit .308 with 13 HRs and 42 RBIs. After the 1988 AL season, Claudell would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, signing with the Angels. On April 29,1990, Claudell was traded by the Angels along with P Rich Monteleone to the Yankees for OF/DH Luis Polonia. As a Yankees player, Washington would appear in 315 games, while hitting .277 with 26 HRs and 130 RBIs. Claude would hit the Yankees 10,000th franchise Home Run. He would finish his 17-year MLB playing career with the 1990 Yankees, appearing in only 33 games, while just batting .162 with no HRS and 6 RBIs. Overall, he had appeared in 1,912 MLB games, while hitting .278 with 164 HRs and 824 RBIs. He had originally come up to the MLB with the 1974 Oakland A’s.
2023-Former Yankees Pitcher Don Hood (1979) had passed away. (1949-2023)
On June 15,1979, Pitcher Don Hood was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for DH/C/1B Cliff Johnson. For the 1979 Yankees, Don would post at 3-1 record with a 3.07 ERA and 1 save in 27 games for the Yankees before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency during the 1979 off-season. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a lifetime record of 34-35 record with a 3.79 ERA and 6 saves in 297 games.
June 11th
1915-The Yankees finally beat the White Sox‚ winning 10-9. Yankees Pitcher Ray Caldwell hits a pinch-hit HR for his 2nd pinch-hit HR in 2 days. He hit 1 yesterday in a 5-4 loss to the White Sox. Nobody else in the American League will repeat the feat until Joe Cronin in 1943. Tomorrow, Caldwell will hit another long ball‚ but he is on the mound in that game.
1919-Bronx Starter Jack Quinn shuts out the Tigers by the score of 7-0. Yankees Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh is 2 for 3 to start his 29-game hitting streak.
1922-Insisting on another start‚ Browns starter Urban Shocker is again beaten by the Yankees‚ 8-4. New York scores 3 runs in the 7th on a walk‚ 3 hits and a Ken Williams throwing error. Gene Robertson‚ a substitute, adds the game's topper in the 7th, when he lifts a high fly behind the Browns' dugout and the ball strikes Owner Phil Ball on the cheek, giving him a mild concussion and requiring 4 stitches. Following the game‚ Shocker will miss 3 weeks in June and July because of a thigh injury‚ but he still racks up 348 innings‚ 2nd in the AL.
1927-In New York‚ Babe Ruth clouts 2 consecutive HRs (numbers 19 and 20) off of Garland Buckeye‚ but in his next time up Ruth is set upon by Cleveland C Luke Sewell, who demands that the umpires inspect the Bambino's bat. The umps find nothing illegal‚ but the crowd of 30‚000 cheer the Babe‚ who then strikes out. Tony Lazzeri adds a HR and New York wins‚ by the score of 6-4. George Burns is 3 for 3 with 2 doubles for the Tribe.
1934-The Yankees would thrash West Point varsity baseball team‚ 7-0‚ in their annual spring exhibition game. Bronx starter Jimmie DeShong provides the whitewash of the cadets.
1948-The Indians hold on to beat the Yankees‚ 10-8‚ as reliever Bob Feller fans Sherman Lollar with the bases full to end the game. Joe DiMaggio had led off the 9th with a HR. Game highlights include Yogi Berra getting tossed by Umpire Cal Hubbard and young Bobby Brown being replaced at 2B in the 8th by veteran 2B George Stirnweiss‚ a move that will remain permanent for the season. Lou Boudreau ends a Tribe rally in the 7th by striking out - his 1st K in 42 games. The game was interrupted by rain and a fans' missile barrage, finally ends at 12:20 a.m.
1953-Behind the combine pitching of Jim "Hot Rod" McDonald and Allie "Super Chief" Reynolds‚ the 1st-place Bronx Bombers beat Detroit, 6-3, to run its win streak to 14 games. New York gets a game-winner HR from Mickey Mantle off of hurler Art Houtteman that crowns the roof in right center at Detroit. Mantle has now hit in 16 straight games‚ but he will go hitless tomorrow‚ when he pulls a thigh muscle. Hitting .353 at the end of today‚ Mantle will hit just .255 the rest of the year. The Yankees get another tape-measure HR blast, when Joe Collins hits a 2-out 7th-inning HR that lands on the 98-foot high press box over the 370-FT sign.
1961-The Yankees would sweep 2 games from the expansion Angels‚ winning the opener by the score of 2-1 behind Ralph Terry's 5-hitter. Yogi Berra clouts a pair of solo HRs. In the nightcap‚ Mickey Mantle's 1st-inning HR‚ #19‚ gives him the AL lead‚ but Roger Maris adds a pair of home runs‚ his 19th and 20th‚ as New York wins, by the score of 5-1. The Yankees have won 10 of 11 games.
1967-Before the largest American League crowd of the year‚ 62‚582 fans at Yankee Stadium for “Bat Day‚” the White Sox regain 1st place from the Tigers by sweeping a twin bill from Yankees by the scores of 2-1 and 3-2. They will stay in 1st place until August 12th.
1974-The New York Yankees' Mel Stottlemyre makes his 272nd consecutive start, with no relief appearances, to set an American League record. In the 4th inning‚ Stottelmyre feels a pop in his right shoulder, after throwing a curve ball to Frank Robinson. It is a tear in his rotator cuff: he'll throw just 2 more innings‚ his MLB pitching career over at 32. Dick Lange is the winning pitcher.
1976-Former Yankees Reliever James “Jim “Konstanty (1954-1956) had passed away. (1917-1976)
On August 22,1954, veteran NL hurler Jim Konstanty was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Phillies. Jim would help out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, posting 7 wins with 11 saves. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who had won the 1950 NL Pennant. Jim had started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Starter Vic Raschi, losing the game by the score of 1-0; while only giving up only 5 Yankee hits in 8 innings. He was voted the 1950 NL Most Valuable Player for posting a 16-7 mark with a 2.66 ERA and 22 saves for the Phillies. His final Yankees Pitching career totals was an 8-3 record with 2.36 ERA and 15 saves in 62 games. On May 18,1956, Jim was released by the Yankees. He had posted a 0-0 record with a 4.91 ERA with 3 saves in 8 games for the team. The Cardinals would sign Jim, finishing the 1956 NL season with them, while posting a 1-1 record with 4.58 ERA and 5 saves in 27 games. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Jim would finish his MLB pitching career with a 66-48 record, along with 3.46 ERA and 76 saves in 433 games.
1981-The White Sox would beat the Yankees by the score of 3-2‚ handing Bronx pitcher Doug Bird his 1st loss since August 16‚ 1978. The journeyman righthander had won 12 consecutive decisions.
1988-Rick Rhoden of the New York Yankees becomes the 1st pitcher to start a game as a designated hitter since the rule was adopted in 1973. Batting 7th‚ ahead of Rafael Santana and Joel Skinner‚ Rhoden hits a sacrifice fly in New York's 8-6 win over the Orioles. Later‚ Jose Cruz would replaces him as the DH.
1993-The Yankees-Brewers game at County Stadium is interrupted by some 100 seagulls, who swoop down onto the field‚ apparently in search of moths hatching in the infield and outfield grass. The Yankees eventually win the game by a score of 5-4‚ winning in the 9th on a 2-run pinch-hit HR by Kevin Maas. While no players or seagulls are hurt‚ Wade Boggs calls the situation "terribly dangerous". The seagulls will return for tomorrow night's game‚ but the Brewers will be prepared for the birds. Gus the wonder dog‚ on loan from the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association‚ will keep them away.
2003-Houston Astros pitchers Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combine for the 1st no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years, winning 8-0 and stopping New York at 6,980 games with at least 1 hit. The Baltimore Orioles' Hoyt Wilhelm had accomplished the feat in 1958, winning by a 1-0. Houston's sextet also sets a record for the highest number of pitchers to participate in a no-hitter in MLB history (there had been 2 no-hitters shared by 4 pitchers).
2004-The Yankees would lose to the Padres by the score 10-2‚ to end New York's 13-game interleague winning streak‚ the longest such streak since the advent of interleague play.
2010-Andy Pettitte records his 200th win in pinstripes in the Yankees' 4-3 win over Houston at Yankee Stadium. Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) are the only other members of this exclusive New York club.
2011-The Yankees keep pace by shutting out Cleveland, 4-0, behind Bartolo Colon's 5th win of this year. However, the win proves costly as the big pitcher who is making a remarkable comeback from a year away from baseball must leave the game in the 7th with a strained hamstring and will be placed on the DL after the game; 3B Alex Rodriguez is hit in the hip by Mitch Talbot after blasting 1 of 3 Yankee solo HRs on the day: OF Curtis Granderson and 1B Mark Teixeira hit the others - and must also leave the game, although the injury is minor. Talbot also leaves early, being ejected by the Umpires for throwing at A-Rod.
2022-In only his 3rd MLB career start, Matt Swarmer of the Cubs allows a lead-off HR to Aaron Judge of the Yankees. It's a sign of things to come as he allows 5 more long balls in his 5 innings of work, on his way to an 8-0 loss. This ties the Cubs franchise record set by Tom Lee in 1884 and the modern MLB record. All the long balls are solo shots, only the 2nd time this has happened in the MLB, after Sloppy Thurston on July 29,1932. The HRs come courtesy of Giancarlo Stanton, with the hardest-hit ball of the season as recorded by Statcast, Gleyber Torres, Jose Trevino, Anthony Rizzo and Judge with a 2nd HR that brings his MLB-leading total to 24. Jordan Montgomery, who has been plagued by poor run support all season, is the beneficiary of the HR barrage.
June 12th
1907-The Yankees would commit 11 errors in their 14-6 loss to the Tigers. The unlucky Yankee players were Shortstop Kid Elberfeld with 4 errors and with 1 apiece: 1B Hal Chase, 3B Frank LaPorte, 2B Jimmy Williams, 2B George Moriarty, LF Bill Conroy, Pitchers Al Orth and Bill Hogg. After game, Yankees Manager Clark Griffith assaulted a spectator, a local merchant named Mr. Frank and the Bronx Police would charge him with assault. In a NYC court, Clark Griffith would argue self-defense. He was merely given fined by the Judge for his actions.
1922-St. Louis Browns Starter Hub Pruett had struck out Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth 3 consecutive times as the Browns beat the Yankees by the score of 7-1.
1928-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig collects 14 total bases with 2 triples and 2 HRs in a 15-7 Bronx victory over the White Sox. Yankees HRs that were in hit the game were by Lou Gehrig (2), Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Catcher Pat Collins.
1938-A Sunday crowd of 43,702 fans at Yankee Stadium, watch the Bronx Bombers score 2 runs in the 7th inning to come from behind and defeat the Indians by a score of 7-6. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing picks up a complete game victory, he is now 8-2 for the 1938 AL season. Home Runs hit by 2B Joe Gordon and P Red Ruffing highlight the Yankees hitting attack. Former Yankees P Johnny Allen had started for the Tribe, while Reliever Bob Feller takes the loss.
1939-The Baseball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated at Cooperstown, N.Y. The greatest-ever gathering of members and future inductees of the Hall of Fame accepted their player plaques: Pitcher Grover Alexander, OF Ty Cobb, INF Eddie Collins, Pitcher Walter Johnson, INF Nap Lajoie, MLB Team Owner/Manager Connie Mack, OF/P Babe Ruth, 1B George Sisler, OF Tris Speaker, INF Honus Wagner and P Cy Young.
1945-Former Yankees Pitcher Gary Jones (1970-1971) was born.
Before the start of the 1967 AL Season, Pitcher Gary Jones was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Gary was 0-0 with 7.88 ERA in 14 games with 1970-1971 Yankees before being traded to the Rangers along with P Terry Ley for veteran MLB INF Bernie Allen.
1947-The Game #1 of the 1947 Mayor’s Trophy game series is held at the Polo Grounds with the Yankees winning the game by the scoring of 7-0. Yankees Joe DiMaggio has a 2-run double in the 3rd inning. Bronx Catcher Aaron Robinson hits a HR in the 4th. Hurler Mel Queen picks up the victory for the Bombers, while P Bill Ayers takes the loss for the Giants. The Polo Grounds game attendance was 39,970 fans. The 2nd Game of the series will be played on August 18,1947 at Yankee Stadium. Next year, the Mayor’s Trophy game will be only 1 game, instead of the original 3 game series due to the 3 team’s scheduling difficulties during the regular MLB season.
1953-The Yankees had obtained INF Willie Miranda from the St. Louis Browns for Cash, above the waiver price. He had previously played for the Senators, White Sox and the Browns in the AL. He would back up the aging Phil Rizzuto at Shortstop for 2 seasons before being traded to the Orioles in the winter of 1954 in the big 17-player trade that featured Orioles Pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen coming to the Yankees. Miranda will play in 140 games for the team, while hitting .241 with 2 HRs and 17 RBIs. He didn’t make any World Series appearances for the team in 1953. Bronx Shortstop Phil Rizzuto called him one of finest fielding infielders that he had played with or against in the MLB during his playing career.
1962-The Yankees had obtained Reserve OF Tom Umphlett and Cash from the Red Sox for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. It was a trade of weak Reserve players. Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner became expendable with the presence of Rookie INF/OF Phil Linz on the team. In another MLB 25-man Roster move, the Yankees would recall Reliever Hal Reniff, who had just completed his military commitment. He had been on the National Defense List. In 1961, Hal had gone 2-0 with a 2.58 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games as a Yankee Rookie Reliever.
1964-The Yankees had sold Pitcher Bob Meyer to the Angels. The Yankees Rookie lefthander had gone 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 7 games for the team. Then Yankees would recall veteran hurler Rollie Sheldon, who was 4-2 with 1.81 ERA for the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). Sheldon will go 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 1 save for the 1964 team. He will appear in 2 games of the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals with no decisions.
1968-Current Yankees Minor League Pitching Coordinator and Former MLB Pitcher Scott Aldred was born.
After finishing his MLB Pitching career of 10 seasons, Scott Aldred became a Minor League Pitching Coach. In 2006, he would join the Yankees organization, becoming the Pitching Coach for the Class A Charleston Riverdogs (SAL). In 2007-2008, Scott move up to AA level, becoming the Pitching Coach for the Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2009, Scott moved up to AAA level to become the Pitching Coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), a position that he held until 2015. In 2016, Scott Aldred became the Yankees roving Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
1969-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Rob Gardner from the Indians for Reserve Catcher John Orsino, who had been playing for the Yankees AAA team at Syracuse (IL). Rob will go 1-0 with 4.91 ERA in 1 game before being traded to the A’s. He will return to the Yankees for the 1971-1972 AL seasons before being traded back to A’s. His final Yankees Pitching record was a 9-5 mark with a 3.19 ERA in 24 games.
1973-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Lowell Palmer from the Indians for Pitcher Mike Kekich. The days as a Yankees player for Kekich were numbered since the pre-MLB spring training camp public announcement of his Wife-Family swap with Yankees teammate Starter Fritz Peterson, who will be traded to the Tribe on April 27,1974 in the Chris Chambliss trade. Mike Kekich had compiled a 30-31 record with 4.31 ERA and 1 save in 125 games as a Yankees Pitcher. He had been obtained in a trade by the Yankees from the Dodgers on December 4,1968 for OF Andy Kosco. Lowell Palmer never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 31,1974, he was purchased along with veteran INF Horace Clarke by the Padres from the Yankees.
1974-Former Yankees OF/DH Hideki Matsui (2003-2009) was born.
On December 19, 2002, OF Hideki Matsui was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. In Japan, Matsui had been an All-Star player with the Tokyo Giants. He was a 2-time AL All-Star team member (2003-2004). He won the 2009 MLB MVP winner for his hitting performance for the Yankees against the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. Matsui would hit .615, going 8 for 13 with 3 HRs and 8 RBI’s. His final Yankees playing career totals, were a .292 BA with 140 HRs with 597 RBIs in 916 games. In the winter of 2009, Hideki would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, signing a deal with the Angels. In December of 2012, Matsui would announce his retirement from the MLB as an active player. In July of 2013, the Yankees would honor him with a special day at Yankee Stadium.
1981-The Yankees had traded Pitcher Doug Bird, a Player to be Named Later and Cash to the Cubs for veteran Starter Rick Reuschel. He would post a 4-4 record with a 2.67 ERA in 12 games for the 1981 Yankees. As a Yankees P Doug Bird had posted an 8-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and 1 save in 39 games. On August 5,1981, the Player to be Named Later was named and was sent to the Cubs. It would be Yankees Pitcher Mike Griffin, who had a 2-4 record with a 4.60 ERA and 1 save in 18 games for the team.
1985-Former Yankees Pitcher George Kontos (2011, 2018) was born.
George Kontos was selected by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro pitching debut that summer. On December 9, 2010, George was drafted by the Padres from the Yankees in the 2010 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On March 14, 2011, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Padres to the Yankees organization. He had appeared in 7 games with no record for the 2011 Yankees. On April 4, 2012, George was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for Reserve Catcher Chris Stewart. In 6 NL seasons with the Giants, he has gone 15-14 with a 3.05 ERA in 300 games. During the 2017 NL season, he was put on waivers by the Giants; he was claimed by the Pirates. He went 3-4 with 3.67 ERA and 2 saves in 56 games. On May 28, 2018, he was released by the Bucs. On June 3, 2018, he was signed with the Tribe to help out their bullpen. On August 4, 2018, George was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. He would only appear in 1 game for the team with no decision. He didn’t appear in 2018 AL Postseason for the team. The Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency in the fall.
1996-The Yankees had traded Reliever Rich Monteleone to the Angels for OF Mike Aldrete. Rich had gone 17-9 with a 4.06 ERA in 120 games, while working out of the 1990-1993 Yankees bullpen. In winter of 1995, he was signed by the Yankees as MLB Free Agent, he was at their AAA club, the Columbus Clippers (IL). He had a 4-3 record in 23 games for the Clippers. For the 1996 Yankees, Mike Aldrete would hit .250 with 3 HRs in 32 games for the. The Yankees make an MLB roster spot move for Mike, by sending out Rookie OF Ruben Rivera to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) to play every day, rather than sit on the MLB team bench.
2010-Yankees All-Star Shortstop Derek Jeter homers twice, while Catcher Jorge Posada hits a Grand Slam HR in Bronx Bomber's 9-3 win over the Astros. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (3-9) is the victim of the Bombers offensive HR surge, which was accomplished in the absence of All-Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, who is still bothered by a groin injury.
2012-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez ties Lou Gehrig's MLB record by hitting his 23rd MLB career Grand Slam HR off the Braves' hurler Jonny Venters. A-Rod's 8th-inning HR blast allows the Yankees to tie the score, his Yankees teammate Nick Swisher hits a 2-run HR shot later that inning for a 6-4 Yankees victory.
2022-Matt Carpenter hits 2 HRs and drives in 7 runs for the Yankees in an 18-4 demolition of the Cubs, giving him 6 HRs,10 runs scored and 13 RBIs in his 1st 10 games with the team. Catcher Kyle Higashioka also goes deep twice for his 1st 2 HRs of the season, the 2nd 1 coming off a pitch from position player Frank Schwindel measured a 35.1 mph - the slowest ever tracked by Statcast. The Yankees have won 11 of their last 12 games.
June 13th
1913-The Yankees notch their 13th win of the 1913 AL season at this incredibly late date. They had already lost 36 games this season. The 1913 Yankees would finish in 7th place in the AL with a 57-94 record.
1914-The Yankees had traded OF Jimmy Walsh to the Philadelphia A’s for OF Tom Daley. Walsh was hitting .191 in 43 games for the Yankees, he was unhappy playing in New York City for the losing Yankees team. He was sent back to the A’s, who will send OF Tom Daley, he would hit .251 with No HRs and 9 RBIs in 69 games for the team.
1919-The Yankees would sell Reserve OF Bill Lamar to the Red Sox. On August 14,1917, OF Bill Lamar was purchased along with INF Chick Fewster and P Hank Thormahlen by the Yankees from the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) for $20,000 Cash. He had appeared in 50 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .228 with No HRs and 5 RBIs.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits a 460 Ft. HR into the CF bleachers in the Polo Grounds for the 1st MLB HR ever hit to that spot. Ruth added his 21st HR of the 1921 AL season, also he pitched 5 innings in the 13-6 win over the Tigers, while giving up 4 runs; but striking out Tigers batter Ty Cobb. The next day, Babe Ruth will hit 2 more HRs, his 6th and 7th in 5 games in a 9-6 win over the Bengals.
1924-A riot by 18,000 fans at Detroit caused a forfeiture of a game to the Yankees. The trouble occurred, when Tigers’ P Bert Cole hit Bronx batter Bob Meusel with a pitch. Then Meusel would charge the mound, take a swing at Cole; but he missed, but it was followed both team’s benches clearing brawl. Tigers Ty Cobb and Yankees Babe Ruth got into it. Meusel and Ruth were both ejected from the game. When they went out on field to get their gloves, the Detroit fans would pour out onto the playing field. Umpires not able to restore peace with the crowd; they would rule forfeit of the game. Yankees Players Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel were fined $1,000 each, while Tigers Ty Cobb received a formal reprimand. The Yankees were leading the game by a score of 10-6, when the fighting incident had occurred.
1937-In St. Louis, Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader played at Sportsman Park. The game had ended in an 8-8 tie with the game called because of darkness. Rules allowed the all records from the game to count. The Yankees won the 1st game by a score of 16-9, when they scored 7 runs in the 9th inning to break a 9-9 tie with the Browns.
1939-The Yankees had obtained INF Roy Hughes and Cash from the St. Louis Browns for Reserve OF Joe Gallagher, who had hit just .244 in 14 games for the team, before being sent down to AA Newark Bears (IL) on June 2,1939. Roy Hughes would never play for the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to AA Newark Bears (IL). In July of 1939, he would be traded in a Minor League deal with the Phillies for P Al Hollingsworth.
1948-An ailing Hall of Fame Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. With the crowd of 49,641 fans singing Auld Lang Syne with members of the 1923 Yankees team (the 1st to play in the stadium) looking on, the New York Yankees retired Ruth's Uniform No. 3 during ceremonies that also commemorated the 25th anniversary of Yankee Stadium’s opening. Fewer than 2 months later, the 53-year-old Babe Ruth will pass away from Throat Cancer.
1972-Former Yankees Pitcher Darrell May (2005) was born.
On July 2, 2005, Pitcher Darrell May was traded by the Padres along with P Tim Redding and Cash to the Yankees for veteran Reliever Paul Quantrill. He went 0-1 with 16.71 ERA in 2 games for the 2005 Yankees, before being sent back to AAA.
1975-The Yankees had purchased veteran AL Shortstop Ed Brinkman from the Rangers for Cash. Brinkman had started the 1975 MLB season with the Cardinals, then he was traded to the Rangers. To make room for Brinkman on the Yankees MLB 25-man roster, the team would send Reserve OF Larry Murray back to AA West Haven (EL). For the 1975 Yankees, Ed would play in 44 games as a Reserve INF, hitting just .175 before being released by the team in March of 1976.
1975-The Yankees had sold hurler Mike Wallace to the Cardinals. In 1974, Mike had posted a 6-0 record with a 2.41 ERA in 23 games for the team. He had appeared in 3 games for the 1975 Yankees with no record. His sale to the Cardinals cleared an MLB Roster space for returning OF/1B/DH Ron Bloomberg from the DL.
1978-The Yankees veteran OF Roy White hits a HR from each side of the plate during a Yankees 5-3 win at Oakland. It was the 5th time in Roy White’s Yankees playing career does this HR feat.
1979-Former Yankees Minor League C David Parrish was born.
The Yankees had selected Catcher David Parrish in the 10th round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Player Draft. David was the son of former MLB Catcher Lance Parrish. In May of 2004, Parrish spent a brief time on the Yankees' 25 MLB man roster. On May 12th, Jorge Posada suffered a broken nose, when a thrown ball while trying to break up a double play struck him. Parrish, who was assigned uniform #57, provided insurance behind John Flaherty. However, he never got into a game and Posada was back in the lineup on May 18th. In 2006, he was released by the Yankees organization. After leaving the Yankees, he would play in the Pirates, Rockies and the Padres Minor League organizations. In 2008, he would retire as an active player.
1988-In a 12-6 loss to the Yankees, Red Sox Slugger Jim Rice hits his 200th MLB Career HR in Fenway Park, joining Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski as the only 3 Red Sox players to do it.
2000-Former Yankees Reliever Bobby Tiefenauer (1965) had passed away. (1929-2000)
After being acquired from the Braves for Yankees Minor League P Tom Dukes on June 16,1965, veteran Reliever Bobby Tiefenauer would post a 1-1 record with a 3.54 ERA and 2 saves in 10 games for the team. On August 11,1965, Bobby was purchased by the Indians from the Yankees. After his MLB Pitching career had ended in 1968, Tiefenauer would spend 2 decades with the Phillies organization as a Minor League Coach and later as an MLB Coach. Overall, in 10 MLB seasons, Bobby would post a 9-25 record with a 3.84 ERA and 23 saves in 179 MLB games.
2003-Yankees veteran Starter Roger Clemens reached his 300th MLB career win. He would become the 3rd pitcher in MLB history with 4,000 strikeouts, leading the Yankees over the Cardinals to a 5-2 victory in an MLB Inter-league game. St. Louis hitter Edgar Renteria would become his 4,000th MLB victim in the 2nd inning. Clemens, the 21st MLB Pitcher to make it to 300 wins; he allowed only 2 Cardinals runs in 6 2-3 innings of work as he struck out 10 St. Louis batters, raising his total MLB Pitching career total to 4,006 batters. Roger Clemens would join Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136) in the select MLB 4,000-Strikeout Pitchers club.
