This Week in Yankees History July 7th-13th
Jul 6, 2024 16:27:59 GMT -5
kaybli and chiyankee like this
Post by fwclipper51 on Jul 6, 2024 16:27:59 GMT -5
This Week in Yankees History July 7th-July 13th
July 7th
1884-Former Yankees INF/OF George Moriarty (1906-1908) was born. (1884-1964)
On August 8,1905, INF/OF George Moriarty was purchased by the Yankees from the AA Toledo Mud Hens (AA). He had briefly played in the MLB with the 1903-1904 Cubs. He will hit .249 in 290 games for the Yankees, while playing at 3B and then at 1B. On January 14,1909, George was purchased by the Tigers from the Yankees. With the 1909 Tigers, he became their starting 3rd baseman.
1903-In a game with the Highlanders, White Sox OF Danny Green is called out at 1B by Umpire John Sheridan and after returning to the Chicago bench, he continues to yell at the Umpire. Sheridan finally rushes the White Sox bench and hits Green with his mask, which in return Green belts the umpire. The Umpire is taken from the grounds by the police and locked up on charges of disorderly conduct. An hour later, he is released from Bronx jail after Highlander’s President Joseph Gordon posts his bail.
1904-Highlander Starter Jack Chesbro's winning streak of 14 games comes to an end as the Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 4-1. Happy Jack Chesbro will win 41 games this season to set an MLB Pitching record and Yankees team record. Newly acquired OF Kip Selbach drives in 3 runs for the Red Sox.
1915-Philadelphia A's Team Owner Connie Mack continues to dismantle his former AL Championship team by shipping front line Starter Bob Shawkey to the Yankees for $85,000 Cash. He would go on to win 186 games for the Yankees, before retiring as an active player.
1921-MLB-leading Slugger Babe Ruth brings the Yankees but apparently little else least of all his A-game to Forbes Field for an exhibition bout vs. the NL-leading Pirates. Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press is clearly not at all impressed: "Bambino Didn't Shine. Babe Ruth didn't have a batting average yesterday. His strikeout average was .500. The King of Swatters didn't look good against Carlson's pitching. He struck wide at several pitches and fanned twice. His other efforts were flies to Carey and Robertson. Rip Collins, the Yankee pitcher, witnessed the game from the press box. As Robertson captured Ruth's fly, he remarked: 'you can't make me believe that the NL ball is as lively as the AL sphere. If Ruth had cracked one like that in our league, the ball would have gone to kingdom come.' As a fielder, Ruth was a joke yesterday. Luckily for the Yankees, he didn't have many chances, but he surely looked slow and bad on those he had." One of those chances is Charlie Grimm's 2nd-inning triple, which bounces over Ruth's head, scoring the Pirates' 1st run and setting up the 2nd, which ties the contest at 2 all. One inning later, Dave Robertson unties it with a tape measure; 2-run HR blast and the Pirates never look back.
1936-The NL after having losing the 1st 3 All-Star Games, wins the game by the score of 4-3 played at Boston's Braves Field with 4 different Cub Players (Galan, Herman, Hartnett, and Demaree) scoring runs. The 1936 All-Star Game is played before a crowd of 25,556 fans. After NL Pitchers Cardinals Dizzy Dean and Giants Carl Hubbell, each pitch scoreless 3-inning stints, Curt Davis is hammered by the AL, including Lou Gehrig's HR, but then Lon Warneke shuts the door on the AL batting lineup. Meanwhile, the NL team is helped by the Yankees Rookie OF Joe DiMaggio's loose fielding and error and Augie Galan's HR. Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio is the 1st MLB Rookie to play in an MLB All-Star game. Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio are the only Yankees in the AL starting line-up. Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy has Catcher Bill Dickey, 3B Red Rolfe, OF George Selkirk, Shortstop Frank Crosetti, Pitchers Lefty Gomez and Monte Pearson on the AL All-Star team. Both Yankee Pitchers don’t appear in the game.
1936-Former Yankees Reliever (1963) and AL Umpire Bill Kunkel was born. (1936-1985)
For the 1963 Yankees, Reliever Bill Kunkel posted at 3-2 record with a 2.72 ERA and no saves in 22 games, while working out of their bullpen. Bill had previously pitched in the MLB for the Kansas City A’s. In the winter of 1962, he was drafted by the Yankees in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft from the Milwaukee Braves organization. His final MLB pitching record was 6-6 mark with a 4.29 ERA and 4 saves in 89 games. After retiring as an active MLB player, Bill became an Umpire. He would be last former MLB Player to become an MLB Umpire in 1968. Kunkel was an Umpire in the Florida State League in 1966. Then he moved to the Southern League in 1967-1968. Bill became an MLB Umpire in the AL in 1968. Twice during his MLB Umpire career, he took leaves from the game to undergo Cancer surgery and twice he returned. He had umpired in 2 World Series in 1974 and 1980 and worked in the 1972 and 1977 MLB All-Star Games, serving as Home Plate Umpire in the latter. He was the Father of former Rangers and White Sox Shortstop Jeff Kunkel (1984-1992). In 1985, Bill Kunkel would pass away from Cancer.
1937-With President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance, as a crowd of 31,391 fans watched the AL squad beat defeat the NL team by the score 8-3 at the 1937 MLB All-Star game being played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs with a HR and a double to lead the AL team to an 8-3 victory over the NL squad in the 1937 MLB All-Star Game. Yankees Starter Lefty Gomez picks up the win, as AL hurlers Tommy Bridges and Mel Harder hold off the NL hitters. NL Starter Cardinals Dizzy Dean takes the loss. The AL Squad features the following Yankees Players: Catcher Bill Dickey, OF Joe DiMaggio, 1B Lou Gehrig, 3B Red Rolfe, Pitchers Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing.
1940-Former Yankees Announcer John Gordon (1982-1986) was born.
John Gordon has been a longtime sports announcer. He was with the Spartanburg Phillies (1965-1969), Baltimore Orioles (1970-1973), Columbus Clippers (1977-1981), New York Yankees (1982-1986) and the Minnesota Twins (1987- ). In 2001, he was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame. He originally had attended Indiana Univ. on a baseball scholarship, but he quickly switched his focus to a Broadcast Journalism major and began working for WFIU, the university's radio station on football and basketball broadcasts. During a summer job at WSAM in Saginaw, MI, he adopted "John Gordon" as a professional name, although he kept his legal name of John Gutowsky. He then moved to a similar job for Central Michigan Univ. in Mount Pleasant, MI. He got his start doing baseball broadcasts in Spartanburg, when the team's General Manager, Pat Williams, a former minor league player, who had been his broadcasting partner at WFIU, needed an announcer for his team.
1948-The Indians stun the baseball world by signing Satchel Paige, a veteran Negro League Pitcher. The player signing is ridiculed by some as a Bill Veeck publicity stunt and A.G. Spink in The Sporting News editorializes, "Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity. To sign a hurler at Paige's age is to demean the standards of baseball in the big circuits." The 42-year-old Paige will answer the critics in tomorrow, getting a relief decision in an 8-6 win over Yankees in a DH sweep. He will finish the 1948 AL season with a 6-1 record with a 2.48 ERA and 1 save in 21 games. Paige is the oldest player to debut in the MLB, but not the 1st 40-year-old: Chuck Hostetler in 1944 was 40.
1951-At Fenway Park, the Yankees lose to Boston by a score of 10-4 with the Red Sox attack being led by Clyde Vollmer's Grand Slam HR in the 1st inning. Vollmer had a 2-run triple in yesterday's 6-2 win over the Bronx Bombers. Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle, a late inning defensive replacement, hits a 9th inning HR off of Red Sox Starter Ellis Kinder, who pitches a complete game for the 6-2 win.
1954-Former Yankees MLB Scout and Trainer Charles “Doc” Barrett had passed away. (1877-1954)
For over half a century, Charles "Doc" Barrett was a trainer, 1st at Williams College and then he was at Columbia Univ. Barrett was involved with many sports, but while at Williams, he did double duty as an MLB Scout for the Highlanders. He also trained the Highlanders from 1910-1914 by which time they had officially become known as the Yankees. It's no coincidence that 4 of the 9 Williams Ephmen who made it to the MLB appeared during this period, and that 3 of them – Bill Otis, George Davis and Tom Burr, who played for New York. It's also likely (although direct evidence is lacking) that Barrett signed Larry McClure out of Amherst College for the Yankees in 1910. Barrett later would scout for the Giants and the A’s. He made at least 1 notable signing for the A’s, INF "Whispering" Bill Barrett (no relation).
1966-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would score 2 runs to tie the Red Sox at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Then with 2 base runners on and 2 outs, Mickey Mantle breaks a 1-for-17 slump with a 3-run HR shot into the Yankee Stadium RF stands.
1968-Former Yankees 2B/OF Chuck Knoblauch (1998-2001) was born.
On February 6,1998, 2B Chuck Knoblauch was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for 4 Minor League Players: OF/1B Brian Buchanan, INF Christian Guzman, Pitchers Eric Milton, Danny Mota and Cash. Chuck spent 4 seasons with the Yankees, while hitting .272 with 49 HRS and 112 RBIs. He was switched from 2B to LF, when he had developed throwing problems at 2B. He was switched by the team to playing the Outfield. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 2002 Royals.
1970-Former Yankees OF Harry Wolter (1910-1913) had passed away.(1884-1970)
On January 18,1910, OF Harry Wolter was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox for $1,500. For the 1910-1913 Yankees, he had appeared in 396 games, while hitting .277 with 10 HRs and 122 RBIs. He would return to the Minors Leagues playing in the PCL during the 1914-1920 seasons. In 1917, Harry would return to the MLB for 1 season with the Cubs, playing in 117 games, while hitting .249 with No HRs and 29 RBIs. In 1926-1927, Harry was the Manager of the Class C Logan Collegians (UIL).
1970-Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning Grand Slam HR off of Yankees veteran Reliever Lindy McDaniel to give the Birds, a 6-2 win.
1977-The Yankees completes a 3-game sweep of Indians behind the 4-hit pitching of veteran AL All-Star Starter Catfish Hunter. The Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2.
1978-In the battle of the team pitching aces, the Brewers Mike Caldwell beats Yankees Ron Guidry by a score of 6-0. For Guidry (13-1), it is his 1st loss of the 1978 AL season. Caldwell had shut out the Yankees 9 days earlier, he will shut them out again on September 19th.
1982-Former Yankees INF “Jumping” Joe Dugan (1922-1928) had passed away.(1897-1982)
In July of 1917, INF Joe Dugan was signed by the Philadelphia A’s as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play for the Athletics from 1917 to 1922. On January 10, 1922, he was traded by Philadelphia to the Senators for P Jose Acosta, veteran OF Bing Miller and $50,000 Cash. On January 10, 1922, Joe was traded by the Senators along with INF Frank O'Rourke to the Red Sox for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh. On July 23,1922, INF Joe Dugan was traded by the Red Sox along with OF Elmer Smith to the Yankees for Outfielder’s Chick Fewster, Elmer Miller, INF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul and $50,000 Cash. He had replaced the aging veteran Frank “Home Run” Baker as the Yankees starting 3B. In 1922, Dugan would play in 60 games for the Yankees, while batting .286 with 3 HRs and 25 RBIs. In the 1922 World Series against the Giants, Dugan would hit .250 with 1 double. After joining the Yankees, Joe Dugan suffered with a "trick knee" that began to give him trouble. The knee would lock and interfere with his playing. In 1925, he had a very delicate operation and was in bed for 6 weeks of recovery. The Knee surgery had helped him, but Dugan never played without the knee acting up on occasion. In his last season of playing over 100 games, he was the 3rd baseman for the mighty 1927 Yankees team, considered by many to be the greatest MLB team of all-time. He would hit .269 with 2 HRs and 43 RBIs that season. He went 3 for 15 as the Yankees swept the Pirates in 4 games in the 1927 World Series. In 1928, Dugan would appear in only 94 games with the Yankees, while hitting .276 with 6 HRs and 34 RBIs. Joe had a Yankees playing career BA of .286, appearing in 785 games, while hitting 22 HRs with 320 RBIs. In 1923, he had led AL 3B in fielding. Joe would appear in 5 World Series with the Yankees (1922-1923,1926-1928), hitting .267 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs in 25 games. On December 24,1928, Joe Duggan was selected off waivers by the Braves from the Yankees. With the 1929 Braves, he would hit .304 in 60 games. After the 1929 NL season had ended, Dugan had retired from the game, but he came out of MLB retirement briefly to play 8 games with the Tigers in 1931. From 1955 to 1966, Joe Dugan was an MLB Scout for the Red Sox.
1983-Former Yankees Pitcher Brandon McCarthy (2014) was born.
Brandon McCarthy was one of the principal victims of the Diamondbacks' struggles early in the 2014 NL season, as he went 0-5 in April. That was in spite of setting a personal best mark with 12 strikeouts against the Phillies on April 27th, in a game he lost by the score of 2-0. He was at 3-10, with a 5.01 ERA after 18 starts on July 6th when he was traded to the Yankees in return for Minor League hurler Vidal Nuno, a couple of days after the Yankees learned that CC Sabathia was likely lost for the 2014 AL season because of a knee injury. His arrival gave the Yankees an immediate shot in the arm, as in his 1st 3 starts with the team, he was 2-0 with a 2.45. ERA. He then won his next 2 starts as well. On August 21st, he pitched a 4-hit shutout against the Astros walking none and striking out 9 batters, to improve his record to 5-2 since the trade. On September 17th, he pitched an immaculate inning - striking out the side on 9 pitches - in the course of defeating the Rays by the score of 3-2. He was only the 5th pitcher in Yankees’ history to accomplish the rare feat. He ended up with an excellent record of 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts for the 2014 Yankees, which gave him a combined mark of 10-15, with a 4.05 ERA. He had set personal bests for wins, starts (32), innings (200) and strikeouts (175). His very good 2nd half made him much sought-after pitcher, when he became an MLB Free Agent after the 2014 MLB season had ended. On December 16th, he would sign a 4-year deal with the Dodgers worth $48 million, to become the team's 4th starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
1987-Former Yankees INF Vangervis Solarte (2014) was born.
Vangervis Solarte began his pro baseball career in the Twins Minor League system, but he never played for them at the MLB level. Following the 2011 season, he became an MLB Free Agent, signing with the Rangers. He was the main 2B for the 2012 AAA Round Rock Express (PCL), while hitting .288. Solarte led the PCL in double plays at 2B (93) and being the 2nd-hardest batter to fan in the league. Back with AAA Round Rock for 2013 season, he would hit .276 with 31 doubles and 75 RBIs. Following the 2013 AL season, the Rangers would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would sign with the Yankees organization as an MLB Free Agent with an invitation to MLB Spring Training camp. Solarte made the Yankees' 25-man roster out of 2014 MLB Spring Training Camp, beating Eduardo Nunez out of a Reserve INF job. He made his pinstripes player debut in the team's 2nd game of the season, pinch-hitting for 3B Kelly Johnson in the 7th inning with the Astros ahead by 2-0, with runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Facing Astros hurler Kevin Chapman, he grounded into a double play, scoring 1 run but also killing the budding rally. He stayed in the game at 3B, Vangervis had another at-bat in the 9th, popping out to 1B against P Josh Fields to end the game as the Astros won by the score of 3-1. Then he made his 1st start the next day at 3B, he had 3 hits and a walk, scored 2 runs and drove in 1 run to lead Yankees to its 1st win of the 2014 AL season, a 4-2 victory over Houston. His 1st MLB hit came off of Astros P Brett Oberholtzer. When 1B Mark Teixeira went on the DL the next day, it gave Yangervis more opportunity to play, when 3B Kelly Johnson was moved to 1B and he took over at 3B. He put up back-to-back 2-hit games on April 4-5th for a red-hot start of 7 for 13 to his Yankees playing career. He continued to hit very well through the next couple of months while getting a lot of playing time. On June 8th, his BA was still at .299, but he went through a dry stretch after that, hitting only .073, even though he was still getting regular playing time as the Yankees starting 3B. On July 3rd, he was hitting .260 with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs in 71 games, when he was sent down to the AAA Scranton (IL), when the Yankees called up INF Zelous Wheeler to take his place on the team roster. On July 22, 2014, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Rafael De Paula to the Padres for veteran MLB 3B Chase Headley and Cash. He had appeared in 74 games for the 2014 Yankees, while hitting .254 with 6 HRs and 31 RBIs. With the 2014 Padres, Solarte played in 56 games, while hitting .267 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs.
1991-Yankees Rookie Outfielder Bernie Williams makes his MLB Player debut against the Orioles, starting in Centerfield and batting 8th in the Yankees starting line-up. He was 1-for-3 at the plate along with 2 RBIs. The Yankees would lose the game to the Orioles by the score of 5-3.
1993-Former Yankees All-Star OF (1930-1936) and MLB Manager (Phillies:1945-1948) Ben Chapman had passed away. (1908-1993)
Ben Chapman was a member of the AL All-Star teams from 1933-1935. Overall, as a Yankee player, he had appeared in 910 games, while hitting .305 with 60 HRs and 589 RBIs with 184 stolen bases. He appeared in 1 World Series with the team in 1932 against the Cubs, playing in 4 games, while hitting .294. On June 14,1936, Ben was traded by the Yankees to the Senators for OF Jake Powell. Ben played for the Yankees, Senators (twice), Red Sox, Indians, Dodgers and he finished his active playing career with the 1946 Phillies. In 1944, Ben had pitched in 11 games for the Dodgers, he posted a 5-3 record with a 3.40 ERA. Ben was the Phillies Manager, who gave Dodgers Black Player Jackie Robinson problems in 1947, Ben was a racist; it was one of the reasons that the Yankees traded him to the Senators for OF Jake Powell during the 1936 AL season. Overall, as an MLB player, he had appeared in 1,717 games, while hitting .302 with 90 HRs and 977 RBIs. He stole 287 bases during his 15-season MLB playing career.
1994-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Starter Jimmy Key picks up his 13th win of the 1994 AL season beating the Angels by the score of 5-2. Yankees Relievers Bob Wickman and Steve Howe hold California bats scoreless. Howe picks up his 9th save of the 1994 AL season. Key goes 7 complete innings, giving up only 6 Angel hits, allowing only 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. Angels Starter Mark Langston takes the loss. He is now at the 5-5 mark for the 1994 AL season. Yankees hitting attack is led by a solo HR by Randy Velarde along with doubles by Matt Nokes and Gerald Williams.
2000-At Shea Stadium, the Yankees begin an MLB Inter-League series with the Mets. Before a crowd of 54,132 fans the Yankees edge the Mets by the score of 2-1 behind the pitching of Starter Orlando Hernandez and Closer Mariano Rivera. Hernandez goes 8 innings, allowing only 5 Mets hits, 1 run with 5 Mets strikeouts. El Duque’s 2000 pitching record improves to an 8-6 mark, while Rivera picks up 19th save of the 2000 AL season. Mets Starter Al Leiter takes the loss giving up 2 Yankee runs, 6 hits, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. Mets Closer Franco pitches a scoreless 9th inning. The Yankees will sweep the 3 game weekend series with the Mets by winning the games by of the scores of 4-2 in the next 2 games.
2009-At the Metrodome, Yankees would beat the Twins by the score of 10-2. Bronx Starter CC Sabathia goes 7 innings, allowing only 3 Twins hits, 2 runs with 3 strikeouts. Yankee Reliever Brett Tomko pitches 2 scoreless innings to finish the game. Twins Starter Scott Baker takes the loss, dropping to a 6-7 mark for the 2009 AL season. Yankees hitting attack was led by Brett Gardner’s triple, doubles hit by Robbie Cano and Frank Cervelli; they each drive in 2 runs apiece.
2017-In the 5th inning of the Yankees' series opener against the Brewers, 25-year-old Bronx Rookie OF Aaron Judge blasted his 30th HR of the 2017 AL season to straightaway CF off of Brewers’ Starter Josh Hader. Judge's solo HR shot extended the Bombers' lead to 4-2 in the ballgame, but more importantly, made him the most prolific rookie HR hitter in Yankees’ franchise history. Joe DiMaggio's 1936 record of 29 HRs had remained the high watermark for any New York Rookie, but Judge has broken that long-standing record before the MLB All-Star Break. It took DiMaggio 128 games to reach 29 HRs in his rookie 1936 AL season, but Judge eclipsed it in his 82nd game this year. The Brewers come back to win the game by the score of 9-4.
2021-Former Yankees Pitcher Ted Wieand (1961) had passed away. (1933-2021)
Before the start of the 1952 NL season, Ted Wieand was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Cardinals. He was farmed out to the Class B Allentown Cardinals (ISL), where he went 10-11 with a 3.61 ERA his 1st season in the pros. Wieand had 2 good years after that, going 12-5 with the Winston-Salem Cardinals in 1953 with a 2.31 ERA, then he had a 16-9 record with a 3.23 ERA, while pitching 223 innings for the Houston Buffaloes (TXL) in 1956. On December 5,1957, the right-hander was traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Redlegs. After 2 decent years with the Houston Buffaloes and the Seattle Rainiers, he got a brief look by the Redlegs on September 27, 1958, making it into 1 game out of the bullpen, with no decision. After winning 16 games for the 1959 AAA Havana Sugar Kings (IL), plus 3 more in the IL postseason playoffs. He was given another shot by Reds in 1960, when he made 5 appearances and lost his only MLB decision. This was it for Wieand in the MLB. After the 1960 MLB season, the Yankees had acquired Wieand and Catcher Jesse Gonder in a series of transactions for Yankees Pitching prospect Zach Monroe and a large bundle of cash. The addition of Wieand was intended to bolster a staff that had seen 3 Yankee hurlers selected among the 1st 5 picks in the AL Expansion Player Draft. He would report to the Yankees 1961 spring training camp, competing with 4 others (including 1959 International League Pitcher of the Year Bill Short) for 3 vacant spots. “I am watching Wieand for the long relief job,” said new Yankees Pitching Coach Johnny Sain. “He has a better than an even chance to make the grade.” Wieand did make the grade and traveled north with the Yankees to start the 1961 season. But he was relegated to the end of the bench, he did not make an appearances for the team. The Yankees would give him a 1961 World Series player share. In May, he was assigned to the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). Wieand became one of the club’s bullpen stalwarts into the following season before elbow problems began to plague him again. The arm problems were not new to Wieand; since 1957, he had suffered through various ailments. But the ailing arm, combined with a pitching demotion to the Class AA Amarillo Gold Sox (TXL) in 1962, convinced the 29-year-old to hang it up.
2023-For the 1st time in their franchise history, the Chicago Cubs win a game at New Yankee Stadium. They had been 0-12 all time including both interleague games and an 0-4 record in World Series games and also counting games at the ballpark's previous incarnation, Yankee Stadium. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon leads the way with just 1 hit allowed against his former team in 8 innings of work as the Cubs shut out the Yankees by the score of 3-0. For the Yankees, starting pitcher, Carlos Rodon, finally makes his season debut in pinstripes after being signed to a large contract as a free agent the previous off-season.
July 8th
1929-Former Yankees INF/OF Hector Lopez (1959-1966) was born. (1929-2022)
In 1952, Hector Lopez was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics from Drummondville (Provincial League, Canada) for $1,500. With the A’s, he would play the INF/OF. On May 26,1959, Hector was traded by Kansas City A’s with along P Ralph Terry to the Yankees for Pitchers Johnny Kucks, Tom Sturdivant and Reserve INF Jerry Lumpe. Hector would appear in in 112 games for the 1959 Yankees, while hitting .283 for with 16 HRs and 69 RBIs, while playing 3B. After the 1960 season, the Yankees had made several position changes in their starting line-up, Hector was moved to LF, when Clete Boyer took over at 3B. His best Yankees season was in 1960, when he had appeared in 131 games, while hitting .284 with 9 HRs and 42 RBIs. He had appeared in 5 World Series with Yankees (1960-1964), while hitting .286 in 15 games. On October 19,1966, after only hitting only .214 with 1 HR and 16 RBIs in 54 games during the 1966 AL season, veteran Hector Lopez was released by the team. As a Yankees player, Lopez had appeared in 864 games, while hitting .262 with 69 HRs and 322 RBIs. In 1967-1968, he would play at AAA level with Hawaii Islanders (PCL) and the Buffalo Bisons (IL) in the Senators organization. He would become a Player-Manager for their 1969 AAA Buffalo Bison’s team (IL) before retiring as an active player. Also, Hector Lopez would manage in the Minor Leagues during the 1994-1995 seasons with the Yankees Class A Gulf Coast team (FSL). In 2009, Hector would manage the Panama team in the World Baseball Classic.
1931-Former Yankees Pitcher Zach Monroe (1958-1959) was born.
Before the start of the 1952 AL season, after signing as an MLB Amateur Fee Agent, Right-hander Zack Monroe made a steady climb through the Minor Leagues in the Yankees organization. He started his pro ball career with the Quincy Gems (3-IL) in 1952, going 7-6 with a 5.04 ERA in just 16 appearances. Monroe would miss the 1953-1954 seasons being inducted for the military service during the Korean War. Back from the service, he would spend both 1955-1956 seasons with the AA Binghamton Triplets (EL) going 12-11 in 1955. He revved up his motor to a 16-7 record with a 2.67 ERA in 1956. Zach would win 16 games again with the 1957 AAA Denver Bears (AA). After going 10-2 with the same club in 1958; he got the call to Yankee Stadium. He made his MLB Pitching debut on June 27,1958; he would go 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 games for the 1958 AL World Champions, including 1 relief appearance against the Braves in the 1958 World Series. Zach was in 3 more games for the 1959 Yankees, which would conclude his MLB time with a 4-2 record with a 3.38 ERA in 24 appearances. Monroe would finish out the 1959 season with the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL) with a 10-11 record with a 2.51 ERA, while pitching 172 innings. Zach would spend the next 2 seasons (1960-1961) with AAA Richmond again. Zack would finish up his pro baseball career in the Reds Minor League organization with the 1960-1961 AAA Havana Sugar Kings, Jersey City Jerseys (IL) and the 1962 AAA San Diego Padres (PCL) was his last stop. He would end his 9-year Minor League run with a 99-77 record and a 3.74 ERA in 256 games.
1935-The AL All-Star team winning streak reaches 3 games as the Junior Circuit beats the NL team in MLB All-Star Game played at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland by the score of 4-1. The new pitching rule that no pitcher can throw more than 3 innings unless the game goes extra innings will be instituted, after Yankees Starter Lefty Gomez pitches 6 outstanding innings in the 1935 Mid-Summer Classic. The Yankees had 3 players on the 1935 AL squad; OF Ben Chapman, 1B Lou Gehrig and Starter Lefty Gomez.
1939-Prior to the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetle’s form in front of the home dugout. Although over 5,000 insects will be captured, the beetle problem will return later in the month. A crowd of 27,531 fans will see the Red Sox sweep Yankees in the Saturday doubleheader by the scores of 4-3 and 3-1.
1943-Former Yankees Minor League P George Culver was born.
On May 9,1963, hurler George Culver was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 2,1963, George was drafted by the Indians from the Yankees organization in the 1963 1st-year Minor League Player Draft. He would pitch for several NL teams during his MLB pitching career.
1946-In a special meeting of MLB clubs deals with Mexican League player defections and attempts by players to gain new rights. Some results: $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week spring training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, maximum pay cut of 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players will be funded by World Series Broadcast rights and net proceeds from the MLB All-Star Games. Each league will have a Player Representative to baseball councils. The 1st MLB Player Representatives named are Yankees veteran Reliever Johnny Murphy and the Dodgers OF Dixie Walker.
1947-Clutch pinch-hits by Luke Appling and Stan Spence lead the AL squad to a 2-1 victory over the NL squad in the 1947 MLB All-Star Game played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Schoolboy Rowe pinch-hits for Johnny Sain, becoming the 1st MLB player to appear for each side. Rowe had pitched 3 innings for the AL in 1936, as a member of the Tigers. Yankees Starter Frank “Spec” Shea is the 1st winning Rookie Pitcher in MLB All-Star game history. The 1947 AL squad featured the following Yankees: P Spud Chandler, OF Joe DiMaggio, OF Tommy Henrich, 3B Billy Johnson, 1B George McQuinn, P Joe Page, C Aaron Robinson, P Spec Shea and OF Charlie Keller.
1951-The feud between Yankees All-Star CF Joe DiMaggio and Manager Casey Stengel reaches a head in the 2nd inning in a game against the Red Sox. Because of a misplay in the 1st inning, Casey Stengel sends Reserve OF Jackie Jensen out to CF to relieve the Yankee Clipper, after he had already taken his centerfield position. The Red Sox would clip the Yankees by the score of 6-3, as the red-hot Clyde Vollmer belts a 2-run HR. Also, a Yankee pitcher fails to complete a game for the 20th straight time at Fenway Park.
1958-At the 1958 MLB All-Star Game played at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, the AL team edges the NL squad by the score of 4-3 The Yankees 2B Gil McDougald singles to score Red Sox 3B Frank Malzone with the winning run. Orioles’ hurler Billy O'Dell pitches perfect ball for 3 innings and gets the save. This is the 1st MLB All-Star Game played without an extra-base hit (12 singles). The following Yankees were on the 1958 AL squad: C Yogi Berra, Pitchers Ryne Duren, Whitey Ford and Bob Turley, C Elston Howard, Shortstop Tony Kubek, OF Mickey Mantle, 2B Gil McDougald and 1B Bill Skowron. It would be Yankees Manager Casey Stengel’s last AL All-Star team victory.
1961-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Ace Whitey Ford tops the Red Sox by a score of 8-5. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning, off of Rookie Boston Starter Tracy Stallard for his 10th HR this year in support of Whitey Ford.
1962-The Yankees would complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota, winning by a score of 9-8 to regain 1st place in the AL. They will remain there the rest of the 1962 AL season finishing with a 96-66 season record.
1964-Former Yankees Minor League P Ken Patterson was born.
On June 3,1985, hurler Ken Patterson was selected by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On August 26,1987, Ken was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later to the White Sox for P Mike Soper (Minors) and veteran MLB INF Jerry Royster. The Yankees would send Minor League Player Jeff Pries on September 19,1987 to the White Sox to complete the trade.
1966-At Yankee Stadium, the Senators would win the opener of a doubleheader by the score of 7-6, then they would blow a 4-run lead in the Nightcap to lose the game by a score of 7-5. Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle is 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a HR in each game. The 2nd HR, off of Nat’s hurler Jim Hannan is a 461 FT sky shot over the CF Monuments into the CF Stadium Bleachers. Mickey follows with a sure double in the 5th inning, but then he tears a hamstring muscle rounding 1B and will be sidelined for 2 weeks.
1969-Former Yankees All-Star 3B (1931,1934-1942) and MLB Manager Red Rolfe (1949-1952) had passed away. (1908-1969).
From 1928 to 1931, INF Red Rolfe, who had been College Baseball player at Dartmouth College. He would come up to the Yankees for 1 game at Shortstop in 1931. For the 1932-1933 seasons, he would play for the Yankees AA Club, the Newark Bears (IL). He would hit .330 in 147 games for the 1932 Bears, then in 1933, he would hit .326 in 156 games, winning the International Leagues MVP Award. Then he played two-thirds of his games at Shortstop in 1934, but from 1935 on, he was chiefly a 3rd baseman for the Yankees. He held down the position through the 1942 AL season. Frankie Crosetti had held the starting Shortstop job during most of those seasons. AL All-Star 3B Red Rolfe finished his 10-year Yankees playing career with a lifetime BA of .289, while hitting 69 HRs with 497 RBIs in 1,175 games. He led the AL 3B in fielding (1935-1936). Red was named 4 times to AL All-Star team. He led the AL in hits (139) and runs (213) in 1939, posting his highest career season BA of .329 with 14 HRs and 80 RBIs. He had appeared in 6 World Series with the Yankees, while hitting .284 with No HRs and 6 RBIs in 28 games. In 1942, he would retire from the Yankees. After his 4-year Coaching stint at Yale Univ., Rolfe would coach the 1946-1947 Toronto Huskies of the BAA. In 1947, he would return to the Yankees as an MLB Coach. After the 1947 AL season had ended, Rolfe would join the Detroit Tigers as Director of Minor League System, but he returned to the field after only 1 season at the job; when he succeeded veteran Manager Steve O'Neill as the Tiger Manager after the 1948 AL campaign was completed. Red was the 1949-1952 MLB Tigers Manager for 539 games, finishing with an overall record of 278-256 with a WP of .521. His best season as an MLB Manager was in 1950, finishing 2nd place in the AL to the Yankees with a 95-59 mark. He was let go by the Tigers during the 1952 AL season. Rolfe then would return to Dartmouth College as the Athletic Director of his alma mater from 1954 to 1967. The College's baseball diamond is named in his honor.
1969-Orioles starter Mike Cuellar throws a complete game 3-hitter against the Yankees in a 4-1 win. Bronx CF Ron Woods has the Yankees only 3 hits in the game, with 2 singles and a HR for the Bombers only run.
1970-The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat the Yankees, this time striking in the 9th inning on a Birds Slugger Frank Robinson HR and a 2-out single by Don Buford. The O's overcome an 8-6 deficit to win the game by the final score of 9-8.
1974-Yankees Shortstop Jim Mason ties the MLB record with 4 doubles in a 12-5 victory over the Rangers. Off the field, the Yankees purchased veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. from the Angels for Cash to strength their infield at 2B. He had been hitting just .222 for the Angels, he had lost his starting 2B job with the Angels to Denny Doyle. He was expected to replace light hitting veteran Gene Michael at 2B. He would the hold the team’s 2B job until Rookie 2B Willie Randolph joined the team in 1976.
1977-The Yankees are led by HRs off the bats of Catcher Thurman Munson and 3B Graig Nettles, as they beat the Orioles by the score of 7-5. Yankees Starter Don Gullett wins his 7th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1980-At Dodger Stadium, the 51st MLB All-Star Game features Astros J.R. Richard (10-4) and the Orioles Steve Stone (12-3) are the game starters; with Richard going just 2 innings because of various back and shoulder problems that he has been having this season. The game draws a crowd of 56,088 fans to Dodger Stadium. The NL squad battles back to wins its 9th consecutive All-Star Game by the score of 4-2, pinning the loss on Yankees’ hurler Tommy John, who had followed Steve Stone. Reds OF Ken Griffey Sr. goes 2-for-3 with a solo HR to win the game's MVP Award. Yankee starters for the game were Shortstop Bucky Dent and OF Reggie Jackson. Also, the Yankees players: Closer Rich Gossage, 3B Graig Nettles and 2B Willie Randolph were on the team, they would appear in the game.
1982-Oakland A’s Manager Billy Martin records his 1,000th MLB career win as an MLB Manager as the A's would beat the Yankees by the score of 6-3. The A’s batters chase Yankees Starter Doyle Alexander for 4 runs in the 1st inning of game. A’s Starter Mike Norris picks up the win, despite giving up 2 Yankees HRs to John Mayberry and Oscar Gamble.
1984-Yankees Former Reserve INF/OF Kevin Russo (2010) was born.
On June 6,2006, INF Kevin Russo was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had played college baseball at Baylor Univ. Kevin made his MLB Player debut with the 2010 Yankees, appearing in 31 games as Reserve INF, while hitting just .184. On November 3, 2012, Kevin was granted his MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. On November 18, 2012, Kevin was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Tigers.
1986-Former Yankees Pitcher Jaime Garcia (2017) was born.
Jaime García was selected in the 30th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Orioles, but he did not sign with the team. The Cardinals had chose him in the 22nd round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He was inked to a deal this time by MLB Scout Joe Almaraz, the same scout who had scouted him for the Orioles in 2004. He made 2 appearances in 2011 World Series for the Cardinals with no record. Jamie would pitch for the Cardinals (2008, 2010-2016), then he was traded to the Braves on December 1, 2016, who later on July 24, 2017, would trade him to the Twins along with Catcher Anthony Recker for Minor League Pitching Prospect Huascar Ynoa. He made just 1 appearance for the 2017 Twins, defeating the A’s by the score of 6-3 on July 28th, then he was traded again, this time heading to the Yankees in return for 2 Minor League Pitching prospects; Dietrich Enns and Zack Littell. He would post a 0-3 record with a 4.82 ERA in 8 games for the team. He had pitched in 1 game of the AL 2017 Post season against the Indians, pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief with no decision. On November 2, 2017, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. On February 15, 2018, he would sign a 1-year deal with the Blue Jays, worth $10 million.
1986-Former Yankees Reserve OF Johnny Cooney (1944) had passed away. (1901-1986)
Johnny Cooney, whose MLB playing career stretched from 1921 to 1944, essentially had 2 MLB careers. He first arrived began as a Pitcher with the Braves, winning 14 games in 1925 with 20 complete games, with 2 shutouts and 245 2/3 innings. He was no longer able to manage that load the following season, dabbling in some position play and mound work through to 1930. After 4 years back in the Minor Leagues, rebuilding himself in the American Association, he returned to the MLB with the Dodgers in 1935 as a full-time outfielder, not making a single pitching appearance henceforth. Johnny would hit .318 and .319 in back-to-back seasons back with the Boston Bees (1940 and 1941), finishing his MLB playing career in a split season with the Braves and Yankees during World War II. With the 1944, John only appeared in 10 games for the team, hitting .125 with No HRs and only 1 RBI. The Yankees would release him. Johnny hit only 2 MLB HRs, which remarkably came on consecutive days with the Boston Bees: September 24-25,1939. He also had umpired 1 MLB game; a June 28,1941 NL contest between the Dodgers and the Braves, when the regular NL Umpire crew was unable to arrive on time for the game. He went on to be a long-time member of the Braves' MLB Coaching staff from 1946 to 1955, even managing them for part of the 1949 NL season. He remained with the club for 3 years, after they became the Milwaukee Braves. Later, he would spend 8 seasons as a White Sox MLB Coach from 1957 to 1964, while Al Lopez had managed the team.
1993-Former Yankees Minor League P Caleb Frare was born.
Caleb Frare was drafted by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Player Draft. On July 29, 2018, the Yankees had traded Minor League Reliever Caleb Frare to the White Sox for future considerations. He had pitched for the 2018 AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while posting a 4-1 record with a 0.62 ERA with 5 saves in 31 games. He had made 1 appearance with AAA Scranton (IL) with no record. With the 2018 White Sox, he was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 games. He had spent time with their AAA team. On June 27, 2020, Caleb was released by the White Sox Organization.
2000-The Yankees will defeat the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual day-night doubleheader. With the 1st game played at Shea Stadium and the nightcap played at Yankee Stadium. It is the 1st time since 1903, that 2 teams have played 2 games in different stadiums on the same day. Veteran Starter Dwight Gooden wins the 1st game with a 6-inning effort in his 1st start since returning to the Yankees. Veteran All-Star Starter Roger Clemens wins the nightcap and precipitate a near brawl, when he drills Mets Catcher Mike Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza will suffer a head concussion.
2002-Yankees AL All-Star 1B Jason Giambi out-homers NL All-Star Cubs OF Sammy Sosa by the score of 7-1, in the final round to take the 2002 MLB All-Star Game HR Derby Crown.
2018-Starters and reserves for the 2018 All-Star Game that will be played at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on July 17th are announced. Beyond the expected participants like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the game will feature more unexpected actors, such as Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres, who began the year in the minors, voted as the starter for the AL at his position.
July 9th
1874-Former Yankees Pitcher John “Jack” Powell (1905-1906) was born. (1874-1944)
On March 6,1904, Starter Jack Powell was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Highlanders for INF/P Harry Howell and Cash. For the 1904 Yankees, Powell would post a 23-19 record with a 2.44 ERA in 47 games. Overall, John would record a 31-32 mark with a 2.81 ERA in 84 games for the Yankees before returning to the Browns in 1906. As an MLB Pitcher, Jack Powell had finished his pitching career with a 245-254 record with a 2.97 ERA in 578 games in a 16-season Pitching career (1897-1912) starting with the Cleveland Spiders (NL), Cardinals, Browns (twice) and the Yankees.