2010-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Catcher Joe Posada hits a Grand Slam HR for the 2nd consecutive game as the Yankees completed a series sweep of the Astros, by winning the game by the score of 9-5. In 1937, AL All-Star Catcher Bill Dickey had been the last Yankees player to hit Grand Slam HRs in back-to-back contests for the team.
2011-Just 6 hits shy of joining the 3,000 MLB Hit Club, Yankees Captain and Shortstop Derek Jeter must put his quest on hold as he exits today's 1-0 Yankees loss to the Indians with a sore right calf and goes on the DL. Jeter gets MLB hit No. 2,994 with a 1st-inning single off of Tribe Starter Carlos Carrasco, but he leaves in the 5th inning after feeling a strain, while running to 1B. Escaping a none-out, bases loaded jam in the 1st inning, Carrasco settles down by pitching 7 scoreless innings for the win. The Indians' lone run off of Yankees Starter A.J. Burnett comes in the 4th inning, courtesy of a triple by Michael Brantley followed by a single by Asdrubal Cabrera.
2015-Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez collects his 2000th MLB career RBI with a 2-run HR in the Yankees' 9-4 loss to the Orioles. He is the 4th MLB Player to reach the milestone; following Hall of Famer’s Cap Anson, Babe Ruth and All-time MLB Leader Hank Aaron.
2020-Former Yankees Pitcher Mike McCormick (1970) had passed away. (1938-2020)
On July 20,1970, Veteran NL All-Star P Mike McCormick was obtained from the Giants for Yankees P John Cumberland, who was 3-5 in 15 games for the 1970 Yankees. Mike was a former 1950’s Giants’ bonus baby signing. He had appeared on the 1960-1961 NL All-Star teams. In 1960, he was the NL ERA leader with a 2.70 mark. In 1962, Mike was with the Giants, but he did not appear in the World Series against the Yankees. Mike had won the 1967 NL Cy Young Award with the team, while posting a 22-10 record with a 2.85 ERA in 40 games. As a Yankees hurler, he went 2-0 with a 6.10 ERA in 9 games before being released by the team in the spring of 1971. The Royals would pick him up for the 1971 AL season. Overall, as an MLB hurler, Mike had posted a 134-128 record with a 3.73 ERA and 12 saves in 484 games with the Giants (twice), Orioles, Senators, Yankees and finishing up with the 1971 Royals, appearing in only 4 games with no decisions.
June 14th Flag Day, Please Show your Colors!!
1925-Former Yankees Reserve 1B Fenton “Muscles” Mole (1949) was born.
Reserve 1B Fenton Mole had appeared in just 10 games for the 1949 Yankees, while hitting just .189 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. He did not appear in the 1949 World Series for the Yankees against the Dodgers. Mole had started out in the Yankees Minor League system playing from 1946-1947. In 1948, he would play with the AA Portland Beavers (PCL), while hitting .283 with 22 HRs and 83 RBIs. The Yankees brought him back to play in their farm system. He would play most of the 1949 season with the AA Newark Bears (IL), while appearing in 107 games, hitting .269 with 16 HRs and 53 RBIs. He would remain playing in the Yankees Minor League system until 1952.
1928-Former Yankees Minor League INF Herb Plews was born. (1928-2014)
In 1950, the Yankees had signed INF Herb Plews as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend the 1951-1952 seasons serving in the military. After his military tour was completed, Herb would returned to the Yankees organization. He would put in 2 excellent Minor League seasons: with the 1954 AA Binghamton Triplets (EL) hitting .299 and .302 with the 1955 AAA Denver Bears (AA). He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. On February 8,1956, Herb was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, C Lou Berberet, OF Richard Tettelbach and P Bob Wiesler to the Senators for veteran P Mickey McDermott and Reserve INF Bobby Kline. On April 2,1956, the Yankees would later send AAA Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade. Herb would play in the MLB from 1956-1959 with the Senators and Red Sox; while hitting .262 with 4 HRs and 82 RBIs in 346 games.
1932-The Yankees pull a rare triple steal led by Yankees OF Ben Chapman on 3B during a 7-6 win over the Indians. The Yankees had the bases loaded, when Chapman broke for home plate and the other Yankee base runners also moved up.
1933-The Red Sox would beat the Yankees by the score of 13-5 at Fenway Park. Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy and 1B Lou Gehrig were thrown out of a game by the Umpires for arguing that Red Sox hitter Rick Ferrell had run out of the baseline between 1st and 2nd base. Lou Gehrig's consecutive-game streak stays intact, even though Lou and Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy were thrown out of a game. He had gone 1 for 3 with a triple during the game. Manager Joe McCarthy was suspended for 3 games, but Lou Gehrig's streak, is now at 1,249 consecutive MLB games continues.
1934-On a Tuesday day game played at Yankee Stadium, Bronx Starter Johnny Broaca allows only 1-hit, a 3rd inning single by the Browns OF Sammy West during the Yankees 7-0 win. Bronx Bomber Slugger Babe Ruth hits a 3-run HR off of Browns Starter Ivy Andrews to start the Yankees scoring. Broaca picks up his 1st victory of the 1934 AL season. Ivy Andrews takes the loss for St. Louis. The 1934 Yankees are now at the 29-20 mark for the season.
1936-The Yankees had obtained OF Al “Jake” Powell from the Senators for veteran OF Ben Chapman. Several racial remarks made by Ben Chapman during the 1936 AL season cause embarrassment to the Yankees front office forcing his trade to the Senators. Later in 1947, Ben Chapman was the Manager of the Phillies, who taunted Dodgers Black player Jackie Robinson with racial slurs. Jake Powell would play for the 1936-1940 Yankees, while appearing in 272 games, while hitting with 13 HRs and 124 RBIs. When asked by WGN radio announcer Bob Elson how he stated during the offseason during a dugout interview in a July 1938 game against the Chicago White Sox, Powell replied to Elson that he was a policeman in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio (in reality he had only applied), and that he "beat n-----s over the head with my blackjack." MLB Commissioner Judge Landis subsequently suspended him for 10 days, for making "an uncomplimentary reference to a portion of the population.” He had appeared in 3 World Series (1936-1938) for the Yankees, playing in 8 games while hitting .438 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. On December 5,1940, Jake Powell was purchased by the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) from the Yankees.
1937-The Yankees would recall Rookie Pitcher Spud Chandler from the AA Newark Bears (IL). For the 1937 Yankees, Spud will post a 7-4 record with a 2.84 ERA in 12 games.
1946-In an MLB roster move, the Yankees would sell veteran 3B Hank Majeski to Athletics for $7,500 Cash. Manager Bill Dickey had decided to use other infielders on the team 25-man roster. On May 25,1941, Hank was purchased by the Yankees from the Boston Braves. He would miss the 1942-1945 MLB baseball seasons, while serving in the military. Hank had appeared in just only 8 games for the 1946 Yankees, while hitting just .083. He will become the A’s starting 3rd baseman. In another MLB 25-man roster reduction move, the Yankees would send P Frank Hiller to the AAA Newark Bears (IL).
1953-The Yankees would sweep the Indians in a Sunday doubleheader played in Cleveland by scores of 6-2 and 3-0 before a crowd of 74,708 fans to extend their current AL winning streak to 18 games. In the Opener, the Yankees win by the score of 6-2 with Catcher Yogi Berra hitting a 3-run HR. Bob Kuzava relieves Starter Johnny Sain to pick-up his 2nd win of the season. Tribe Starter Bob Lemon takes the loss, he is now 7-6. In the Nightcap, Bronx veteran Starter Vic Raschi throws a complete game victory, he now 5-3 for the season. Meanwhile, Veteran Tribe Starter Mike Garcia throws a complete game, but he takes the loss bring his pitching record to a 7-4 mark. With the twin bill sweep of Tribe, the Yankees are now 41-11 for the 1953 AL season.
1954-The 1954 Mayor’s Trophy game is held at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 28,084 fans see the Dodgers beat the Yankees by the score of 2-1, despite getting just 2-base hits. Duke Snider’s 4th inning HR was the only hit that Yankees Starter Harry Byrd allowed in 7 innings of work. Dodgers Jim Gilliam’s 8th inning single drove Dodgers’ base runner Don Hoak in all the way in from 1st base. Dodgers’ Starter Billy Loes gets the win for Brooklyn, while Yankees Reliever Tom Gorman takes the loss for the Bombers. Neither team will make it to the 1954 World Series, which will feature the NL Giants and AL Indians.
1956-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Moe Burtschy, OF Bill Renna along with Cash from Kansas City for Reserve OF/3B Lou Skizas and veteran 1B/PH Eddie Robinson. Skizas would hit .316 in 83 games for the 1956 A’s before fading in 1957. The Yankees would send both players that they had received from KC to their AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL) neither players would play for the team at the MLB level. Also, in another MLB 25-man roster move the Yankees would recall Rookie OF Norm Siebern from AAA Richmond (IL).
1958-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB hurler Sal Maglie to the Cardinals for Minor League P Joe McClain and Cash. For the 1958 Yankees, Sal Maglie had appeared in 7 games, while posting a 1-1 record along with a 4.63 ERA. McClain was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA), when the Yankees brought up Pitcher Zack Monroe to replace Maglie on the Yankees 25-man MLB roster. McClain never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1961-The Yankees had obtained veteran Starter Bud Daley from the Kansas City for veteran Starter Art Ditmar and Rookie OF/INF Deron Johnson. Bud Daley would help out the Yankees pitching staff as a swingman. He would pick up a win for the Yankees in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. Art Ditmar was a sore-armed starter, who had won 15 games for the team in 1960; but he had pitched poorly for the Yankees in the 1960 World Series; losing 2 games to the Pirates. Meanwhile Rookie INF/OF Deron Johnson was blocked at 3B by the presence of Clete Boyer and at 1B by AL All-Star Bill Skowron. Also, he couldn’t crack the Yankees starting regular outfield of Mickey Mantle-Roger Maris-Yogi Berra/ Hector Lopez, either. Later, he would have a successful MLB playing career in the NL, starting with the 1964 Reds. Then Deron would play for the Braves and Phillies during his 16-season MLB playing career. Bud Daley will pitch for the Yankees from 1961-1964, posting an 18-16 record with a 3.89 ERA with 6 saves in 80 games. He had appeared in 1961-1962 World Series for the Yankees with a 1-0 record in 3 games. Bud would miss the entire 1963 AL season due to a pitching arm injury. After the 1964 World Series, the Yankees had sold him to the Indians. He never recovers from his pitching arm injury problems.
1961-The Yankees had traded veteran lefty hurler Danny McDevitt to the Twins for Reserve INF Billy Gardner. With the acquisition of veteran P Bud Daley from the A’s, McDevitt had become expendable. For the 1961 Yankees, he had appeared in 8 games, while posting a 1-2 record. Billy Gardner would join veteran Joe DeMasteri as an infield reserve players for the 1961 Yankees MLB bench.
1968-The Yankees had sold Reserve 1B Mike Hegan to the Seattle Pilots. He had played for the Yankees in 1964,1966 and 1967. Hegan had appeared in 86 games for the Bronx Bombers, while only hitting .148. He was the son of Yankees MLB Bullpen Coach Jim Hegan.
1969-The Yankees had obtained Tigers OF Ron Woods for veteran INF/OF Tom Tresh. Yankees Tom Tresh was at the end of his MLB playing career, never having to fully recover from his collision with Yankees Shortstop Ruben Amaro Sr. during the 1966 AL season that seriously injured both of his knees. Tresh had won 1962 AL Rookie of the Year Award by hitting .286 with 20 HRs and 93 RBIs. He had become the 1962 Yankees regular shortstop, while Tony Kubek was away on active duty with the Army Reserves. He was switched to the outfield as the regular LF, when Kubek returned from active duty during the 1962 AL season. He would return to the Shortstop position by Yankees Manager Ralph Houk in 1968.
1976-The 1976 Mayor’s Trophy game is played at the new remodeled Yankee Stadium. The Yankees win the game by the score of 8-4 before a crowd of 36,361 fans. Six of their 8 runs were unearned, thanks to 3 Mets errors. Yankees Rookie Pitcher Jim Beattie gets the win, while Rick Baldwin takes the lost for the Mets. Rookie Mets Catcher Jay Kleven, who would go 1 for 5 in the MLB, made the impression that earned him his cup of coffee with 2 hits in the game.
1977-Yankees Starter Don Gullet wins his 5th straight start as the Yankees win a 6-5 come-from–behind victory over the Twins.
1978-The Yankees had obtained OF/1B Jay Johnstone and Minor League OF Bobby Brown from the Phillies for Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs as a PH/1B. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for P Dave Wehrmeister. Overall, as a Yankees player, Johnstone had appeared in 59 games as an OF/1B, while hitting .239 with 3 HRs and 13 RBIs. Eastwick had appeared in 8 games for the Yankees, while posting a 2-1 record with no saves. Yankees Manager Billy Martin never was a fan of Rawley, since had Gossage and Lyle already in his 1978 Bronx bullpen.
1978-The Yankees repeatedly rally to defeat the Mariners by the score of 10-9 in 11 innings. Yankees had trailed into 8th inning, when Cliff Johnson’s pinch-hit HR ties the game. The Yankees then spotted the Mariners an extra inning lead before; Reserve OF Paul Blair hits a 2-out, 3-run HR in the 10th inning to win the game.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Chase Whitley (2014-2015) was born.
The Yankees had selected Pitcher Chase Whitley in the 15th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Whitley would split the summer of 2010 between the short season Class A Staten Island Yankees (4-2, 1.31 ERA, 15 Saves, 44 K in 34 1/3 IP) and the Class A Tampa Yankees (1 R in 3 IP). He would toss 3 1/3 shutout playoff innings for Tampa, while fanning 5 batters. In 2011, Whitley pitched for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) with a 0-1 record, 6 Saves, 1.68 ERA in 23 Games Then he was with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) going 3-4, with a 3.38 ERA in 19 games. In 2012, he did well with AA Trenton (no Runs in 4 IP) and then he was moved up to the AAA Scranton Yankees (IL), while posting a 9-5 record with a 3.25 ERA in 41 Games. He was 3-2 with 3 saves and a 3.06 ERA in 29 games for the 2013 AAA Scranton team. He would open the 2014 season with AAA Scranton (IL) by going 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 32 K in 26 1/3 IP. Then Chase was called up to the Bronx, when starter CC Sabathia went on the DL. In his MLB pitching debut for the Yankees on May 15, 2014, Whitley faced another pitcher making his MLB pitching debut, the Mets Jacob DeGrom. Both young pitchers did very well, with Chase giving up no runs on 2 hits in 4 2/3 innings before Dellin Betances relieved him, while DeGrom gave up a 1 run in 7 frames. The 2 young pitchers both also collected their 1st MLB hit off of one another. The Yankees won the game by the score of 1-0 with Whitley ending up with a no-decision. He would record his 1st MLB career win on June 6th against the Royals by winning the game by the score of 4-2. Chase will finish the 2014 season with a 4-3 record and a 5.23 ERA in 24 games. Whitley would start the 2015 season with the AAA Scranton (IL); where he went 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 3 starts. He was called up to the Bronx in late April to join the Yankees starting rotation. He would post a 1-2 record with a 4.19 ERA in 4 starts, but he had to leave the last of these, on May 14th in the 2nd inning with pain in his elbow. The next day, he would have an MRI, he had elected to undergo Tommy John surgery; putting him out for at least a year. On November 20, 2015, Chase was selected off waivers by the Rays from the Yankees.
2010-Former Yankees Reserve OF Oscar Azocar (1990) had passed away. (1965-2010)
On November 22,1983, OF Oscar Azocar was signed as a Free Agent for the Yankees by their MLB Scout Fred Ferreira. Originally a Pitcher in the Yankees farm system from 1984-1986, he went 14-5 with a 2.31 ERA. He began playing the outfield in 1987; he would hit .359 for the Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL) that season. In 1990, Azocar would play in 94 games for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He was called up to the Bronx. He would make his MLB player debut on July 17th, getting a pinch-hit single in his 1st MLB at-bat against the Royals. The following day, he would hit a HR, then a doubled and singled against the Royals. Overall, he had appeared in 65 games for the Yankees that summer, he was used more than any other player in LF by the Yankees, who also played Mel Hall, Hensley Meulens, Claudell Washington, Deion Sanders, Dave Winfield and others at the position that year. He would hit for a good average, but Oscar hardly drew any walks, which diminished his value as a player significantly, especially as he had little power as a hitter. After the 1990 MLB season had ended, he was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for OF Mike Humphreys.
June 15th Old MLB Trade Deadline Day
1912-Former Yankees 1B Ellsworth “Babe” Dahlgren (1937-1940) was born. (1912-1996)
On May 1,1939, 1B Babe Dahlgren had replaced Lou Gehrig at 1B, when his ALS Illness forced him to stop playing 1B in Detroit. On February 17,1937, Babe was purchased by the Yankees from the Red Sox. Babe had been blocked at 1B with the Red Sox, because the presence of future HOF 1B Slugger Jimmy Foxx. The Yankees had purchased the 24-yearold 1B just in case they had trouble resigning All-Star 1B Lou Gehrig. Dahlgren would appear in 327 games for the 1937-1940 Yankees, while hitting .248 with 27 HRs and 163 RBIs. He would play in 1939 World Series against the Reds, while hitting only .214. His MLB playing career was shaken by an unfounded rumor that he was a marijuana smoker by his Manager Joe McCarthy. NL Baseball ExecutiveBranch Rickey would help spread the false story. Babe would pay for his own drug testing, which showed that the story was wrong. He took his testing results to Commissioner Judge Landis, who would fail to follow up on the accusations. This explains why the Yankees would sell him to the Boston Braves before the start of 1941 AL season, without giving an explanation. Manager Joe McCarthy claimed that his fielding was lacking, “his arms were too short for 1st base,” which went against the observations of anyone, who had watched him play. He was leading the Braves in HRs and RBIs, when they traded him to the Cubs later that season, again without a valid explanation. In 1942, he would play for 3 different MLB teams. On May 13th, the Cubs would sell him to the Browns, but they would return him 6 days later, after he had made only a couple of pinch-hitting appearances for the team. On that same day, the Cubs would send him to the Dodgers, again for cash. The explanation was that there was uncertainty about whether he would be entering the US military (this was a few months after Pearl Harbor), but again, it makes little sense on its own. In any case, he never got going during that 1942 MLB season. He was eventually was sent down by the team to their AAA club, the Montreal Royals (IL), but he would refuse to report. The Dodgers turned around and sell the unwanted Dahlgren to the Phillies before the start of the 1943 NL season. The Phillies were a woeful team that needed all the help it could get, did not mind adding a player, who had become a pariah because of the drug rumors. It turned out to be a wise move, as Dahlgren could still play. He would appear in 136 games, while hitting .287 with 56 RBIs. Babe was named to the NL All-Star team. He took a drug test to prove that he was clean. However, his season was cut short when he was inducted into the military on September 16th, but he failed his physical exam because of a sinus condition. Before the start of the 1944 NL season, he was traded again, this time to the Pirates. He had played in 154 games for the Bucs that season, while hitting .289 with 101 RBIs. In 1945, his 115 double plays and .996 fielding percentage, both would lead the NL. He would hit .250 with 75 RBIs. Babe would play in the MLB from 1935-1946 for the Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, Browns (twice), Dodgers, Phillies and the Pirates. In 1964, he was an MLB Coach for the Kansas City A’s; earlier he had been an MLB Scout for the team from 1956 to 1958. Later, he was an MLB Scout for the Orioles. He became a pioneer in using film to study batters' swings and as a teaching device, working on this with the A's and with the Cardinals in 1965. He had amassed a tremendous collection of film materials on hitters dating back to the 1940’s, but all of these films were lost, when his home burnt down in a fire in 1980.
1916-Former Yankees Reserve OF Edward “Bud” Stewart (1948) was born. (1916-2000)
In March of 1947, the Yankees had acquired OF Edward “Bud” Stewart from the Pirates. He had previously played in the MLB with the 1941-1942 Pirates. Then Bud would spend time in the service from 1943-1944. After hitting .358 for the 1947 AA Kansas City Blues (AA), he began the 1948 AL season in the Bronx. After appearing in just 6 games with the 1948 Yankees, he was traded to the Senators on May 13,1948 for veteran OF Leon Culberson and $20,000 Cash.
1923-At Yankee Stadium, a Friday day crowd of 10,000 fans, see Future HOF 1B Lou Gehrig make his MLB player debut with the Yankees as a substitute player in a 10-0 blow-out of the St. Louis Browns. He had replaced 1B Wally Pipp as a defensive replacement in the Yankees starting line-up with no at bats. He had been a College Baseball star Pitcher and 1B at Columbia Univ. Lou will play in 13 games for the 1923 Yankees, while hitting .423 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs.
1926-The Yankees had obtained veteran OF Roy Carlyle on waivers from the Red Sox. He was used by the club as a left-handed pinch-hitter. Roy would hit .385 with No HRs and 11 RBIs in 35 games for the 1926 Yankees before retiring from baseball. He did not appear in the 1926 World Series for the Yankees against the Cardinals.
1928-Former Yankees Minor League Player (1955-1958) and Manager (1968-1974) Gene Hassell was born.
Gene Hassell had played the infield in the Yankees Minor League system with the 1954-1959 AAA Denver Bears (AA). In 1961, he would retire as an active player. From 1968-1974, Gene was a Minor League Manager for the Yankees organization at Johnson City, Manchester and Kinston teams.
1929-The Yankees had sold Pitcher Myles Thomas to the Senators. He would post a 14-12 record with a 4.70 ERA and 1 save in 70 games for the team. They had sold him to clear a roster spot for College Pitcher Bots Nekola, who they just had signed. The graduate of Holy Cross College would just last 9 games with no decisions for the 1929 Yankees.
1935-The Reds would return hurler Dan MacFayden to the Yankees upon the expiration of the “try-out” period allowed for in the deal, which had sent him to the Reds in 1934. The Yankees would return around and sell him to the St. Louis Browns for Cash.
1943-Former Yankees Pitcher Alan Closter (1971-1972) was born.
Before the start of the 1965 AL Season, Pitcher Alan Closter was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. On November 29,1965, he was drafted by the Indians from the Yankees in the 1965 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. Alan would post a 2-2 record with a 5.58 ERA in 16 games with the Yankees. On September 5,1973, the Yankees would send P Al Closter to the Braves to complete an earlier deal made on June 7,1973. When the Yankees sent Players to be Named Later, Reserve Players: INF/OF Wayne Nordhagen and 1B/OF Frank Tepedino to the Braves for veteran MLB P Pat Dobson.
1950-The Yankees had obtained 3 Pitchers: Joe Ostrowski, Tom Ferrick and Sid Schacht, 3B Leo Thomas from St. Louis Browns for veteran INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, OF Jim Delsing, 2 Pitchers: Don Johnson and Duane Pillette along with $50,000 Cash. The Yankees had traded 4 players that they didn’t plan to use in 1950 for the Browns players. Don Johnson had gone 5-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 23 games for the Yankees; while Duane Pillette had posted a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games. Veteran INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss was no longer a regular 2B being replaced by a young Jerry Coleman. Pitcher Tom Ferrick would help the 1950 Yankees bullpen by going 8-4 with a 3.65 ERA and 9 saves. Joe Ostrowski would become a valuable long man for the 1950-1953 Yankees by going 9-7 with 4.37 ERA and 3 saves in 27 games. Pitcher Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas never appeared with the team at MLB level. They both were assigned to the Yankees AAA club, the Kansas City Blues (AA).
1951-The Yankees had obtained 2 Pitchers: Bob “Sarge” Kuzava and Bob Ross from the Senators for 3 hurlers: Starters Fred Sanford, Bob Porterfield and Reliever Tom Ferrick. Bob Kuzava would go 8-4 with 5 saves for the 1951 Yankees. In World Series play for the Yankees, Bob had a 0-0 record with 2 saves in 3 games. Overall, for the Bombers, “Sarge” would post a 23-20 record with a 3.39 ERA and 13 saves in 103 games. Bob Ross never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to AAA Kansas City Blues (AA). Starter Fred Stanford was a major disappointment for the Yankees, who had hope that he would be become a successful starter, after pitching well for the lowly Browns. He would post a 12-10 record with a 4.18 ERA in 66 games. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel never used him in the 1949-1950 World Series. The trading of P Bob Porterfield was a rare Yankees trade mistake; he would recover from his back problems, winning 22 games for the 1953 Senators. As a 1948-1951 Yankees hurler, Bob had posted an 8-9 record with 1 save and a 5.06 ERA in 40 games. He would win 67 games in 5 seasons for the Nats. Veteran Pitchers Fred Sanford and Tom Ferrick were ineffective with the Senators.
1951-The Yankees had obtained veteran hurler Stubby Overmine from the St. Louis Browns for Starter Tommy Byrne and $25,000 Cash. Stubby went 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 games for the 1951 Yankees, before being traded back to the Browns. Tommy Byrne had been a good starter for the 1949-1950 Yankees by posting a 30-16 record, despite having control problems, walking a lot of hitters. He had been dropped from the Yankees starting rotation by Manager Casey Stengel. He had appeared in 9 games for the 1951 Yankees, going 2-1 along with a 6.86 ERA. In September of 1954, Tommy Byrne would return to Yankees, after being acquired from the AAA Seattle Rainers (PCL). He would enjoy 4 good seasons with the 1954-1957 Yankees, while posting a 30-16 record before retiring from MLB.