1932-Former Yankees Reliever Tex Clevenger (1961-1962) was born. (1932-2019)
On May 8,1961, Tex was traded by the new AL expansion team, the Angels along with veteran OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for Rookie OF Lee Thomas, Pitchers Ryne Duren and Johnny James. Veteran MLB Reliever Tex Clevenger work out of the 1961-1962 Yankees bullpen, appearing in 42 games, while posting a 3-1 record with a 3.75 ERA with no saves. In 1953, the Red Sox had originally had signed Tex as an MLB Amateur Free Agent, later he would pitch for the 1956-1960 Senators. In the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft, the Angels had selected him from the original Washington Senators. With the Angels, he had appeared as a Reliever in 12 games, while posting a 2-1 record with a 1.69 ERA and 1 save. With their bullpen already having veteran relievers Art Fowler and Tom Morgan, Tex was made available for a trade. For the 1961 Yankees, he would post a 1-1 record with no saves in 21 games. Tex didn’t make any World Series appearances with the 1961-1962 Yankees. In 1962, Tex would post a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games. He would spend the 1963 season with the AAA Richmond (IL), while posting a 4-9 record in 47 games. At the end of the 1963 Minor League season, Clevenger would retire from pro baseball season. In 8 AL seasons, Tex had posted a 36-37 record with 4.18 ERA in 307 games. As an AL Reliever, Tex had a 19-15 record with 30 saves.
1932-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Bomber OF Ben Chapman would hit 3 HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the Tigers. Chapman’s 2 HRs are Inside-the-Park HRs, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-9. He would finish the game with 3-HRs with 6 RBIs. In the Opener, the Yankees had beaten the Tigers by a score of 7-6 with HRs hit by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Swell.
1936-The temperature is 106 degrees in Central Park, the hottest July 9th on record in New York City as the Indians take on the Yankees at the Stadium. The temperature at the ballpark is 102. The Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning, but the Tribe come back to score 11 runs on 15 hits, including 5 HRs, to win the game by a score of 11-4. Hal Trosky, Roy Weatherly and Joe Vosmik, all homer in the 2nd inning to tie the MLB record. Trosky hits another HR to tie for the AL lead with 23 HRs. Also, the Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig and Indians Earl Averill each hit HRs in the game.
1937-Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle, as he delivers 2-HRs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees maul the Senators by a score of 16-2. The “Yankee Clipper” will accomplish this feat only once again in his MLB playing career during the 1948 AL season.
1939-The Red Sox would sweep a doubleheader with the Yankees by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 to sweep a 5-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees AL lead is now 6 1/2 games. Boston Shortstop Joe Cronin drives in runs in both games, giving him 12 games in a row with an RBI.
1940-At the MLB All-Star game is played in Sportsman Park in St. Louis, 5 NL hurlers would combine to throw the 1st shutout in All-Star Game history. Paul Derringer, Bucky Walters, Whit Wyatt, Larry French and Carl Hubbell would allow only 3-hits the AL squad by the score of 4-0 with the help of Max West's 3-run HR. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing starts the game, giving 5 hits and 3 NL runs for the loss. On Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy’s AL squad are starting Outfielders Charlie Keller and Joe DiMaggio, Catcher Bill Dickey and 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon. On the AL Reserve Bench are Yankees 3B Red Rolfe. Starter Monte Pearson was the 2nd Yankee hurler to be named to the AL All-Star pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game.
1947-The Yankees would sell veteran Pitcher Mel Queen Sr. to the Pirates for Cash. For the Yankees (1942,1944,1946-1947), Mel would post an 8-4 record with a 4.27 ERA in 43 games before being sold to the Pirates. He is the father of former MLB player Mel Queen Jr. Queen’s spot on the Yankees roster, will be filled by Pitcher Vic Raschi, who had been pitching for AA Portland (PCL) with a 7-2 record.
1947-At Sportmans Park in St. Louis, Yankees Relief Ace Joe Page hits his 2nd MLB game winning HR in the 9th inning to beat the Browns by the score of 4-3.
1955-Bronx Bomber Slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5-for-5 at the plate, as Yankees Starter Bob Turley tosses a 2-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Senators. Also, Mantle would hit a double and 4 singles in the game.
1957-The 1957 MLB All-Star Game was played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, in front a crowd of 30,693 fans. The American League won the 24th midsummer classic by a score of 6 to 5. Tigers Starter Jim Bunning is the AL winning Pitcher, while Phillies Starter Curt Simmonds takes the loss for the NL team. Both teams had score 3 runs in the 9th inning, but White Sox OF Minnie Minoso's running catch with the bases loaded chokes off the NL's last-half rally. There were no HRs hit in the game. The 1957 AL squad was managed by Casey Stengel, who had Yankees Coaches 3B Frank Crosetti and Pitching Coach Jim Turner with him. The AL squad had Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra and CF Mickey Mantle in the starting line-up. The following Yankee players were on the AL All-Star team: C Elston Howard, Shortstop Gil McDougald, 2B Bobby Richardson, Pitchers Bobby Shantz, Bob Grim and 1B Bill Skowron. Bob Grim would pitch 1 inning in relief for the AL team.
1958-On Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C., Yankees Manager Casey Stengel and All-Star CF Mickey Mantle appear in front of the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee which is investigating the baseball monopoly power in regards to sport's Antitrust Exemption. After “The Old Professor'” gives 45 minutes of rambling and confusing testimony, Senator Estes Kefauver laughs, when Mickey Mantle's answers his inquiry about the topic with, "My views are just about the same as Casey's."
1959-The Red Sox club the Yankees by a score of 14-6 before 30,253 fans; the largest crowd at Fenway Park so far, this 1959 AL season. Red Sox Starter Frank Sullivan is the winner. The Boston batting line-up rocks Yankee Starter Bob Turley and Reliever Jim Coates for 14 runs and 10 hits. Red Sox Sluggers Vic Wertz, Ted Williams and Bobby Avila club HRs. Williams and Avila, both drive in 6 runs in the game. Yankees Reliever Jim Bronstad pitches 1 scoreless inning of relief.
1960-Yankees Starter Jim Coates suffers his 1st loss after 9 straight wins and 14 straight wins over 1959-1960 AL seasons, as the Red Sox beat the Bombers by a score of 6-5. The Red Sox are led by veteran 1B Vic Wertz, who slugs a HR, double and single to drive in 4 runs. Jim Coates' MLB pitching career record is now 17-2.
1963-The 1963 MLB All-Star Game was played at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, in front of a crowd of 44,160 fans. The National League won the 34th midsummer classic by a score of 5 to 3. NL Starter Larry Jackson picks up the victory, while Tigers Jim Bunning takes the loss for the AL squad. Yankees 1B Joe Pepitone was the only starter in the AL line-up. Mickey Mantle did not play due to an injury. Yankees Manager Ralph Houk had the following Yankee players on the AL squad, P Jim Bouton, C Elston Howard, 2B Bobby Richardson and OF Tommy Tresh. The All-Star MVP was Giants OF Willie Mays. After playing 2 All-Star Games each year from 1959 to 1962, the MLB had reverted back to a single game in 1963, a format that has been in place ever since. The extra All-Star games that were played were to help out the MLB player’s pension funds
1968-The 1968 MLB All-Star Game was played indoors at Houston’s Astrodome in front of a crowd of 48,321 fans. The National League won the 39th midsummer classic by a score of 1 to 0. AL Starter Luis Tiant gave up the only run scored in the game is the loser, while Dodgers Starter The All- Don Drysdale in the winner for the NL team. Only 2 Yankee players, who were on the AL squad OF Mickey Mantle and Starter Mel Stottlemyre, who had appeared in the game. The 39th All-Star Star game MVP was Giants OF Willie Mays.
1972-The Twins would lose to the Yankees by a score of 9-6, despite Rich Reese's pinch-hit Grand Slam HR. For Reese, it is his 3rd pinch Grand Slam HR, tying Ron Northey's MLB record. Yankees Starter Steve Kline picks up his 8th victory with relief help from Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle, who gets his 19th save of the 1972 AL season.
1973-Former Yankees Minor League Player and Manager Nick Ortiz was born.
The Red Sox had selected Nick Ortiz in the 34th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Debuting with the 1991 GCL Red Sox, the youngster hit .260 with 21 walks in 35 games. He would split 1992 between the Elmira Pioneers and the GCL Red Sox. In 1993, Nick would play for the Utica Blue Sox and Fort Lauderdale Red Sox. With the 1994 Sarasota Red Sox, he would hit .269, while moving primarily to 3rd base. Back with Sarasota in 1995, he would put up a .247 line and fielded only .887 at 3B. For the 1996 campaign, he was now playing in the Yankees organization, Ortiz would make appearances with the Class A Michigan Battle Cats and AA Trenton Thunder. In 1997, starting at 2nd for Trenton, he would hit .281, one of his best seasons. Ortiz then began a stretch of bouncing from team to team, splitting 1998 season between the Boston and Montreal chains. In 1999, he was with the Dodgers' San Antonio Missions and the Indians' Akron Aeros and the AAA Buffalo Bisons. In 2000, Nick was back with the Yankees' AA Norwich Navigators (EL) and the Royals' Wichita Wranglers. Back at shortstop, he would lead Texas League players at that position in both fielding percentage (.980) and double plays (84). Spending his only full year at AAA, he would hit .250 for the 2001 Omaha Golden Spikes, while fielding .975 as their main shortstop. The Cidra native sat out 2002 season, then he would return in 2003 with Wichita and the Cubs' West Tenn. Diamond Jaxx. In 2004, Ortiz would hit .229 for the Independent Bridgeport Bluefish (AL). He would play for 3 Atlantic League clubs in 2006, putting together a composite line of .303. He was 6th in the league in average, but he would lose All-Star Shortstop honors to Raul Marval. The veteran had hit .318 for the 2006-2007 Criollos de Caguas, 3rd in the Puerto Rican League, then he had a big season with the 2007 Bridgeport Bluefish, batting .297 with 28 doubles, 93 runs and a career-high 20 steals in 28 tries. He would finish 3rd in runs, tied for 8th in doubles and 8th in steals. Ortiz would play for the Puerto Rican National Team in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. In 2018, Nick Ortiz would become a Manager with the Class A Pulaski Yankees (APL). Then in 2019, Nick would move to the Class A GCL Yankees West team. In 2020, Ortiz would leave the Yankees organization to become a Quality Control Coach with the Giants.
1985-Yankees veteran Starter Ron Guidry works 8 2/3 innings to win his 10th straight start of the 1985 AL season, beating the Royals by a score of 6-4. Guidry allows only 9 hits and strikes out 1 Royals batter.
1986-The Padres had traded veteran Reliever Tim Stoddard to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Ed Whitson, who had become the target of such fan abuse in New York City, that Yankees Manager Lou Piniella could no longer pitch him at Yankee Stadium. Whitson had been with the Padres, before signing an MLB Free Agent deal with the Yankees. Ed Whitson’s Yankees Pitching career ends with a 15-10 mark with 5.38 ERA in 44 games. For the 1986-1988 Yankees, Tim Stoddard will post a 10-6 record with a 4.38 ERA and 11 saves in 109 games.
1989-Former Yankees Reliever Luis Avilan (2020) was born.
On February 3, 2020, veteran MLB Reliever Luis Avilan was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. He had appeared in 10 games in relief for the 2020 Yankees; while posting a 0-0 record with a 4.32 ERA. On August 28, 2020, he was released by the Yankees in an MLB roster move. He had been sidelined by pitching shoulder injury.
1999-The Yankees Uniform Lou Gehrig wore when he made his famous "luckiest man on earth" speech on July 4,1939 is sold for $451,541 at auction. Leland's spokesman Marty Appel says the flannel pinstripe uniform worn by the Hall of Fame 1B was purchased by a South Florida man, who did not want his name made public. The winning bid was made over the telephone.
2000-The Yankees lose to the Mets Starter Mike Hampton by the score of 2-0. Benitez closes for the Mets, while Yankees Starter Andy Pettitte is the loser. The Yankees also lose regular LF Shane Spencer, who blows out his knee on a play in the outfield that ends his 2000 AL season. The game was played at Shea Stadium draws a crowd of 54,283 fans, the largest regular season crowd for the Mets since the 1970 NL season. Newly acquired veteran OF Dave Justice from the Indians will take over the regular LF position for the Yankees, with Spencer, who is out for the rest of 2000 AL season.
2010-Former Yankees Reserve INF (1953) and Long-time Yankees Minor League Manager Frank Verdi had passed away. (1926-2010)
On May 10,1953, INF Frank Verdi made his only MLB appearance with the Yankees in a game against the Red Sox. He had entered the game playing shortstop in the bottom of the 6th inning. With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning, the Yankees were up by the score of 5-3. Red Sox hurler Ken Holcombe entered the game to relieve Ellis Kinder; Yankees Manager Casey Stengel replaced Frank Verdi with Pinch-Hitter Bill Renna. Verdi never appeared in another MLB game again. After his active playing career was over, he became a Minor League Manager in 1961, managing for the 1961 Twins and 1962 Mets organizations. He was with the Yankees Minor League organization from 1963-1972. He won 2 International League crowns with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1969 and 1970. In 1974, Frank would manage the AAA Denver Bears (AA) for Houston organization. From 1977-1980, he would manage the AAA Tidewater Tides (IL) for the Mets organization. He would return to the Yankees Minor League system to manage the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) in 1981-1982. He would win the 1981 International League Championship with the Clippers. He would return to Rochester to manage the 1984-1985 Orioles AAA Red Wings teams. From 1993-1995, he managed several teams in the Independent Leagues. In 2008, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
2011-At New Yankee Stadium, Bronx bomber Shortstop Derek Jeter becomes the 28th member of the 3,000 MLB Career Hit club with a 5-for-5 day against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2nd of the 5 hits, a HR off of Ray’s Starter David Price in the 3rd inning, gets him to the MLB hits milestone. He is the 1st player to collect his 3,000 hit for the Yankees, the 1st to do it at Yankee Stadium. He then adds 2 singles and a double as the Yankees defeat the Rays by the score of 5-4.
2019-The 2019 MLB All-Star Game, the 90th edition of the midsummer Classic was played at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It was the 6th time the game was held in Cleveland. The game was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Progressive Field. It was the 1st time the game was held in an AL ballpark since the 2014 edition. A crowd of 37,747 fans had attended the night game. The AL would record its 7th straight win, a 4-3 victory over the NL in a game in which only 2 HRs, both solo shots were hit, whereas HR records were falling left and right across MLB that year. The winner of the Ted Williams Award as the game's MVP was Indians P Shane Bieber, who had struck out all 3 batters that he had faced in his 1 inning of work. Yankees Starter Masahiro Tanka is the winning pitcher for the AL squad. Yankees Closer Aroldis Chapman strikes out the NL side in the 9th inning to preserve the AL team victory. The Yankees had 2 players in the starting line-up: 2B D.J. LeMahieu and Catcher Gary Sanchez. Also, Closer Aroldis Chapman, 2B Gleyber Torres and Starter Masahiro Tanka were on the AL team.
2023-The Yankees have release veteran Reliever Colten Brewer to allow him to sign a player contract with Hanshin Tigers in Japan. He had appeared in 3 games with the team, while pitching 8 1/3 innings. He was acquired by the Yankees from the Rays on Opening Day 2023.
2023-The Yankees have fired their current MLB Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson. His 2 assistants, Casey Dyes and Bud Wilkerson are staying with the team until the current season ends. GM Cashman has told the NYC Sports Media that Lawson’s replacement will come in from outside the Yankees organization. His replacement will be former MLB player Sean Casey.
July 10th
1908-The Red Sox had purchased veteran 1B/OF Jake Stahl from the Yankees. On October 13,1907, 1B/OF Jake Stahl was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the White Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees would send INF/OF Frank LaPorte to the Boston Americans (aka Red Sox). Then the Americans would send INF Freddy Parent to the White Sox. For the 1908 Yankees, Jake will play in 75 games, while hitting .255 with 2 HRs and 45 RBIs.
1916-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Shortstop Rube Oldring (1905, 1916) again. Rube had appeared in 43 games with the 1916 Yankees, while hitting just .234. In 1905, he had appeared in only 8 games for the Yankees, while hitting .300. It was revealed later by his son, that he was on loan by the Connie Mack’s A’s, who took him back in 1906, rather let him stay with the Yankees. He had spent most of his MLB playing career with the Philadelphia A’s.
1917-Thanks to Bronx hurler Ray Caldwell's 9-2/3 innings of no-hit relief, the Yankees would beat the Browns in St. Louis by a score of 7-5 in a 17-inning game.
1934-The 2nd annual MLB All-Star Game produced Giants Starter Carl Hubbell's amazing feat of striking out 5 future HOF Players in a row. Off to a shaky start with 2 men on base in the 1st inning, Hubbell uses his screwball to fan AL Sluggers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmy Foxx. He adds Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to start the 2nd inning. After 3 scoreless innings, he leaves with the NL, ahead by a score of 4-0. The AL batting lineup rallies, scoring 9 runs off of NL Pitchers Warneke, Mungo and Dean, while Tribe P Mel Harder pitches 5 shutout innings in relief of Yankees Starter Red Ruffing to hold the lead. Frankie Frisch and Joe Medwick hit HRs for the NL squad. The Indian’s Earl Averill's 3-RBIs are decisive for the AL squad’s 9-7 victory.
1936-The Yankees roll to an easy victory over the Indians, as Bronx Starter Red Ruffing takes the shutout, winning the game by a score of 18-0. Lloyd Brown, the 1st of 3 Tribe pitchers used in the game is the loser. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig has a pair of HRs to take over the 1936 AL HR lead with 23.
1951-Using 4 HRs from NL Sluggers Stan Musial, Bob Elliott, Ralph Kiner and Gil Hodges, the NL All-Stars would defeat the AL team at Detroit's Briggs Stadium in the 1951 MLB All-Star Game. Pirates Ralph Kiner hits a HR for the 3rd year in a row. The only starting Yankee player on the All-Star starting team is Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had veteran All-Star OF Joe DiMaggio and Shortstop Phil Rizzuto on his Reserve Player list. Yankees P Eddie Lopat relieves St. Louis Browns Starter Ned Garver in the 4th inning, he gives up 3 NL runs and hits takes the loss for the AL squad. The 1951 MLB All-Star day game in Detroit draws a crowd of 52,075 fans. Giant’s veteran Starter Sal “The Barber” Maglie is the winner for the NL squad.
1956-In the 1956 MLB All-Star Game played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC, Cardinals 3B Ken Boyer makes 3 sparkling defensive plays and gets 3 hits as the NL team defeats the AL squad by a score of 7-3. A crowd of 26,843 fans had attended the day game held in the Nation’s capital Yankees CF Mickey Mantle and Catcher Yogi Berra are in the AL starting line-up. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel has 2B Billy Martin and Shortstop Gil McDougald as his Reserve Players. He had selected Whitey Ford and Johnny Kucks to the AL All-Star Pitching staff. MLB All-Stars Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Stan Musial hit HRs in the game. Willie Mays's pinch-hit 2-run HR off of Yankees hurler Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Bronx pitching ace. Mickey Mantle hits his HR off of veteran Braves Starter Warren Spahn. Ford pitches 1 inning for the AL squad, while giving up 3 NL hits and 2 runs. White Sox Starter Billy Pierce starts for the AL team and takes the AL loss. Pirates Bob Friend is the winning pitcher for the NL squad.
1956-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Giard (1927) had passed away. (1898-1956)
On December 17,1924, hurler Joe Giard was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers “Bullet” Joe Bush and Milt Gaston to the St. Louis Browns for veteran Starter Urban Shocker. For the 1925 Browns, he would post a 13-15 record with a 5.74 ERA in 52 games. On February 8,1927, Joe Giard traded by the Browns along with OF Cedric Durst to the Yankees for veteran Starter Sad Sam Jones. For the 1927 Yankees, he would appear in 16 games with no record. He didn’t appear in the 1927 World Series against the Pirates. He would pitch in the Minor Leagues from 1928-1929 before retiring from the game.
1962-At the newly opened D.C. Stadium in Washington, D.C., John F. Kennedy becomes the 1st U.S. President ever to throw the ceremonial 1st pitch at an MLB All-Star Game. Thanks to the game's MVP Maury Wills scoring 2 of the NL team's 3 runs and Willie Mays' amazing game-ending catch, the NL beats the Junior circuit by the score of 3-1 in the 1st of 2 Mid-Summer Classics to be held this summer, the extra games were played to increase the MLB Player’s Pension Funds. Yankee Manager Ralph Houk has his M& M boys (Mantle & Maris) in the AL starting line-up. Maris gets an RBI for the AL team. He has 2B Bobby Richardson, Catcher Elston Howard and Rookie Shortstop Tom Tresh on the AL bench. Yankees Starter Ralph Terry is selected for the All-Star team Pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game. Giants Starter Juan Marichal is the NL winner with relief help from Braves Bob Shaw, who gets the save.
1965-Former Yankee Reliever Buddy Groom (2005) was born.
On February 9, 2005, Reliever Buddy Groom was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He would appear in 24 games working out of the 2005 Yankees bullpen, while posting a 1-0 mark with a 4.91 ERA. On July 31, 2005, Buddy was sent to the Diamondbacks by the Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
1977-A 5-0 loss to the Orioles drops the Yankees into 2nd place in AL East, ½ game behind the Red Sox. The Yankees would not re-enter 1st place until August 23,1977, they would soon fall 5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Sam Marsonek (2004) was born.
On December 13,1999, Pitcher Sam Marsonek was traded by the Rangers along with Pitcher Brandon Knight to the Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. Sam would appear in 1 game with the 2004 Yankees with no record, before becoming an MLB Free Agent in the winter of 2004.
1988-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernie Nevel (1950-1951) had passed away. (1919-1988)
Before the start of the 1946 AL season, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Ernie Nevel, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Nevel was farmed out to the Augusta Tigers (SAL), where the 27-year-old would go 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 36 appearances. This would be the 1st year of 9 seasons that he would spend in the Minor Leagues. After 4 more years of Minor League baseball and tying for the league lead with a 21-win performance with the pennant-winning Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL) in 1950, Ernie would make it to the Yankees. He got a very short look by the Yankees in late September of 1950, making 3 appearances, losing 1 game and having a 9.95 ERA. The AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) would be Ernie's home for the biggest part of the 1951 season; where he would post a 14-11 record with a 3.86 ERA. He would show up again in Yankee Stadium, appearing in 1 game, while pitching 4 innings with no decision and that was it for his 2nd shot at the MLB hitters. In 1952, it was back to the AAA Blues, where he posted a 7-6 record in 22 appearances before being traded to the Reds. Ernie had appeared in a total of 4 games with the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record. On August 28,1952, Ernie was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League players: Outfielders Jim Greengrass and Bob Marquis, MLB P Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 Cash to the Reds for veteran NL All-Star Starter Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell.
1996-Former Yankees Minor League P Drew Finley was born.
Drew Finley was a 3rd-round pick of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees in 2015. Finley, a 22-year-old righty, has yet to move past the low A level despite 3 attempts. In 120 innings as a pitcher over 4 seasons, he carries an unsightly 5.48 ERA with a 2-11 record in 42 games in the Yankees organization. On November 21,2018, he was traded along with Cash to the Dodgers for INF/OF Tim Locastro.
1996-Former Yankees Pitcher Phil Bickford (2024) was born.
On June 6, 2013, Pitcher Phil Bickford was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he did not sign with the team. On June 8, 2015, he was drafted by the Giants in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 2015 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would sign by the Giants on June 26, 2015. On August 1, 2016, Phil was traded by the Giants along with Andrew Susac to the Brewers for Will Smith. On May 3, 2021, he was selected off waivers by the Dodgers from the Brewers. With the 2023 Dodgers, he had posted a 2-3 record with a 5.14 ERA in 36 games. On August 1, 2023, Phil was traded by the Dodgers along with Adam Kolarek to the Mets for cash. For the 2023 Mets, Phil would post a 3-2 record with a 4.62 ERA and 1 save in 25 games. On March 26, 2024, Phil was released by the Mets. On April 3, 2024, Phil would be signed to minor league contract by the Yankees. Currently Phil has MLB pitching career record of 11-8 with a 4.43 ERA with 2 saves in 179 games. He was pitching for AAA Scranton (IL). On June 21, 2024, the Yankees would select his contract from AAA Scranton, when they had DFA Veteran Reliever Victor Gonzalez. He would appear in 5 games for the 2024 Yankees with no decisions with a 14.40 ERA, before being DFA by the team and becoming a MLB Free Agent.
1997-Yankees Rookie Starter Hideki Irabu strikes out 9 Tiger batters and gets the win in his MLB Pitching debut as the Yankees defeat Detroit by a score of 10-3.
1999-The Yankees' winning streak of 124 consecutive games when they led entering the 9th inning ends as Mets PH Matt Franco singles off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera giving the Mets a dramatic come-from-behind Subway Series MLB Inter-League 9-8 victory.
2001-In his final MLB All-Star Game appearance, Orioles 3B Cal Ripken is named the MVP of the game. His HR along with consecutive HRs from fellow AL teammates Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez power the AL team to its 5th victory in a row beating the NL squad at Seattle's Safeco Field by a score of 4-1. Yankees Pitcher Roger Clemens was the starter for the AL team, also Bronx Pitcher Andy Pettitte pitched 1 scoreless inning for the AL team. Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera was selected to the AL team, but didn’t play due to a leg injury. The 2001 MLB Mid-Summer Classic was played in Baltimore’s Camden Yards, draws a crowd of 47,364 fans.
2011-CC Sabathia wins his 13th game of the year for the Yankees, as they eke out a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay. The only run scores on a couple of miscues, after Robinson Cano starts the 7th inning with a single off of James Shields. B.J. Upton makes a nice catch on Jorge Posada's fly ball to center, but his throw to 1st to double Cano sails into the 1st base dugout. Cano moves to 3rd on the play, then he scores when Shields' pick-off attempt is above 3B Sean Rodriguez's head. The game takes only 2:11, tied for quickest this year.
2017-Yankees RF Aaron Judge adds another flourish to his outstanding 2017 AL Rookie season, as he wins the MLB All-Star Game HR Derby, staged at Marlins Park on the eve of the 2017 MLB All-Star Game with a total of 47 HRs, including 4 HR shots measured at over 500 feet. He defeats Marlins Miguel Sano for the title as local favorite and defending 2016 MLB All-Star HR Champion Giancarlo Stanton is eliminated in the 1st round.
2019-Former Yankees Pitcher Jim “Bull Dog” Bouton had passed away at the age of 80. (1939-2019)
In 1958, Jim Bouton had pitched at West Michigan Univ. before signing with the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would reach the Bronx in 1962. Bouton was the winning pitcher of the 22-inning game against the Tigers in 1962. He would finish his Yankees Rookie season with an 7-7 record along with a 3.99 ERA and 2 saves in 36 games. He didn’t appear in the 1962 World Series against the Giants. For the Yankees in 1963, as a Starter Jim would post a 21–7 record with a 2.53 ERA in 40 games. He was named to the 1962 AL All-Star team pitching staff. In 1964, he had posted an 18-13 record with a 3.02 ERA in 38 games for the team. He would appear in 2 World Series for the 1963-1964 Yankees, going 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 3 games; winning 2 games against the 1964 Cardinals; while losing a 1-0 shutout, a 4-hitter to the Dodgers Starter Don Drysdale in 1963 World Series. In 1965, he would injure his pitching arm, he was never being effective starter again for the Yankees. His Yankees Pitching career record was a 55-51 record with a 3.36 ERA and 4 saves in 197 games. In October of 1968, he was sold by the Yankees to the AAA Seattle Angels (PCL), who would become the new AL Expansion Team, the Seattle Pilots. Bouton would resurfaced in the MLB as a knuckleball relief pitcher in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots and later pitch for the Astros. This period is well documented his baseball book in “Ball Four”. Although he was moderately successful, after the backlash against “Ball Four”, Bouton would disappear from the MLB. He continued to pitch for pro and semipro teams, he eventually made it back to the MLB with the 1978 Braves for 5 games, pitching at the age of 39. Bouton had gone 11-9 with a 2.82 ERA with the 1978 Savannah Braves, some thought that Braves Team Owner Ted Turner recalled Bouton largely as a way of selling tickets to some September games. Bouton, however, turned people's heads, pitching much better than anyone expected. On September 14th, he would throw a 3-hitter over 6 innings to record a victory over the Giants. On September 24th, he would work 8 innings, while giving up only 2 runs in a hard luck loss against the Reds in Atlanta.After the 1978 NL season was completed, he would retire from baseball. His last MLB comeback was documented in “Ball Five”, which was published as an addition to his more famous book, “Ball Four.” Jim Bouton would finish MLB Pitching career with a 62-63 record, along with a 3.57 ERA and 6 saves in 304 games. Also, he had worked as a TV Sportscaster for WABC-TV and WCBS-TV in New York City. He had briefly acted in movies and had a comedy CBS-TV TV Show called “Ball Four.” Also, he was creator of the “Big Chew” bubble gum company.
Jim Bouton, despite his successful baseball career, will forever be better known for “Ball Four”, which consists of diary entries describing daily life in the game. It was edited by Sports Journalist Leonard Shecter, a long-time friend of Bouton's. Perhaps the biggest controversy involving Bouton and his book, which was published in 1970, was his description of the habitual use of amphetamines by many MLB players. In addition to the controversy surrounding amphetamines, the book was seen by some members of the baseball establishment as a blight on the game because it depicted "the nation's heroes" acting human and doing immoral - but still entirely normal - things like drinking, swearing and chasing women. MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn even tried to get Bouton to sign a written apology and claim that the book's events were faked and entirely concocted by Schecter. Bouton, true to his nickname of "Bulldog", refused to cave in to pressure from Kuhn and others and stood by his story. A follow-up volume, “I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally,” was issued in 1971. It was dedicated by Bouton to his detractors. Bouton would go on to write several other books, both fiction and non-fiction and to become a fan favorite. The baseball establishment always seemed to distance itself from Jim Bouton, although he was finally invited back to an Old-Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium in 1998. His son had written an editorial in the New York Times requesting that the Yankees should have him back for an Old Timer’s Day game appearance. At the game, while on the mound, Jim threw his classic pitching style, in which his hat flew off his head after throwing a pitch, drawing the crowd’s attention.
2021-Former Yankees Pitcher Richard “Dirt” Tidrow (1974-1979) had passed away at age of 74. (1947-2021)
On January 28,1967, hurler Richard Tidrow was drafted by the Indians in the 4th round of the 1967 MLB Amateur Player Draft (January Secondary). He would pitch for the Tribe from 1972 to April 1974. As an Indians starter, he had posted a 29-34 record with a 3.78 ERA in 85 games. On April 26,1974, Richard “Dirt” Tidrow came over to the Yankees from the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade. With the Yankees, he became the Set-Up Man for Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle. After pitching effectively in relief for several seasons, he would return to the starting rotation during the 1978 AL season, following injuries to veteran Bronx Starters Catfish Hunter and Don Gullett, as he went 7-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 31 games for the team. As a Yankees Pitcher, he had posted a 40-33 record with a 3.61 ERA and 23 saves in 211 games; before being traded to Cubs for hurler Ray Burris during the 1979 AL season. He would finish with an MLB Pitching career with a record of 100-94 with a 3.68 ERA and 55 saves in 620 games. Tidrow had pitched in the MLB for the Indians, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and the Mets. “Dirt” had appeared in 2 World Series with the Yankees, pitching in 4 games with no record. In the AL Post Season for the Yankees, he went 1-0 in 8 games. When his MLB Pitching career ended in 1984, Tidrow has been an MLB Scout for the Yankees. Since 1994, he has worked in the front office for the Giants. Tidrow was a Special Assistant to the GM in 1996. Then Tidrow was the Giants Farm Director from 1997 to 2005. In 2012, he is the "Vice President, Player Personnel,” a job he has held since at least 2008.
2023-The Yankees have announced that former MLB player Sean Casey will become the Yankees new MLB Hitting Coach for the rest of the 2023 MLB season. Casey replaces the currently fired Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson.
July 11th
1884-Former Yankees OF/Pitcher Harold “Harry” Wolter (1910-1913) was born. (1884-1970)
On January 18,1910, Pitcher/OF Harry Wolter was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox for $1,500. Harry will hit .277 with 10 HRs and 122 RBIs in 396 games for the Yankees. Even though he was a Pitcher, the Yankees never used him as one in his 4 seasons with the team. After playing for the Yankees, Harry would return to the Minor Leagues, playing in the Class AA Pacific Coast League, before returning to the MLB finishing out his playing career with the 1917 Cubs. Overall, as an MLB Player with the Reds, Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees and the Cubs, Harry had played in 588 games, while hitting .270 with 12 HRs and 67 RBIs.
1904-The Highlanders salvage the last game of the series with the Pilgrims (aka Red Sox), winning the game by the score of 10-1, but Boston leaves New York City with a 2 1/2 game lead in the 1904 AL pennant race. Outfielder Patsy Dougherty has 4 of New York's 17 hits.
1911-Former Yankees Pitcher Vitautis "Vito” Tamulis (1934-1935) was born. (1911-1974)
A HS baseball star, Vito Tamulis had turned down several college scholarship offers, so Yankees MLB Scout Gene McCann signed him shortly before his 19th birthday. He would started his way up in the Yankees farm chain with the Class D Chambersburg Young Yanks (BRL), going 6-2 right out of high school in 1930. In 1931, his 2nd season in pro ball, Vito moved up to the Class C Cumberland Colts (MAL), making the All-Star team with a 15-4 record and a league-leading 1.92 ERA. In the following season, 1932 in a 3-team split-season with the Albany Senators and the Binghamton Triplets (EL) and the AA Newark Bears (IL), Vito came up with a combined 20-7 record with a 2.41 ERA (not counting his Newark ERA, presently unavailable). After another 3-team season with Binghamton, Albany and AA Newark in 1933, he had posted a 10-8 with a 5.08 ERA; Vito would spend the 1934 baseball season with the AA Newark Bears (IL). He would go 13-7 with a 2.74 ERA for the AA Bears. He got his 1st chance at MLB hitters when the Yankees would bring him up for a late season debut on September 25,1934. Vito would pitch a 7-hit shutout against the A’s. Tamulis would spend the 1935 AL season with the Yankees, posting a 10-5 record with a 4.09 ERA that included 3 shutouts. Also, as a batter, Vito would hit .246. During the following winter, Vito was stricken with pleurisy and missed half the 1936 AL season. Not fully recovered, he would spend the balance of the 1936 baseball season with the AA Newark Bears (IL); he still managed to have a 7-5 record in 96 innings. He would remain with the AA Bears in 1937, going 18-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 190 innings. Overall, Tamulis would post a 11-5 record with a 3.87 ERA and 1 save with a 7.63 ERA in 31 games for the Yankees. For whatever the reason, Tamulis was then traded by the Yankees to the St. Louis Browns for 1B Harry Davis on December 4,1937. He had a 0-3 record with a 7.63 ERA in 3 games for the Browns, who then would waived him to the Dodgers in May of 1938; where he had 3 good seasons with Brooklyn, posting a 29-19 record with a 3.37 ERA and 9 saves in 97 games. He had appeared briefly with the 1941 Phillies going 0-1 in 6 games, then he went back to 1941 Dodgers with a 0-0 record in 12 games to finish out his MLB pitching career. Overall, Vito had posted a 40-28 record with a 3.97 ERA in 170 MLB games.
1920-At the Polo Grounds, a Sunday crowd of 35,000 fans watch a game between the Yankees and the Tigers. The Yankees edge the Bengals by the score of 6-5. Bronx Starter Carl Mays picks up his 12th victory of the 1920 AL season; while Tigers Starter Howard Ehmke takes the complete game loss, he is now at 4-11 mark. Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 27th HR of the season, while Ty Cobb and Sammy Hale hit HRs for the Tigers.
1939-With another Yankees-dominated starting lineup, the AL team defeats the NL squad by a score of 3-1 in the 7th MLB All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium. Reds OF Ival Goodman fractures his shoulder diving for a ball. Yankees’ veteran hurler Red Ruffing starts the game for the AL squad. Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits a HR for the AL team. The following Yankee players were on the 1939 AL squad: Shortstop Frank Crosetti, Catcher Bill Dickey, Pitchers Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing and Johnny Murphy, 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon, 3B Red Rolfe and OF George Selkirk. The 1939 MLB All-Star game attendance at Yankee Stadium was 62,892 fans. The 6 Yankee position players would play the entire game, which was managed by Yankees Skipper Joe McCarthy.
1945-Yankees Catcher Aaron Robinson returns from the military. Also, Yankees veteran Starter Red Ruffing is back too, so are MLB players Hugh Mulcahy and Buddy Lewis. Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller will follow; a couple of dozen former MLB players will be in their MLB uniforms before the 1945 AL season is finished.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Stan Thomas (1977) was born.
On August 2,1977, Pitcher Stan Thomas was sent to the Yankees by the Mariners as part of a conditional deal. Stan would post a 1-0 record with a 7.11 ERA in 3 games for the 1977 Yankees. On December 12,1977, Stan was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Ed Ricks and Cash to the White Sox for 1B/DH Jim Spencer, OF Tommy Cruz and Minor League P Bob Polinsky.
1956-Veteran Minor League P Tom Lasorda was traded by Kansas City to the Yankees for Minor League P Wally Burnette. Before joining the A’s, Tommy had been a pitcher in the Brooklyn Dodgers system. He was traded to Kansas City by the Dodgers to clear an MLB roster spot for young Bonus Rookie lefty named Sandy Koufax. Tommy never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. Lasorda will pitch for the Yankees AAA club, the Denver Bears (AA). In 1958, he will return to the Dodgers organization. After retiring as an active player in 1960, he will become a Manager in the Dodgers farm system. Later, he will become an MLB Manager for the Dodgers, replacing the retiring long-time Dodgers Manager Walter Alston.
1959-At Fenway Park, Red Sox Shortstop Don Buddin cracks a 10th inning Grand Slam HR off of Reliever Bob Turley to give the Red Sox an 8-4 win over the Yankees. Bob Turley had replaced Bronx Reliever Jim Bronstad, who took over when Yankees Closer Ryne Duren and Catcher Yogi Berra are tossed out of the game by Umpire Al Summers for arguing pitches.
1959-Former Yankees OF Frank Gilhooley (1913-1918) had passed away.(1892-1959)
On August 25,1913, OF Frank Gilhooley was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. He had appeared in 250 games for the Yankees, while hitting .277 with 2 HRs and 55 RBIs. On December 18,1918, Frank was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Ray Caldwell, Slim Love, C Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and Pitcher Ernie Shore.
1961-At San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the notoriously vicious winds dominate the 1st game of 1961's 2 MLB All-Star Games. A capacity crowd witnesses a record 7 errors, not to mention hometown hero Stu Miller's wind-induced balk, enabling the AL to forge a 3-3 tie before losing the game by the score of 5-4 in 10 innings. Although kept in the park by the aforementioned wind, All-Star sophomore Pirates OF Roberto Clemente has a huge game, tripling and scoring the game's 1st run, driving in the 2nd with a sacrifice fly, driving Yankees OF Mickey Mantle to the CF fence and delivering the walk-off single, off of Orioles knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. The game-winning rally is comprised solely of contributions by the NL's 4 premier outfielders, in order of appearance: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Clemente. The AL All-Star starting line-up featured Yankees Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in the outfield, while Tony Kubek was the starting Shortstop. Yankees Ace Whitey Ford had started the game, giving up 3 NL hits and 1 run with no decision. Yankee Catchers Yogi Berra and Elston Howard are Reserve Players. Orioles Manager Paul Richards manages the AL squad with Yankees 3B Coach Frank Crosetti as one of his All-Star Game Coaches. Yankees 1960 Manager Casey Stengel was let go by the team; his replacement Ralph Houk wasn’t allowed to manage the 1961 AL All-Star team. The 2nd place 1960 Orioles Manager Paul Richards was named the AL All Star Game Manager.
1962-The Senators would send veteran MLB 1B Dale Long back to the Yankees for Minor League Prospect OF Don Lock, who was playing at AAA Richmond (IL). This will be veteran Dale Long’s 2nd tour with the Yankees. Dale will hit .298 in pinstripes this season. Don Lock was unable to break into the Yankees starting outfield, despite hitting well in the Yankees Minor League system, while showing good HR power.
1992-Former Yankees Pitcher Johnny Barbato (2016) was born.
Johnny Barbato was picked in the 6th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Padres out of a HS in Miami, FL. He only made his pro debut the following season, with the Eugene Emeralds (NL), going 1-4 with a 4.89 ERA in 15 games as a starting pitcher. In 2012, he had a good season as a reliever for the Fort Wayne Wizards (ML) with a record of 6-1, a 1.84 ERA and 3 saves in 48 outings. He had struck out 84 batters in 73 1/3 innings. In 2013, he moved up to the Lake Elsinore Storm (CAL) but he saw his ERA balloon to 5.01 in 49 games, including 7 starts; his record was only 3-6, but he did record 14 saves. In 2014, Barbato pitched in AA for the 1st time, with the San Antonio Missions (TL). He was limited to 27 outings, all in relief, but got things back on track with an ERA of 2.87 and 16 saves to go along with a 2-2 record. On December 29th of that year, he was traded to the Yankees in return for established MLB Reliever Shawn Kelley. He went 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA in 13 games for the 2016 Yankees. Also, he spent time with AAA Scranton (IL). On April 17, 2017, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for a Player to be Named Later. On June 14, 2017, the Pirates would send Minor League P Matt Frawley to the Yankees to complete the trade. He had started the 2018 AL season with the Tigers, then he was sent down to AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL).