1957-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Ryne Duren, Outfielders Jim Pisoni and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson from Kansas City for Pitcher Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and OF Bob Martyn. Ryne Duren would become the 1958-1960 Yankees Bullpen Closer, while battling his serious drinking problems. Ryne had gone 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 games with the 1957 A’s. He would be sent down to the Yankees AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA). Ralph Terry would return to the Yankees during the 1959 AL season, later becoming a successful Yankees Starter during the early 1960’s. Billy Martin was hitting .241 with 1 HR and 12 RBIs for the Yankees. He would hit .257 with 9 HRs and 27 RBIs in 73 games for the A’s before being traded by the team in 1958 to the Indians. INF/0F Woody Held had appeared in only 1 game with no hits for the 1957 Yankees. With the A’s, he would hit .239 with 20 HRs and RBIs in 92 games. After being traded by team to the Indians in 1958, he would become the starting shortstop for the Tribe during the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s. Veteran Harry Simpson had play the OF/1B for the Yankees in 99 games, while hitting .233 before being traded back to Kansas City in May of 1958. Jim Pisoni would spend most of his playing time with the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Bob Martyn had played in 94 games for the 1957-1959 A’s, while hitting .263. On April 12,1959, Bob was traded by the A’s along with INF Mike Baxes to the Yankees for Reserve INF Tom Carroll and Minor League OF Russ Snyder. He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. The Yankees would send him to their AAA Richmond team, where he played in 110 games, while hitting .295. In 1960, he would split his last pro season playing in AAA for the Yankees Richmond Virginians (IL) and the Reds AAA club, the San Diego Padres (PCL) before retiring from the game.
1958-The Yankees had obtained 2 hurlers: Virgil Trucks and Duke Maas from Kansas City for 2 veterans: Reliever Bob Grim and OF/1B Harry “Suitcase” Simpson. Veteran hurler Virgil “Fire Trucks” went 2-1 with a 4.54 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games for the Yankees before retiring from MLB. Reserve OF/1B Simpson had appeared in 99 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .244 with 7 HRs, 7 triples and 45 RBIs. He had appeared in 5 games of the 1957 World Series against the Braves, while playing in 5 games, while hitting just .083. Former 1954 AL Rookie of the Year hurler Bob Grim had posted a 45-21 record along with a 3.35 ERA and 28 saves in 146 games for the Yankees. In 1958, Bob had lost his effectiveness as a Reliever by going 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in 11 games for the Yankees before the trade was made with the A’s. Duke Maas had posted a 4-5 record with a 3.90 ERA in 10 games for the 1958 A’s. He would post a 7-3 record with a 3.82 ERA in 28 games for the 1958 Yankees.
1958-Former Hall of Fame Yankees and MLB 3B Wade Boggs (1993-1997) was born.
In 1992, the Yankees had signed former All-Star 3B Wade Boggs as an MLB Free Agent. He had played for the Yankees Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox from 1982 to 1992. He hit over the .300 in 4 of the 5 seasons that he played for the Yankees. Wade would appear in 602 games for the Yankees, while hitting .313 with 24 HRs and 246 RBIs. He would hit .273 in the 1996 World Series against the Braves for the Yankees. He would leave the Yankees over his sharing playing time dispute at 3B, opting for MLB Free Agency. He would sign with his hometown team: The Tampa Bay Rays. With the Rays, Wade would collect his 3,000 MLB career hit. In 2005, Wade Boggs was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1966-The Yankees would sell veteran MLB Starter Bob Friend to the Mets for $20,000 waiver price. He was washed up. On December 10,1965, Bob Friend was traded by the Pirates to the Yankees for Reliever Pete Mikkelsen and Cash. For the 1966 Yankees, he had posted a 1-4 record with a 4.84 ERA in 12 games before his trade to the Mets.
1968-After his player release by the Dodgers, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran All-Star OF Rocky Colavito. For the 1968 Yankees, Rocky would appear in 39 games, just hitting .220 with 5 HRs with 13 RBIs. Also, he would pitch in 1 game for the Yankees in relief getting the victory. The Yankees had asked him to come back for the 1969 AL season as a Relief Pitcher, Reserve OF and occasionally Pinch-Hitter, but Rocky had decided to retired from MLB instead. He had hoped to be offered a chance to play by one of the 2 new AL Expansion Teams: the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots. That didn’t happen, he would stay in his MLB player retirement.
1968-On June 15,1968, Yankees had sold veteran hurler Jim Bouton to the AAA Seattle Angels (PCL), who would later become the new 1969 AL Expansion Team, the Seattle Pilots. For the 1968 Yankees, he had been in 12 games, while posting a 1-1 record with a 3.68 ERA. His Yankees Pitching career ended with a 55-51 record along with a 3.36 ERA and 4 saves in 197 games. Jim had pitched in the 1963-1964 World Series for the Yankees, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.48 ERA in 3 games. In 1963, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Jim had appeared in the game, pitching 1 inning.
1968-The Yankees would sell veteran Reliever John Wyatt to the Tigers for $30,000 Cash. After being obtained from the Red Sox, John had appeared in just 7 games with the 1968 Yankees, while posting a 0-2 record with a 2.16 ERA. John was moved by the team to make room for veteran lefty P Al Downing, who was coming off the DL. Wyatt had been a star in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s. John had appeared in the 1967 World Series with the Red Sox. He will not make any appearance for Tigers in their 1968 World Series against the Cardinals.
1972-Former Yankees 1B/DH and MLB/Union Executive Tony Clark (2004) was born.
In 2004, Veteran 1B/DH/OF Tony Clark was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Tony would hit .221 with 16 HRs and 49 RBIs for the Yankees. He was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He would sign with the D-Backs, who would offer him more playing time. After retiring from the game, he became active in the MLB Players Association in 2010 as Director of Player Relations. He had been a Player Representative for many years, while playing in the MLB. Clark was already familiar with union business. He was named Deputy to Executive Director Michael Weiner ,when he was struck by brain cancer in July of 2013, and replaced him on an interim basis after his passing on November 21, 2013. On December 3rd, he was confirmed in the position of Executive Director, although his nomination still needed to be ratified by a vote of the membership. A few days later, he would name Hall of Famer Dave Winfield as his Deputy.
1972-Former Yankees Pitcher Ramiro Mendoza (1996-2002, 2005) was born.
Ramiro Mendoza would post a 54-34 record with a 4.10 ERA and 16 saves in 278 games with the Yankees. Ramiro was one of the key bridges in the 1996-2002 Yankees bullpens to Yankees Closer Marino Rivera. He was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees in 2002. Ramon would sign with their Eastern Division Rivals, the Red Sox. He had suffered arm injuries that ended his MLB pitching career in 2005, while trying to make a comeback with the Yankees.
1972-Former Yankees All-Star Starter Andy Pettitte (1995-2003, 2007-2010, 2012) was born.
In 1990, the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Andy Pettitte, but he waited instead until 1991 to sign with the Yankees as a draft-and-follow. From 1991 to early 1995, he would pitch in the Yankees Minor League organization. He never had a losing season. In the Rookie League, he had a 0.98 ERA. At Oneonta and Greensboro, he had ERA around 2.20. In 1993, in Single A and AA, he had a record of 12-9. In 1994, Andy would split time between the AA and AAA levels. Andy would post a 14-4 record. In 1995, after 11 2/3 innings in AAA without giving up a run, the Yankees would bring him up. As a Rookie that season, he would post a 12-9 record; he was 3rd in the voting for the 1995 AL Rookie of the Year Award. In 1996, his 2nd season in the MLB, Andy was 2nd in the Cy Young Award voting, after posting a season record of 21-8. In 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2005, he was in the top 6 in the Cy Young Award pitcher voting. He would post a 19-9 record in 2000 then a 21-8 record in 2003. He was on the AL All-Star teams in 1996, 2001 and 2010. In his return to the Yankees in 2007, he became the team's elder anchor on the mound, continually giving the team solid performances as teammates such as Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Carl Pavano and Philip Hughes battled inconsistency and injuries. He would pass the 200-inning mark in both 2007 and 2008. That season, he was given the honor of starting the last game ever played in Yankee Stadium on September 21st - a fitting tribute for one of the winningest pitchers in the history of the famed ballpark. He would pitch 5 + innings against the Orioles to earn credit for his team's 7-3 win. In 2009, he was a key figure in his team's conquest of another World Series title, going 14-8 during the season, getting the series-clinching win in all 3 rounds of the 2009 MLB postseason, including Game 6 of the World Series against the Phillies. His 2010 AL season was cut short by injury, as he went 11-3 in 21 starts, with a 3.28 ERA, his best since 2005. He came back in time for the 2010 MLB postseason, but after the season said he was thinking about retirement. He hesitated for months before making his decision to retire known at a press conference on February 4, 2011. It seemed not to have missed a step, as it barely took a month of extended spring training and a few minor league assignments to get him ready to pitch in pinstripes again. He was called up to the Bronx on May 8th, he was handed the assignment as the team's starter for May 13th, against the Mariners. His return came at an opportune time, shortly after the Yankees had learned that prize off-season acquisition Michael Pineda would be lost for the season due to an arm injury; with Yankee starters struggling to a 5.54 ERA in the season's early going. He was a loser in his 1st start on May 13th, giving up 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings to the Mariners, including long balls to Justin Smoak and Casper Wells. He was then outstanding in his 2nd start, pitching 4-hit ball over 8 innings for a 4-0 win over the Reds on May 18th. Then he was out-standing in his 2nd start, pitching 4-hit ball over 8 innings for a 4-0 win over the Reds on May 18th. He would suffered a big setback on June 27th; however, when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of the Indians' batter Casey Kotchman, breaking his fibula. Hoping to return to action quickly, he began throwing off flat ground at the end of July, but he pushed himself too hard, delaying his return until September. He finally came back on September 19th, pitching 5 innings and earning the win over the Blue Jays, 4-2, in the opener of a doubleheader sweep. He would pick up another win in his next start on September 24th, by pitching 6 scoreless innings over the Twins to improve to his record to 5-3. He would finish the season at 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts and then Andy made a couple of starts in the postseason. He would lose Game 2 of the ALDS to the Orioles, 3-2 in spite of a solid start, and then he got a no-decision in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tigers, pitching 6 2/3 innings in a game that the Yankees lost in extra innings.
In 2013, Pettitte was back with the Yankees; he registered the team's 1st win of the season in its 3rd game, while facing the Red Sox on April 4th. He gave up only 1 run in 8 innings, before turning the ball over to Mariano Rivera, who, just like in the good old days, recorded the save in his return from a serious knee injury that had almost ended his MLB pitching career the previous year. He also won his 2nd start, but then he had to have his next outing pushed back by a few days because of back spasms. He generally pitched well over the 1st 6 weeks of the season, as he was 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 7 starts on May 16th. That day, however, he had to leave a game against the Mariners in the 5th inning with a back injury, bleak news for a Yankees team reeling with injuries (although still playing well at that point). Pettitte was placed on the DL the next day. He would return on June 3rd, with a chance to earn his 250th MLB win against the Indians, but he ended up 1 out short of the mandatory 5 innings required and Reliever Shawn Kelley was credited with the 7-4 win. He did win the milestone contest on June 8th, when he defeated the Mariners by the score of 3-1. What made that day more memorable was that his son Josh, a standout HS pitcher was drafted by the Yankees in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft that day; Josh was expected to forego the pros for now in order to enroll at Baylor Univ., however. On July 1st, he would record his 1,957th strikeout to pass Whitey Ford to become the Yankees' all-time leader in that department. On September 20th, he announced that he would retire at the end of the MLB season, joining his long-time Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera, although with his announcement coming late in the season, he received none of the extended tributes from opposing teams that were handed to Mo throughout the year. His last MLB career start was a beauty; facing his former team, the Astros on September 28th, he would pitch a complete game and won by the score of 2-1 to finish the 2013 AL season with an 11-11 record with a 3.74 ERA in 30 starts. It was his 1st complete game since the 2006 MLB season, but Rivera had indicated that he had already pitched his last game, so Pettitte got to finish his own work. The Yankees had been eliminated from 2013 MLB postseason contention a few days earlier, so there would be no more encores.
Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera had set the record for win-save combinations by a pitcher duo, with 58 breaking the mark held by Oakland Pitchers Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley. That mark was pushed to 69 by the time Pettitte recorded his 1st win of 2013 with Mariano's help, and the 2 combined their efforts 3 more times during the season, pushing the mark to 72. The Yankees would retire his player Uniform No. 46 on August 23, 2015. They would dedicate a plaque with his name in Monument Park. His was 1 of 3 numbers worn by members of the great Yankees teams of the late 1990’s to be retired that year, alongside Uniform Number 20 worn by Catcher Jorge Posada and the No. 51 worn by OF Bernie Williams; Rivera's 42 had received the honor at the end of the 2013 AL season; when he pitched his last game, still waiting was Derek Jeter's No. 2 to complete the 4 core of outstanding teammates, who had played together with tremendous success for over a decade. In 15 seasons with the Yankees, Andy had posted a 219-127 record with a 3.94 ERA in 447 games. In World Series play with the Yankees, he had posted a 5-4 record. Overall, Andy as an MLB Pitcher with the Yankees and Astros, he had posted a lifetime 256-153 record with a 3.85 ERA in 531 games.
1974-The Yankees had purchased lefty hurler Rudy May (1974-1976,1980-1983) from the Angels for Cash. On June 15,1976, Rudy was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve Catcher Rick Dempsey, Pitchers Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor and Dave Pagan to the Orioles for 3 veteran Pitchers: Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman and Grant Jackson, OF Jimmy Freeman and Reserve Catcher Elrod Hendricks. Rudy would rejoin the Yankees in 1980, as an MLB free agent. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1980; when Rudy went 15-4, while leading the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.46 mark. Overall, Rudy had recorded a 54-45 record with a 3.12 ERA and 7 saves in 184 games with Yankees in 2 tours with the team. He had appeared in 1 World Series for the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record. In 16 MLB seasons, Rudy would post a 152-156 record with a 3.46 ERA and 12 saves in 535 games.
1976-Oakland A’s Team Owner Charlie Finley had sold 3 of his AL All-Star players at the MLB trade deadline. OF Joe Rudi and Reliever Rollie Fingers were sent to the Red Sox for $1 million dollars apiece, meanwhile Starter Vida Blue was send to the Yankees for $1.5 million. Three days later, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn will void the moves, saying they are "not in the best interests of baseball." This was one of the worst baseball decisions made by Kuhn, who had numerous run-ins with the 2 AL Team Owners A’s Charlie Finley and the Yankees George Steinbrenner. All 3 A’s players will become MLB Free Agents at the end of the 1976 AL season, leaving Finley with nothing to show for them.
1976-The Yankees had obtained veteran MLB Starters Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander and Reliever Grant Jackson, Reserve Catcher Elrod Hendricks and Minor League OF Jim Freeman from the Orioles for Yankees hurlers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott MacGregor and Reserve Catcher Rick Dempsey. This was a classic Yankees trade for “today and forget about the future.” Alexander and Grant would be gone from the team at the end of the 1976 MLB Post Season. Doyle Alexander left the team for MLB Free Agency, while Grant was lost in the AL Expansion Team Player Draft to the new Seattle Mariners. Martinez and MacGregor would be major improvements for the Orioles MLB pitching staff, the type of pitchers that the Yankees would later need and didn’t have. Jim Freedman never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. At the time of the trade, young Reliever Tippy Martinez was in Yankees Manager Billy Martin’s doghouse, while Yankees Minor League P Scott MacGregor was recovering from a broken collarbone injury.
1977-The Yankees had obtained veteran C/1B Cliff Johnson from the Astros for 3 Yankees Minor Leaguer Players: P Randy Niemann (Class AA), INF Mike Fischlin (Class A, FSL) and a Player to be Named Later. On November 23,1977, Minor League 1B/OF Dave Bergman would be sent to the Astros. Cliff Johnson would DH, play 1B and Catch for the Yankees before being traded away to the Indians for Pitcher Don Hood during the 1979 AL season.
1977-Former Yankees Reliever Bret Printz (2003-2004) was born.
On July 29, 2003, Bret Prinz was traded by the Diamondbacks along with Minor League Player John Prowl and MLB OF/1B David Dellucci to the Yankees for veteran MLB OF Raul Mondesi and Cash. For the Yankees, Bret went 1-0 with a 5.93 ERA in 28 games. On March 29, 2005, Bret was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for Reserve Catcher Wil Nieves.
1978-The Yankees had obtained OF/1B Gary Thomasson from Oakland for 2 Minor League Players: OF Dell Alston and INF Mickey Klutts. Gary would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 24 RBIs in 51 games for the 1978 Yankees; while filling in for the injured CF Mickey Rivers. OF Dell Alston had appear in 22 games for the Yankees, while hitting .325. Mickey Klutts had been a top Yankees Shortstop prospect, who had hit .319 at AAA in 1976. In the 1977 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, he had a chance to win the starting MLB shortstop job, but he had suffered a broken finger, after his recovery; he was returned to play in AAA. He had played in 1 game for the 1978 Yankees. During the 1979 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, Gary was traded by the Yankees to the Dodgers for Reserve Catcher Brad Gullen. The Yankees were trying to rebuilding their catching corps in their farm system.
1978-The Yankees make an MLB roster move with Reserve INF George Zeber being sent to their AAA Club, the Tacoma Yankees (PCL) and bringing up INF Brian Doyle. In 1977, as a Yankees Rookie INF George Zeber had hit .323 in 25 games, but he was 0 for 6 for the 1978 Yankees.
1978-Former Yankees Minor League P Zach Day was born.
In 1996, the Yankees in the 5th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Zach Day. He never pitched for the team at the MLB level. He was one of the 3 young Yankee players traded to the Indians as part of the Dave Justice trade.
1979-On June 15,1979, veteran OF/1B Jay Johnstone was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for hurler Dave Wehrmeister. Overall, as a Yankees player, Johnstone had appeared in 59 games as an OF/1B; while hitting .239 with 3 HRs and 13 RBIs. Dave will appear in 5 games for the 1981 Yankees, while posting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA in 5 games.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Matt Smith (2006) was born.
On June 5, 2000, Pitcher Matt Smith was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had appeared in 12 games with the 2006 Yankees with no decisions. On July 30, 2006, he was traded by the Yankees along with 3 Minor League Players; C.J. Henry, Carlos Monastrios and Jesus Sanchez to the Phillies for OF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle.
1980-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Eric Kratz (2017, 2020) was born.
On August 31, 2017, Catcher Eric Kratz was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. He was sent to AAA Scranton (IL). He had been with the Indians AAA team at Columbus (IL), hitting .270. He would appear in 4 games for the 2017 Yankees, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. On November 2, 2017, Erick was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. On December 7, 2017, he was resigned as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would start the 2018 season with AAA Scranton (IL), by hitting .269 with 4 HRs and 5 RBIs in 17 games. On May 25, 2018, Erick was purchased by the Brewers from the Yankees. On June 8, 2019, after being released by the Rays, Erik was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He didn’t appear with the team at the MLB level. In winter of 2019, Eric signed a Minor League contract with the Yankees, with an invitation to their 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp. In 2020, he was on the field for 16 games as a 3rd-string Catcher and occasional 1B (he also pitched twice, to give him 7 games and as many innings for his career as he showed off a rather impressive knuckleball. He had bonded particularly well with young P Deivi Garcia, who was half his age, but thrived under his mentorship. He would hit .321 with No HRs and 4 RBIs, but he did not appear in the AL postseason, although he was on the roster for the ALWCS. After the MLB post season, he would announced that he was retiring, making good on a promise he had made to his young daughter to buy her a puppy, when he finally hanged up his spikes. As a Yankees player, Kratz had appeared in 20 games for the team, while hitting .367 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. As an MLB player for 11 seasons, he would finish with a .209 BA with 31 HRs and 105 RBIs in 332 games. He was originally signed by the Blue Jays 2002, but he didn’t appear with them at the MLB Level.
1983-The Yankees had traded 1B Marshall Brant, Minor League P Ben Callahan and Cash to Oakland for veteran hurler Matt Keough. For the 1983 Yankees, he would post a 3-4 record in 12 games. Marshall was a 1B at AAA Columbus (IL), who only saw action in 3 games with the Yankees with no hits. Ben Callahan was a hurler for the Yankees Class AA team, the Nashville Sounds (SL.)
1987-Former Yankees INF Eduardo Nunez (2012-2014) was born.
In 2004, Yankees MLB Scout Vic Mata had signed INF Eduardo Nunez. He would debut that year as a pro, by hitting .249 for the DSL Yankees 1. In 2005, he would hit .313 for the short season Class A Staten Island Yankees as the 3rd youngest position player in the NY-Penn League. Nunez was 3rd in the NYPL in hits (88), tied for 3rd in triples (6) and 9th in average. He led the league's shortstops in double plays (46), but also in errors (28). Baseball America rated him as the Yankees' 6th-best prospect and 4th-best in the NYPL. In 2006, Eduardo struggled with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) hitting just .186 and with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) hitting just .227. He did steal 32 bases in 42 tries overall, one positive. The Dominican INF took the opposite course in '07, starting with Charleston (.238, 20 SB in 28 tries over 91 Games) before being returned to Tampa (.285 in 30 Games). Nunez would miss time in 2008 with sprains to both thumbs. He would hit .271 for Tampa, while healthy, but was just 14-for-24 in steal attempts. He would field .952 at short. In 2009, the 22-year-old showed his 1st signs of serious talent in 4 seasons, putting up a .322 BA for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). He would steal 19 bases in 26 tries. He made 33 errors at short, most in the entire EL. He was still named the All-Star Shortstop for the league. Baseball America did not list him as one of the league's top 20 prospects, though. That winter, he was 2 for 10 for the Toros del Este. The Santo Domingo native began 2010 season with the AAA Scranton Yankees (IL) by hitting .289 in 118 games along with 23 steals in 28 tries while fielding .976 at short.
He was called up to the Bronx, when Alex Rodriguez was injured. In his MLB Player debut, he was a defensive substitute for Shortstop Derek Jeter and turned 2 double plays in 3 innings. In his 1st trip to the plate, he was retired on a pop-up by Jose Valverde. His 1st MLB hit was on August 21, a single off of Jason Vargas to break a 4-4 tie in the 7th; it was the game-winning hit. A week later, he drilled his 1st MLB HR, a 2-run shot off of P John Dakes. He went (14 for 50) .280 with the 1 HR and 7 RBIs in 30 games in pinstripes that season. In 2011, Nunez got a lot of playing time for the Yankees in mid-season as he got most of the starts at 3B when Alex Rodriguez went on the DL in July. He would play in 112 games overall, hitting .265 with 18 doubles in 309 at-bats; he was also successful 22 of 28 times in stealing bases, while splitting his time between Shortstop and 3B. His 20 errors were 4th in the 2011 AL, behind Mark Reynolds, Elvis Andrus and Cliff Pennington, despite his part-time role; he spent the entire season with the Yankees. In 2012, Nunez was sent back to the Minors for part of the season, as Eric Chavez and Jayson Nix were the main reserve infielders for the Yankees. He was injured for a time. He would play 38 games with AAA Scranton, while hitting only .227, in addition to short rehabilitation stints with the GCL Yankees and Class A Tampa (FSL). In the MLB, he would hit .292 in 38 games, but in only 89 at-bats. He went 1 for 5 with a double and a pair of runs scored against the Orioles in the ALDS, then 2 for 6 with a triple and a HR in the ALCS against the Tigers. With Jeter out at the start of the 2013 season with the sequels of the broken ankle suffered in the previous year's ALCS, Nunez would start at shortstop in the 1st month of the 2013 season. However, he injured a rib on May 5th, after a few days of rest were not enough to cure him; Nunez was placed on the DL on May 12th, one in a very long series of injuries suffered by the Bronx Bombers at the start of the season. He was hitting .200 in 27 games, with 3 errors and 4 RBIs. Finally, he stayed out until July 6th, when he was back in the Yankees' starting line-up after a brief rehab assignment in the Minors. He would mark his return with his best game of the season by going 2 for 3 with a run with a pair of RBIs in a 5-4 win over the Orioles. He then stayed with the team until the end of the 2013 season, as Jeter was only healthy for brief stints. He would play in 90 games, while batting .260 with 3 HRs and 38 RBIs in addition to 17 doubles. With Jeter having announced that 2014 would be his last MLB active season, Nunez was expected to share the shortstop job with him before eventually taking it over full time. In a surprise move however, Nunez failed to make the team out of the Yankees 2014 MLB Spring Training Camp. He was optioned to AAA Scranton, as the more versatile Yangervis Solarte took the job of utility infielder. On April 7th, it was confirmed unequivocally that he no longer figured in the Yankees' future plans as he was traded to the Twins in return for P Miguel Sulbaran.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Andrew Heaney (2021) was born.
Pitcher Andrew Heaney was drafted by the Marlins in the 1st round (9th) of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Oklahoma St. Univ. On December 11, 2014, he was traded by the Marlins along with Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher and Enrique Hernandez to the Dodgers for INF Dee Strange-Gordon, P Dan Haren, INF Miguel Rojas and Cash. For the 2014 Marlins, he had posted a 0-3 record with a 5.83 ERA in 7 games. On December 11, 2014, Andrew was traded by the Dodgers to the Angels for INF Howie Kendrick. With the Angels, Andrew would post a 30-33 record with a 4.51 ERA in 102 games. On July 30, 2021, Heaney was traded by the Angels along with Cash to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Pitchers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. He will not be that effective for the injury riddle 2021 Yankees Pitching staff, he will post a 2-2 record with a very high 7.32 ERA in 12 games for the team. On October 7, 2021, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. He will sign an MLB Free Agency deal with the Dodgers.
1992-Boston Closer Jeff Reardon breaks Rollie Fingers' MLB Career Save mark of 341 games, when he preserves a 1-0 victory for the Red Sox with 1 scoreless inning against the Yankees.
1992-Former Yankees Pitcher, MLB Pitching Coach, MLB Manager and Baseball Executive Edward “Steady Eddie” Lopat (1948-1955) had passed away. (1918-1992).
The Yankees obtained Starter Eddie Lopat from the White Sox in February of 1948 for Catcher Aaron Robinson, Pitchers Fred Bradley and Bill Wight. From 1948 to 1954, Eddie won 113 games for the Yankees as part of the Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford (1950,1953) starting rotation that won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Eddie would help a young Whitey Ford with his MLB pitching development, using an 8MM camera to study the pitcher’s movements. Lopat was known, as “The Junkman” would be started by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel in-between fastball starters Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi to throw off the timing of opposition club’s hitters. Some Eddie’s Yankees pitching career highlights are 113 wins with a .657 WP. with 20 career shutouts and 91 complete games. His Yankees pitching career ERA was 3.21. In 1951, he was 21-9 for the Yankees. In 5 World Series (1949-1953) with the Yankees, Eddie went 4-1 in 7 games. In 1951, he was named to the AL All-Star team pitching staff. In 1953, he led the AL pitchers with a 2.42 ERA. On July 30,1955, Eddie was traded by the Yankees to the Orioles for P Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald. Eddie had a 4-8 record in 16 games with the 1955 Yankees at the time of his trade. On October 10,1955, Eddie Lopat was released by the Orioles. He had a 3-4 record in 10 games with the Orioles. In the fall of 1955, he would rejoin the Yankees organization. Eddie would manage in the Yankees Minor League system with the 1956-1958 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). In 1959, he was a Yankees MLB Scout. In 1960, he was the Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for Manager Casey Stengel, replacing long-time Pitching Coach Jim Turner, who had been fired taking the blame for the team’s poor 3rd place finish. Eddie would leave the Yankees organization in October of 1960, when new Manager Ralph Houk took over the team; he had named former Yankees P Johnny Sain, as his new 1961 Yankees MLB Pitching Coach. For the 1961 AL season, Eddie was the MLB Pitching Coach for the Twins. Then in 1962, he would move to the Kansas City A’s organization. In 1963-1964, he was the Manager of the A’s, while posting a 90-124 record. He would later work for the A’s front office as their General Manager. Lopat was one of the few baseball people, who got along with A’s Team Owner Charley Finley. When the Athletics would move to Oakland, Eddie declined the move to the West Coast. Instead, he would join the Montreal Expos organization, working in their front office; handling their Player Development Department.
2000-Current Yankees Minor League Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza was born.
Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza was a 2017 International Player signing by the Yankees. In 2019, the he would play for 2 Yankee Minor League teams: Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) and the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). With Charleston, he had appeared in 46 games, while hitting .273 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs. At Staten Island, he had played in 19 games, while hitting .241 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. He would receive an invite to the Yankees 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp. He did not play in 2020, because of the Minor League season being cancel by the COVIDS outbreak. In 2021, he had started the Minor League season with the A Hudson Valley (High-A East League) before receiving a promotion to AA Somerset (NEL). He would briefly appear at AAA Scranton. For the 2022 season, he is playing at AAA Scranton. where he hit .259 in 99 games, with 19 homers and 50 RBIs. He was called up to New Yankee Stadium at the start of September in 2022, making a strong 1st impression by hitting .306 in 18 games with 1 HR and 2 RBIs, for an OPS+ of .306. He played both shortstop and 2nd base and saw some action in the postseason, going 0 for 3 in the Yankees' loss to the Astros in the ALCS. In spring training camp of 2023, the Yankees had decided that incumbent shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was not providing enough offense and gave the opportunity to 2 of their top prospects to compete for the job: Peraza and Anthony Volpe, who had been the shortstop in AA in 2022, then he had replaced Peraza in AAA following his call-up to the Show. The 2 were neck-and-neck heading into the final week of camp, with Volpe hitting better, but Peraza having the advantage of already being on the 40-man roster and of having done well in his 1st exposure to the majors the year before. Volpe would win the job. Oswald would appear in 52 games, while hitting just .191 with 2 HRs and 14 RBIs. Currently, he is in rehab recovering from a spring training camp injury.
2008-After back-to-back 19-win MLB seasons, Yankees Starter Chien-Ming Wang, who is 8-2, breaks his right foot running the bases in an Inter-League game against the Astros, spoiling a 13-0 Yankees rout. Wang will miss the remainder of the 2008 AL season and the foot injury will completely derail his MLB Pitching career with the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees Minor League P and MLB Player Billy Muffett had passed away. (1930-2008)
Veteran MLB hurler Billy Muffett would pitch for the 1962-1963 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). The Yankees had signed the lefty hurler as an MLB Free Agent, as lefty pitching insurance at AAA. He had previously pitched in the MLB with the Cardinals, Giants and the Red Sox. For AAA Richmond in 1962, he went 10-6 with a 2.42 ERA in 28 games. In 1963, he was still with the Richmond club, where he had posted 9-9 record with a 4.24 ERA in 38 games. The Yankees would release him during the winter of 1963.
2011-Bronx Bombers 1B Mark Teixeira homers from both sides of the plate in a 12-4 Yankees win over the Rangers. It is his 11th time doing so, tying Eddie Murray and Chili Davis for the All-time MLB HR record.
2011-Former Yankees Pitcher Ted Gray (1955) had passed away. (1924-2011)
On June 30,1955, veteran Pitcher Ted Gray was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He was a former front-line starter with the 1949-1953 Tigers. The Yankees had signed him to replace Bob Grim, who had been placed on the DL. He had started the 1955 AL season with the White Sox, appearing in 2 games before being released by the team. He would be picked-up by the Indians again appearing just 2 games before he was released by the Tribe. Ted would only appear in only 1 game with the 1955 Yankees with no record. On July 20,1955, Ted was released by the Yankees. He would finish the 1955 AL season with the Orioles.
2019-The Yankees had acquired veteran MLB 1B/DH Edwin Encarncion from the Mariners for Minor League P Juan Then. On November 18, 2017, Pitcher Nick Rumbelow was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for 2 Minor League Pitchers: JP Sears and Juan Then. In 2018, Juan went 0-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 11 games for Yankees East in the Gulf League. He has not pitched in 2019 season. Juan Then was originally signed by the Mariners. To make move room for Encarncion on the Yankees 40-Man MLB roster, they have moved Pitcher Jake Barrett to the 60-Day IL.
June 9th
1902-Former Yankees and MLB Baseball Executive Roy Haney was born. (1902-1983)
Roy Hamey was a long-time MLB Front Office Executive. He had spent time as a General Manager for the Kansas City Blues (Yankees top AA club), Pirates (1945-1950), Phillies (1954-1958) and the Yankees (1959-1963). He was the 1st true General Manager of the Pirates, as the Pirates Team President had previously handled the GM duties. With the Yankees, he had served under GM George Weiss as Assistant GM and Farm Director. In October of 1960, he had replaced retiring Weiss as the new Yankees General Manager. In December of 1960, he oversaw the Yankees entering the expansion team era, handling player decisions concerning the 1st AL player draft. In 1963, Roy would step down as Yankees GM due to various health reasons, with Yankees Manager Ralph Houk becoming the new Yankees GM. Roy would work continue to work with the team as a MLB Scout. Meanwhile Yankees Co-Team Owner Dan Topping had named MLB Player-Coach Yogi Berra to become the team’s manager for the 1964 AL season. It was a decision that Houk didn’t like, because he wanted his own man to manage the 1964 Yankees.
1912-Former Co-Team Owner of New York Yankees Dan Topping Sr. (1945-1964) was born. (1912-1974).
Del Webb grew up in California. He had to quit school and work as a carpenter's apprentice when his family was ruined in 1913. Then he would worked in the Oakland, CA shipyards during World War I. He had played semi-pro baseball as a pitcher after the war but hurt his arm before he could land a professional contract. He had contracted typhoid fever from an inmate during a game at San Quentin prison in 1928 and almost died. He would move to Phoenix, AZ to restore his health and started a small construction company, which became quite prosperous thanks to government building contracts during the New Deal period. He developed a network of privileged contacts, and this was how MacPhail eventually approached him when he was trying to put together a syndicate to purchase the Yankees. Along with Business Partner Del Webb and MLB Executive Larry McPhail, they brought the New York Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert family estate in January of 1945. After the 1947 World Series victory over the Dodgers, they bought out their Business Partner Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping would sell the Yankees to CBS, Inc. in 1964. Dan Topping Sr. would hold minority business interest in the Yankees until the fall of 1966, before selling it to CBS. Dan’s son Dan Topping Jr. would be the Yankees General Manager briefly during the 1966 AL season replacing Ralph Houk, who had stepped down from the position to become Yankees Manager after his firing of Manager Johnny Keane in May of 1966. Dan was replaced in the fall of 1966, when his father sold his remaining 10% interest in the team to CBS. His replacement would be former Yankees Team Owner Partner Larry MacPhail’s son, Lee.
1915-At the Polo Grounds‚ the White Sox would pound the Yankees by the score of 13-0‚ as White Sox Starter Eddie Cicotte allows just 2 Yankee hits. Chicago OF Braggo Roth leads the Pale hose hitting attack by hitting a HR‚ triple and a single.
1920-The visiting Tigers knock him out of the game, Bronx Slugger Babe Ruth has a single‚ 2 walks; he is hit with a pitch. The Tigers are playing without their Star player Ty Cobb‚ who is out 10 days with an injured knee.
1922-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park‚ the Yankees use a courtesy runner against the White Sox. On a 2-out single to the Shortstop‚ Yankees Catcher Wally Schang is injured in the 6th inning, when he slides into 1st base‚ he is replaced by Reserve Catcher Al DeVormer. After the 3rd out‚ Wally Schang returns to catching. When Schang reaches base in the 8th inning‚ DeVormer again runs for him‚ this time staying in to catch the rest of the game.
1927-At Yankee Stadium‚ the Bronx Bombers win for the 3rd straight time over the White Sox winning the game by the score of 8-3. The Yankees would knock out Chicago Starter Ted Blankenship out of the box in the 7th inning. Yankees batter Ray Morehart hits Reliever Bert Cole's 1st pitch for a 3-run HR. Then Slugger Babe Ruth follows with a triple and then he steals home. The Yankees had scored 6 runs in the 7th inning.
1928-Indians OF Charlie Jamieson starts his 2nd triple play in 3 weeks‚ this time against the Yankees in the 2nd inning. Yankees OF Ben Paschal is on 3rd base and 2B Tony Lazzeri on 1st‚ when Jamieson snags a line drive hit by Yankees batter 3B Joe Dugan. Charlie's quick throw to 1B Lew Fonseca nabs Lazzeri‚ Ben Paschal is out at home, when he tries to score. Again‚ the Tribe are on the losing end‚ as the Bronx Bombers would win the game by the final score of 7-3.
1931-Former Yankees Minor League OF and MLB Player and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-1975) was born. (1931-2021)
In 1950, the Yankees had originally signed OF Bill Virdon as an MLB Amateur Player; he would play in the Yankees farm system from 1950 to 1953; reaching AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In the spring of 1954, he was traded along with P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger to the Cardinals for veteran All-Star OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, while playing for the Cardinals, he won the NL Rookie Of Year Award. Bill would later go on to be an NL All-Star OF with the Pirates. He would hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. Then he would manage the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace long-time Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who had resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He is the only modern era Yankees Manager to not win a game at Yankee Stadium. Bill’s tenure as the Yankees Manager was when the team played their home games at Shea Stadium (1974-1975) during the remodeling of Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Bill was named The Sporting News American League Manager of the Year, for his 2nd place finish in the AL East with the Yankees. He had helped Bobby Murcer become a better MLB Outfielder in 1974. Bill had moved Elliot Maddox to CF, Bobby Murcer went to RF. The 1975 AL season was marred with injuries to key Yankees players such as OF Bobby Bonds, OF Lou Piniella and veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre. After being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 midseason by Billy Martin, Virdon would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL.
1933-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx ties a MLB record with another HR‚ his 5th HR in 3 games and his 12th of the 1933 AL season‚ but the A's bow to the Yankees by the score of 7-6. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits his 12th HR of the season; his Bronx teammate Tony Lazzeri hits a 3-run HR in the 8th inning to ice it. The sweltering heat in the East (NYC) sets a heat record for the date with 97 degrees) causes both teams starters to end early; A’s Starter Jim Peterson leaves after walking the leadoff batter: After 5 innings, Bronx Starter Jumbo Brown collapses in the Yankees dugout, he has to be carried away to the clubhouse.
1936-St. Louis Browns Manager Rogers Hornsby makes his 2nd and last appearance of the 1936 AL season as he replaces the injured Jim Bottomley at 1B. The Browns would beat the league-leading Yankees by the score of 5-3‚ when “The Rajah” draws a walk to force in the winning run and Beau Bell follows with another walk.
1946-The New York Times have reported that the Giants and the Yankees had agreed to a best of 3 exhibition series with the winner to receive the William O’Dwyer Trophy. O’Dwyer was the Mayor of New York City from 1946 to 1950. Over the years the teams had play in exhibition series games, but not on a regular basis. As early as 1912, the Yankees and Giants played a game at the Polo Grounds to raise funds for the American victims of the HMS Titanic disaster. There were a few games played during the 1930’s to help out NYC Depression Relief Funds. On June 26,1944, there was a benefit’s game with all 3 New York MLB teams to raise funds for the War Relief effort.
1946-The Yankees will draw 66,545 fans for their doubleheader with the Indians at Yankee Stadium, breaking 1-million attendance mark in the earliest date in MLB history. The Tribe takes the opener by a score of 9-5, while the Yankees come back to win the nightcap by a score of 7-4.
1947-The 2nd place Yankees drop a 9-8 decision to the woeful White Sox. Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds issues 8 walks and Reliever Bill Bevens would allow 3 more free passes. Bronx Closer Joe Page walks none in the 9th inning, but Yankees Catcher Aaron Robinson allows a pop-up drop in front of the plate for a single and 2 hits later‚ the White Sox score the winning run. Yankees Johnny Lindell and White Sox hitter Luke Appling, each hit HRs in the game.
1959-At Yankee Stadium‚ the Yankees would edge Kansas City by the score of 9-8 in 13 innings. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning‚ off of veteran starter Murry Dickson‚ but it is Hector Lopez's single that wins it for the Yankees in the 13th inning.
1961-In a rain-interrupted game in at Yankee Stadium‚ Yankees CF Mickey Mantle's 3-run HR in the 3rd inning is the difference in an 8-6 win over the A’s. His Yankees teammate, Roger Maris also HRs‚ the 3rd time during the 1961 AL season, that the M&M Boys have gone deep in the same game.
1969-The Yankees had purchased veteran Knuckleball hurler Ken Johnson from the Braves for undisclosed amount of cash. He had a 0-1 record with 1 save in 9 games with the 1969 Braves. Johnson would appear in 12 games for the 1969 Yankees, while posting a 1-2 record along with a 3.46 ERA. In August of 1969, the Yankees will sell Ken to the Cubs for the waiver price of $20,000 Cash.
1973-At Kansas City‚ the Yankees rally for 5 runs in the 9th inning to stop the Royals by the score of 6-4. Newcomer Yankees hurler Pat Dobson pitches 5 innings in relief, as he only allows 1 Royals hit to win the game. The Bombers move into 1st place in the AL East with the victory.
1973-Former Yankees Pitcher Kemp Wicker (1936-1938) had passed away. (1906-1973)
For the 1936-1938 Yankees, Pitcher Kemp Wicker would post a 9-5 record with a 4.95 ERA in 24 games. He had appeared in 1 game of the 1937 World Series for the team against the Giants with no record. On February 6,1939, Kemp Wicker was purchased along with Minor League Catcher Chris Hartje by the Dodgers from the Yankees for $50,000 cash.
1974-Former Yankees DH/OF Randy Winn (2010) was born.
On February 8, 2010, veteran OF Randy Winn was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. The Yankees will release Randy Winn in May of 2010, after he had appeared in only 29 games for the team, while hitting just .213 with 1 HR and 8 RBI’s. He will finish the 2010 MLB season with the Cardinals.
1977-Bronx Shortstop Bucky Dent’s 3-hits highlight a Yankees 10-1 victory at Milwaukee County Stadium over the Brewers with Yankees Starter Don Gullet picking up his 5th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Jason Anderson (2003, 2005) was born.
On June 5,2000, P Jason Anderson was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft. In 2003, Jason had appeared in 22 games for the Yankees, while posting a 1-0 record. On July 16, 2003, Anderson was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Players Ryan Bicondoa and Anderson Garcia to the Mets for NL All-Star Reliever Armando Benitez. On June 1,2004, Jason was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Indians. For the 2004 Yankees, he had appeared in 3 games, while posting a 1-0 record. On February 15, 2006, Jason was selected off waivers by the Padres from the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees hurler, Jason would post a 2-0 record with a 5.47 ERA in 25 games for the team.
1980-Former Yankees OF/Pitcher Yhency Brazoban was born.
Yhency Brazobán was signed by Yankees MLB scout Victor Mata in July 1997. He made his pro debut the next summer with the DSL Yankees. Brazobán had started his pro career as an outfielder but with his cannon arm, as well as his offensive ineptitude, prompted the Yankees to convert him to the mound in 2002. He would reached the majors in 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He had a solid 1st season, going 6-2, with a 2.48 ERA in 31 games. He had pitched 74 times in 2005, but his ERA ballooned up to 5.33 and his record fell to 4-10. He did record 21 saves, whole filling in for an injured Eric Gagné. He only pitched 11 times in the MLB over the next 3 seasons, with no record and ERAs of 5.40 or higher each season, as injuries sapped his effectiveness. He also spent time in the minor leagues in 2007 and 2008. After missing all of 2009, Yhency pitched mostly in the Mexican League in 2010, then he would finished with the AAA Buffalo Bisons (IL). In 2011, he began the year in the Rangers organization, going 3-0 with a 3.42 ERA for the AAA Round Rock Express. As the Rangers were not ready to bring him up to the MLB, he asked for his player release and signed with the Diamondbacks on June 2nd. After a few games with the AAA Reno Aces, he made it back to the majors on June 29, 2011. He could not hold on to a job, giving up 4 runs in 6 innings over 6 outings. He would finished that season with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks (Nippon Professional Baseball), having been sold to them by Texas in July.
1981-At Royals Stadium, the Yankees would beat the Royals by the score of 8-5 by using 4 relief pitchers. Jeff Nelson started the game followed by Dave LaRoche, then Mike Griffin and the game was closed out by Closer Rich Gossage, who picks up his 17th save of the 1981 AL season. LaRoche goes 4 plus innings, picking up his 3rd victory of the season. Yankees knock out Royals Starter Juan Berenguer, who was replaced by Reliever Renie Martin, who took the loss, dropping his record to a 1-3 mark. Yankee’s sluggers Dave Winfield and Graig Nettles would hit HRs for the Yankees.
1992-The Yankees had traded swingman Lee Guetterman to the Mets in exchange for veteran Reliever Tim Burke. For the 1988-1992 Yankees, Lee Guetterman had compiled a 21-19 record with a 3.73 ERA and 2 saves in 233 games. For the 1992 Yankees, Lee was 1-1 with a 9.53 ERA in 15 games. Meanwhile for the 1992 Mets, Tim Burke was 1-2 with a 5.74 ERA in 23 games. Neither Pitcher had a save for their teams. Burke was a former Yankees Minor League Pitcher, who had been traded to the Expos. For the 1992 Yankees, Reliever Tim Burke will appear in 23 games; while posting a 2-2 record with a 3.25 ERA. After the 1992 AL season had ended, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. He will be signed by the Reds, but Tim will never appear with 1993 Reds at the MLB level, ending his MLB pitching career.
1993-Former Yankees Pitcher Jonathan Holder (2016-2020) was born.
Jonathan Holder was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 2014 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Mississippi St. Univ. After pitching for AAA Scranton (IL) in 2016, posting a 5-1 record with a 1.65 ERA and 16 saves in 33 games. He would make his MLB Pitching debut with the team in September of 2016, while appearing in 8 games in relief with no decisions. In 2020, he had posted a 3-0 record with 4.98 ERA in 18 games. In December 2, 2020, Jonathan was nontendered by the team becoming an MLB Free Agent. He would finish his Yankees Pitching career with a record of 10-6 with a 4.38 ERA and no saves in 151 games. On December 17, 2020, he would sign a 1-year MLB deal with the Cubs for the 2021 NL season.
1996-Former Yankees Minor League P Garrett Whitlock was born.
Pitcher Garrett Whitlock was drafted by the Yankees in the 18th round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham (Birmingham, AL). Having arm injuries in 2020, the Yankees didn't protect him the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On December 10, 2020, Garrett was drafted by the Red Sox from the Yankees in the 2020 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He would be kept by Boston. He is currently on the 60-Day IL
with an arm injury.
1997-The Yankees had traded P David Weathers to the Indians for OF Chad Curtis. In 1997, Weathers was 0-1 with a 10.00 ERA for the team, before being sent down to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). After being obtained from the Marlins for P Mark Hutton, he went 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA. Weathers did improve his pitching in the 2006 AL Postseason with a 2-0 record with a 0.82 ERA in 7 games. Overall, Dave had posted a 0-3 record with a 9.57 ERA in 21 games for the 1997-1998 Yankees. Chad Curtis will hit .291 with 12 HRs and 50 RBIs in 93 games for the 1997 Yankees. He was originally signed with the Angels, then he was traded by the team to Tigers, who then traded him to the Dodgers in July of 1996. In the winter of 1996, he was signed by the Tribe as an MLB Free Agent. For the 1997 Indians, Chad had hit .207 in 22 games. An excellent fielder and base runner, Curtis had a lifetime .268 BA with 161 stolen bases in his MLB playing career.
2002-At Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 55,335 fans, Yankees Starter Roger Clemens holds the Giants to just to 2 runs, allowing just 7 hits along with 9 strikeouts in 8 innings of work. Yankees Reliever Steve Karsay closes the game for the Bombers picking up his 2nd save of the 2002 AL season with a scoreless 9th inning. Yankees DH Nick Johnson has 1 hit with 2 RBIs, also Yankees batters Robin Ventura and Rondell White drive in runs in the game. Giants’ Starter Felix Rodriguez takes the lost.
2009-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Woodson “Woodie” Held (1954, 1957) had passed away. (1932-2009)
Before the start of the 1951 AL Season, Woodie Held was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play in the Yankees farm system, reaching AAA in 1954, while playing for the Kansas City Blues (AA), hitting .262 with 9 HRs and 52 RBIs in 112 games. Woodie Held appeared in 4 games with no hits with the 1954 Yankees. He was unable to break into the regular Yankees infield or outfield. He would play for the 1955-1957 AAA Denver Bears (AA) under Manager Ralph Houk. With each AAA season at Denver showing an increase HR power for the Bears. His best season was in 1956, when he would hit .276 with 35 HRs and 125 RBIs in 154 games. He had appeared in 1 game with the 1957 Yankees before being sent down to AAA Denver again. On June 15,1957, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry and OF Bob Martyn for P Ryne Duren, Outfielder’s Jim Pisoni and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson. During the 1958 AL season, the A’s traded him and 1B/OF Vic Power to the Indians for OF Roger Maris. The Indians had him play the infield for them, mainly at Shortstop. As an MLB player, Held would play with the Yankees, A’s, Indians, Orioles, White Sox, Angels and the Senators during his MLB player career. With the 1966 Orioles, Woodie finally went to the World Series, but he did not appear in any games for the team against the Dodgers. When Held would finish his MLB playing career in 1969, he had appeared in 1,390 games, while hitting .240 with 179 HRs with 559 RBIs. Former Yankees All-Star 2B Bobby Richardson called Woodie Held the best fielding Shortstop that he ever saw play. In 2009, Woody would pass away from brain cancer.
2010-At Camden Yards in Baltimore, Yankees Ace CC Sabathia goes 7 innings allowing only 2 Orioles runs as the Yankees defeat the Orioles by the score of 4-2. Bronx Reliever Joba Chamberlain and Closer Mo Rivera close out the game with 2 scoreless innings, giving up only 1 Oriole hit. Rivera picks-up his 14 save of the 2010 AL season. Sabathia improves his 2010 AL season pitching record to 6-3. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano leads the Yankees hitting attack with a 3 for 4 performance at the plate, while driving in 1 run. Baltimore Starter Chris Tillman takes the lost for the Birds; he is still winless for the 2010 AL season now with a 0-2 mark.