1995-New York Yankees Hall of Fame CF/1B Mickey Mantle's final public appearance increases awareness of organ donation programs.
2000-At Turner Field in Atlanta, a crowd of 51,523 fans see the AL squad beats the NL team by a score of 6-3 in the 71st MLB All-Star contest, dubbed the “All Scar” game due to the many stars absent from the both leagues lineups because of injuries. Yankees' Shortstop Derek Jeter and the Braves' 3B Chipper Jones provide the offensive punch with both players going 3-for-3 at plate. Jeter is named the All-Star Game MVP Award winner for his performance in game, becoming the 1st Yankee player to win the award. Catcher Jorge Posada, OF Bernie Williams and Closer Mariano Rivera were named to the AL Squad. Rivera pitches in the 9th inning to finish the game.
2009-The Yankees hit a season-high 5 HRs in Los Angeles, including 2 HRs by 3B Alex Rodriguez, but they still lose the game by the score of 14-8 to the Angels, who have scored 24 runs in 2 games since their 2 most potent offensive weapons, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, hit the DL simultaneously on July 9th. The Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez moves past another steroid-tainted player, Rafael Palmeiro for 10th on the all-time MLB HR Career list.
2010-Former Yankee Stadium Public Announcer Robert “Bob” Sheppard (1951-2007) had passed away. (1910-2010)
The long-time Public Address Announcer of the Yankees, Bob Sheppard is the most famous PA voice in sports history. His slow, deep cadence has rung out from "Now batting for the Yankees, number five, Joe DiMaggio" to "Now batting for the Yankees, number two, Derek Jeter." He is New York through and through having graduated from St. John's University in the class of 1932. At St. John's, he spent 4 years on the football team. Also, he was the 1B for their baseball squad. He joined the Yankees in DiMaggio's last year,1951. He has been at the microphone high above Yankee Stadium ever since. He has announced thousands of players over more than 4,000 games. Of course, being the announcer for the Yankees meant that Bob Sheppard was the PA announcer for dozens of World Series games. He has worked 20 World Series in all. He has also been the Public Address announcer for the New York Football Giants, a position he has held from 1956-2005. Since announcing is a part time seasonal job, 81 games a year plus the MLB postseason, Bob Sheppard also taught speech at St. John's University for 25 years. During his winter stay in Florida, Sheppard reads at daily Mass. He is often approached after Mass by fans that say, "You sound like the guy at Yankee Stadium..." He then stops them and confirms he is the voice of Yankee Stadium. Bob Sheppard has kept his age a guarded secret through the years but the combination of his college graduation (1932); his 1910 birth date given on imdb.com seems plausible. His last season of regular work was 2007; he would officially retire from the Yankees in 2009.
2011-CC Sabathia wins his 13th game of the year for the Yankees, as they eke out a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay. The only run scores on a couple of miscues, after Robinson Cano starts the 7th inning with a single off of James Shields. B.J. Upton makes a nice catch on Jorge Posada's fly ball to center, but his throw to 1st to double Cano sails into the 1st base dugout. Cano moves to 3rd on the play, then he scores when Shields' pick-off attempt is above 3B Sean Rodriguez's head. The game takes only 2:11, tied for quickest this year.
2011-Yankees 2B Robinson Cano wins the annual MLB All-Star Game HR Derby with a record-breaking performance in the final round at Chase Field. After Adrian Gonzalez ties the best-ever HR total for a final round with 11, Cano hitting off his Father Jose, a former MLB Pitcher with the Astros. Robbie launches 12 balls into the stands with 4 outs to spare to claim the 2011 MLB All-Star HR Crown.
2012-Former Yankees Minor League and MLB Pitcher Art Ceccarelli had passed away. (1930-2012)
On May 19,1960, Pitcher Art Ceccarelli was traded by the Cubs to Yankees for hurler Mark Freeman. Art never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Art had originally been signed by the Dodgers organization in the early 1950’s. This was Art’s 3rd tour with the Yankees organization; he had pitched for the 1954 AA Birmingham Triplets (EL), while posting a 15-12 record with a .3.70 ERA in 35 games. In 1955, he spent the season with the Kansas City A’s, posting a 4-7 mark with a 5.31 ERA. He had started the 1956 season with the A’s appearing in only 3 games, going 0-1. Then he would pitch again in 1956 for the Yankees organization at AA Binghamton (EL), dropping to a 0-3 record with a 9.43 ERA in 12 games. He was sent back to the A’s organization, pitching for their AAA team, the Columbus Jets (IL.) In 1957, the Orioles had acquired Art, where he posted a 0-5 mark in 20 games. Then the Orioles sent him to their AAA team in Vancouver (PCL) for the 1957-1958 seasons. Then the Cubs would pick him up. In 1959-1960, Art was with the Cubs, posting a 5-5 record in 20 games before being traded to the Yankees. With the Yankees 1960 AAA Richmond (IL) club, he would post a 9-4 record with a 3.96 ERA in 21 games. In 1961, Art had posted a 9-6 record with a 3.32 ERA in 28 games. At the end of the 1961 MLB season, he would leave the Yankees organization, signing with the Indians organization, where he pitched for their AAA team until his player retirement in 1963.
2013-Yankees Team Captain Derek Jeter plays for the Yankees for the 1st time since breaking his ankle in Game 1 of the 2012 ALCS. Inserted as the Yankees DH, he singles on the 1st pitch; he sees and comes in to score as the Yankees beat the Royals by the score of 8-4. Jeter comes back after only 4 rehabilitation outings in the Minor Leagues, after 2 Yankees starters, CF Brett Gardner and DH Travis Hafner were injured the previous day. However, Jeter leaves the game after the 5th inning with a tight quad muscle and he will undergo an MRI test.
2017-The Yankees had released veteran DH/1B Chris Carter. He had hit just .201 with 8 HRs, 26 RBIs and 76 strikeouts in 208 plate appearances over 62 games with the team. Also, he made 4 errors in 56 games, while playing at 1B. The Yankees had designated Carter for assignment on June 24th. He was out-righted to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL) on June 28th, but he never played a game for the RailRiders; instead, he was re-added to the MLB 25-man roster on June 29th, but he went just 3-for-17 with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts before being DFA again following the Yankees' loss to the Blue Jays on July 4th.
2022-Former Yankees Reserve INF Richard “Ducky” Schofield Sr. (1966) had passed away. (1935-2022)
Richard Schofield is the Father of former MLB player Richard Schofield Jr. and the Grandfather of Jayson Werth of the Nationals. On May 11,1966, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Giants for $25,000 to fill in for injured Shortstop Ruben Amaro. He would hit just .155 in 25 games for the Bombers before being traded to the Dodgers on September 10,1966 for Pitcher Thad Tillotson and Cash. With the 1966 Dodgers, he would play 3B, while hitting .257. He had originally come up to the MLB with the Cardinals as a “Bonus Baby” in 1953. Later, he would play for the 1960 Pirates, as a Reserve INF, filling in for Bucs starting Shortstop Richard Groat, when he was injured. He was the Bucs starting Shortstop in 1963-1965. The Pirates would trade him to the Giants in 1965, where he became their starting shortstop.
July 12th
1905-The Tigers would beat the Yankees by a score of 6-3 with the help of 2 errors by Yankees 1B Jack Doyle. The veteran 1st basemen Doyle was signed yesterday by the team and this will be his only appearance for New York.
1911-Yankees 3B Roy Hartzell acquired from the St. Louis Browns in January for 3B Jimmy Austin and INF Frank LaPorte, has an MLB career day as the Yankees cleanup hitter. He hits a 3-run double and another double in 1 inning. Then he piles on with a sacrifice fly and Grand Slam HR to drive in a total of 8 runs. It is an AL record until Jimmie Foxx's 9 RBI in a game in 1933. Yankees defeated the Browns by a score of 12-2.
1912-In the Yankees 4-1 win over the St. Louis Browns, Bronx Starter Jack Warhop swipes home in the 3rd inning. It is Warhop’s 2nd steal of home plate in 3 seasons.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 137th MLB career HR, passing 19th-century MLB star Roger Connor's MLB record of 136 HRs.
1934-Tigers Starter “Schoolboy” Rowe fans 11 Yankees batters in a 4-2 win that puts the Tigers back in 1st place in the AL.
1943-An Armed Forces All-Star team managed by Yankees HOF Babe Ruth, featuring MLB Players Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams play a fund-raising game against the Braves in Boston. Ruth pinch-hits in the 8th inning and flies out to right field. The All-Stars win on a Splendid Splinter HR by the score of 9-8.
1949-The 1949 MLB All-Star Game was played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, in front of a crowd of 32,577 fans. The American League won the 16th midsummer classic by a score of 11-7. The only Yankees All-Starter was OF Joe DiMaggio. On the AL squad were the following Yankee players: Pitchers Vic Raschi and Allie Reynolds and OF/1B Tommy Henrich. Vic Raschi would appear in the game. The winning AL pitcher was Tigers starter Virgil Trucks, meanwhile Dodgers Don Newcombe was the loser for the NL team. The contest marks the 1st appearance of black players in an All-Star Game: Dodger players: Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe in the NL lineup and Indians Larry Doby among the AL stars.
1951-At Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium in the 1st game of a doubleheader, Yankees Starter Allie “Super Chief” Reynolds No-hits the Indians by a score of 1-0 for the 1st of his 2 No-hitters of the 1951 AL season. Yankees OF Gene Woodling's 7th inning HR off of Tribe Starter Bob Feller is the difference in the 1-0 game. The Chief's no-hitter is the 1st by a Yankees pitcher since Monte Pearson in 1938. The night before this game, Yankees Manager Casey Stengel was asked why by the Cleveland sports media, why he refused the Yankee bullpen pitchers to ride in golf carts on their way in from the visiting team’s bullpen. Casey Stengel replied, “that Yankees only ride in Cadillac’s,” whereupon the Indians GM Hank Greenberg had a Cadillac placed in the Yankees bullpen for the next game. Obviously, it went unused with Allie Reynolds throwing a No-Hitter. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader, the Yankees win behind Starter Vic Raschi as Joe DiMaggio cinches it with a 3-run HR off of Tribe P Chuck Stobbs.
1955-In the 1955 MLB All-Star Game is played at County Stadium in Milwaukee, the AL squad takes a 5-run lead on a 3-run HR by Mickey Mantle off of Phillies hurler Robin Roberts, only to see the NL squad tie it. Braves Pitcher Gene Conley strikes out the side in the 12th inning. Cardinals All-Star Stan Musial comes to bat in the bottom of 12th inning of a 5-5 All-Star deadlock. AL Catcher Yankees Yogi Berra complains about his feet hurting, Musial tells him "Don't worry, I'll have you home in a minute" then “Stan the Man” hits a game-winning HR on the next pitch.
1959-NBC-TV uses outfield TV cameras with 80-inch lenses to show the catchers' signals during a Yankee-Red Sox game. MLB Commissioner Ford Frick requests that they halt its use. It doesn't help Yankees, who drop their last 4 games to the Red Sox, who wins today’s game by a score of 7-3.
1967-The 1967 Mayor’s Trophy game is held at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 31,5852 fans watched the Mets shutout the Yankees by the score of 4-0. Mets would use 4 veteran hurlers: Don Cardwell, Dennis Bennett, Bob Shaw and Jack Lamabe combined for a 5-hitter against the Bronx Bombers. Bronx Pitcher Cecil Perkins had started the game and took the lost.
1968-The Giants had traded veteran hurler Lindy McDaniel to the Yankees for MLB veteran Starter Bill Monbouquette. Lindy McDaniel would pitch effectively 3 of 5 seasons as a Yankees Relief Pitcher, including a 9-5 record with 25-saves season in 1970. He would post a 38-29 record with 58 saves as a Yankees Reliever. On December 7,1973, he was traded to the Royals for OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright. Bill Monbouquette was at the end of his fine MLB pitching career, which started with the Red Sox in the 1950’s, then he pitched for the Tigers during the mid-1960’s, before joining the Yankees in 1967. For the 1967-1968 Yankees, he had an 11-12 record with a 3.19 ERA in 50 games.
1977-Bronx 2B Willie Randolph hits the game-winning HR as Yankees Starter Don Gullett pitches the Bronx Bombers to a 5-2 win over the Brewers. The win stops the Yankees losing streak at 3 games.
1987-The Yankees would trade MLB Pitcher Bob Tewksbury along with 2 Minor League Pitchers: Rich Scheid and Dean Wilkins to the Cubs for MLB Starter Steve Trout, who has just pitched back-to-back shutouts for the Cubs. A major disappointment for the Yankees, Steve post a 0-4 record with a 6.60 ERA in 14 games. On December 22,1987, Trout was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve OF Henry Cotto to the Mariners for 3 Pitchers: Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker and Wade Taylor.
1989-Former Yankees 1978 Cy Young Winner Ron “Gator” Guidry retires from MLB baseball. During his 14-year MLB pitching career with the 1975-1988 Yankees, “Louisiana Lightning” compiles a 170-91 pitching record with a 3.29 ERA in 368 games. The Gator is most remembered for his 1978 AL season performance, when he posted a 25-3 record with a WP .893 along with a 1.74 ERA; winning the AL Cy Young Award and the 1978 AL The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award. In the World Series play with the Yankees, Ron went 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 4 games. In AL post-season series play, Ron was 2-1 in 4 games. Guidry won the AL Golden Glove for Pitchers from 1982-1987. He was selected to the AL All-Star team 4 times during his MLB pitching career. In 1984, Ron Guidry was the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award. He later became a Yankees MLB Pitching Coach. Later, Ron would write a baseball book about his Yankees spring training camp driving experiences with Yankees Hall of Fame Catcher Yogi Berra.
1990-The White Sox Starter Melido Perez pitches a rain-shortened 6-inning no-hitter over the Yankees, as the White Sox win the game by a score of 8-0. His brother, Pascual is watching the game on the Yankees bench. This is the 7th no-hitter of the 1990 MLB season, the most since 1917 MLB season. Lance Johnson makes a diving over the shoulder catch in the 5th inning to save a hit; also, he belts out a 3-run HR for the White Sox.
1990-Current Yankees Minor League Reliever Chasen Shreve (2015-2018) was born.
On June 8, 2010, Pitcher Chasen Shreve was drafted by the Braves in the11th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had appeared in 15 games for the 2014 Braves with no record. On January 1, 2015, he was traded by the Braves along with P David Carpenter to the Yankees for Minor League P Manny Banuelos. As a Yankees Reliever, Chasen had posted a 14-6 record with a 3.92 ERA with 2 saves in 180 games. On July 29, 2018, Chasen was traded by the Yankees with along P Giovanny Gallegos to the Cardinals for 1B Luke Voit and International Bonus Slot Money. At the time of the trade, Shreve had a 2-2 record with a 4.26 ERA and 1 save in 40 games with the Yankees. With the 2018 Cardinals, he went 1-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 20 games. In 2022, he had signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees, but he did not appear at the MLB level with the team. After the season, the club would granted him MLB Free Agency. In June of 2024, Chasen would sign a minor league deal with the Yankees, he is currently pitching for AAA Scranton.
1999-Current Yankees Catcher Austin Wells (2024) was born.
Catcher Austin Wells was selected by the Yankees with the #28 pick in the 1st round of the 2020 MLB Amateur Player Draft, out of the Univ. of Arizona. Two years earlier, he had been drafted by the same Yankees in the 35th round of the 2018 amateur draft after graduating from High School, but he chose to go on to college. At Arizona, he would hit .353 as a freshman in 2019 and .375 in 2020 before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would make his pro debut in 2021 with the Class A Tampa Tarpons (Low-SE). Wells was promoted to the Hudson Valley Renegades (High-East) before the end of the year. In a combined 103 games, he had hit .264 with 16 HRs and 76 RBIs and was named an organizational All-Star. Then he would play in the AZL after the season. In 2022, he started the year at Hudson Valley, went down briefly to Tampa after an injury, then he would finished the season with the Somerset Patriots in the AA Eastern League. In 92 games, he had hit .277 with 20 HRs and 65 RBIs and was again named an organization All-Star. He was a non-roster invitee to the 2023 Yankees' MLB spring training in 2023. In 2024, he would make the Yankees 26-man MLB roster as a Reserve Catcher.
2000-In a 6-player deal, the Reds had traded veteran MLB Starter Denny Neagle, who was 8-2 with a 3.52 ERA and Reserve OF Mike Frank to the Yankees for 4 Minor Leaguer Players: 3BProspect Drew Henson, OF Jackson Melian, Pitchers Brian Reith and Ed Yarnall. None of the players received by the Reds did anything of value at the MLB level. Within a year, 3B Prospect Drew Henson would be traded back to the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, MLB Coach and Yankees Broadcast Announcer Robert “Bobby” Murcer (1965-1966,1969-1974,1979-1983) passes away from Cancer. (1946-2008)
Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, but he still had a very good MLB playing career with the Yankees. He made the AL All-Star team in 1971-1974. He would win a AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best Yankees season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331 with 25 HRs and 94 RBIs. Overall, Bobby had appeared in 1,256 games with the Yankees, while hitting .278 with 175 HRs and 687 RBIs. In the winter of 1974, he was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner had promised him that he would be always a Yankee player, as long as he owned the team. Bobby was unhappy during his time with the Giants, he hated playing at Candlestick Park with the bad weather and strong winds blowing in the outfield. In February of 1977, Giants would trade him to the Cubs for 3B Bill Madlock. At Wrigley Field, the Cubs fans liked Bobby as a player; he enjoyed playing daytime baseball in Chicago. During the 1979 MLB season, Bobby would return to the Yankees, coming from the Cubs in a trade for Minor League P Pete Semall. He would appear in 1 World Series with the 1981 Yankees with no hits. After finishing out his Yankee playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees Radio-Television announcer. His overall MLB playing career record was a career .277 BA, finishing with 252 HRs and 1,043 RBIs.
2008-In a 9-4 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees Alex Rodriguez hits his 537th MLB career HR passing Yankees HOF OF Mickey Mantle on the All-Time MLB Career HR list. Already this season, A-Rod has passed Hall of Fame Sluggers Ted Williams, Willie Mc Covey, Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle. Next up on the list is former Phillies HOF slugger Mike Schmidt who is 12th on list with 548 MLB career HRs. As a Yankee player, A-Rod has hit 192 HRs. Also, in the game, Yankees Captain Derek Jeter hit his 200 MLB career HR for the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Schaeffer (1952) had passed away.(1924-2008)
Harry Schaeffer had served in the Navy during World War II. The 22-year-old left-hander would return just in time to put together a 12-6 record with the 1946 Class D Stroudsburg Poconos (NAL). Harry was obtained by the Yankees organization from Stroudsburg as part of a Minor League working agreement before the start of the 1947 baseball season. He would spend time his playing time until 1952 in the Minors, working his way up the ladder in the Yankees farm system. One of his good seasons came in 1948 with the Class B Manchester Yankees (NEL), when he forged a league-leading 2.33 ERA and put together a 12-9 record; while pitching 209 innings, plus making the All-Star team. Harry went all-out for the 1951 Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL), when he went 19-9 with a 2.59 ERA; while pitching 261 innings, opening the door for his 1st trip to Yankee Stadium. Schaeffer's MLB pitching career began and ended in 1952, when he lost his only decision in 5 games for the Yankees. Harry would spend the rest of 1952 season splitting time with the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) and the AAA Oakland Oaks (PCL) putting together a combined 7-5 record with a 3.07 ERA for the season. The left-hander would spend 2 more seasons in the high Minor Leagues, spending 1953 season with the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), while winning 11 games. Harry finished up his Minor League pitching career in 1954, pitching for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (AA) and the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL). Harry would end his 9-season run with an 84-67 record with a 3.32 ERA, while pitching 1,241 innings in 248 games.