2021-Former Yankees Starter Art Ditmar (1957-1961) had passed away. (1929-2021)
In 1948, Pitcher Art Ditmar was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Philadelphia A’s. In 1954, Ditmar would get his 1st look at the Majors, when the Athletics would use him in 14 games, as he would post a 1-4 record with a 6.14 ERA. Also, he would spend time during the 1954 season with the A’s AAA club Ottawa (IL) by going 6-12 with a 3.56 ERA. One of Art's highlights in MLB Baseball came in 1954, that he was the winning pitcher in the final game ever played by the A's at Shibe Park in Philadelphia before their franchise shifted to Kansas City in 1955. "It was a game against the Yankees," recalled the rubber-armed right-hander. "Casey Stengel wanted to get every good hitter he could into the lineup. Yogi Berra would play 3rd base and Mickey Mantle played Shortstop. I pitched 6 innings and Marion Fricano finished." In 1955, he would post a 12-12 record in the 1st MLB season in Kansas City; then in 1956, he would win 12 games again, but he also had 22 loses, giving him the lead for the AL Pitchers that season. On February 19,1957, Art was traded by the A’s along with Players to be Named Later, Infielders Wayne Belardi, Jack McMahan and Veteran Pitcher Bobby Shantz to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, MLB Players OF Irv Noren, Pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman, INF Billy Hunter and Minor League INF Milt Graf. The Yankees would later send Minor League P Jack Urban to the Athletics to complete the trade. Kansas City would in return would send 2 Infielders: Curt Roberts and Rookie INF Clete Boyer to the Bronx to complete the trade. Yankees GM George Weiss considered him to be the “ace” in the trade along with veteran starter Bobby Shantz. With the 1957 Yankees, Art would post an 8-3 record with a 3.26 ERA and 6 saves in 46 games. In 1958, he would post a 9-8 record with a 3.42 ERA and 4 saves in 38 games. In 1959, he would post a 13-9 record with a 2.90 ERA and 1 save in 38 games. As a Starter for the 1960 Yankees, Art would have a 15-9 record with a 3.06 ERA in 34 games. He had led the 1960 Yankees starters with his 15 wins. Also, that 1960 season, Art had finished 4th in the AL in ERA and Wins. Ditmar had failed to win both of his 2 1960 World Series starts against the Pirates. He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees in 1957-1958 against the Braves, then against the Pirates in 1960. He went 0-2 with a 3.18 ERA in 5 World Series games for the Yankees. In the 1960 World Series against the Pirates, he lost the 1st and 5th games. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is still the target of criticism as to why he started Ditmar in the opening game instead of Whitey Ford. Ditmar defended his manager's decision. "Whitey had arm trouble. I think Casey figured he would be better off pitching the 2nd game in Forbes Field rather than Yankee Stadium with the short right field. The controversy was that Ford could have pitched 3 games if necessary. The thing is he didn't even pitch the 2nd game. The Yankees veteran right-hander Bob Turley started the 2nd game and we won 16-3."
During the start of the 1961 AL season, while suffering from arm problems, Art would only post a 2-3 record with a 4.64 ERA in 12 games for the Yankees, before being traded back to Kansas City on June 14,1961 along with Rookie OF/INF Deron Johnson for veteran Starter Bud Daley. His Yankees pitching career record was an 47-32 mark with a 3.24 ERA and 11 saves in 168 games. He would finish out his MLB Pitching career in May of 1962 with overall MLB pitching record of 72-77 with a 3.98 ERA and 14 saves in 287 games. A graduate of American International College in Springfield, MA, Art Ditmar became the Director of Parks and Recreation in Brook Park, Ohio. He would coach the baseball and basketball teams at the school, while working on his Master's Degree. He would retire to Myrtle Beach, SC; he will be the 1st to tell you that he wasn't the pitcher of record, when Pirates 2B Bill Mazeroski hit his epic shot HR in 9th inning of Game 7 in the 1960 World Series.
2022-The Twins would open the bottom of the 1st against the Yankees with 3 consecutive HRs off of Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole at Target Field, by Luis Arraez, Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa. This is the 1st time in franchise history this has happened, but the game is far from over. The Twins hit 2 more long balls off of Cole, a 2nd by Buxton and 1 by Trevor Larnach and chase him in the 3rd, leading 7-3 at the end of the inning. But the Yankees come back with 4 HRs of their own, including 2 from Joey Gallo and a game-tying 2-run blast by Aaron Hicks in the 6th. They go ahead in the 7th when Aaron Judge leads off the inning with a double off of Jhoan Duran, followed by a single by Anthony Rizzo. They add another run that inning and 1 in the 8th to earn a wild 10-7 win.
June 10th
1870-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Pat McCauley (1903) was born. (1870-1917)
For 1903 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Pat McCauley would appear in only 6 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .053.
1892-Former Yankees Reserve OF Frank Gilhooley (1913-1918) was born. (1892-1959)
On August 25,1913, OF Frank Gilhooley was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. Frank will appear in 259 games for the Yankees, while hitting .277 with 2 HRs and 55 RBI’s. On December 18,1918, Frank was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Ray Caldwell and Slim Love, Catcher Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and P Ernie Shore.
1894-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Fred “Bootnose” Hofmann (1919-1925) was born. (1894-1964)
Reserve Catcher Fred Hofmann had appeared in 213 games with the Yankees, while hitting .245 with 7 HRs and 53 RBIs. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1923 World Series for the team against the Giants with no hits. On May 29,1925, Fred was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, P Oscar Roettger and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for INF Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees sent Reserve INF Ernie Johnson to the Saints to complete the trade. Fred would return to the MLB, playing with the 1927-1928 Red Sox. After his MLB active playing career had ended, Fred would become a Minor League Manager for the Cardinals organization. Then he would move to the St. Louis Browns' organization as a MLB Coach beginning in 1938. After a 12-year stint as an MLB Coach for the Browns, Hofmann became an MLB Scout for the franchise from 1950 to 1964, staying with the team when they relocated and became the Baltimore Orioles in 1954. He had filled in several times as a Manager for teams in the Orioles' farm system during the 1950s.
1900-Former Yankees Pitcher and Minor League Manager Garland Braxton (1925-1926) was born. (1900-1966)
Garland Braxton had appeared in 40 games with the Yankees, while posting a 6-2 record with a 3.53 ERA and 2 saves. On October 19,1926, he was sent by the Yankees to the Senators to complete an earlier deal made on August 27,1926. The Yankees would send Players to be Named Later to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Dutch Ruether. After retiring as an active MLB player, Garland would manage in the Yankees Minor League System with the 1944-1945 Norfolk Tars (PL) and the 1946 Binghamton Triplets (EL).
1903-Detroit Tigers Shortstop Kid Elberfeld‚ who was suspended for abusing an Umpire‚ is traded to the Highlanders for 2 Infielders: Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. It is the 1st MLB trade in the team’s short AL franchise history. The Highlanders' 1st trade is a good one as "The Tabasco Kid,” was currently hitting .341‚ will be a key ingredient in New York's rise as contenders in 1904. Elberfeld had been accused by the Tigers Manager Edward Barrow of deliberately throwing games recently, as a ploy to get him traded by the team. The veteran MLB Shortstop Herman Long was 37 years old at the end of his MLB playing career. He had played in 22 games for the 1903 Highlanders team, while hitting just .188. Ernie Courtney was in 2nd season in the MLB, he was playing Shortstop for the Yankees, while hitting .266 in 25 games for the club.
1905-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny “Deacon Danny” MacFayden (1932-1934) was born. (1905-1972)
On June 5,1932, Pitcher Dan MacFayden was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for 2 hurlers: Ivy Andrews, Hank Johnson and $50,000 in Cash. For the Yankees, Dan would post a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games. On June 4,1935, he was selected off waivers by the Braves from the Yankees.
1906-The White Sox would manage just 1 hit off of Bronx Starter Al Orth, but they still beat the Yankees by the score of 1-0 on an unearned run. In the 3rd inning‚ 2 errors and a hit batsman score the Chicago winning run. Fielder Jones has the lone White Sox hit‚ a 6th-inning single.
1909-Tigers Starter George Mullin's winning streak reaches 11 games with a 2-1 win over the Yankees. On June 15th‚ he will finally lose a game to the Philadelphia by the score of 5-4.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth became MLB’s Career HR leader by hitting his 120th HR off of Tribe Starter Jim Bagby Sr. in the 3rd inning. The Indians won the game by a score of 8-6. Former NL Slugger Roger Connor (1880-1897) held the MLB HR record until that time.
1922-At Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis‚ Babe Ruth's 2-run HR in the 3rd inning off of Browns Starter Urban Shocker‚ ties the game. Shocker then hits Bombers’ batter 3B Frank Baker and a double‚ single‚ 2 errors on the same play and a sacrifice fly score 4 more Yankee runs. Shocker then sends Yankees Starter Carl Mays sprawling on 3 straight pitches before walking him‚ he fires his 1st pitch right at OF Whitey Witt. The Yankees score 6 runs off of Shocker‚ another 6 runs off of Browns Relievers to win the game by the score of 14-5. A foul fly in the 7th inning beans St. Louis Browns Team Owner Phil Ball‚ who was sitting behind the Browns dugout. He has a slight head concussion that requires 4 stitches.
1929-Former Yankees Minor League C Hank Foiles was born.
In November of 1947, Catcher Hank Foiles was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Hank never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. From 1947 to 1951, he would play in the Yankees farm system. On November 19,1951, Hank was drafted by the Reds from the Yankees organization in the 1951 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He was a Reserve Catcher in the MLB from 1953-1964, while playing for the Reds, Cubs, Pirates, Indians, Orioles, A’s and finishing with the 1964 Angels. His best MLB player season was in 1957 with the Pirates, hitting .270 and making the NL All-Star team.
1933-He's not there for his hitting, A’s Starter Lefty Grove strikes out 5 times‚ a MLB 1st in the 20th century‚ but his Philadelphia A’s team will beat the Yankees by the score of 9-5. Lefty will hit .086 for this 1933 AL season.
1934-Philadelphia A’s OF Doc Cramer hits for the cycle‚ but the Yankees would still beat the A's by the score of 7-3 on Lou Gehrig's 2nd Grand Slam HRs of the 1934 AL season.
1941-At Comiskey Park in Chicago, a crowd of 2,832 fans watched the Yankees down the White Sox by the score of 8-3. The Bronx Bombers break open the Tuesday day game with 5 run rally in the 6-inning. They will get a complete game victory from their Starter Steve Peek; whose 1941 pitching record is now 3-1. Chicago Starter Johnny Rigney takes the loss for the White Sox, going 7 innings, while giving up 11 Yankees hits and 8 earn runs along with 4 walks. The Bronx Bomber’s hitting attack is led by Frank Crosetti’s Grand Slam HR and a 2-run HR blast from OF Charlie Keller. The Yankees are now 29-22 with 2 ties for the 1941 AL season.
1956-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Brad Gulden (1979-1980) was born.
On February 15,1979, Minor League C Brad Gullen was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for OF/1B Gary Thomasson. In 1978, Brad had played for the Dodgers AAA club, the Albuquerque Dukes, hitting .294. He led all PCL Catchers in assists, putouts and double plays. He appeared in 42 games as a Reserve Catcher for the 1979-1980 Yankees, while hitting .168. After Thurman Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979, Brad was one of the 2 young Catchers (other; Jerry Narron), who were used by the club. He spent most of the 1980 season playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On November 18,1980, Brad was traded by the Yankees along with $150,000 Cash to the Mariners for a Player to be Named Later and Reserve INF Larry Milbourne. On May 18,1981, the Mariners would send Catcher Brad Gulden back to the Yankees to complete the trade. On April 5,1982, Brad was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for Reserve Catcher Bobby Ramos. On October 26,1982, Brad was repurchased by the Yankees from the Expos. After the 1983 AL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1957-Tigers Starter Frank Lary gives up a 3rd-inning HR to Mickey Mantle in Detroit‚ but he still beats the Yankees by the score of 9-4. Mickey Mantle now leads the AL with 13 HRs; Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams is 2nd in the AL with 10 HRs.
1960-At Yankee Stadium‚ Bronx Slugger Mickey Mantle cracks his 3rd HR in 3 days to ruin a good relief effort by Indians Richard Stigman. The 8th-inning HR solo shot gives the Bronx Bombers a 4-3 win over the Tribe.
1961-At Yankee Stadium‚ ex-Yankees OF Hank Bauer, now playing for the Kansas City A’s, hits an inside-the-park HR over Mickey Mantle's head into the Centerfield Monuments, but Mantle's HR in the bottom of the 8th off Rookie A’s Reliever Bill Kunkel cements the Bombers 5-3 victory over the A’s.
1966-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Fred Talbot and Catcher Bill Bryant from the Kansas City A’s for OF Roger Repoz and 2 hurlers: Bill Stafford and Gil Blanco. For the Yankees, Fred Talbot went 14-24 with a 3.99 ERA in 89 games before being unloaded to the Seattle Pilots in 1968. Jim Bouton wrote about him in his famous baseball book “Ball Four.” Reserve Catcher Bill Bryant will appear in 43 games for the 1966-1967 Yankees; while hitting .210 with 5 HRs and 7 RBIs. He will be selected in the 1967 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft by the Senators from the Yankees Organization. For the Yankees, Rookie P Gil Blanco went 1-1 with a 3.98 ERA in 17 games. He will post a 2-4 record with a 4.70 ERA in 11 games for the A’s. Veteran Yankees Starter Bill Stafford was recovering from pitching arm injuries. At the time of trade, he was 5-0 with AAA Richmond (IL) expecting a call-up to the Bronx for a start in Detroit. Which raised some questions marks in the NYC Sports Media about need of the trade for P Fred Talbot. Bill had gone 43-35 with a 3.48 ERA and 9 saves in 96 games for the 1960-1966 Yankees. Stafford had appeared in the 1960-1962 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 1-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 4 games.
1973-Former Yankees Minor League C Tom Padden had passed away. (1908-1973)
On December 27,1939, veteran Catcher Tom Padden was purchased along with INF Alex Kampouris by the Yankees from the Giants organization. Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level, instead he was sent to their AA team, the Newark Bears (IL). Tom had previously played in the MLB with the 1932-1937 Pirates. On March 26,1943, the Yankees would send P Al Gerheauser and C Tom Padden to the Phillies to complete an earlier deal made on January 22,1943. On January 22,1943, the Yankees sent to the Phillies for Unknown Compensation, Pitcher Al Gettel and 1B/OF Ed Levy returned to original team on March 26,1943.
1975-The Yankees sponsor “Army Day” at their temporary home‚ Shea Stadium (Yankee Stadium is being refurbished). During a ceremonial 21-gun salute‚ glass is splintered‚ the ballpark is filled with smoke‚ as part of the Shea Stadium Outfield fence is blown away and another part is set afire.
1977-Yankees Starter Ron Guidry does it again, stopping the Twins by the score of 4-1 with 9th inning help from Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle. The key Yankees hit in the game was a 2-run double by 2B Willie Randolph.
1978-The Yankees would sent former NL Starter Ken Holtzman back to the Cubs‚ his 1st MLB team in exchange for Minor Leaguer P Ron Davis. Holtzman proved to be a major disappointment in New York, going 12-10 with a 4.64 ERA in 44 games for the team. He didn’t get along with Yankees Manager Billy Martin, who at times just let him sit in the Yankees bullpen. Ken will not recapture his old pitching form with the Cubs. Minor League Reliever Ron Davis will blossom in 1979, when his 14-2 mark sets a record for most wins by a Rookie MLB Reliever. He will form the Yankees bullpen duo of Gossage and Davis, being the set-up man.
1989-Former Yankees Reserve OF Zoilo Alomonte (2013-2014) was born.
Outfielder Zoilo Almonte was signed as a 16-year-old in 2005, made his pro baseball debut in the 2006 Dominican Summer League. He came to the U.S. in 2007, spending 2 summers with the GCL Yankees. He would begin 2013 season at the AAA level with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL). In June, Zoilo was called up to the Yankees. He would make his MLB Player debut on June 19th as a pinch-hitter against the Dodgers, the following night, he would get his 1st MLB hit, a single off of Rays Reliever Kyle Farnsworth. Then he would hit his 1st MLB career HR on May 21st against Rays P Roberto Hernandez, as part of a 3-for-4 evening and followed that with a 3-RBI game the following day. He would finish the 2013 AL season with a .236 BA with 1 HR and 9 RBIs. In 2014, he would only appear in 13 games for the Yankees, while hitting only .139 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. After the 2014 AL season, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be sign by the Braves. In the winter of 2015, he was granted his MLB Free Agency by the Braves. He would play for a pro team in the Mexican League from 2016-2017.
1998-Yankees OF Tim Raines steals the 800th base of his MLB playing career in New York's 6-2 victory over his old team, the Montreal Expos. He is the 5th player in MLB history to reach that milestone. The Yankees would lose CF Bernie Williams to the DL, when he injures his knee sliding.
2002-In MLB Inter-League play, the Yankees would beat the Diamondbacks by the score of 7-5. On the 1st pitch he sees in the Majors‚ Yankees Rookie OF Marcus Thames hits a HR off of D-backs Ace Randy Johnson.
2005-The 1919 MLB Player contract that sent Babe Ruth from the Red Sox to the Yankees brings in a staggering $996‚000 at auction.
2007-Former Yankees Long-Time Minor League Manager Vern Hoschiet (1948-1960) had passed away. (1922-2007)
In 1948, Vern Hoscheit took over as Manager for the Yankees farm club, the McAlester Rockets (SSL), leading them to the best record in the league. He would stay with McAlester through the 1951 Minor League season, taking league titles in 1950 and 1951. Then he would move up to the Joplin Miners (WA) in 1952, guiding them to the best record and playoff win. Vern moved to the Three-I League, taking over the 1953-1956 Quincy Gems and winning league titles in 1953 and 1954 (his 4th and 5th in a row). When the Yankees had switched their affiliate from Quincy to the Peoria Chiefs, he would move to Peoria in 1957. In 1958, he moved to the Greensboro Yankees (CL) guided them for 2 seasons. Vern Hoscheit was the last President of the 3-I League in 1960-1961. Next, Vern was an Orioles MLB Scout from 1962-1967. In 1968, he was an Oriole MLB Coach. From 1965-1967, he also was in charge of the Orioles team in the Florida Instructional League. He was then a member of the 1969-1974 Oakland A’s MLB Coaching staff. In 1976, he would join the Angels organization. In 1983, Hoscheit would guide the GCL Mets. From 1984-1987, he was a Mets MLB Coach.
2010-He may not be accompanied by the hoopla that surrounds the Nationals young hurler Stephen Strasburg, but the Orioles' Jake Arrieta matches the Nats phenom in at least one respect: by winning his MLB Pitching debut, a 4-3 victory over the Yankees. He gives up 3 Bronx runs in 6 innings before the Orioles bullpen takes over, with David Hernandez picking up his 1st MLB career save. Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez leaves the game with a groin strain in the 2nd inning, 4 days, after suffering a similar problem in a game against the Blue Jays.
2020-Former Yankees OF/DH Claudell Washington (1986-1988,1990) had passed away from Prostate Cancer at age of 65. (1954-2020)
On June 30,1986, veteran OF Claudell Washington was traded by the Braves along with Minor League INF Paul Zuvella to the Yankees for veteran OF/1B Ken Griffey Sr. and Reserve INF Andre Robertson. His best Yankees season was in 1987, when he hit .308 with 13 HRs and 42 RBIs. After the 1988 AL season, Claudell would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, signing with the Angels. On April 29,1990, Claudell was traded by the Angels along with P Rich Monteleone to the Yankees for OF/DH Luis Polonia. As a Yankees player, Washington would appear in 315 games, while hitting .277 with 26 HRs and 130 RBIs. Claude would hit the Yankees 10,000th franchise Home Run. He would finish his 17-year MLB playing career with the 1990 Yankees, appearing in only 33 games, while just batting .162 with no HRS and 6 RBIs. Overall, he had appeared in 1,912 MLB games, while hitting .278 with 164 HRs and 824 RBIs. He had originally come up to the MLB with the 1974 Oakland A’s.
2023-Former Yankees Pitcher Don Hood (1979) had passed away. (1949-2023)
On June 15,1979, Pitcher Don Hood was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for DH/C/1B Cliff Johnson. For the 1979 Yankees, Don would post at 3-1 record with a 3.07 ERA and 1 save in 27 games for the Yankees before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency during the 1979 off-season. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a lifetime record of 34-35 record with a 3.79 ERA and 6 saves in 297 games.
June 11th
1915-The Yankees finally beat the White Sox‚ winning 10-9. Yankees Pitcher Ray Caldwell hits a pinch-hit HR for his 2nd pinch-hit HR in 2 days. He hit 1 yesterday in a 5-4 loss to the White Sox. Nobody else in the American League will repeat the feat until Joe Cronin in 1943. Tomorrow, Caldwell will hit another long ball‚ but he is on the mound in that game.
1919-Bronx Starter Jack Quinn shuts out the Tigers by the score of 7-0. Yankees Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh is 2 for 3 to start his 29-game hitting streak.
1922-Insisting on another start‚ Browns starter Urban Shocker is again beaten by the Yankees‚ 8-4. New York scores 3 runs in the 7th on a walk‚ 3 hits and a Ken Williams throwing error. Gene Robertson‚ a substitute, adds the game's topper in the 7th, when he lifts a high fly behind the Browns' dugout and the ball strikes Owner Phil Ball on the cheek, giving him a mild concussion and requiring 4 stitches. Following the game‚ Shocker will miss 3 weeks in June and July because of a thigh injury‚ but he still racks up 348 innings‚ 2nd in the AL.
1927-In New York‚ Babe Ruth clouts 2 consecutive HRs (numbers 19 and 20) off of Garland Buckeye‚ but in his next time up Ruth is set upon by Cleveland C Luke Sewell, who demands that the umpires inspect the Bambino's bat. The umps find nothing illegal‚ but the crowd of 30‚000 cheer the Babe‚ who then strikes out. Tony Lazzeri adds a HR and New York wins‚ by the score of 6-4. George Burns is 3 for 3 with 2 doubles for the Tribe.
1934-The Yankees would thrash West Point varsity baseball team‚ 7-0‚ in their annual spring exhibition game. Bronx starter Jimmie DeShong provides the whitewash of the cadets.
1948-The Indians hold on to beat the Yankees‚ 10-8‚ as reliever Bob Feller fans Sherman Lollar with the bases full to end the game. Joe DiMaggio had led off the 9th with a HR. Game highlights include Yogi Berra getting tossed by Umpire Cal Hubbard and young Bobby Brown being replaced at 2B in the 8th by veteran 2B George Stirnweiss‚ a move that will remain permanent for the season. Lou Boudreau ends a Tribe rally in the 7th by striking out - his 1st K in 42 games. The game was interrupted by rain and a fans' missile barrage, finally ends at 12:20 a.m.
1953-Behind the combine pitching of Jim "Hot Rod" McDonald and Allie "Super Chief" Reynolds‚ the 1st-place Bronx Bombers beat Detroit, 6-3, to run its win streak to 14 games. New York gets a game-winner HR from Mickey Mantle off of hurler Art Houtteman that crowns the roof in right center at Detroit. Mantle has now hit in 16 straight games‚ but he will go hitless tomorrow‚ when he pulls a thigh muscle. Hitting .353 at the end of today‚ Mantle will hit just .255 the rest of the year. The Yankees get another tape-measure HR blast, when Joe Collins hits a 2-out 7th-inning HR that lands on the 98-foot high press box over the 370-FT sign.
1961-The Yankees would sweep 2 games from the expansion Angels‚ winning the opener by the score of 2-1 behind Ralph Terry's 5-hitter. Yogi Berra clouts a pair of solo HRs. In the nightcap‚ Mickey Mantle's 1st-inning HR‚ #19‚ gives him the AL lead‚ but Roger Maris adds a pair of home runs‚ his 19th and 20th‚ as New York wins, by the score of 5-1. The Yankees have won 10 of 11 games.
1967-Before the largest American League crowd of the year‚ 62‚582 fans at Yankee Stadium for “Bat Day‚” the White Sox regain 1st place from the Tigers by sweeping a twin bill from Yankees by the scores of 2-1 and 3-2. They will stay in 1st place until August 12th.
1974-The New York Yankees' Mel Stottlemyre makes his 272nd consecutive start, with no relief appearances, to set an American League record. In the 4th inning‚ Stottelmyre feels a pop in his right shoulder, after throwing a curve ball to Frank Robinson. It is a tear in his rotator cuff: he'll throw just 2 more innings‚ his MLB pitching career over at 32. Dick Lange is the winning pitcher.
1976-Former Yankees Reliever James “Jim “Konstanty (1954-1956) had passed away. (1917-1976)
On August 22,1954, veteran NL hurler Jim Konstanty was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Phillies. Jim would help out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, posting 7 wins with 11 saves. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who had won the 1950 NL Pennant. Jim had started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Starter Vic Raschi, losing the game by the score of 1-0; while only giving up only 5 Yankee hits in 8 innings. He was voted the 1950 NL Most Valuable Player for posting a 16-7 mark with a 2.66 ERA and 22 saves for the Phillies. His final Yankees Pitching career totals was an 8-3 record with 2.36 ERA and 15 saves in 62 games. On May 18,1956, Jim was released by the Yankees. He had posted a 0-0 record with a 4.91 ERA with 3 saves in 8 games for the team. The Cardinals would sign Jim, finishing the 1956 NL season with them, while posting a 1-1 record with 4.58 ERA and 5 saves in 27 games. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Jim would finish his MLB pitching career with a 66-48 record, along with 3.46 ERA and 76 saves in 433 games.
1981-The White Sox would beat the Yankees by the score of 3-2‚ handing Bronx pitcher Doug Bird his 1st loss since August 16‚ 1978. The journeyman righthander had won 12 consecutive decisions.
1988-Rick Rhoden of the New York Yankees becomes the 1st pitcher to start a game as a designated hitter since the rule was adopted in 1973. Batting 7th‚ ahead of Rafael Santana and Joel Skinner‚ Rhoden hits a sacrifice fly in New York's 8-6 win over the Orioles. Later‚ Jose Cruz would replaces him as the DH.
1993-The Yankees-Brewers game at County Stadium is interrupted by some 100 seagulls, who swoop down onto the field‚ apparently in search of moths hatching in the infield and outfield grass. The Yankees eventually win the game by a score of 5-4‚ winning in the 9th on a 2-run pinch-hit HR by Kevin Maas. While no players or seagulls are hurt‚ Wade Boggs calls the situation "terribly dangerous". The seagulls will return for tomorrow night's game‚ but the Brewers will be prepared for the birds. Gus the wonder dog‚ on loan from the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association‚ will keep them away.
2003-Houston Astros pitchers Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combine for the 1st no-hitter against the New York Yankees in 45 years, winning 8-0 and stopping New York at 6,980 games with at least 1 hit. The Baltimore Orioles' Hoyt Wilhelm had accomplished the feat in 1958, winning by a 1-0. Houston's sextet also sets a record for the highest number of pitchers to participate in a no-hitter in MLB history (there had been 2 no-hitters shared by 4 pitchers).
2004-The Yankees would lose to the Padres by the score 10-2‚ to end New York's 13-game interleague winning streak‚ the longest such streak since the advent of interleague play.
2010-Andy Pettitte records his 200th win in pinstripes in the Yankees' 4-3 win over Houston at Yankee Stadium. Whitey Ford (236) and Red Ruffing (231) are the only other members of this exclusive New York club.
2011-The Yankees keep pace by shutting out Cleveland, 4-0, behind Bartolo Colon's 5th win of this year. However, the win proves costly as the big pitcher who is making a remarkable comeback from a year away from baseball must leave the game in the 7th with a strained hamstring and will be placed on the DL after the game; 3B Alex Rodriguez is hit in the hip by Mitch Talbot after blasting 1 of 3 Yankee solo HRs on the day: OF Curtis Granderson and 1B Mark Teixeira hit the others - and must also leave the game, although the injury is minor. Talbot also leaves early, being ejected by the Umpires for throwing at A-Rod.
2022-In only his 3rd MLB career start, Matt Swarmer of the Cubs allows a lead-off HR to Aaron Judge of the Yankees. It's a sign of things to come as he allows 5 more long balls in his 5 innings of work, on his way to an 8-0 loss. This ties the Cubs franchise record set by Tom Lee in 1884 and the modern MLB record. All the long balls are solo shots, only the 2nd time this has happened in the MLB, after Sloppy Thurston on July 29,1932. The HRs come courtesy of Giancarlo Stanton, with the hardest-hit ball of the season as recorded by Statcast, Gleyber Torres, Jose Trevino, Anthony Rizzo and Judge with a 2nd HR that brings his MLB-leading total to 24. Jordan Montgomery, who has been plagued by poor run support all season, is the beneficiary of the HR barrage.
June 12th
1907-The Yankees would commit 11 errors in their 14-6 loss to the Tigers. The unlucky Yankee players were Shortstop Kid Elberfeld with 4 errors and with 1 apiece: 1B Hal Chase, 3B Frank LaPorte, 2B Jimmy Williams, 2B George Moriarty, LF Bill Conroy, Pitchers Al Orth and Bill Hogg. After game, Yankees Manager Clark Griffith assaulted a spectator, a local merchant named Mr. Frank and the Bronx Police would charge him with assault. In a NYC court, Clark Griffith would argue self-defense. He was merely given fined by the Judge for his actions.
1922-St. Louis Browns Starter Hub Pruett had struck out Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth 3 consecutive times as the Browns beat the Yankees by the score of 7-1.
1928-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig collects 14 total bases with 2 triples and 2 HRs in a 15-7 Bronx victory over the White Sox. Yankees HRs that were in hit the game were by Lou Gehrig (2), Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Catcher Pat Collins.
1938-A Sunday crowd of 43,702 fans at Yankee Stadium, watch the Bronx Bombers score 2 runs in the 7th inning to come from behind and defeat the Indians by a score of 7-6. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing picks up a complete game victory, he is now 8-2 for the 1938 AL season. Home Runs hit by 2B Joe Gordon and P Red Ruffing highlight the Yankees hitting attack. Former Yankees P Johnny Allen had started for the Tribe, while Reliever Bob Feller takes the loss.
1939-The Baseball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated at Cooperstown, N.Y. The greatest-ever gathering of members and future inductees of the Hall of Fame accepted their player plaques: Pitcher Grover Alexander, OF Ty Cobb, INF Eddie Collins, Pitcher Walter Johnson, INF Nap Lajoie, MLB Team Owner/Manager Connie Mack, OF/P Babe Ruth, 1B George Sisler, OF Tris Speaker, INF Honus Wagner and P Cy Young.
1945-Former Yankees Pitcher Gary Jones (1970-1971) was born.
Before the start of the 1967 AL Season, Pitcher Gary Jones was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Gary was 0-0 with 7.88 ERA in 14 games with 1970-1971 Yankees before being traded to the Rangers along with P Terry Ley for veteran MLB INF Bernie Allen.
1947-The Game #1 of the 1947 Mayor’s Trophy game series is held at the Polo Grounds with the Yankees winning the game by the scoring of 7-0. Yankees Joe DiMaggio has a 2-run double in the 3rd inning. Bronx Catcher Aaron Robinson hits a HR in the 4th. Hurler Mel Queen picks up the victory for the Bombers, while P Bill Ayers takes the loss for the Giants. The Polo Grounds game attendance was 39,970 fans. The 2nd Game of the series will be played on August 18,1947 at Yankee Stadium. Next year, the Mayor’s Trophy game will be only 1 game, instead of the original 3 game series due to the 3 team’s scheduling difficulties during the regular MLB season.
1953-The Yankees had obtained INF Willie Miranda from the St. Louis Browns for Cash, above the waiver price. He had previously played for the Senators, White Sox and the Browns in the AL. He would back up the aging Phil Rizzuto at Shortstop for 2 seasons before being traded to the Orioles in the winter of 1954 in the big 17-player trade that featured Orioles Pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen coming to the Yankees. Miranda will play in 140 games for the team, while hitting .241 with 2 HRs and 17 RBIs. He didn’t make any World Series appearances for the team in 1953. Bronx Shortstop Phil Rizzuto called him one of finest fielding infielders that he had played with or against in the MLB during his playing career.
1962-The Yankees had obtained Reserve OF Tom Umphlett and Cash from the Red Sox for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. It was a trade of weak Reserve players. Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner became expendable with the presence of Rookie INF/OF Phil Linz on the team. In another MLB 25-man Roster move, the Yankees would recall Reliever Hal Reniff, who had just completed his military commitment. He had been on the National Defense List. In 1961, Hal had gone 2-0 with a 2.58 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games as a Yankee Rookie Reliever.
1964-The Yankees had sold Pitcher Bob Meyer to the Angels. The Yankees Rookie lefthander had gone 0-3 with a 4.91 ERA in 7 games for the team. Then Yankees would recall veteran hurler Rollie Sheldon, who was 4-2 with 1.81 ERA for the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). Sheldon will go 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA and 1 save for the 1964 team. He will appear in 2 games of the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals with no decisions.
1968-Current Yankees Minor League Pitching Coordinator and Former MLB Pitcher Scott Aldred was born.
After finishing his MLB Pitching career of 10 seasons, Scott Aldred became a Minor League Pitching Coach. In 2006, he would join the Yankees organization, becoming the Pitching Coach for the Class A Charleston Riverdogs (SAL). In 2007-2008, Scott move up to AA level, becoming the Pitching Coach for the Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2009, Scott moved up to AAA level to become the Pitching Coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), a position that he held until 2015. In 2016, Scott Aldred became the Yankees roving Minor League Pitching Coordinator.
1969-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Rob Gardner from the Indians for Reserve Catcher John Orsino, who had been playing for the Yankees AAA team at Syracuse (IL). Rob will go 1-0 with 4.91 ERA in 1 game before being traded to the A’s. He will return to the Yankees for the 1971-1972 AL seasons before being traded back to A’s. His final Yankees Pitching record was a 9-5 mark with a 3.19 ERA in 24 games.
1973-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Lowell Palmer from the Indians for Pitcher Mike Kekich. The days as a Yankees player for Kekich were numbered since the pre-MLB spring training camp public announcement of his Wife-Family swap with Yankees teammate Starter Fritz Peterson, who will be traded to the Tribe on April 27,1974 in the Chris Chambliss trade. Mike Kekich had compiled a 30-31 record with 4.31 ERA and 1 save in 125 games as a Yankees Pitcher. He had been obtained in a trade by the Yankees from the Dodgers on December 4,1968 for OF Andy Kosco. Lowell Palmer never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 31,1974, he was purchased along with veteran INF Horace Clarke by the Padres from the Yankees.
1974-Former Yankees OF/DH Hideki Matsui (2003-2009) was born.
On December 19, 2002, OF Hideki Matsui was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. In Japan, Matsui had been an All-Star player with the Tokyo Giants. He was a 2-time AL All-Star team member (2003-2004). He won the 2009 MLB MVP winner for his hitting performance for the Yankees against the Phillies in the 2009 World Series. Matsui would hit .615, going 8 for 13 with 3 HRs and 8 RBI’s. His final Yankees playing career totals, were a .292 BA with 140 HRs with 597 RBIs in 916 games. In the winter of 2009, Hideki would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, signing a deal with the Angels. In December of 2012, Matsui would announce his retirement from the MLB as an active player. In July of 2013, the Yankees would honor him with a special day at Yankee Stadium.
1981-The Yankees had traded Pitcher Doug Bird, a Player to be Named Later and Cash to the Cubs for veteran Starter Rick Reuschel. He would post a 4-4 record with a 2.67 ERA in 12 games for the 1981 Yankees. As a Yankees P Doug Bird had posted an 8-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and 1 save in 39 games. On August 5,1981, the Player to be Named Later was named and was sent to the Cubs. It would be Yankees Pitcher Mike Griffin, who had a 2-4 record with a 4.60 ERA and 1 save in 18 games for the team.
1985-Former Yankees Pitcher George Kontos (2011, 2018) was born.
George Kontos was selected by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro pitching debut that summer. On December 9, 2010, George was drafted by the Padres from the Yankees in the 2010 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On March 14, 2011, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Padres to the Yankees organization. He had appeared in 7 games with no record for the 2011 Yankees. On April 4, 2012, George was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for Reserve Catcher Chris Stewart. In 6 NL seasons with the Giants, he has gone 15-14 with a 3.05 ERA in 300 games. During the 2017 NL season, he was put on waivers by the Giants; he was claimed by the Pirates. He went 3-4 with 3.67 ERA and 2 saves in 56 games. On May 28, 2018, he was released by the Bucs. On June 3, 2018, he was signed with the Tribe to help out their bullpen. On August 4, 2018, George was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. He would only appear in 1 game for the team with no decision. He didn’t appear in 2018 AL Postseason for the team. The Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency in the fall.
1996-The Yankees had traded Reliever Rich Monteleone to the Angels for OF Mike Aldrete. Rich had gone 17-9 with a 4.06 ERA in 120 games, while working out of the 1990-1993 Yankees bullpen. In winter of 1995, he was signed by the Yankees as MLB Free Agent, he was at their AAA club, the Columbus Clippers (IL). He had a 4-3 record in 23 games for the Clippers. For the 1996 Yankees, Mike Aldrete would hit .250 with 3 HRs in 32 games for the. The Yankees make an MLB roster spot move for Mike, by sending out Rookie OF Ruben Rivera to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) to play every day, rather than sit on the MLB team bench.
2010-Yankees All-Star Shortstop Derek Jeter homers twice, while Catcher Jorge Posada hits a Grand Slam HR in Bronx Bomber's 9-3 win over the Astros. Houston starter Wandy Rodriguez (3-9) is the victim of the Bombers offensive HR surge, which was accomplished in the absence of All-Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, who is still bothered by a groin injury.
2012-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez ties Lou Gehrig's MLB record by hitting his 23rd MLB career Grand Slam HR off the Braves' hurler Jonny Venters. A-Rod's 8th-inning HR blast allows the Yankees to tie the score, his Yankees teammate Nick Swisher hits a 2-run HR shot later that inning for a 6-4 Yankees victory.
2022-Matt Carpenter hits 2 HRs and drives in 7 runs for the Yankees in an 18-4 demolition of the Cubs, giving him 6 HRs,10 runs scored and 13 RBIs in his 1st 10 games with the team. Catcher Kyle Higashioka also goes deep twice for his 1st 2 HRs of the season, the 2nd 1 coming off a pitch from position player Frank Schwindel measured a 35.1 mph - the slowest ever tracked by Statcast. The Yankees have won 11 of their last 12 games.
June 13th
1913-The Yankees notch their 13th win of the 1913 AL season at this incredibly late date. They had already lost 36 games this season. The 1913 Yankees would finish in 7th place in the AL with a 57-94 record.
1914-The Yankees had traded OF Jimmy Walsh to the Philadelphia A’s for OF Tom Daley. Walsh was hitting .191 in 43 games for the Yankees, he was unhappy playing in New York City for the losing Yankees team. He was sent back to the A’s, who will send OF Tom Daley, he would hit .251 with No HRs and 9 RBIs in 69 games for the team.
1919-The Yankees would sell Reserve OF Bill Lamar to the Red Sox. On August 14,1917, OF Bill Lamar was purchased along with INF Chick Fewster and P Hank Thormahlen by the Yankees from the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) for $20,000 Cash. He had appeared in 50 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .228 with No HRs and 5 RBIs.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits a 460 Ft. HR into the CF bleachers in the Polo Grounds for the 1st MLB HR ever hit to that spot. Ruth added his 21st HR of the 1921 AL season, also he pitched 5 innings in the 13-6 win over the Tigers, while giving up 4 runs; but striking out Tigers batter Ty Cobb. The next day, Babe Ruth will hit 2 more HRs, his 6th and 7th in 5 games in a 9-6 win over the Bengals.
1924-A riot by 18,000 fans at Detroit caused a forfeiture of a game to the Yankees. The trouble occurred, when Tigers’ P Bert Cole hit Bronx batter Bob Meusel with a pitch. Then Meusel would charge the mound, take a swing at Cole; but he missed, but it was followed both team’s benches clearing brawl. Tigers Ty Cobb and Yankees Babe Ruth got into it. Meusel and Ruth were both ejected from the game. When they went out on field to get their gloves, the Detroit fans would pour out onto the playing field. Umpires not able to restore peace with the crowd; they would rule forfeit of the game. Yankees Players Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel were fined $1,000 each, while Tigers Ty Cobb received a formal reprimand. The Yankees were leading the game by a score of 10-6, when the fighting incident had occurred.
1937-In St. Louis, Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader played at Sportsman Park. The game had ended in an 8-8 tie with the game called because of darkness. Rules allowed the all records from the game to count. The Yankees won the 1st game by a score of 16-9, when they scored 7 runs in the 9th inning to break a 9-9 tie with the Browns.
1939-The Yankees had obtained INF Roy Hughes and Cash from the St. Louis Browns for Reserve OF Joe Gallagher, who had hit just .244 in 14 games for the team, before being sent down to AA Newark Bears (IL) on June 2,1939. Roy Hughes would never play for the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to AA Newark Bears (IL). In July of 1939, he would be traded in a Minor League deal with the Phillies for P Al Hollingsworth.
1948-An ailing Hall of Fame Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth made his final appearance at Yankee Stadium. With the crowd of 49,641 fans singing Auld Lang Syne with members of the 1923 Yankees team (the 1st to play in the stadium) looking on, the New York Yankees retired Ruth's Uniform No. 3 during ceremonies that also commemorated the 25th anniversary of Yankee Stadium’s opening. Fewer than 2 months later, the 53-year-old Babe Ruth will pass away from Throat Cancer.
1972-Former Yankees Pitcher Darrell May (2005) was born.
On July 2, 2005, Pitcher Darrell May was traded by the Padres along with P Tim Redding and Cash to the Yankees for veteran Reliever Paul Quantrill. He went 0-1 with 16.71 ERA in 2 games for the 2005 Yankees, before being sent back to AAA.
1975-The Yankees had purchased veteran AL Shortstop Ed Brinkman from the Rangers for Cash. Brinkman had started the 1975 MLB season with the Cardinals, then he was traded to the Rangers. To make room for Brinkman on the Yankees MLB 25-man roster, the team would send Reserve OF Larry Murray back to AA West Haven (EL). For the 1975 Yankees, Ed would play in 44 games as a Reserve INF, hitting just .175 before being released by the team in March of 1976.
1975-The Yankees had sold hurler Mike Wallace to the Cardinals. In 1974, Mike had posted a 6-0 record with a 2.41 ERA in 23 games for the team. He had appeared in 3 games for the 1975 Yankees with no record. His sale to the Cardinals cleared an MLB Roster space for returning OF/1B/DH Ron Bloomberg from the DL.
1978-The Yankees veteran OF Roy White hits a HR from each side of the plate during a Yankees 5-3 win at Oakland. It was the 5th time in Roy White’s Yankees playing career does this HR feat.
1979-Former Yankees Minor League C David Parrish was born.
The Yankees had selected Catcher David Parrish in the 10th round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Player Draft. David was the son of former MLB Catcher Lance Parrish. In May of 2004, Parrish spent a brief time on the Yankees' 25 MLB man roster. On May 12th, Jorge Posada suffered a broken nose, when a thrown ball while trying to break up a double play struck him. Parrish, who was assigned uniform #57, provided insurance behind John Flaherty. However, he never got into a game and Posada was back in the lineup on May 18th. In 2006, he was released by the Yankees organization. After leaving the Yankees, he would play in the Pirates, Rockies and the Padres Minor League organizations. In 2008, he would retire as an active player.
1988-In a 12-6 loss to the Yankees, Red Sox Slugger Jim Rice hits his 200th MLB Career HR in Fenway Park, joining Ted Williams and Carl Yastrzemski as the only 3 Red Sox players to do it.
2000-Former Yankees Reliever Bobby Tiefenauer (1965) had passed away. (1929-2000)
After being acquired from the Braves for Yankees Minor League P Tom Dukes on June 16,1965, veteran Reliever Bobby Tiefenauer would post a 1-1 record with a 3.54 ERA and 2 saves in 10 games for the team. On August 11,1965, Bobby was purchased by the Indians from the Yankees. After his MLB Pitching career had ended in 1968, Tiefenauer would spend 2 decades with the Phillies organization as a Minor League Coach and later as an MLB Coach. Overall, in 10 MLB seasons, Bobby would post a 9-25 record with a 3.84 ERA and 23 saves in 179 MLB games.
2003-Yankees veteran Starter Roger Clemens reached his 300th MLB career win. He would become the 3rd pitcher in MLB history with 4,000 strikeouts, leading the Yankees over the Cardinals to a 5-2 victory in an MLB Inter-league game. St. Louis hitter Edgar Renteria would become his 4,000th MLB victim in the 2nd inning. Clemens, the 21st MLB Pitcher to make it to 300 wins; he allowed only 2 Cardinals runs in 6 2-3 innings of work as he struck out 10 St. Louis batters, raising his total MLB Pitching career total to 4,006 batters. Roger Clemens would join Nolan Ryan (5,714) and Steve Carlton (4,136) in the select MLB 4,000-Strikeout Pitchers club.
2010-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Catcher Joe Posada hits a Grand Slam HR for the 2nd consecutive game as the Yankees completed a series sweep of the Astros, by winning the game by the score of 9-5. In 1937, AL All-Star Catcher Bill Dickey had been the last Yankees player to hit Grand Slam HRs in back-to-back contests for the team.
2011-Just 6 hits shy of joining the 3,000 MLB Hit Club, Yankees Captain and Shortstop Derek Jeter must put his quest on hold as he exits today's 1-0 Yankees loss to the Indians with a sore right calf and goes on the DL. Jeter gets MLB hit No. 2,994 with a 1st-inning single off of Tribe Starter Carlos Carrasco, but he leaves in the 5th inning after feeling a strain, while running to 1B. Escaping a none-out, bases loaded jam in the 1st inning, Carrasco settles down by pitching 7 scoreless innings for the win. The Indians' lone run off of Yankees Starter A.J. Burnett comes in the 4th inning, courtesy of a triple by Michael Brantley followed by a single by Asdrubal Cabrera.
2015-Yankees DH Alex Rodriguez collects his 2000th MLB career RBI with a 2-run HR in the Yankees' 9-4 loss to the Orioles. He is the 4th MLB Player to reach the milestone; following Hall of Famer’s Cap Anson, Babe Ruth and All-time MLB Leader Hank Aaron.
2020-Former Yankees Pitcher Mike McCormick (1970) had passed away. (1938-2020)
On July 20,1970, Veteran NL All-Star P Mike McCormick was obtained from the Giants for Yankees P John Cumberland, who was 3-5 in 15 games for the 1970 Yankees. Mike was a former 1950’s Giants’ bonus baby signing. He had appeared on the 1960-1961 NL All-Star teams. In 1960, he was the NL ERA leader with a 2.70 mark. In 1962, Mike was with the Giants, but he did not appear in the World Series against the Yankees. Mike had won the 1967 NL Cy Young Award with the team, while posting a 22-10 record with a 2.85 ERA in 40 games. As a Yankees hurler, he went 2-0 with a 6.10 ERA in 9 games before being released by the team in the spring of 1971. The Royals would pick him up for the 1971 AL season. Overall, as an MLB hurler, Mike had posted a 134-128 record with a 3.73 ERA and 12 saves in 484 games with the Giants (twice), Orioles, Senators, Yankees and finishing up with the 1971 Royals, appearing in only 4 games with no decisions.
June 14th Flag Day, Please Show your Colors!!
1925-Former Yankees Reserve 1B Fenton “Muscles” Mole (1949) was born.
Reserve 1B Fenton Mole had appeared in just 10 games for the 1949 Yankees, while hitting just .189 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. He did not appear in the 1949 World Series for the Yankees against the Dodgers. Mole had started out in the Yankees Minor League system playing from 1946-1947. In 1948, he would play with the AA Portland Beavers (PCL), while hitting .283 with 22 HRs and 83 RBIs. The Yankees brought him back to play in their farm system. He would play most of the 1949 season with the AA Newark Bears (IL), while appearing in 107 games, hitting .269 with 16 HRs and 53 RBIs. He would remain playing in the Yankees Minor League system until 1952.
1928-Former Yankees Minor League INF Herb Plews was born. (1928-2014)
In 1950, the Yankees had signed INF Herb Plews as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend the 1951-1952 seasons serving in the military. After his military tour was completed, Herb would returned to the Yankees organization. He would put in 2 excellent Minor League seasons: with the 1954 AA Binghamton Triplets (EL) hitting .299 and .302 with the 1955 AAA Denver Bears (AA). He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. On February 8,1956, Herb was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, C Lou Berberet, OF Richard Tettelbach and P Bob Wiesler to the Senators for veteran P Mickey McDermott and Reserve INF Bobby Kline. On April 2,1956, the Yankees would later send AAA Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade. Herb would play in the MLB from 1956-1959 with the Senators and Red Sox; while hitting .262 with 4 HRs and 82 RBIs in 346 games.
1932-The Yankees pull a rare triple steal led by Yankees OF Ben Chapman on 3B during a 7-6 win over the Indians. The Yankees had the bases loaded, when Chapman broke for home plate and the other Yankee base runners also moved up.
1933-The Red Sox would beat the Yankees by the score of 13-5 at Fenway Park. Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy and 1B Lou Gehrig were thrown out of a game by the Umpires for arguing that Red Sox hitter Rick Ferrell had run out of the baseline between 1st and 2nd base. Lou Gehrig's consecutive-game streak stays intact, even though Lou and Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy were thrown out of a game. He had gone 1 for 3 with a triple during the game. Manager Joe McCarthy was suspended for 3 games, but Lou Gehrig's streak, is now at 1,249 consecutive MLB games continues.
1934-On a Tuesday day game played at Yankee Stadium, Bronx Starter Johnny Broaca allows only 1-hit, a 3rd inning single by the Browns OF Sammy West during the Yankees 7-0 win. Bronx Bomber Slugger Babe Ruth hits a 3-run HR off of Browns Starter Ivy Andrews to start the Yankees scoring. Broaca picks up his 1st victory of the 1934 AL season. Ivy Andrews takes the loss for St. Louis. The 1934 Yankees are now at the 29-20 mark for the season.
1936-The Yankees had obtained OF Al “Jake” Powell from the Senators for veteran OF Ben Chapman. Several racial remarks made by Ben Chapman during the 1936 AL season cause embarrassment to the Yankees front office forcing his trade to the Senators. Later in 1947, Ben Chapman was the Manager of the Phillies, who taunted Dodgers Black player Jackie Robinson with racial slurs. Jake Powell would play for the 1936-1940 Yankees, while appearing in 272 games, while hitting with 13 HRs and 124 RBIs. When asked by WGN radio announcer Bob Elson how he stated during the offseason during a dugout interview in a July 1938 game against the Chicago White Sox, Powell replied to Elson that he was a policeman in his hometown of Dayton, Ohio (in reality he had only applied), and that he "beat n-----s over the head with my blackjack." MLB Commissioner Judge Landis subsequently suspended him for 10 days, for making "an uncomplimentary reference to a portion of the population.” He had appeared in 3 World Series (1936-1938) for the Yankees, playing in 8 games while hitting .438 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. On December 5,1940, Jake Powell was purchased by the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) from the Yankees.
1937-The Yankees would recall Rookie Pitcher Spud Chandler from the AA Newark Bears (IL). For the 1937 Yankees, Spud will post a 7-4 record with a 2.84 ERA in 12 games.
1946-In an MLB roster move, the Yankees would sell veteran 3B Hank Majeski to Athletics for $7,500 Cash. Manager Bill Dickey had decided to use other infielders on the team 25-man roster. On May 25,1941, Hank was purchased by the Yankees from the Boston Braves. He would miss the 1942-1945 MLB baseball seasons, while serving in the military. Hank had appeared in just only 8 games for the 1946 Yankees, while hitting just .083. He will become the A’s starting 3rd baseman. In another MLB 25-man roster reduction move, the Yankees would send P Frank Hiller to the AAA Newark Bears (IL).