July 13th
1889-Former Yankees and HOF Pitcher Stan “The Silent Pole” Coveleski (1928) was born. (1899-1984)
Stan Coveleski would finish his long MLB Pitching career with the 1928 Yankees by going 5-1 with a 5.74 ERA in 12 games. He didn’t appear in the 1928 World Series against the Cardinals for the Yankees. Stan had finished his 14-season MLB Pitching career posting a 215-142 record with a 2.89 ERA and 11 saves in 450 games. He had pitched for the A’s, Indians, Senators and the Yankees. He had won 20 games or more in 5 seasons in the AL. He had appeared in 2 World Series (1920 Indians and 1924 Senators), while posting a 3-2 record in 5 games. In 1969, the Veteran’s Committee will elect him to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1905-The Philadelphia Athletics would "sell" Catcher Mike "Doc" Powers to the Highlanders. Powers will be sold back to the Athletics on August 7th. As noted by Lyle Spatz, Powers was needed to replace back-up Catcher Red Kleinow, who was injured yesterday in a game with the Tigers. Powers will play mainly at 1B, replacing starting 1B Hal Chase, whose nose was broken in the Tigers game.
1919-Red Sox “Submarine” Starter Carl Mays quits the mound after 2 innings at Chicago, blaming his Boston teammates for lack of support a-field. In defiance of Ban Johnson's order that no action be taken until Carl Mays is returned to good standing. Red Sox Manager Edward Barrow trades Mays to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers Bob McGraw and Allen Russell with $40,000 Cash on July 29,1919. AL President Ban Johnson suspends Carl Mays indefinitely and orders AL umpires not to let him pitch for New York. The Yankees would get a court order restraining Ban Johnson from interfering, further eroding Johnson's authority and standing. The AL Directors will reinstate Carl Mays. In retaliation, on October 29th the National Commission will refuse to recognize the Yankees' 3rd-place finish, they will withhold the players' share of the pool. New York's Co-Team Owners Jacob Ruppert and Col. Huston will pay the players shares out of their own pockets.
1920-The fans are flocking to see the mighty Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hit HRs (12 HRs in June). A twin bill with the St. Louis Browns draws a Polo Grounds attendance record of 38,823 fans, the 3rd record-breaker of the 1920 AL season. The Browns take the 1st game by the score of 6-4. Browns Starter Urban Shocker throws a complete game, while picking up his 12th victory of the season. Bronx Starter Rip Collins take the lost, he is now 5-3 for the season. In the 2nd game the Bombers bounce back to a 7-2 win, as Yankees Starter George Mogridge throws a complete game victory to even his pitching record to 4-4. Also, Browns Starter Weilman throws a complete game, the loss drops his pitching record to 6-6. Oddly there are no HRs hit by either team during the twin-bill.
1920-Former Yankees Pitcher Frank “Dutch” Hiller (1946,1948-1949) was born. (1920-1987)
Before the start of the 1943 AL season, the Yankees had signed 22-yearold Frank “Dutch” Hiller as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. "Dutch" as he was sometimes called was out of Lafayette College in PA, where he starred on the mound with a 22-2 record, he also had played College Football and Basketball. He would start out his pro baseball career with his hometown AA Newark Bears (IL). He would win a total of 39 games for the 1943-1945 AA Bears. After a short trial with the 1946 Yankees, he had posted a 0-2 record with a 4.76 ERA in 3 games. "Dutch" was a 15-game winner with the 1947 AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) before heading back to Yankee Stadium, going 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA in 22 games for the 1948 Yankees. He was back in the Bronx in 1949, going 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 4 appearances, he would finish out the 1949 season with the AAA Blues again with an 11-8 record with a 5.79 ERA. Overall, Frank had posted a 5-6 pitching career record for the Yankees, while appearing in 29 games. On February 10,1950, Dutch was purchased by the Cubs from the Yankees. Dutch would proceed to have his best MLB career season by going 12-5 for the 1950 Cubs, but he fell to a 6-12 mark for the 1951 NL season. On January 3,1952, Frank was traded by the Cubs to the Reds for P Willie Ramsdell. Hiller would spend the season with the 1952 Reds, while posting a 5-8 record with a 4.63 ERA. At the end of the 1952 NL season the Reds would deal him to the Giants for OF Gail Henly. He would pitch 19 innings for the 1953 Giants, while posting a 2-1 record with a 6.15 ERA in 19 games; this would be the end of his 7-season MLB pitching career. He would finish out his MLB pitching career with a 30-32 record with a 4.42 ERA in 138 games. "Dutch," who is now at age of 33 would give it 1 more shot with the 1954 AAA San Francisco Seals (PCL). He would finish out his 8 seasons in the Minor Leagues with an 82-54 record and a 3.18 ERA.
1923-Yankees veteran Starter Bob Shawkey hits a triple and double in the 3rd inning, tying an AL record for most extra-base hits by a pitcher in 1 inning. As the Yankees downed Connie Mack’s Athletics by a score of 10-6.
1927-Former Yankees Minor League P Ruben Gomez was born. (1927-2004)
On December 3,1951, hurler Ruben Gomez was drafted by the Yankees from St. Jean (Provincial League; Canada) in the 1951 MLB Minor League Player Draft. Ruben would never pitch for the Yankees at the MBL level. When Yankees GM George Weiss decided that Elston Howard was going to be the 1st black Yankee MLB player, he released or traded away the other Minority players in the Yankees Minor League system. In June of 1952, Ruben Gomez was released by the Yankees organization. In spring of 1953, the Giants would sign him. In 1954, he would win 17 games for the NL Champion Giants. He would win 1 game in the 1954 World Series against the Indians. In 1957, Ruben will win 15 games for the Giants in their last season at the Polo Grounds. In 1958, Ruben won the 1st MLB game played at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, beating their long-time rivals the Dodgers by the score of 8-0. In 1959, the Giants would trade Gomez to the Phillies. In 1962-1963, he would later pitch for the Indians and Twins. He will spend the next couple of seasons in the Minor Leagues before coming back to the MLB in 1967 with the Phillies for 7 games with no record. In 10 MLB seasons, Ruben had posted a 76-86 record.
1934-In front of 20,000 fans during the 3rd inning at Navin Field in Detroit, Bronx veteran Slugger Babe Ruth wallops a Tommy Bridges' 3-2 pitch far over the RF wall for his 700th MLB career HR. The 4-2 Yankee victory over the Tigers put the Bronx Bombers back into 1st place, but Yankees’ veteran 1B Lou Gehrig is helped off the field in the 1st inning with a severe bout of lumbago.
1934-Former Yankees Reserve OF Ken Hunt (1959-1960) was born. (1934-1997)
In 1952, the Yankees had signed OF Ken Hunt as an MLB Free Agent. He would appear in only 32 games with the 1959-1960 Yankees, while batting .303 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. He was unable to crack the regular starting Yankee outfield (Maris, Mantle and Lopez-Berra). In December of 1960, Ken was selected by the Angels in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft (Angels and the “new” Senators). Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel, who helped the Angels Front office with scouting reports on players available, recommended him to the Angels front office. Ken would hit 25 HRs with 70 RBIs in 149 games, while hitting .255 for the 1961 Angels. In 1962, he broke his collarbone only appearing in 13 games for the team, while hitting just .182. In 1963, Ken appeared in 52 games, while hitting just .183 for the Angles. On September 12,1963, he was sold to the Senators; he appeared in only 7 games with them, while hitting .200. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1964 Senators appearing in 51 games, hitting only .135 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs. Then he played in the Senators Minor League system until April 2,1966, when they traded him to the White Sox for hurler Bob Humphreys. He did not appear at the MLB level with the White Sox. Overall, Ken had appeared in 310 MLB games, while hitting .226 with 33 HRs and 111 RBIs. Ken was a close friend of former Yankees’ teammate OF Roger Maris. They are both buried next to each other in the same cemetery in Fargo, ND.
1940-Former Yankees Reliever Jack “Chief” Aker (1969-1972) was born.
The Yankees had obtained veteran Reliever Jack Aker from the Seattle Pilots for Pitcher Fred Talbot during the 1969 AL season. Working out of the Yankees bullpen, Jack would post a 16-10 record with a 2.23 ERA and 59 saves in 126 games. On May 17,1972, he was sent by the Yankees to the Cubs to complete an earlier deal made on January 20,1972. The Yankees would send a Player to be Named Later to the Cubs for veteran OF Johnny Callison. The Yankees would send Reliever Jack Aker on May 17,1972 to the Cubs to complete the trade. Overall, Jack went 47-45 with a 3.28 ERA in 495 games with 123 saves. Jack was originally signed by the Kansas City A’s. He had pitched for the A’s, Pilots, Yankees, Cubs, Braves and the Mets during his MLB pitching career (1964-1974). After his playing career ended, Aker was a Minor League Manager and an Indians MLB Coach in 1986-1987. He currently runs a baseball camp in the NY/NJ area. He was nicknamed "Chief" because of his American Indian heritage. He also offers free baseball clinics to Native American youth in the southwest U.S.
1940-In the 1st game of doubleheader, Yankees All-Star OF Joe DiMaggio drives in 7 runs during the Yankees 10-4 win against the St. Louis Browns. DiMaggio had 4 hits in that game, 2 HRs and 2 singles. In the 2nd game, the Yankee Clipper adds a 2-run HR, to finish the day with 9 runs batted in and help the Yankees complete a sweep of the Browns by a score of 12-6.
1943-The AL squad edges the NL team by the score of 5-3 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia in the 1st MLB All-Star Game played under the lights. A crowd of 31,938 baseball fans watched the Mid-season Classic. Red Sox INF Bobby Doerr is the AL hitting hero with a 3-run HR off of Cardinals P Mort Cooper in the 2nd inning. Pirates 1B Vince DiMaggio has a single, triple and HR in 3 trips. Doerr also handles 6 fielding chances. At the All-Star break, he had handled 307 errorless chances, dating back to May 20th. His streak will end at 349 chances, a record that he will break in 1948. The game is broadcast to GIs via shortwave radio. There are no Yankees in the AL All-Star starting line-up, but Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy has the following Bombers in reserve, 2B Joe Gordon, Catchers Bill Dickey and Buddy Rosar, Outfielders Charlie Keller and Johnny Lindell. Yankee Starters Spud Chandler and Tiny Bonham are on the AL Pitching staff, but they are not used in the game.
1947-Making his 14th MLB team uniform switch, veteran MLB hurler Bobo Newsom joins the Yankees. His 7-5 pitching record with a 2.80 ERA in 17 games for the rest of the 1947 AL season will help the Yankees to win the AL flag. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers, losing 1 game as a Starter, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings of work. For the 1948 MLB season, Bobo Newsom will join the Giants.
1948-A crowd of 34,009 fans watches the 1948 MLB All-Star game being played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Yankees Starter Vic Raschi drives in the winning runs with a bases-loaded single in the 4th inning. He is the winning pitcher as the AL squad again tops the NL team by the score of 5-2. AL All-Stars Red Sox OF Ted Williams, Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio, Detroit 3B George Kell and Starter Hal Newhouser would miss starting in the AL lineup due to injuries. Yankees have 3 players in the AL starting line-up, OF Tommy Henrich, 1B George McQuinn and Catcher Buddy Rosar. Yankees Manager Bucky Harris has young Catcher Yogi Berra in reserve. Meanwhile Yankees Closer Joe Page is on the AL team pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game.
1951-Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle strikes out 3 times in a game against the Indians. A crowd of 45,097 fans at Cleveland watched the Tribe beat the Bronx Bombers by the score of 11-8. Indians Starter Bob Lemon picks-up his 9th win, while Yankees Reliever Spec Shea drops to a 2-5 record. Yankees get HRs by Joe Collins and Gil McDougald, while the Tribe get HRs from Jim Hegan and Al Rosen.
1952-Bronx Starter Vic Raschi gives up only 1 Detroit hit as the Yankees rout the Tigers by the score of 11-1 in the 1st game of a doubleheader. The Yankees win the 2nd game by a score of 12-2.
1956-Former Yankees Reliever Bill Caudill (1982) was born.
On April 1,1982, Reliever Bill Caudill was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 19,1981. The Cubs would send Players to be Named Later to the Yankees for Minor League INF Pat Tabler. Bill had a very short career with the Yankees, less than 1 day. On April 1,1982, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later and Rookie Starter Gene Nelson to the Mariners for MLB Starter Shane Rawley. On April 6,1982, the Yankees would send Reserve OF Bobby Brown to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1959-The Red Sox would sweep their 5-game series with Yankees with a13-3 rout featuring a big 6th inning. Gene Stephens pinch-runs for Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams, when the Red Sox bat around; then he hits a Grand Slam HR.
1960-The Yankees host the 29th MLB All-Star game with AL squad losing to the NL team by a score of 6-0. Yankees Starter Whitey Ford is the losing pitcher, while Pirates Starter Veron Law is the winner for the NL. The Mid-Season Classic only draws a disappointing crowd of only 38,362 fans to Yankee Stadium. The following Yankees were on the 1960 AL All-Star team, Catcher Yogi Berra, Pitcher Whitey Ford, CF Mickey Mantle, RF Roger Maris,1B Bill Skowron and 2 Reserve Players; Pitcher Jim Coates and Catcher Elston Howard. White Sox Manager Al Lopez managed the 1960 AL squad facing the NL team, who were led by Dodger’s Walt Alston.
1961-White Sox veteran Starter Early Wynn gets an early departure as he retires just 2 Yankees batters in the 1st inning. Then Mickey Mantle (30th) and Roger Maris (34th) belt back-to-back HRs to sending the veteran pitcher to an early shower. For Slugger Mickey Mantle, it is the 13th HR in his MLB player career off of Early Wynn, his favorite target. The Yankees win the game by a score of 6-2.
1964-In Cleveland, the Bronx Bombers would hit 4 HRs to top the Tribe by a score of 10-4. Yankees Starter Roland Sheldon pitches a complete game, while giving up only 6 Indian hits and 4 runs. The Yankees 4-HRs were hit by: Clete Boyer 1 HR (2-run), Tom Tresh 2-HRs, (2-run HRs) and a solo HR shot by Mickey Mantle.
1973-Yankees CF Bobby Murcer hits 3 HRs, all off of Royals Starter Gene Garber, as he knocks in all the runs in the Yankees' 5-0 win over the Royals. Yankees veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre scatters 6 Royals hits in racking up his 39th shutout of his Yankees pitching career. Murcer will not hit another HR for the Yankees until August 19th.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Kei Igawa (2007-2008) was born.
On November 28, 2006, the Yankees won the bidding for Pitcher Kei Igawa, when the Hanshin Tigers accepted their offer of about $26 million. The Mets bid about $15 million for Igawa. Kei signed for a 5-year, $20 million deal. Igawa got married early in 2007, a fact that was revealed to the media by Yankees' Minor League Pitching Coach Bill Connors, before Kei could notify anyone. He made his MLB pitching debut as the starting pitcher against the Orioles on April 7, 2007, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings. Igawa was involved in 2 unusual records early in 2007. When he joined Sean Henn and Chase Wright in picking up wins in 1 sweep, it became the 1st time in MLB history that 3 pitchers got their 1st MLB win as part of a 3-game sweep. Later, when Philip Hughes joined Igawa and Wright in making his MLB pitching debut, they became the 1st trio of starting pitchers in 52 years to all make their debuts in the season's 1st 20 games. The prior trio had been Larry Jackson, Luis Arroyo and Floyd Wooldridge (1955 Cardinals). Igawa was 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA in his 1st 6 MLB games for the Yankees before he was demoted to the minors. He went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 2 games for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), and then he was moved up to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), posting a 2-2, record with a 2.80 ERA before returning to the Bronx. Igawa's record for the 2007 Yankees was a 2-3 mark with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games, when he returned to Scranton, where he was 5-4, with a 3.69 ERA overall. He would pitch 2 games for the 2008 Yankees, including 1 start, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. He would spend the rest of the 2008 season with Scranton, where he pitched very well, going 14-6, while posting a 3.45 ERA in 26 games with 117 strikeouts in 156.1 innings. In 2009, he fell back to 10-8 record with a 4.15 ERA, as he spent the entire season as a starter with Scranton. He was back for a 3rd full season in AAA in 2010, but he fell back again, this time posting a record of 3-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 22 games, 10 of them starts; he pitched only 77 innings that season. He was in the 2011 Yankees' MLB spring training camp, starting the last season on his 5-year contract with the Yankees, when a major earthquake hit Japan on March 11th. Igawa's native region was among the most affected. He would obtain permission from the Yankees front office to return home the next day in order to look after close relatives. Igawa would spend most of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) going 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 games (6 starts). Also, he made 4 starts at AAA Scranton, finishing with a 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA. Igawa would finish his 5-year contract with the Yankees with only 2 wins at the MLB level and 36 wins in the Minor Leagues. The team would grant him MLB Free Agency. In 2012, Igawa returned to Japan to pitch by signing with the Orix Buffaloes.
1984-The Yankees retired former players Roger Maris (#9) and Elston Howard (#32) Yankee uniform numbers. The team also erects plaques in their honor to pay tribute to their achievements as Bronx Bombers. Roger Maris had broken Babe Ruth’s HR Record of 60 HRs with 61 HRs in 1961. He had won back-to-back AL MVP Awards in 1960-1961. Elston Howard was the Yankees 1st black MLB player in 1955, he would play with the team from 1955 to August 3, 1967, when he was traded to the Red Sox. In 1963, he was the 1st Black player to win the AL MVP Award. In the fall of 1969, Howard became the 1st Yankees Black MLB Coach, a position that he held until his death in 1980.
1988-Yankees Current INF DJ LeMahieu (2019-2024) was born.
Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu was selected by the Tigers in the 41st round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he opted to attend college instead. At LSU, he played in the College World Series in 2008 and 2009. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team in the latter season as his team won the championship. He was then chosen by the Cubs in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He reached the MLB with the club 2 summers later. As a Rookie with the Cubs in 2011, D.J. played 37 games, going 15 for 60 with a pair of doubles. He was however victim of a logjam in the Cubs' middle infield, with Starlin Castro having established himself as a budding star at Shortstop, and Darwin Barney and Blake DeWitt both doing well at 2nd base. As a result, the Cubs decided that he was expendable, and on December 8th, he was traded to the Rockies along with Tyler Colvin in return for Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers. With incumbent 2B Mark Ellis having left the Rockies as a MLB Free Agent, LeMahieu stood a good chance to become a regular in Denver in 2012. He did not claim the job immediately, making a couple of stints with the AAA Colorado Springs SkySox (PCL) but his solid hitting when he was given a chance to play meant that his playing time increased as the season went along. On August 28th, however, it was his glove that put him in the record books, as he recorded 12 assists in a 9-inning game - an 8-4 win over the Dodgers - to tie a record held by several players, most recently Harold Reynolds of the Mariners in 1986¬. He hit .297 in 81 games that season, then in 2013, DJ hit .280 in 109 games. He was a full-time starter at 2B in 2014, when he played 149 games for the Rockies and hit .267 with 5 HRs and 42 RBIs. His glove was the best part of his game, as he was voted recipient of the Gold Glove as the NL's best-fielding 2B that season. However, in spite of his defensive prowess, his offense over his 1st 3 seasons with Colorado left something to be desired, as his limited power and few walks resulted on OPS+ numbers of 88, 74 and 76 over the 3 years.
In 2015, he was an NL All-Star for the 1st time as he played 150 games, while hitting .301 with 6 HRs and 61 RBIs, while scoring 85 runs. However, in 2016, there was no denying that he was a solid offensive player, as he won the NL Batting Title with a .348 BA. He had scored 104 runs and hit 32 doubles, 8 triples, 11 HRs with 66 RBIs. In 2017, he was back in the All-Star Game, although his season was clearly not as good. In 155 games, he had hit .310 with 8 HRs and 64 RBIs, scoring 95 runs. He won his 2nd Gold Glove at 2B, and also played in the postseason for the 1st time as Rockies made it to the NLWC Game against the Diamondbacks. He went 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts. In 2018, the Rockies had one of their best seasons, almost winning the NL West title - they played and lost a 1-game playoff against the Dodgers, after being tied at the end of 162 games - and he hit .276 in 128 games. He had scored 90 runs and his 32 doubles and 15 HRs were both MLB career highs. Also, he repeated as a NL Gold Glove winner, but the relatively low batting average, normally the best part of his offensive game. In the postseason, he was 1 for 6 with a double as the Rockies defeated the Cubs in the NLWC Game. In the NLDs against the Brewers, he was 2 for 9 with 3 walks but he did not score or drive in a run in the 3 games.After the 2018 MLB season, DJ LeMahieu became an MLB Free Agent. On January 11, 2019, he signed a 2-year contract with the Yankees worth $24 million. The Yankees were heading into the 2019 AL season knowing that Shortstop Didi Gregorius would miss at least the 1st half after having Tommy John surgery, so their plan was likely to have D.J. play 2nd, with 2nd-year player Gleyber Torres sliding over to Shortstop. The Yankees had also signed veteran MLB Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the MLB minimum player contract, a few days before, but this had been more akin to buying a lottery ticket. Indeed, with young 3B Miguel Andujar and the veteran Tulowitzki, both going down with injuries within the 1st couple of weeks of the season.