1953-The Yankees would sweep the Indians in a Sunday doubleheader played in Cleveland by scores of 6-2 and 3-0 before a crowd of 74,708 fans to extend their current AL winning streak to 18 games. In the Opener, the Yankees win by the score of 6-2 with Catcher Yogi Berra hitting a 3-run HR. Bob Kuzava relieves Starter Johnny Sain to pick-up his 2nd win of the season. Tribe Starter Bob Lemon takes the loss, he is now 7-6. In the Nightcap, Bronx veteran Starter Vic Raschi throws a complete game victory, he now 5-3 for the season. Meanwhile, Veteran Tribe Starter Mike Garcia throws a complete game, but he takes the loss bring his pitching record to a 7-4 mark. With the twin bill sweep of Tribe, the Yankees are now 41-11 for the 1953 AL season.
1954-The 1954 Mayor’s Trophy game is held at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 28,084 fans see the Dodgers beat the Yankees by the score of 2-1, despite getting just 2-base hits. Duke Snider’s 4th inning HR was the only hit that Yankees Starter Harry Byrd allowed in 7 innings of work. Dodgers Jim Gilliam’s 8th inning single drove Dodgers’ base runner Don Hoak in all the way in from 1st base. Dodgers’ Starter Billy Loes gets the win for Brooklyn, while Yankees Reliever Tom Gorman takes the loss for the Bombers. Neither team will make it to the 1954 World Series, which will feature the NL Giants and AL Indians.
1956-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Moe Burtschy, OF Bill Renna along with Cash from Kansas City for Reserve OF/3B Lou Skizas and veteran 1B/PH Eddie Robinson. Skizas would hit .316 in 83 games for the 1956 A’s before fading in 1957. The Yankees would send both players that they had received from KC to their AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL) neither players would play for the team at the MLB level. Also, in another MLB 25-man roster move the Yankees would recall Rookie OF Norm Siebern from AAA Richmond (IL).
1958-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB hurler Sal Maglie to the Cardinals for Minor League P Joe McClain and Cash. For the 1958 Yankees, Sal Maglie had appeared in 7 games, while posting a 1-1 record along with a 4.63 ERA. McClain was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA), when the Yankees brought up Pitcher Zack Monroe to replace Maglie on the Yankees 25-man MLB roster. McClain never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1961-The Yankees had obtained veteran Starter Bud Daley from the Kansas City for veteran Starter Art Ditmar and Rookie OF/INF Deron Johnson. Bud Daley would help out the Yankees pitching staff as a swingman. He would pick up a win for the Yankees in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. Art Ditmar was a sore-armed starter, who had won 15 games for the team in 1960; but he had pitched poorly for the Yankees in the 1960 World Series; losing 2 games to the Pirates. Meanwhile Rookie INF/OF Deron Johnson was blocked at 3B by the presence of Clete Boyer and at 1B by AL All-Star Bill Skowron. Also, he couldn’t crack the Yankees starting regular outfield of Mickey Mantle-Roger Maris-Yogi Berra/ Hector Lopez, either. Later, he would have a successful MLB playing career in the NL, starting with the 1964 Reds. Then Deron would play for the Braves and Phillies during his 16-season MLB playing career. Bud Daley will pitch for the Yankees from 1961-1964, posting an 18-16 record with a 3.89 ERA with 6 saves in 80 games. He had appeared in 1961-1962 World Series for the Yankees with a 1-0 record in 3 games. Bud would miss the entire 1963 AL season due to a pitching arm injury. After the 1964 World Series, the Yankees had sold him to the Indians. He never recovers from his pitching arm injury problems.
1961-The Yankees had traded veteran lefty hurler Danny McDevitt to the Twins for Reserve INF Billy Gardner. With the acquisition of veteran P Bud Daley from the A’s, McDevitt had become expendable. For the 1961 Yankees, he had appeared in 8 games, while posting a 1-2 record. Billy Gardner would join veteran Joe DeMasteri as an infield reserve players for the 1961 Yankees MLB bench.
1968-The Yankees had sold Reserve 1B Mike Hegan to the Seattle Pilots. He had played for the Yankees in 1964,1966 and 1967. Hegan had appeared in 86 games for the Bronx Bombers, while only hitting .148. He was the son of Yankees MLB Bullpen Coach Jim Hegan.
1969-The Yankees had obtained Tigers OF Ron Woods for veteran INF/OF Tom Tresh. Yankees Tom Tresh was at the end of his MLB playing career, never having to fully recover from his collision with Yankees Shortstop Ruben Amaro Sr. during the 1966 AL season that seriously injured both of his knees. Tresh had won 1962 AL Rookie of the Year Award by hitting .286 with 20 HRs and 93 RBIs. He had become the 1962 Yankees regular shortstop, while Tony Kubek was away on active duty with the Army Reserves. He was switched to the outfield as the regular LF, when Kubek returned from active duty during the 1962 AL season. He would return to the Shortstop position by Yankees Manager Ralph Houk in 1968.
1976-The 1976 Mayor’s Trophy game is played at the new remodeled Yankee Stadium. The Yankees win the game by the score of 8-4 before a crowd of 36,361 fans. Six of their 8 runs were unearned, thanks to 3 Mets errors. Yankees Rookie Pitcher Jim Beattie gets the win, while Rick Baldwin takes the lost for the Mets. Rookie Mets Catcher Jay Kleven, who would go 1 for 5 in the MLB, made the impression that earned him his cup of coffee with 2 hits in the game.
1977-Yankees Starter Don Gullet wins his 5th straight start as the Yankees win a 6-5 come-from–behind victory over the Twins.
1978-The Yankees had obtained OF/1B Jay Johnstone and Minor League OF Bobby Brown from the Phillies for Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs as a PH/1B. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for P Dave Wehrmeister. Overall, as a Yankees player, Johnstone had appeared in 59 games as an OF/1B, while hitting .239 with 3 HRs and 13 RBIs. Eastwick had appeared in 8 games for the Yankees, while posting a 2-1 record with no saves. Yankees Manager Billy Martin never was a fan of Rawley, since had Gossage and Lyle already in his 1978 Bronx bullpen.
1978-The Yankees repeatedly rally to defeat the Mariners by the score of 10-9 in 11 innings. Yankees had trailed into 8th inning, when Cliff Johnson’s pinch-hit HR ties the game. The Yankees then spotted the Mariners an extra inning lead before; Reserve OF Paul Blair hits a 2-out, 3-run HR in the 10th inning to win the game.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Chase Whitley (2014-2015) was born.
The Yankees had selected Pitcher Chase Whitley in the 15th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Whitley would split the summer of 2010 between the short season Class A Staten Island Yankees (4-2, 1.31 ERA, 15 Saves, 44 K in 34 1/3 IP) and the Class A Tampa Yankees (1 R in 3 IP). He would toss 3 1/3 shutout playoff innings for Tampa, while fanning 5 batters. In 2011, Whitley pitched for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) with a 0-1 record, 6 Saves, 1.68 ERA in 23 Games Then he was with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) going 3-4, with a 3.38 ERA in 19 games. In 2012, he did well with AA Trenton (no Runs in 4 IP) and then he was moved up to the AAA Scranton Yankees (IL), while posting a 9-5 record with a 3.25 ERA in 41 Games. He was 3-2 with 3 saves and a 3.06 ERA in 29 games for the 2013 AAA Scranton team. He would open the 2014 season with AAA Scranton (IL) by going 3-2 with a 2.39 ERA and 32 K in 26 1/3 IP. Then Chase was called up to the Bronx, when starter CC Sabathia went on the DL. In his MLB pitching debut for the Yankees on May 15, 2014, Whitley faced another pitcher making his MLB pitching debut, the Mets Jacob DeGrom. Both young pitchers did very well, with Chase giving up no runs on 2 hits in 4 2/3 innings before Dellin Betances relieved him, while DeGrom gave up a 1 run in 7 frames. The 2 young pitchers both also collected their 1st MLB hit off of one another. The Yankees won the game by the score of 1-0 with Whitley ending up with a no-decision. He would record his 1st MLB career win on June 6th against the Royals by winning the game by the score of 4-2. Chase will finish the 2014 season with a 4-3 record and a 5.23 ERA in 24 games. Whitley would start the 2015 season with the AAA Scranton (IL); where he went 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA in 3 starts. He was called up to the Bronx in late April to join the Yankees starting rotation. He would post a 1-2 record with a 4.19 ERA in 4 starts, but he had to leave the last of these, on May 14th in the 2nd inning with pain in his elbow. The next day, he would have an MRI, he had elected to undergo Tommy John surgery; putting him out for at least a year. On November 20, 2015, Chase was selected off waivers by the Rays from the Yankees.
2010-Former Yankees Reserve OF Oscar Azocar (1990) had passed away. (1965-2010)
On November 22,1983, OF Oscar Azocar was signed as a Free Agent for the Yankees by their MLB Scout Fred Ferreira. Originally a Pitcher in the Yankees farm system from 1984-1986, he went 14-5 with a 2.31 ERA. He began playing the outfield in 1987; he would hit .359 for the Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL) that season. In 1990, Azocar would play in 94 games for the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He was called up to the Bronx. He would make his MLB player debut on July 17th, getting a pinch-hit single in his 1st MLB at-bat against the Royals. The following day, he would hit a HR, then a doubled and singled against the Royals. Overall, he had appeared in 65 games for the Yankees that summer, he was used more than any other player in LF by the Yankees, who also played Mel Hall, Hensley Meulens, Claudell Washington, Deion Sanders, Dave Winfield and others at the position that year. He would hit for a good average, but Oscar hardly drew any walks, which diminished his value as a player significantly, especially as he had little power as a hitter. After the 1990 MLB season had ended, he was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for OF Mike Humphreys.
June 15th Old MLB Trade Deadline Day
1912-Former Yankees 1B Ellsworth “Babe” Dahlgren (1937-1940) was born. (1912-1996)
On May 1,1939, 1B Babe Dahlgren had replaced Lou Gehrig at 1B, when his ALS Illness forced him to stop playing 1B in Detroit. On February 17,1937, Babe was purchased by the Yankees from the Red Sox. Babe had been blocked at 1B with the Red Sox, because the presence of future HOF 1B Slugger Jimmy Foxx. The Yankees had purchased the 24-yearold 1B just in case they had trouble resigning All-Star 1B Lou Gehrig. Dahlgren would appear in 327 games for the 1937-1940 Yankees, while hitting .248 with 27 HRs and 163 RBIs. He would play in 1939 World Series against the Reds, while hitting only .214. His MLB playing career was shaken by an unfounded rumor that he was a marijuana smoker by his Manager Joe McCarthy. NL Baseball ExecutiveBranch Rickey would help spread the false story. Babe would pay for his own drug testing, which showed that the story was wrong. He took his testing results to Commissioner Judge Landis, who would fail to follow up on the accusations. This explains why the Yankees would sell him to the Boston Braves before the start of 1941 AL season, without giving an explanation. Manager Joe McCarthy claimed that his fielding was lacking, “his arms were too short for 1st base,” which went against the observations of anyone, who had watched him play. He was leading the Braves in HRs and RBIs, when they traded him to the Cubs later that season, again without a valid explanation. In 1942, he would play for 3 different MLB teams. On May 13th, the Cubs would sell him to the Browns, but they would return him 6 days later, after he had made only a couple of pinch-hitting appearances for the team. On that same day, the Cubs would send him to the Dodgers, again for cash. The explanation was that there was uncertainty about whether he would be entering the US military (this was a few months after Pearl Harbor), but again, it makes little sense on its own. In any case, he never got going during that 1942 MLB season. He was eventually was sent down by the team to their AAA club, the Montreal Royals (IL), but he would refuse to report. The Dodgers turned around and sell the unwanted Dahlgren to the Phillies before the start of the 1943 NL season. The Phillies were a woeful team that needed all the help it could get, did not mind adding a player, who had become a pariah because of the drug rumors. It turned out to be a wise move, as Dahlgren could still play. He would appear in 136 games, while hitting .287 with 56 RBIs. Babe was named to the NL All-Star team. He took a drug test to prove that he was clean. However, his season was cut short when he was inducted into the military on September 16th, but he failed his physical exam because of a sinus condition. Before the start of the 1944 NL season, he was traded again, this time to the Pirates. He had played in 154 games for the Bucs that season, while hitting .289 with 101 RBIs. In 1945, his 115 double plays and .996 fielding percentage, both would lead the NL. He would hit .250 with 75 RBIs. Babe would play in the MLB from 1935-1946 for the Red Sox, Yankees, Braves, Cubs, Browns (twice), Dodgers, Phillies and the Pirates. In 1964, he was an MLB Coach for the Kansas City A’s; earlier he had been an MLB Scout for the team from 1956 to 1958. Later, he was an MLB Scout for the Orioles. He became a pioneer in using film to study batters' swings and as a teaching device, working on this with the A's and with the Cardinals in 1965. He had amassed a tremendous collection of film materials on hitters dating back to the 1940’s, but all of these films were lost, when his home burnt down in a fire in 1980.
1916-Former Yankees Reserve OF Edward “Bud” Stewart (1948) was born. (1916-2000)
In March of 1947, the Yankees had acquired OF Edward “Bud” Stewart from the Pirates. He had previously played in the MLB with the 1941-1942 Pirates. Then Bud would spend time in the service from 1943-1944. After hitting .358 for the 1947 AA Kansas City Blues (AA), he began the 1948 AL season in the Bronx. After appearing in just 6 games with the 1948 Yankees, he was traded to the Senators on May 13,1948 for veteran OF Leon Culberson and $20,000 Cash.
1923-At Yankee Stadium, a Friday day crowd of 10,000 fans, see Future HOF 1B Lou Gehrig make his MLB player debut with the Yankees as a substitute player in a 10-0 blow-out of the St. Louis Browns. He had replaced 1B Wally Pipp as a defensive replacement in the Yankees starting line-up with no at bats. He had been a College Baseball star Pitcher and 1B at Columbia Univ. Lou will play in 13 games for the 1923 Yankees, while hitting .423 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs.
1926-The Yankees had obtained veteran OF Roy Carlyle on waivers from the Red Sox. He was used by the club as a left-handed pinch-hitter. Roy would hit .385 with No HRs and 11 RBIs in 35 games for the 1926 Yankees before retiring from baseball. He did not appear in the 1926 World Series for the Yankees against the Cardinals.
1928-Former Yankees Minor League Player (1955-1958) and Manager (1968-1974) Gene Hassell was born.
Gene Hassell had played the infield in the Yankees Minor League system with the 1954-1959 AAA Denver Bears (AA). In 1961, he would retire as an active player. From 1968-1974, Gene was a Minor League Manager for the Yankees organization at Johnson City, Manchester and Kinston teams.
1929-The Yankees had sold Pitcher Myles Thomas to the Senators. He would post a 14-12 record with a 4.70 ERA and 1 save in 70 games for the team. They had sold him to clear a roster spot for College Pitcher Bots Nekola, who they just had signed. The graduate of Holy Cross College would just last 9 games with no decisions for the 1929 Yankees.
1935-The Reds would return hurler Dan MacFayden to the Yankees upon the expiration of the “try-out” period allowed for in the deal, which had sent him to the Reds in 1934. The Yankees would return around and sell him to the St. Louis Browns for Cash.
1943-Former Yankees Pitcher Alan Closter (1971-1972) was born.
Before the start of the 1965 AL Season, Pitcher Alan Closter was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. On November 29,1965, he was drafted by the Indians from the Yankees in the 1965 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. Alan would post a 2-2 record with a 5.58 ERA in 16 games with the Yankees. On September 5,1973, the Yankees would send P Al Closter to the Braves to complete an earlier deal made on June 7,1973. When the Yankees sent Players to be Named Later, Reserve Players: INF/OF Wayne Nordhagen and 1B/OF Frank Tepedino to the Braves for veteran MLB P Pat Dobson.
1950-The Yankees had obtained 3 Pitchers: Joe Ostrowski, Tom Ferrick and Sid Schacht, 3B Leo Thomas from St. Louis Browns for veteran INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, OF Jim Delsing, 2 Pitchers: Don Johnson and Duane Pillette along with $50,000 Cash. The Yankees had traded 4 players that they didn’t plan to use in 1950 for the Browns players. Don Johnson had gone 5-3 with a 4.23 ERA in 23 games for the Yankees; while Duane Pillette had posted a 2-4 record with a 3.86 ERA in 16 games. Veteran INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss was no longer a regular 2B being replaced by a young Jerry Coleman. Pitcher Tom Ferrick would help the 1950 Yankees bullpen by going 8-4 with a 3.65 ERA and 9 saves. Joe Ostrowski would become a valuable long man for the 1950-1953 Yankees by going 9-7 with 4.37 ERA and 3 saves in 27 games. Pitcher Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas never appeared with the team at MLB level. They both were assigned to the Yankees AAA club, the Kansas City Blues (AA).
1951-The Yankees had obtained 2 Pitchers: Bob “Sarge” Kuzava and Bob Ross from the Senators for 3 hurlers: Starters Fred Sanford, Bob Porterfield and Reliever Tom Ferrick. Bob Kuzava would go 8-4 with 5 saves for the 1951 Yankees. In World Series play for the Yankees, Bob had a 0-0 record with 2 saves in 3 games. Overall, for the Bombers, “Sarge” would post a 23-20 record with a 3.39 ERA and 13 saves in 103 games. Bob Ross never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level; he was sent to AAA Kansas City Blues (AA). Starter Fred Stanford was a major disappointment for the Yankees, who had hope that he would be become a successful starter, after pitching well for the lowly Browns. He would post a 12-10 record with a 4.18 ERA in 66 games. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel never used him in the 1949-1950 World Series. The trading of P Bob Porterfield was a rare Yankees trade mistake; he would recover from his back problems, winning 22 games for the 1953 Senators. As a 1948-1951 Yankees hurler, Bob had posted an 8-9 record with 1 save and a 5.06 ERA in 40 games. He would win 67 games in 5 seasons for the Nats. Veteran Pitchers Fred Sanford and Tom Ferrick were ineffective with the Senators.
1951-The Yankees had obtained veteran hurler Stubby Overmine from the St. Louis Browns for Starter Tommy Byrne and $25,000 Cash. Stubby went 1-1 with a 4.63 ERA in 15 games for the 1951 Yankees, before being traded back to the Browns. Tommy Byrne had been a good starter for the 1949-1950 Yankees by posting a 30-16 record, despite having control problems, walking a lot of hitters. He had been dropped from the Yankees starting rotation by Manager Casey Stengel. He had appeared in 9 games for the 1951 Yankees, going 2-1 along with a 6.86 ERA. In September of 1954, Tommy Byrne would return to Yankees, after being acquired from the AAA Seattle Rainers (PCL). He would enjoy 4 good seasons with the 1954-1957 Yankees, while posting a 30-16 record before retiring from MLB.
1957-The Yankees had obtained Pitcher Ryne Duren, Outfielders Jim Pisoni and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson from Kansas City for Pitcher Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and OF Bob Martyn. Ryne Duren would become the 1958-1960 Yankees Bullpen Closer, while battling his serious drinking problems. Ryne had gone 0-3 with a 5.27 ERA in 14 games with the 1957 A’s. He would be sent down to the Yankees AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA). Ralph Terry would return to the Yankees during the 1959 AL season, later becoming a successful Yankees Starter during the early 1960’s. Billy Martin was hitting .241 with 1 HR and 12 RBIs for the Yankees. He would hit .257 with 9 HRs and 27 RBIs in 73 games for the A’s before being traded by the team in 1958 to the Indians. INF/0F Woody Held had appeared in only 1 game with no hits for the 1957 Yankees. With the A’s, he would hit .239 with 20 HRs and RBIs in 92 games. After being traded by team to the Indians in 1958, he would become the starting shortstop for the Tribe during the late 1950’s and the early 1960’s. Veteran Harry Simpson had play the OF/1B for the Yankees in 99 games, while hitting .233 before being traded back to Kansas City in May of 1958. Jim Pisoni would spend most of his playing time with the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Bob Martyn had played in 94 games for the 1957-1959 A’s, while hitting .263. On April 12,1959, Bob was traded by the A’s along with INF Mike Baxes to the Yankees for Reserve INF Tom Carroll and Minor League OF Russ Snyder. He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. The Yankees would send him to their AAA Richmond team, where he played in 110 games, while hitting .295. In 1960, he would split his last pro season playing in AAA for the Yankees Richmond Virginians (IL) and the Reds AAA club, the San Diego Padres (PCL) before retiring from the game.
1958-The Yankees had obtained 2 hurlers: Virgil Trucks and Duke Maas from Kansas City for 2 veterans: Reliever Bob Grim and OF/1B Harry “Suitcase” Simpson. Veteran hurler Virgil “Fire Trucks” went 2-1 with a 4.54 ERA and 2 saves in 25 games for the Yankees before retiring from MLB. Reserve OF/1B Simpson had appeared in 99 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .244 with 7 HRs, 7 triples and 45 RBIs. He had appeared in 5 games of the 1957 World Series against the Braves, while playing in 5 games, while hitting just .083. Former 1954 AL Rookie of the Year hurler Bob Grim had posted a 45-21 record along with a 3.35 ERA and 28 saves in 146 games for the Yankees. In 1958, Bob had lost his effectiveness as a Reliever by going 0-1 with a 5.51 ERA in 11 games for the Yankees before the trade was made with the A’s. Duke Maas had posted a 4-5 record with a 3.90 ERA in 10 games for the 1958 A’s. He would post a 7-3 record with a 3.82 ERA in 28 games for the 1958 Yankees.
1958-Former Hall of Fame Yankees and MLB 3B Wade Boggs (1993-1997) was born.
In 1992, the Yankees had signed former All-Star 3B Wade Boggs as an MLB Free Agent. He had played for the Yankees Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox from 1982 to 1992. He hit over the .300 in 4 of the 5 seasons that he played for the Yankees. Wade would appear in 602 games for the Yankees, while hitting .313 with 24 HRs and 246 RBIs. He would hit .273 in the 1996 World Series against the Braves for the Yankees. He would leave the Yankees over his sharing playing time dispute at 3B, opting for MLB Free Agency. He would sign with his hometown team: The Tampa Bay Rays. With the Rays, Wade would collect his 3,000 MLB career hit. In 2005, Wade Boggs was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1966-The Yankees would sell veteran MLB Starter Bob Friend to the Mets for $20,000 waiver price. He was washed up. On December 10,1965, Bob Friend was traded by the Pirates to the Yankees for Reliever Pete Mikkelsen and Cash. For the 1966 Yankees, he had posted a 1-4 record with a 4.84 ERA in 12 games before his trade to the Mets.
1968-After his player release by the Dodgers, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent veteran All-Star OF Rocky Colavito. For the 1968 Yankees, Rocky would appear in 39 games, just hitting .220 with 5 HRs with 13 RBIs. Also, he would pitch in 1 game for the Yankees in relief getting the victory. The Yankees had asked him to come back for the 1969 AL season as a Relief Pitcher, Reserve OF and occasionally Pinch-Hitter, but Rocky had decided to retired from MLB instead. He had hoped to be offered a chance to play by one of the 2 new AL Expansion Teams: the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Pilots. That didn’t happen, he would stay in his MLB player retirement.
1968-On June 15,1968, Yankees had sold veteran hurler Jim Bouton to the AAA Seattle Angels (PCL), who would later become the new 1969 AL Expansion Team, the Seattle Pilots. For the 1968 Yankees, he had been in 12 games, while posting a 1-1 record with a 3.68 ERA. His Yankees Pitching career ended with a 55-51 record along with a 3.36 ERA and 4 saves in 197 games. Jim had pitched in the 1963-1964 World Series for the Yankees, posting a 2-1 record with a 1.48 ERA in 3 games. In 1963, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Jim had appeared in the game, pitching 1 inning.
1968-The Yankees would sell veteran Reliever John Wyatt to the Tigers for $30,000 Cash. After being obtained from the Red Sox, John had appeared in just 7 games with the 1968 Yankees, while posting a 0-2 record with a 2.16 ERA. John was moved by the team to make room for veteran lefty P Al Downing, who was coming off the DL. Wyatt had been a star in the Negro Leagues before signing with the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s. John had appeared in the 1967 World Series with the Red Sox. He will not make any appearance for Tigers in their 1968 World Series against the Cardinals.
1972-Former Yankees 1B/DH and MLB/Union Executive Tony Clark (2004) was born.
In 2004, Veteran 1B/DH/OF Tony Clark was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Tony would hit .221 with 16 HRs and 49 RBIs for the Yankees. He was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He would sign with the D-Backs, who would offer him more playing time. After retiring from the game, he became active in the MLB Players Association in 2010 as Director of Player Relations. He had been a Player Representative for many years, while playing in the MLB. Clark was already familiar with union business. He was named Deputy to Executive Director Michael Weiner ,when he was struck by brain cancer in July of 2013, and replaced him on an interim basis after his passing on November 21, 2013. On December 3rd, he was confirmed in the position of Executive Director, although his nomination still needed to be ratified by a vote of the membership. A few days later, he would name Hall of Famer Dave Winfield as his Deputy.
1972-Former Yankees Pitcher Ramiro Mendoza (1996-2002, 2005) was born.
Ramiro Mendoza would post a 54-34 record with a 4.10 ERA and 16 saves in 278 games with the Yankees. Ramiro was one of the key bridges in the 1996-2002 Yankees bullpens to Yankees Closer Marino Rivera. He was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees in 2002. Ramon would sign with their Eastern Division Rivals, the Red Sox. He had suffered arm injuries that ended his MLB pitching career in 2005, while trying to make a comeback with the Yankees.
1972-Former Yankees All-Star Starter Andy Pettitte (1995-2003, 2007-2010, 2012) was born.
In 1990, the Yankees in the 22nd round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Andy Pettitte, but he waited instead until 1991 to sign with the Yankees as a draft-and-follow. From 1991 to early 1995, he would pitch in the Yankees Minor League organization. He never had a losing season. In the Rookie League, he had a 0.98 ERA. At Oneonta and Greensboro, he had ERA around 2.20. In 1993, in Single A and AA, he had a record of 12-9. In 1994, Andy would split time between the AA and AAA levels. Andy would post a 14-4 record. In 1995, after 11 2/3 innings in AAA without giving up a run, the Yankees would bring him up. As a Rookie that season, he would post a 12-9 record; he was 3rd in the voting for the 1995 AL Rookie of the Year Award. In 1996, his 2nd season in the MLB, Andy was 2nd in the Cy Young Award voting, after posting a season record of 21-8. In 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2005, he was in the top 6 in the Cy Young Award pitcher voting. He would post a 19-9 record in 2000 then a 21-8 record in 2003. He was on the AL All-Star teams in 1996, 2001 and 2010. In his return to the Yankees in 2007, he became the team's elder anchor on the mound, continually giving the team solid performances as teammates such as Mike Mussina, Chien-Ming Wang, Carl Pavano and Philip Hughes battled inconsistency and injuries. He would pass the 200-inning mark in both 2007 and 2008. That season, he was given the honor of starting the last game ever played in Yankee Stadium on September 21st - a fitting tribute for one of the winningest pitchers in the history of the famed ballpark. He would pitch 5 + innings against the Orioles to earn credit for his team's 7-3 win. In 2009, he was a key figure in his team's conquest of another World Series title, going 14-8 during the season, getting the series-clinching win in all 3 rounds of the 2009 MLB postseason, including Game 6 of the World Series against the Phillies. His 2010 AL season was cut short by injury, as he went 11-3 in 21 starts, with a 3.28 ERA, his best since 2005. He came back in time for the 2010 MLB postseason, but after the season said he was thinking about retirement. He hesitated for months before making his decision to retire known at a press conference on February 4, 2011. It seemed not to have missed a step, as it barely took a month of extended spring training and a few minor league assignments to get him ready to pitch in pinstripes again. He was called up to the Bronx on May 8th, he was handed the assignment as the team's starter for May 13th, against the Mariners. His return came at an opportune time, shortly after the Yankees had learned that prize off-season acquisition Michael Pineda would be lost for the season due to an arm injury; with Yankee starters struggling to a 5.54 ERA in the season's early going. He was a loser in his 1st start on May 13th, giving up 4 runs in 6 1/3 innings to the Mariners, including long balls to Justin Smoak and Casper Wells. He was then outstanding in his 2nd start, pitching 4-hit ball over 8 innings for a 4-0 win over the Reds on May 18th. Then he was out-standing in his 2nd start, pitching 4-hit ball over 8 innings for a 4-0 win over the Reds on May 18th. He would suffered a big setback on June 27th; however, when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of the Indians' batter Casey Kotchman, breaking his fibula. Hoping to return to action quickly, he began throwing off flat ground at the end of July, but he pushed himself too hard, delaying his return until September. He finally came back on September 19th, pitching 5 innings and earning the win over the Blue Jays, 4-2, in the opener of a doubleheader sweep. He would pick up another win in his next start on September 24th, by pitching 6 scoreless innings over the Twins to improve to his record to 5-3. He would finish the season at 5-4 with a 2.87 ERA in 12 starts and then Andy made a couple of starts in the postseason. He would lose Game 2 of the ALDS to the Orioles, 3-2 in spite of a solid start, and then he got a no-decision in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Tigers, pitching 6 2/3 innings in a game that the Yankees lost in extra innings.
In 2013, Pettitte was back with the Yankees; he registered the team's 1st win of the season in its 3rd game, while facing the Red Sox on April 4th. He gave up only 1 run in 8 innings, before turning the ball over to Mariano Rivera, who, just like in the good old days, recorded the save in his return from a serious knee injury that had almost ended his MLB pitching career the previous year. He also won his 2nd start, but then he had to have his next outing pushed back by a few days because of back spasms. He generally pitched well over the 1st 6 weeks of the season, as he was 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA in 7 starts on May 16th. That day, however, he had to leave a game against the Mariners in the 5th inning with a back injury, bleak news for a Yankees team reeling with injuries (although still playing well at that point). Pettitte was placed on the DL the next day. He would return on June 3rd, with a chance to earn his 250th MLB win against the Indians, but he ended up 1 out short of the mandatory 5 innings required and Reliever Shawn Kelley was credited with the 7-4 win. He did win the milestone contest on June 8th, when he defeated the Mariners by the score of 3-1. What made that day more memorable was that his son Josh, a standout HS pitcher was drafted by the Yankees in the 37th round of the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft that day; Josh was expected to forego the pros for now in order to enroll at Baylor Univ., however. On July 1st, he would record his 1,957th strikeout to pass Whitey Ford to become the Yankees' all-time leader in that department. On September 20th, he announced that he would retire at the end of the MLB season, joining his long-time Yankees teammate Mariano Rivera, although with his announcement coming late in the season, he received none of the extended tributes from opposing teams that were handed to Mo throughout the year. His last MLB career start was a beauty; facing his former team, the Astros on September 28th, he would pitch a complete game and won by the score of 2-1 to finish the 2013 AL season with an 11-11 record with a 3.74 ERA in 30 starts. It was his 1st complete game since the 2006 MLB season, but Rivera had indicated that he had already pitched his last game, so Pettitte got to finish his own work. The Yankees had been eliminated from 2013 MLB postseason contention a few days earlier, so there would be no more encores.
Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera had set the record for win-save combinations by a pitcher duo, with 58 breaking the mark held by Oakland Pitchers Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley. That mark was pushed to 69 by the time Pettitte recorded his 1st win of 2013 with Mariano's help, and the 2 combined their efforts 3 more times during the season, pushing the mark to 72. The Yankees would retire his player Uniform No. 46 on August 23, 2015. They would dedicate a plaque with his name in Monument Park. His was 1 of 3 numbers worn by members of the great Yankees teams of the late 1990’s to be retired that year, alongside Uniform Number 20 worn by Catcher Jorge Posada and the No. 51 worn by OF Bernie Williams; Rivera's 42 had received the honor at the end of the 2013 AL season; when he pitched his last game, still waiting was Derek Jeter's No. 2 to complete the 4 core of outstanding teammates, who had played together with tremendous success for over a decade. In 15 seasons with the Yankees, Andy had posted a 219-127 record with a 3.94 ERA in 447 games. In World Series play with the Yankees, he had posted a 5-4 record. Overall, Andy as an MLB Pitcher with the Yankees and Astros, he had posted a lifetime 256-153 record with a 3.85 ERA in 531 games.
1974-The Yankees had purchased lefty hurler Rudy May (1974-1976,1980-1983) from the Angels for Cash. On June 15,1976, Rudy was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve Catcher Rick Dempsey, Pitchers Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor and Dave Pagan to the Orioles for 3 veteran Pitchers: Doyle Alexander, Ken Holtzman and Grant Jackson, OF Jimmy Freeman and Reserve Catcher Elrod Hendricks. Rudy would rejoin the Yankees in 1980, as an MLB free agent. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1980; when Rudy went 15-4, while leading the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.46 mark. Overall, Rudy had recorded a 54-45 record with a 3.12 ERA and 7 saves in 184 games with Yankees in 2 tours with the team. He had appeared in 1 World Series for the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record. In 16 MLB seasons, Rudy would post a 152-156 record with a 3.46 ERA and 12 saves in 535 games.
1976-Oakland A’s Team Owner Charlie Finley had sold 3 of his AL All-Star players at the MLB trade deadline. OF Joe Rudi and Reliever Rollie Fingers were sent to the Red Sox for $1 million dollars apiece, meanwhile Starter Vida Blue was send to the Yankees for $1.5 million. Three days later, MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn will void the moves, saying they are "not in the best interests of baseball." This was one of the worst baseball decisions made by Kuhn, who had numerous run-ins with the 2 AL Team Owners A’s Charlie Finley and the Yankees George Steinbrenner. All 3 A’s players will become MLB Free Agents at the end of the 1976 AL season, leaving Finley with nothing to show for them.
1976-The Yankees had obtained veteran MLB Starters Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander and Reliever Grant Jackson, Reserve Catcher Elrod Hendricks and Minor League OF Jim Freeman from the Orioles for Yankees hurlers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott MacGregor and Reserve Catcher Rick Dempsey. This was a classic Yankees trade for “today and forget about the future.” Alexander and Grant would be gone from the team at the end of the 1976 MLB Post Season. Doyle Alexander left the team for MLB Free Agency, while Grant was lost in the AL Expansion Team Player Draft to the new Seattle Mariners. Martinez and MacGregor would be major improvements for the Orioles MLB pitching staff, the type of pitchers that the Yankees would later need and didn’t have. Jim Freedman never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. At the time of the trade, young Reliever Tippy Martinez was in Yankees Manager Billy Martin’s doghouse, while Yankees Minor League P Scott MacGregor was recovering from a broken collarbone injury.
1977-The Yankees had obtained veteran C/1B Cliff Johnson from the Astros for 3 Yankees Minor Leaguer Players: P Randy Niemann (Class AA), INF Mike Fischlin (Class A, FSL) and a Player to be Named Later. On November 23,1977, Minor League 1B/OF Dave Bergman would be sent to the Astros. Cliff Johnson would DH, play 1B and Catch for the Yankees before being traded away to the Indians for Pitcher Don Hood during the 1979 AL season.
1977-Former Yankees Reliever Bret Printz (2003-2004) was born.
On July 29, 2003, Bret Prinz was traded by the Diamondbacks along with Minor League Player John Prowl and MLB OF/1B David Dellucci to the Yankees for veteran MLB OF Raul Mondesi and Cash. For the Yankees, Bret went 1-0 with a 5.93 ERA in 28 games. On March 29, 2005, Bret was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for Reserve Catcher Wil Nieves.
1978-The Yankees had obtained OF/1B Gary Thomasson from Oakland for 2 Minor League Players: OF Dell Alston and INF Mickey Klutts. Gary would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 24 RBIs in 51 games for the 1978 Yankees; while filling in for the injured CF Mickey Rivers. OF Dell Alston had appear in 22 games for the Yankees, while hitting .325. Mickey Klutts had been a top Yankees Shortstop prospect, who had hit .319 at AAA in 1976. In the 1977 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, he had a chance to win the starting MLB shortstop job, but he had suffered a broken finger, after his recovery; he was returned to play in AAA. He had played in 1 game for the 1978 Yankees. During the 1979 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, Gary was traded by the Yankees to the Dodgers for Reserve Catcher Brad Gullen. The Yankees were trying to rebuilding their catching corps in their farm system.
1978-The Yankees make an MLB roster move with Reserve INF George Zeber being sent to their AAA Club, the Tacoma Yankees (PCL) and bringing up INF Brian Doyle. In 1977, as a Yankees Rookie INF George Zeber had hit .323 in 25 games, but he was 0 for 6 for the 1978 Yankees.
1978-Former Yankees Minor League P Zach Day was born.
In 1996, the Yankees in the 5th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Zach Day. He never pitched for the team at the MLB level. He was one of the 3 young Yankee players traded to the Indians as part of the Dave Justice trade.
1979-On June 15,1979, veteran OF/1B Jay Johnstone was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for hurler Dave Wehrmeister. Overall, as a Yankees player, Johnstone had appeared in 59 games as an OF/1B; while hitting .239 with 3 HRs and 13 RBIs. Dave will appear in 5 games for the 1981 Yankees, while posting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA in 5 games.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Matt Smith (2006) was born.
On June 5, 2000, Pitcher Matt Smith was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2000 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had appeared in 12 games with the 2006 Yankees with no decisions. On July 30, 2006, he was traded by the Yankees along with 3 Minor League Players; C.J. Henry, Carlos Monastrios and Jesus Sanchez to the Phillies for OF Bobby Abreu and P Cory Lidle.
1980-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Eric Kratz (2017, 2020) was born.
On August 31, 2017, Catcher Eric Kratz was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. He was sent to AAA Scranton (IL). He had been with the Indians AAA team at Columbus (IL), hitting .270. He would appear in 4 games for the 2017 Yankees, going 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. On November 2, 2017, Erick was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. On December 7, 2017, he was resigned as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would start the 2018 season with AAA Scranton (IL), by hitting .269 with 4 HRs and 5 RBIs in 17 games. On May 25, 2018, Erick was purchased by the Brewers from the Yankees. On June 8, 2019, after being released by the Rays, Erik was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He didn’t appear with the team at the MLB level. In winter of 2019, Eric signed a Minor League contract with the Yankees, with an invitation to their 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp. In 2020, he was on the field for 16 games as a 3rd-string Catcher and occasional 1B (he also pitched twice, to give him 7 games and as many innings for his career as he showed off a rather impressive knuckleball. He had bonded particularly well with young P Deivi Garcia, who was half his age, but thrived under his mentorship. He would hit .321 with No HRs and 4 RBIs, but he did not appear in the AL postseason, although he was on the roster for the ALWCS. After the MLB post season, he would announced that he was retiring, making good on a promise he had made to his young daughter to buy her a puppy, when he finally hanged up his spikes. As a Yankees player, Kratz had appeared in 20 games for the team, while hitting .367 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. As an MLB player for 11 seasons, he would finish with a .209 BA with 31 HRs and 105 RBIs in 332 games. He was originally signed by the Blue Jays 2002, but he didn’t appear with them at the MLB Level.
1983-The Yankees had traded 1B Marshall Brant, Minor League P Ben Callahan and Cash to Oakland for veteran hurler Matt Keough. For the 1983 Yankees, he would post a 3-4 record in 12 games. Marshall was a 1B at AAA Columbus (IL), who only saw action in 3 games with the Yankees with no hits. Ben Callahan was a hurler for the Yankees Class AA team, the Nashville Sounds (SL.)
1987-Former Yankees INF Eduardo Nunez (2012-2014) was born.
In 2004, Yankees MLB Scout Vic Mata had signed INF Eduardo Nunez. He would debut that year as a pro, by hitting .249 for the DSL Yankees 1. In 2005, he would hit .313 for the short season Class A Staten Island Yankees as the 3rd youngest position player in the NY-Penn League. Nunez was 3rd in the NYPL in hits (88), tied for 3rd in triples (6) and 9th in average. He led the league's shortstops in double plays (46), but also in errors (28). Baseball America rated him as the Yankees' 6th-best prospect and 4th-best in the NYPL. In 2006, Eduardo struggled with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) hitting just .186 and with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) hitting just .227. He did steal 32 bases in 42 tries overall, one positive. The Dominican INF took the opposite course in '07, starting with Charleston (.238, 20 SB in 28 tries over 91 Games) before being returned to Tampa (.285 in 30 Games). Nunez would miss time in 2008 with sprains to both thumbs. He would hit .271 for Tampa, while healthy, but was just 14-for-24 in steal attempts. He would field .952 at short. In 2009, the 22-year-old showed his 1st signs of serious talent in 4 seasons, putting up a .322 BA for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). He would steal 19 bases in 26 tries. He made 33 errors at short, most in the entire EL. He was still named the All-Star Shortstop for the league. Baseball America did not list him as one of the league's top 20 prospects, though. That winter, he was 2 for 10 for the Toros del Este. The Santo Domingo native began 2010 season with the AAA Scranton Yankees (IL) by hitting .289 in 118 games along with 23 steals in 28 tries while fielding .976 at short.
He was called up to the Bronx, when Alex Rodriguez was injured. In his MLB Player debut, he was a defensive substitute for Shortstop Derek Jeter and turned 2 double plays in 3 innings. In his 1st trip to the plate, he was retired on a pop-up by Jose Valverde. His 1st MLB hit was on August 21, a single off of Jason Vargas to break a 4-4 tie in the 7th; it was the game-winning hit. A week later, he drilled his 1st MLB HR, a 2-run shot off of P John Dakes. He went (14 for 50) .280 with the 1 HR and 7 RBIs in 30 games in pinstripes that season. In 2011, Nunez got a lot of playing time for the Yankees in mid-season as he got most of the starts at 3B when Alex Rodriguez went on the DL in July. He would play in 112 games overall, hitting .265 with 18 doubles in 309 at-bats; he was also successful 22 of 28 times in stealing bases, while splitting his time between Shortstop and 3B. His 20 errors were 4th in the 2011 AL, behind Mark Reynolds, Elvis Andrus and Cliff Pennington, despite his part-time role; he spent the entire season with the Yankees. In 2012, Nunez was sent back to the Minors for part of the season, as Eric Chavez and Jayson Nix were the main reserve infielders for the Yankees. He was injured for a time. He would play 38 games with AAA Scranton, while hitting only .227, in addition to short rehabilitation stints with the GCL Yankees and Class A Tampa (FSL). In the MLB, he would hit .292 in 38 games, but in only 89 at-bats. He went 1 for 5 with a double and a pair of runs scored against the Orioles in the ALDS, then 2 for 6 with a triple and a HR in the ALCS against the Tigers. With Jeter out at the start of the 2013 season with the sequels of the broken ankle suffered in the previous year's ALCS, Nunez would start at shortstop in the 1st month of the 2013 season. However, he injured a rib on May 5th, after a few days of rest were not enough to cure him; Nunez was placed on the DL on May 12th, one in a very long series of injuries suffered by the Bronx Bombers at the start of the season. He was hitting .200 in 27 games, with 3 errors and 4 RBIs. Finally, he stayed out until July 6th, when he was back in the Yankees' starting line-up after a brief rehab assignment in the Minors. He would mark his return with his best game of the season by going 2 for 3 with a run with a pair of RBIs in a 5-4 win over the Orioles. He then stayed with the team until the end of the 2013 season, as Jeter was only healthy for brief stints. He would play in 90 games, while batting .260 with 3 HRs and 38 RBIs in addition to 17 doubles. With Jeter having announced that 2014 would be his last MLB active season, Nunez was expected to share the shortstop job with him before eventually taking it over full time. In a surprise move however, Nunez failed to make the team out of the Yankees 2014 MLB Spring Training Camp. He was optioned to AAA Scranton, as the more versatile Yangervis Solarte took the job of utility infielder. On April 7th, it was confirmed unequivocally that he no longer figured in the Yankees' future plans as he was traded to the Twins in return for P Miguel Sulbaran.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Andrew Heaney (2021) was born.
Pitcher Andrew Heaney was drafted by the Marlins in the 1st round (9th) of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Oklahoma St. Univ. On December 11, 2014, he was traded by the Marlins along with Austin Barnes, Chris Hatcher and Enrique Hernandez to the Dodgers for INF Dee Strange-Gordon, P Dan Haren, INF Miguel Rojas and Cash. For the 2014 Marlins, he had posted a 0-3 record with a 5.83 ERA in 7 games. On December 11, 2014, Andrew was traded by the Dodgers to the Angels for INF Howie Kendrick. With the Angels, Andrew would post a 30-33 record with a 4.51 ERA in 102 games. On July 30, 2021, Heaney was traded by the Angels along with Cash to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Pitchers Janson Junk and Elvis Peguero. He will not be that effective for the injury riddle 2021 Yankees Pitching staff, he will post a 2-2 record with a very high 7.32 ERA in 12 games for the team. On October 7, 2021, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. He will sign an MLB Free Agency deal with the Dodgers.
1992-Boston Closer Jeff Reardon breaks Rollie Fingers' MLB Career Save mark of 341 games, when he preserves a 1-0 victory for the Red Sox with 1 scoreless inning against the Yankees.
1992-Former Yankees Pitcher, MLB Pitching Coach, MLB Manager and Baseball Executive Edward “Steady Eddie” Lopat (1948-1955) had passed away. (1918-1992).
The Yankees obtained Starter Eddie Lopat from the White Sox in February of 1948 for Catcher Aaron Robinson, Pitchers Fred Bradley and Bill Wight. From 1948 to 1954, Eddie won 113 games for the Yankees as part of the Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford (1950,1953) starting rotation that won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Eddie would help a young Whitey Ford with his MLB pitching development, using an 8MM camera to study the pitcher’s movements. Lopat was known, as “The Junkman” would be started by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel in-between fastball starters Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi to throw off the timing of opposition club’s hitters. Some Eddie’s Yankees pitching career highlights are 113 wins with a .657 WP. with 20 career shutouts and 91 complete games. His Yankees pitching career ERA was 3.21. In 1951, he was 21-9 for the Yankees. In 5 World Series (1949-1953) with the Yankees, Eddie went 4-1 in 7 games. In 1951, he was named to the AL All-Star team pitching staff. In 1953, he led the AL pitchers with a 2.42 ERA. On July 30,1955, Eddie was traded by the Yankees to the Orioles for P Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald. Eddie had a 4-8 record in 16 games with the 1955 Yankees at the time of his trade. On October 10,1955, Eddie Lopat was released by the Orioles. He had a 3-4 record in 10 games with the Orioles. In the fall of 1955, he would rejoin the Yankees organization. Eddie would manage in the Yankees Minor League system with the 1956-1958 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). In 1959, he was a Yankees MLB Scout. In 1960, he was the Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for Manager Casey Stengel, replacing long-time Pitching Coach Jim Turner, who had been fired taking the blame for the team’s poor 3rd place finish. Eddie would leave the Yankees organization in October of 1960, when new Manager Ralph Houk took over the team; he had named former Yankees P Johnny Sain, as his new 1961 Yankees MLB Pitching Coach. For the 1961 AL season, Eddie was the MLB Pitching Coach for the Twins. Then in 1962, he would move to the Kansas City A’s organization. In 1963-1964, he was the Manager of the A’s, while posting a 90-124 record. He would later work for the A’s front office as their General Manager. Lopat was one of the few baseball people, who got along with A’s Team Owner Charley Finley. When the Athletics would move to Oakland, Eddie declined the move to the West Coast. Instead, he would join the Montreal Expos organization, working in their front office; handling their Player Development Department.
2000-Current Yankees Minor League Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza was born.
Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza was a 2017 International Player signing by the Yankees. In 2019, the he would play for 2 Yankee Minor League teams: Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) and the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). With Charleston, he had appeared in 46 games, while hitting .273 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs. At Staten Island, he had played in 19 games, while hitting .241 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. He would receive an invite to the Yankees 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp. He did not play in 2020, because of the Minor League season being cancel by the COVIDS outbreak. In 2021, he had started the Minor League season with the A Hudson Valley (High-A East League) before receiving a promotion to AA Somerset (NEL). He would briefly appear at AAA Scranton. For the 2022 season, he is playing at AAA Scranton. where he hit .259 in 99 games, with 19 homers and 50 RBIs. He was called up to New Yankee Stadium at the start of September in 2022, making a strong 1st impression by hitting .306 in 18 games with 1 HR and 2 RBIs, for an OPS+ of .306. He played both shortstop and 2nd base and saw some action in the postseason, going 0 for 3 in the Yankees' loss to the Astros in the ALCS. In spring training camp of 2023, the Yankees had decided that incumbent shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa was not providing enough offense and gave the opportunity to 2 of their top prospects to compete for the job: Peraza and Anthony Volpe, who had been the shortstop in AA in 2022, then he had replaced Peraza in AAA following his call-up to the Show. The 2 were neck-and-neck heading into the final week of camp, with Volpe hitting better, but Peraza having the advantage of already being on the 40-man roster and of having done well in his 1st exposure to the majors the year before. Volpe would win the job. Oswald would appear in 52 games, while hitting just .191 with 2 HRs and 14 RBIs. Currently, he is in rehab recovering from a spring training camp injury.
2008-After back-to-back 19-win MLB seasons, Yankees Starter Chien-Ming Wang, who is 8-2, breaks his right foot running the bases in an Inter-League game against the Astros, spoiling a 13-0 Yankees rout. Wang will miss the remainder of the 2008 AL season and the foot injury will completely derail his MLB Pitching career with the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees Minor League P and MLB Player Billy Muffett had passed away. (1930-2008)
Veteran MLB hurler Billy Muffett would pitch for the 1962-1963 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). The Yankees had signed the lefty hurler as an MLB Free Agent, as lefty pitching insurance at AAA. He had previously pitched in the MLB with the Cardinals, Giants and the Red Sox. For AAA Richmond in 1962, he went 10-6 with a 2.42 ERA in 28 games. In 1963, he was still with the Richmond club, where he had posted 9-9 record with a 4.24 ERA in 38 games. The Yankees would release him during the winter of 1963.
2011-Bronx Bombers 1B Mark Teixeira homers from both sides of the plate in a 12-4 Yankees win over the Rangers. It is his 11th time doing so, tying Eddie Murray and Chili Davis for the All-time MLB HR record.
2011-Former Yankees Pitcher Ted Gray (1955) had passed away. (1924-2011)
On June 30,1955, veteran Pitcher Ted Gray was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He was a former front-line starter with the 1949-1953 Tigers. The Yankees had signed him to replace Bob Grim, who had been placed on the DL. He had started the 1955 AL season with the White Sox, appearing in 2 games before being released by the team. He would be picked-up by the Indians again appearing just 2 games before he was released by the Tribe. Ted would only appear in only 1 game with the 1955 Yankees with no record. On July 20,1955, Ted was released by the Yankees. He would finish the 1955 AL season with the Orioles.
2019-The Yankees had acquired veteran MLB 1B/DH Edwin Encarncion from the Mariners for Minor League P Juan Then. On November 18, 2017, Pitcher Nick Rumbelow was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for 2 Minor League Pitchers: JP Sears and Juan Then. In 2018, Juan went 0-3 with a 2.67 ERA in 11 games for Yankees East in the Gulf League. He has not pitched in 2019 season. Juan Then was originally signed by the Mariners. To make move room for Encarncion on the Yankees 40-Man MLB roster, they have moved Pitcher Jake Barrett to the 60-Day IL.