D.J. became a regular, he got off to one of his best seasons. He was the AL Player of the Month for June, when he hit .395 with 6 HRs and 29 RBIs. Many commentators noted that he was clearly the circuit's MVP for the 1st half of the season. That was perhaps he was more responsible than anyone for the Yankees having overcome their slew of early-season injuries to build a comfortable lead atop the AL East. He was also voted as the starting 2B on the AL team at the 2019 All-Star Game. He would finish the 2019 AL season with a .327 BA, while hitting 26 HRs and 102 RBIs in 145 games for the Yankees. In the 2019 ALDS, he hit .286 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs in 3 games. In the 2019 ALCS, DJ will hit .346 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs in 6 games. He won an AL Silver Slugger Award for 2B. Given his batting line heavy in batting average, but light in extra-base hits and walks combined with excellent fielding gives him the profile of a prototypical middle infielder from another era. However, such players tend to be relatively short, but at 6' 4", LeMahieu is one of the tallest players to have played 2B on a regular basis in the MLB. In 2020, he would hit .364 with 10 HRs and RBIs in 50 games for the team. The Yankees had granted him MLB Free Agency, despite offers from other MLB clubs, D. J. decide to stay in the Bronx. On January 27, 2021, D.J. was signed as an MLB Free Agent for 6 years with the Yankees. In 2021, he would hit .268 with 10 HRs and 59 RBIs in 150 games. In 2022, D.J. would hit .261 with 12 HRs and 46 RBIs in 125 games and win a Golden Glove. In 2023, he would hit .243 with 15 HRs and 44 RBIs in 136 games.
1994-Former Reserve INF Yankees Jimmy Reese (1930-1931) had passed away.(1901-1994)
On August 12,1927, INF Jimmy Reese was traded by AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) along with INF Lyn Lary to the Yankees for $125,000 Cash. Debuting with the Yankees in 1930, Jimmy hit .346 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 77 games, while backing up Shortstop Tony Lazzeri. He was assigned as Babe Ruth's roommate and famously joked that in reality, he roomed with Ruth's suitcase. He said Ruth treated him "like a son." In 1931, Reese returned to earth, hitting just .241 with 3 HRs and 20 RBIs, while playing in 65 games for the team. He played with the 1930-1931 Yankees. His Yankees playing career totals were a .286 BA in 142 games. On November 12,1932, he became the Player to be Named Later in part of a deal to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for P Johnny Murphy and INF Jack Saltzgaver. Then in 1932, the Cardinals would pick him up on waivers. In February, 1933, Reese was purchased by the AA Los Angeles Angels (PCL) from the Cardinals ending his MLB playing career. After retiring as active player, he became a Coach and Manager in the Minor Leagues, mainly working in the Pacific Coast League. In 1973, he became the MLB Conditioning Coach for the Angels, a position that he held until his death in 1994. The Angels honored Jimmy for his long-time team service by retiring his uniform number.
2004-Yankees Manager Joe Torre manages the 2004 AL All-Star team to a 14-9 victory in the MLB All-Star Game played at Minute Maid Park in Houston, improving his MLB All-Star Team Manager record to 5-0-1 record. The following Yankees were on the 2004 All-Star Team, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez and Garry Sheffield, Pitchers; Javier Vazquez, Tom Gordon and Yankees Closer Mario Rivera, who close out the game. Former Yankees player, now a Texas Ranger 2B Alfonso Soriano was named the game’s MVP.
2005-Former MLB Player, Yankees Minor League Manager and Special Spring Training Instructor Mickey Owen had passed away. (1916-2005)
Mickey Owen was a Catcher who played 13 years in the MLB, achieving prominence in the war years when he was an NL All-Star 4 times. He was 4th in the MVP voting in 1942. He appeared in the 1941 World Series batting usually 8th, but sometimes 7th in the Dodgers’ lineup. He is most famous for dropping a 3rd strike pitch from Dodgers’ P Hugh Casey to Yankees’ batter Tommy Henrich with 2 outs in the 9th inning of Game 4 of the World Series. Henrich reached 1st base and the Yankees scored 4 runs to turn a 4-3 loss into a 7-4 victory. After World War II, Owen defected to the Mexican League; he was banned by MLB for 3 seasons. Owen was unimpressive in the Liga, batting just .256 in 1946 for the Veracruz Blues; most of the other catchers in the League hit as well or better. He played in the MLB from 1937-1945, he returned to MLB in 1949 with the 1949-1951 Cubs. He finished out his MLB playing career with the 1954 Red Sox. Overall, he hit .255 with 14 HRs and 378 RBIs in 1,209 MLB games. He only hit .167 in 5 games in his only World Series appearance with the 1941 Dodgers. Once his active playing career ended, Owen was a Red Sox MLB Coach in 1955-1956. He was also a Minor League Manager (1953 and 1957) for the Yankees and the Braves organizations. Mickey was an MLB Scout for the 1958-1959 Orioles organization. Owen, also founded the Mickey Owen Baseball School for Boys in Miller, MO and a baseball academy, which he would sell in 1964.
2010-George Steinbrenner, Team Owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, passes away from a heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL. (1930-2010)
George Steinbrenner restored the New York Yankees to greatness during his team ownership (1973-2010), he spent lavishly on MLB Free Agents, fired 25 managers and front office personnel at a sometimes’ dizzying pace, but he saw the team win 7 World Series titles. In January of 1973, Cleveland, Ohio shipbuilder George Steinbrenner and a group of investors had acquired the New York Yankees from CBS, Inc. for 12 million dollars. He rebuilds the Yankees farm system that had fallen into disrepair under the CBS ownership to provide new young talent for the team. He had many run-ins with the MLB Commissioner’s office, over player trades, the umpires’ performances, including a ban from the running the team in the early 1990’s, which yield the rebuilding of the team with a core of 4 young players, that help the Yankees regained their World Champion status. Also, George feuded with Baseball’s Hall of Fame over ignoring past Yankees players like Shortstop Phil Rizzuto, keeping the Yankees out of the annual Hall of Fame game at Cooperstown, NY. He would build his own version of a Baseball Hall of Fame at Yankee Stadium, Monument Park. He had relinquished the team's operations to his son, Hal Steinbrenner as his health deteriorated badly in 2008.
2012-Yankees Catcher Russell Martin guns down Angels base runner Howie Kendrick on a steal attempt at 2nd base to preserve the Yankees' 6-5 win over the Angels to begin the 2012 season's 2nd half. It is the 3rd Angels base runner that Martin catches in a steal attempt tonight. Also, he also drives in the winning run in the 8th inning. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeria drives in the other 5 runs for the Yankees with a pair of HRs.
2017-The Yankees had acquired 1B Garrett Cooper from the Brewers in exchange for Pitcher Tyler Webb. Cooper was assigned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). Webb, 26,had made his MLB Pitching debut for the Yankees in 2017, posting a 4.50 ERA (6.0IP, 3H, 3ER, 4BB, 5K, 1HR) in 7 appearances. Cooper, 26, was batting .366 (102-for-279) with 64R, 29 doubles, 17 HRs, 82 RBIs and 33 BB in 75 games with the Brewers' AAA Colorado Springs team (PCL). At the All-Star break, he leads all AAA players in batting average and doubles, and ranks 2nd in the PCL in RBIs, on-base percentage (.428) and slugging (.652), is tied for 2nd in extra-base hits (46) and is 3rd in runs scored. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-3 with 1R and 1 RBI in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game. The situation was quite different in his new organization: the Yankees had just promoted AAA 1B Ji-Man Choi to the Bronx and had released veteran Chris Carter; 2 other Bronx 1B Greg Bird and Tyler Austin, were on the DL and as a result there was likely to be a lot opportunity for Garrett to prove his mettle, if he continued to swing the bat well. Indeed, after sending him to AAA, the Yankees immediately changed their minds and called him up to make his Bronx debut as the starting 1B against the Red Sox on July 14th. He went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. After going hitless in 2nd game as well, on July 16th, Cooper got his 1st MLB hit off of Red Sox Starter David Price, a double off the Fenway Park’s Green Monster. He went 6 for 25 (.240) in 8 games before being sent down to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL) on August 1st. However, he was called back less than a week later, when veteran DH Matt Holliday was placed on the DL. On August 9th, he had the 1st 4-hit game of his MLB playing career in an 11-5 win over the Blue Jays, raising his average to .364. On August 17th, he was placed on the DL with tendinitis in his left hamstring and did not play again that season, finishing the year at .326 with No HRs and 6 RBIs in 13 games for the Yankees. On November 20, 2017, he was traded by the Yankees to the Marlins along with Minor League P Caleb Smith in return for Minor League P Mike King and International Bonus Money.
July 7th
1884-Former Yankees INF/OF George Moriarty (1906-1908) was born. (1884-1964)
On August 8,1905, INF/OF George Moriarty was purchased by the Yankees from the AA Toledo Mud Hens (AA). He had briefly played in the MLB with the 1903-1904 Cubs. He will hit .249 in 290 games for the Yankees, while playing at 3B and then at 1B. On January 14,1909, George was purchased by the Tigers from the Yankees. With the 1909 Tigers, he became their starting 3rd baseman.
1903-In a game with the Highlanders, White Sox OF Danny Green is called out at 1B by Umpire John Sheridan and after returning to the Chicago bench, he continues to yell at the Umpire. Sheridan finally rushes the White Sox bench and hits Green with his mask, which in return Green belts the umpire. The Umpire is taken from the grounds by the police and locked up on charges of disorderly conduct. An hour later, he is released from Bronx jail after Highlander’s President Joseph Gordon posts his bail.
1904-Highlander Starter Jack Chesbro's winning streak of 14 games comes to an end as the Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 4-1. Happy Jack Chesbro will win 41 games this season to set an MLB Pitching record and Yankees team record. Newly acquired OF Kip Selbach drives in 3 runs for the Red Sox.
1915-Philadelphia A's Team Owner Connie Mack continues to dismantle his former AL Championship team by shipping front line Starter Bob Shawkey to the Yankees for $85,000 Cash. He would go on to win 186 games for the Yankees, before retiring as an active player.
1921-MLB-leading Slugger Babe Ruth brings the Yankees but apparently little else least of all his A-game to Forbes Field for an exhibition bout vs. the NL-leading Pirates. Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press is clearly not at all impressed: "Bambino Didn't Shine. Babe Ruth didn't have a batting average yesterday. His strikeout average was .500. The King of Swatters didn't look good against Carlson's pitching. He struck wide at several pitches and fanned twice. His other efforts were flies to Carey and Robertson. Rip Collins, the Yankee pitcher, witnessed the game from the press box. As Robertson captured Ruth's fly, he remarked: 'you can't make me believe that the NL ball is as lively as the AL sphere. If Ruth had cracked one like that in our league, the ball would have gone to kingdom come.' As a fielder, Ruth was a joke yesterday. Luckily for the Yankees, he didn't have many chances, but he surely looked slow and bad on those he had." One of those chances is Charlie Grimm's 2nd-inning triple, which bounces over Ruth's head, scoring the Pirates' 1st run and setting up the 2nd, which ties the contest at 2 all. One inning later, Dave Robertson unties it with a tape measure; 2-run HR blast and the Pirates never look back.
1936-The NL after having losing the 1st 3 All-Star Games, wins the game by the score of 4-3 played at Boston's Braves Field with 4 different Cub Players (Galan, Herman, Hartnett, and Demaree) scoring runs. The 1936 All-Star Game is played before a crowd of 25,556 fans. After NL Pitchers Cardinals Dizzy Dean and Giants Carl Hubbell, each pitch scoreless 3-inning stints, Curt Davis is hammered by the AL, including Lou Gehrig's HR, but then Lon Warneke shuts the door on the AL batting lineup. Meanwhile, the NL team is helped by the Yankees Rookie OF Joe DiMaggio's loose fielding and error and Augie Galan's HR. Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio is the 1st MLB Rookie to play in an MLB All-Star game. Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio are the only Yankees in the AL starting line-up. Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy has Catcher Bill Dickey, 3B Red Rolfe, OF George Selkirk, Shortstop Frank Crosetti, Pitchers Lefty Gomez and Monte Pearson on the AL All-Star team. Both Yankee Pitchers don’t appear in the game.
1936-Former Yankees Reliever (1963) and AL Umpire Bill Kunkel was born. (1936-1985)
For the 1963 Yankees, Reliever Bill Kunkel posted at 3-2 record with a 2.72 ERA and no saves in 22 games, while working out of their bullpen. Bill had previously pitched in the MLB for the Kansas City A’s. In the winter of 1962, he was drafted by the Yankees in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft from the Milwaukee Braves organization. His final MLB pitching record was 6-6 mark with a 4.29 ERA and 4 saves in 89 games. After retiring as an active MLB player, Bill became an Umpire. He would be last former MLB Player to become an MLB Umpire in 1968. Kunkel was an Umpire in the Florida State League in 1966. Then he moved to the Southern League in 1967-1968. Bill became an MLB Umpire in the AL in 1968. Twice during his MLB Umpire career, he took leaves from the game to undergo Cancer surgery and twice he returned. He had umpired in 2 World Series in 1974 and 1980 and worked in the 1972 and 1977 MLB All-Star Games, serving as Home Plate Umpire in the latter. He was the Father of former Rangers and White Sox Shortstop Jeff Kunkel (1984-1992). In 1985, Bill Kunkel would pass away from Cancer.
1937-With President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance, as a crowd of 31,391 fans watched the AL squad beat defeat the NL team by the score 8-3 at the 1937 MLB All-Star game being played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs with a HR and a double to lead the AL team to an 8-3 victory over the NL squad in the 1937 MLB All-Star Game. Yankees Starter Lefty Gomez picks up the win, as AL hurlers Tommy Bridges and Mel Harder hold off the NL hitters. NL Starter Cardinals Dizzy Dean takes the loss. The AL Squad features the following Yankees Players: Catcher Bill Dickey, OF Joe DiMaggio, 1B Lou Gehrig, 3B Red Rolfe, Pitchers Lefty Gomez and Red Ruffing.
1940-Former Yankees Announcer John Gordon (1982-1986) was born.
John Gordon has been a longtime sports announcer. He was with the Spartanburg Phillies (1965-1969), Baltimore Orioles (1970-1973), Columbus Clippers (1977-1981), New York Yankees (1982-1986) and the Minnesota Twins (1987- ). In 2001, he was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame. He originally had attended Indiana Univ. on a baseball scholarship, but he quickly switched his focus to a Broadcast Journalism major and began working for WFIU, the university's radio station on football and basketball broadcasts. During a summer job at WSAM in Saginaw, MI, he adopted "John Gordon" as a professional name, although he kept his legal name of John Gutowsky. He then moved to a similar job for Central Michigan Univ. in Mount Pleasant, MI. He got his start doing baseball broadcasts in Spartanburg, when the team's General Manager, Pat Williams, a former minor league player, who had been his broadcasting partner at WFIU, needed an announcer for his team.
1948-The Indians stun the baseball world by signing Satchel Paige, a veteran Negro League Pitcher. The player signing is ridiculed by some as a Bill Veeck publicity stunt and A.G. Spink in The Sporting News editorializes, "Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity. To sign a hurler at Paige's age is to demean the standards of baseball in the big circuits." The 42-year-old Paige will answer the critics in tomorrow, getting a relief decision in an 8-6 win over Yankees in a DH sweep. He will finish the 1948 AL season with a 6-1 record with a 2.48 ERA and 1 save in 21 games. Paige is the oldest player to debut in the MLB, but not the 1st 40-year-old: Chuck Hostetler in 1944 was 40.
1951-At Fenway Park, the Yankees lose to Boston by a score of 10-4 with the Red Sox attack being led by Clyde Vollmer's Grand Slam HR in the 1st inning. Vollmer had a 2-run triple in yesterday's 6-2 win over the Bronx Bombers. Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle, a late inning defensive replacement, hits a 9th inning HR off of Red Sox Starter Ellis Kinder, who pitches a complete game for the 6-2 win.
1954-Former Yankees MLB Scout and Trainer Charles “Doc” Barrett had passed away. (1877-1954)
For over half a century, Charles "Doc" Barrett was a trainer, 1st at Williams College and then he was at Columbia Univ. Barrett was involved with many sports, but while at Williams, he did double duty as an MLB Scout for the Highlanders. He also trained the Highlanders from 1910-1914 by which time they had officially become known as the Yankees. It's no coincidence that 4 of the 9 Williams Ephmen who made it to the MLB appeared during this period, and that 3 of them – Bill Otis, George Davis and Tom Burr, who played for New York. It's also likely (although direct evidence is lacking) that Barrett signed Larry McClure out of Amherst College for the Yankees in 1910. Barrett later would scout for the Giants and the A’s. He made at least 1 notable signing for the A’s, INF "Whispering" Bill Barrett (no relation).
1966-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would score 2 runs to tie the Red Sox at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Then with 2 base runners on and 2 outs, Mickey Mantle breaks a 1-for-17 slump with a 3-run HR shot into the Yankee Stadium RF stands.
1968-Former Yankees 2B/OF Chuck Knoblauch (1998-2001) was born.
On February 6,1998, 2B Chuck Knoblauch was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for 4 Minor League Players: OF/1B Brian Buchanan, INF Christian Guzman, Pitchers Eric Milton, Danny Mota and Cash. Chuck spent 4 seasons with the Yankees, while hitting .272 with 49 HRS and 112 RBIs. He was switched from 2B to LF, when he had developed throwing problems at 2B. He was switched by the team to playing the Outfield. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 2002 Royals.
1970-Former Yankees OF Harry Wolter (1910-1913) had passed away.(1884-1970)
On January 18,1910, OF Harry Wolter was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox for $1,500. For the 1910-1913 Yankees, he had appeared in 396 games, while hitting .277 with 10 HRs and 122 RBIs. He would return to the Minors Leagues playing in the PCL during the 1914-1920 seasons. In 1917, Harry would return to the MLB for 1 season with the Cubs, playing in 117 games, while hitting .249 with No HRs and 29 RBIs. In 1926-1927, Harry was the Manager of the Class C Logan Collegians (UIL).
1970-Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning Grand Slam HR off of Yankees veteran Reliever Lindy McDaniel to give the Birds, a 6-2 win.
1977-The Yankees completes a 3-game sweep of Indians behind the 4-hit pitching of veteran AL All-Star Starter Catfish Hunter. The Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2.
1978-In the battle of the team pitching aces, the Brewers Mike Caldwell beats Yankees Ron Guidry by a score of 6-0. For Guidry (13-1), it is his 1st loss of the 1978 AL season. Caldwell had shut out the Yankees 9 days earlier, he will shut them out again on September 19th.
1982-Former Yankees INF “Jumping” Joe Dugan (1922-1928) had passed away.(1897-1982)
In July of 1917, INF Joe Dugan was signed by the Philadelphia A’s as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play for the Athletics from 1917 to 1922. On January 10, 1922, he was traded by Philadelphia to the Senators for P Jose Acosta, veteran OF Bing Miller and $50,000 Cash. On January 10, 1922, Joe was traded by the Senators along with INF Frank O'Rourke to the Red Sox for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh. On July 23,1922, INF Joe Dugan was traded by the Red Sox along with OF Elmer Smith to the Yankees for Outfielder’s Chick Fewster, Elmer Miller, INF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul and $50,000 Cash. He had replaced the aging veteran Frank “Home Run” Baker as the Yankees starting 3B. In 1922, Dugan would play in 60 games for the Yankees, while batting .286 with 3 HRs and 25 RBIs. In the 1922 World Series against the Giants, Dugan would hit .250 with 1 double. After joining the Yankees, Joe Dugan suffered with a "trick knee" that began to give him trouble. The knee would lock and interfere with his playing. In 1925, he had a very delicate operation and was in bed for 6 weeks of recovery. The Knee surgery had helped him, but Dugan never played without the knee acting up on occasion. In his last season of playing over 100 games, he was the 3rd baseman for the mighty 1927 Yankees team, considered by many to be the greatest MLB team of all-time. He would hit .269 with 2 HRs and 43 RBIs that season. He went 3 for 15 as the Yankees swept the Pirates in 4 games in the 1927 World Series. In 1928, Dugan would appear in only 94 games with the Yankees, while hitting .276 with 6 HRs and 34 RBIs. Joe had a Yankees playing career BA of .286, appearing in 785 games, while hitting 22 HRs with 320 RBIs. In 1923, he had led AL 3B in fielding. Joe would appear in 5 World Series with the Yankees (1922-1923,1926-1928), hitting .267 with 1 HR and 8 RBIs in 25 games. On December 24,1928, Joe Duggan was selected off waivers by the Braves from the Yankees. With the 1929 Braves, he would hit .304 in 60 games. After the 1929 NL season had ended, Dugan had retired from the game, but he came out of MLB retirement briefly to play 8 games with the Tigers in 1931. From 1955 to 1966, Joe Dugan was an MLB Scout for the Red Sox.
1983-Former Yankees Pitcher Brandon McCarthy (2014) was born.
Brandon McCarthy was one of the principal victims of the Diamondbacks' struggles early in the 2014 NL season, as he went 0-5 in April. That was in spite of setting a personal best mark with 12 strikeouts against the Phillies on April 27th, in a game he lost by the score of 2-0. He was at 3-10, with a 5.01 ERA after 18 starts on July 6th when he was traded to the Yankees in return for Minor League hurler Vidal Nuno, a couple of days after the Yankees learned that CC Sabathia was likely lost for the 2014 AL season because of a knee injury. His arrival gave the Yankees an immediate shot in the arm, as in his 1st 3 starts with the team, he was 2-0 with a 2.45. ERA. He then won his next 2 starts as well. On August 21st, he pitched a 4-hit shutout against the Astros walking none and striking out 9 batters, to improve his record to 5-2 since the trade. On September 17th, he pitched an immaculate inning - striking out the side on 9 pitches - in the course of defeating the Rays by the score of 3-2. He was only the 5th pitcher in Yankees’ history to accomplish the rare feat. He ended up with an excellent record of 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts for the 2014 Yankees, which gave him a combined mark of 10-15, with a 4.05 ERA. He had set personal bests for wins, starts (32), innings (200) and strikeouts (175). His very good 2nd half made him much sought-after pitcher, when he became an MLB Free Agent after the 2014 MLB season had ended. On December 16th, he would sign a 4-year deal with the Dodgers worth $48 million, to become the team's 4th starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.
1987-Former Yankees INF Vangervis Solarte (2014) was born.
Vangervis Solarte began his pro baseball career in the Twins Minor League system, but he never played for them at the MLB level. Following the 2011 season, he became an MLB Free Agent, signing with the Rangers. He was the main 2B for the 2012 AAA Round Rock Express (PCL), while hitting .288. Solarte led the PCL in double plays at 2B (93) and being the 2nd-hardest batter to fan in the league. Back with AAA Round Rock for 2013 season, he would hit .276 with 31 doubles and 75 RBIs. Following the 2013 AL season, the Rangers would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would sign with the Yankees organization as an MLB Free Agent with an invitation to MLB Spring Training camp. Solarte made the Yankees' 25-man roster out of 2014 MLB Spring Training Camp, beating Eduardo Nunez out of a Reserve INF job. He made his pinstripes player debut in the team's 2nd game of the season, pinch-hitting for 3B Kelly Johnson in the 7th inning with the Astros ahead by 2-0, with runners on 1st and 3rd with no outs. Facing Astros hurler Kevin Chapman, he grounded into a double play, scoring 1 run but also killing the budding rally. He stayed in the game at 3B, Vangervis had another at-bat in the 9th, popping out to 1B against P Josh Fields to end the game as the Astros won by the score of 3-1. Then he made his 1st start the next day at 3B, he had 3 hits and a walk, scored 2 runs and drove in 1 run to lead Yankees to its 1st win of the 2014 AL season, a 4-2 victory over Houston. His 1st MLB hit came off of Astros P Brett Oberholtzer. When 1B Mark Teixeira went on the DL the next day, it gave Yangervis more opportunity to play, when 3B Kelly Johnson was moved to 1B and he took over at 3B. He put up back-to-back 2-hit games on April 4-5th for a red-hot start of 7 for 13 to his Yankees playing career. He continued to hit very well through the next couple of months while getting a lot of playing time. On June 8th, his BA was still at .299, but he went through a dry stretch after that, hitting only .073, even though he was still getting regular playing time as the Yankees starting 3B. On July 3rd, he was hitting .260 with 6 HRs and 30 RBIs in 71 games, when he was sent down to the AAA Scranton (IL), when the Yankees called up INF Zelous Wheeler to take his place on the team roster. On July 22, 2014, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Rafael De Paula to the Padres for veteran MLB 3B Chase Headley and Cash. He had appeared in 74 games for the 2014 Yankees, while hitting .254 with 6 HRs and 31 RBIs. With the 2014 Padres, Solarte played in 56 games, while hitting .267 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs.
1991-Yankees Rookie Outfielder Bernie Williams makes his MLB Player debut against the Orioles, starting in Centerfield and batting 8th in the Yankees starting line-up. He was 1-for-3 at the plate along with 2 RBIs. The Yankees would lose the game to the Orioles by the score of 5-3.
1993-Former Yankees All-Star OF (1930-1936) and MLB Manager (Phillies:1945-1948) Ben Chapman had passed away. (1908-1993)
Ben Chapman was a member of the AL All-Star teams from 1933-1935. Overall, as a Yankee player, he had appeared in 910 games, while hitting .305 with 60 HRs and 589 RBIs with 184 stolen bases. He appeared in 1 World Series with the team in 1932 against the Cubs, playing in 4 games, while hitting .294. On June 14,1936, Ben was traded by the Yankees to the Senators for OF Jake Powell. Ben played for the Yankees, Senators (twice), Red Sox, Indians, Dodgers and he finished his active playing career with the 1946 Phillies. In 1944, Ben had pitched in 11 games for the Dodgers, he posted a 5-3 record with a 3.40 ERA. Ben was the Phillies Manager, who gave Dodgers Black Player Jackie Robinson problems in 1947, Ben was a racist; it was one of the reasons that the Yankees traded him to the Senators for OF Jake Powell during the 1936 AL season. Overall, as an MLB player, he had appeared in 1,717 games, while hitting .302 with 90 HRs and 977 RBIs. He stole 287 bases during his 15-season MLB playing career.
1994-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Starter Jimmy Key picks up his 13th win of the 1994 AL season beating the Angels by the score of 5-2. Yankees Relievers Bob Wickman and Steve Howe hold California bats scoreless. Howe picks up his 9th save of the 1994 AL season. Key goes 7 complete innings, giving up only 6 Angel hits, allowing only 2 runs with 6 strikeouts. Angels Starter Mark Langston takes the loss. He is now at the 5-5 mark for the 1994 AL season. Yankees hitting attack is led by a solo HR by Randy Velarde along with doubles by Matt Nokes and Gerald Williams.
2000-At Shea Stadium, the Yankees begin an MLB Inter-League series with the Mets. Before a crowd of 54,132 fans the Yankees edge the Mets by the score of 2-1 behind the pitching of Starter Orlando Hernandez and Closer Mariano Rivera. Hernandez goes 8 innings, allowing only 5 Mets hits, 1 run with 5 Mets strikeouts. El Duque’s 2000 pitching record improves to an 8-6 mark, while Rivera picks up 19th save of the 2000 AL season. Mets Starter Al Leiter takes the loss giving up 2 Yankee runs, 6 hits, 1 walk and 8 strikeouts. Mets Closer Franco pitches a scoreless 9th inning. The Yankees will sweep the 3 game weekend series with the Mets by winning the games by of the scores of 4-2 in the next 2 games.
2009-At the Metrodome, Yankees would beat the Twins by the score of 10-2. Bronx Starter CC Sabathia goes 7 innings, allowing only 3 Twins hits, 2 runs with 3 strikeouts. Yankee Reliever Brett Tomko pitches 2 scoreless innings to finish the game. Twins Starter Scott Baker takes the loss, dropping to a 6-7 mark for the 2009 AL season. Yankees hitting attack was led by Brett Gardner’s triple, doubles hit by Robbie Cano and Frank Cervelli; they each drive in 2 runs apiece.
2017-In the 5th inning of the Yankees' series opener against the Brewers, 25-year-old Bronx Rookie OF Aaron Judge blasted his 30th HR of the 2017 AL season to straightaway CF off of Brewers’ Starter Josh Hader. Judge's solo HR shot extended the Bombers' lead to 4-2 in the ballgame, but more importantly, made him the most prolific rookie HR hitter in Yankees’ franchise history. Joe DiMaggio's 1936 record of 29 HRs had remained the high watermark for any New York Rookie, but Judge has broken that long-standing record before the MLB All-Star Break. It took DiMaggio 128 games to reach 29 HRs in his rookie 1936 AL season, but Judge eclipsed it in his 82nd game this year. The Brewers come back to win the game by the score of 9-4.
2021-Former Yankees Pitcher Ted Wieand (1961) had passed away. (1933-2021)
Before the start of the 1952 NL season, Ted Wieand was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Cardinals. He was farmed out to the Class B Allentown Cardinals (ISL), where he went 10-11 with a 3.61 ERA his 1st season in the pros. Wieand had 2 good years after that, going 12-5 with the Winston-Salem Cardinals in 1953 with a 2.31 ERA, then he had a 16-9 record with a 3.23 ERA, while pitching 223 innings for the Houston Buffaloes (TXL) in 1956. On December 5,1957, the right-hander was traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati Redlegs. After 2 decent years with the Houston Buffaloes and the Seattle Rainiers, he got a brief look by the Redlegs on September 27, 1958, making it into 1 game out of the bullpen, with no decision. After winning 16 games for the 1959 AAA Havana Sugar Kings (IL), plus 3 more in the IL postseason playoffs. He was given another shot by Reds in 1960, when he made 5 appearances and lost his only MLB decision. This was it for Wieand in the MLB. After the 1960 MLB season, the Yankees had acquired Wieand and Catcher Jesse Gonder in a series of transactions for Yankees Pitching prospect Zach Monroe and a large bundle of cash. The addition of Wieand was intended to bolster a staff that had seen 3 Yankee hurlers selected among the 1st 5 picks in the AL Expansion Player Draft. He would report to the Yankees 1961 spring training camp, competing with 4 others (including 1959 International League Pitcher of the Year Bill Short) for 3 vacant spots. “I am watching Wieand for the long relief job,” said new Yankees Pitching Coach Johnny Sain. “He has a better than an even chance to make the grade.” Wieand did make the grade and traveled north with the Yankees to start the 1961 season. But he was relegated to the end of the bench, he did not make an appearances for the team. The Yankees would give him a 1961 World Series player share. In May, he was assigned to the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). Wieand became one of the club’s bullpen stalwarts into the following season before elbow problems began to plague him again. The arm problems were not new to Wieand; since 1957, he had suffered through various ailments. But the ailing arm, combined with a pitching demotion to the Class AA Amarillo Gold Sox (TXL) in 1962, convinced the 29-year-old to hang it up.
2023-For the 1st time in their franchise history, the Chicago Cubs win a game at New Yankee Stadium. They had been 0-12 all time including both interleague games and an 0-4 record in World Series games and also counting games at the ballpark's previous incarnation, Yankee Stadium. Cubs starter Jameson Taillon leads the way with just 1 hit allowed against his former team in 8 innings of work as the Cubs shut out the Yankees by the score of 3-0. For the Yankees, starting pitcher, Carlos Rodon, finally makes his season debut in pinstripes after being signed to a large contract as a free agent the previous off-season.
July 8th
1929-Former Yankees INF/OF Hector Lopez (1959-1966) was born. (1929-2022)
In 1952, Hector Lopez was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics from Drummondville (Provincial League, Canada) for $1,500. With the A’s, he would play the INF/OF. On May 26,1959, Hector was traded by Kansas City A’s with along P Ralph Terry to the Yankees for Pitchers Johnny Kucks, Tom Sturdivant and Reserve INF Jerry Lumpe. Hector would appear in in 112 games for the 1959 Yankees, while hitting .283 for with 16 HRs and 69 RBIs, while playing 3B. After the 1960 season, the Yankees had made several position changes in their starting line-up, Hector was moved to LF, when Clete Boyer took over at 3B. His best Yankees season was in 1960, when he had appeared in 131 games, while hitting .284 with 9 HRs and 42 RBIs. He had appeared in 5 World Series with Yankees (1960-1964), while hitting .286 in 15 games. On October 19,1966, after only hitting only .214 with 1 HR and 16 RBIs in 54 games during the 1966 AL season, veteran Hector Lopez was released by the team. As a Yankees player, Lopez had appeared in 864 games, while hitting .262 with 69 HRs and 322 RBIs. In 1967-1968, he would play at AAA level with Hawaii Islanders (PCL) and the Buffalo Bisons (IL) in the Senators organization. He would become a Player-Manager for their 1969 AAA Buffalo Bison’s team (IL) before retiring as an active player. Also, Hector Lopez would manage in the Minor Leagues during the 1994-1995 seasons with the Yankees Class A Gulf Coast team (FSL). In 2009, Hector would manage the Panama team in the World Baseball Classic.
1931-Former Yankees Pitcher Zach Monroe (1958-1959) was born.
Before the start of the 1952 AL season, after signing as an MLB Amateur Fee Agent, Right-hander Zack Monroe made a steady climb through the Minor Leagues in the Yankees organization. He started his pro ball career with the Quincy Gems (3-IL) in 1952, going 7-6 with a 5.04 ERA in just 16 appearances. Monroe would miss the 1953-1954 seasons being inducted for the military service during the Korean War. Back from the service, he would spend both 1955-1956 seasons with the AA Binghamton Triplets (EL) going 12-11 in 1955. He revved up his motor to a 16-7 record with a 2.67 ERA in 1956. Zach would win 16 games again with the 1957 AAA Denver Bears (AA). After going 10-2 with the same club in 1958; he got the call to Yankee Stadium. He made his MLB Pitching debut on June 27,1958; he would go 4-2 with a 3.26 ERA in 21 games for the 1958 AL World Champions, including 1 relief appearance against the Braves in the 1958 World Series. Zach was in 3 more games for the 1959 Yankees, which would conclude his MLB time with a 4-2 record with a 3.38 ERA in 24 appearances. Monroe would finish out the 1959 season with the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL) with a 10-11 record with a 2.51 ERA, while pitching 172 innings. Zach would spend the next 2 seasons (1960-1961) with AAA Richmond again. Zack would finish up his pro baseball career in the Reds Minor League organization with the 1960-1961 AAA Havana Sugar Kings, Jersey City Jerseys (IL) and the 1962 AAA San Diego Padres (PCL) was his last stop. He would end his 9-year Minor League run with a 99-77 record and a 3.74 ERA in 256 games.
1935-The AL All-Star team winning streak reaches 3 games as the Junior Circuit beats the NL team in MLB All-Star Game played at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland by the score of 4-1. The new pitching rule that no pitcher can throw more than 3 innings unless the game goes extra innings will be instituted, after Yankees Starter Lefty Gomez pitches 6 outstanding innings in the 1935 Mid-Summer Classic. The Yankees had 3 players on the 1935 AL squad; OF Ben Chapman, 1B Lou Gehrig and Starter Lefty Gomez.
1939-Prior to the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetle’s form in front of the home dugout. Although over 5,000 insects will be captured, the beetle problem will return later in the month. A crowd of 27,531 fans will see the Red Sox sweep Yankees in the Saturday doubleheader by the scores of 4-3 and 3-1.
1943-Former Yankees Minor League P George Culver was born.
On May 9,1963, hurler George Culver was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 2,1963, George was drafted by the Indians from the Yankees organization in the 1963 1st-year Minor League Player Draft. He would pitch for several NL teams during his MLB pitching career.
1946-In a special meeting of MLB clubs deals with Mexican League player defections and attempts by players to gain new rights. Some results: $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week spring training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, maximum pay cut of 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players will be funded by World Series Broadcast rights and net proceeds from the MLB All-Star Games. Each league will have a Player Representative to baseball councils. The 1st MLB Player Representatives named are Yankees veteran Reliever Johnny Murphy and the Dodgers OF Dixie Walker.
1947-Clutch pinch-hits by Luke Appling and Stan Spence lead the AL squad to a 2-1 victory over the NL squad in the 1947 MLB All-Star Game played at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Schoolboy Rowe pinch-hits for Johnny Sain, becoming the 1st MLB player to appear for each side. Rowe had pitched 3 innings for the AL in 1936, as a member of the Tigers. Yankees Starter Frank “Spec” Shea is the 1st winning Rookie Pitcher in MLB All-Star game history. The 1947 AL squad featured the following Yankees: P Spud Chandler, OF Joe DiMaggio, OF Tommy Henrich, 3B Billy Johnson, 1B George McQuinn, P Joe Page, C Aaron Robinson, P Spec Shea and OF Charlie Keller.
1951-The feud between Yankees All-Star CF Joe DiMaggio and Manager Casey Stengel reaches a head in the 2nd inning in a game against the Red Sox. Because of a misplay in the 1st inning, Casey Stengel sends Reserve OF Jackie Jensen out to CF to relieve the Yankee Clipper, after he had already taken his centerfield position. The Red Sox would clip the Yankees by the score of 6-3, as the red-hot Clyde Vollmer belts a 2-run HR. Also, a Yankee pitcher fails to complete a game for the 20th straight time at Fenway Park.
1958-At the 1958 MLB All-Star Game played at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, the AL team edges the NL squad by the score of 4-3 The Yankees 2B Gil McDougald singles to score Red Sox 3B Frank Malzone with the winning run. Orioles’ hurler Billy O'Dell pitches perfect ball for 3 innings and gets the save. This is the 1st MLB All-Star Game played without an extra-base hit (12 singles). The following Yankees were on the 1958 AL squad: C Yogi Berra, Pitchers Ryne Duren, Whitey Ford and Bob Turley, C Elston Howard, Shortstop Tony Kubek, OF Mickey Mantle, 2B Gil McDougald and 1B Bill Skowron. It would be Yankees Manager Casey Stengel’s last AL All-Star team victory.
1961-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Ace Whitey Ford tops the Red Sox by a score of 8-5. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning, off of Rookie Boston Starter Tracy Stallard for his 10th HR this year in support of Whitey Ford.
1962-The Yankees would complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota, winning by a score of 9-8 to regain 1st place in the AL. They will remain there the rest of the 1962 AL season finishing with a 96-66 season record.
1964-Former Yankees Minor League P Ken Patterson was born.
On June 3,1985, hurler Ken Patterson was selected by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On August 26,1987, Ken was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later to the White Sox for P Mike Soper (Minors) and veteran MLB INF Jerry Royster. The Yankees would send Minor League Player Jeff Pries on September 19,1987 to the White Sox to complete the trade.
1966-At Yankee Stadium, the Senators would win the opener of a doubleheader by the score of 7-6, then they would blow a 4-run lead in the Nightcap to lose the game by a score of 7-5. Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle is 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a HR in each game. The 2nd HR, off of Nat’s hurler Jim Hannan is a 461 FT sky shot over the CF Monuments into the CF Stadium Bleachers. Mickey follows with a sure double in the 5th inning, but then he tears a hamstring muscle rounding 1B and will be sidelined for 2 weeks.
1969-Former Yankees All-Star 3B (1931,1934-1942) and MLB Manager Red Rolfe (1949-1952) had passed away. (1908-1969).
From 1928 to 1931, INF Red Rolfe, who had been College Baseball player at Dartmouth College. He would come up to the Yankees for 1 game at Shortstop in 1931. For the 1932-1933 seasons, he would play for the Yankees AA Club, the Newark Bears (IL). He would hit .330 in 147 games for the 1932 Bears, then in 1933, he would hit .326 in 156 games, winning the International Leagues MVP Award. Then he played two-thirds of his games at Shortstop in 1934, but from 1935 on, he was chiefly a 3rd baseman for the Yankees. He held down the position through the 1942 AL season. Frankie Crosetti had held the starting Shortstop job during most of those seasons. AL All-Star 3B Red Rolfe finished his 10-year Yankees playing career with a lifetime BA of .289, while hitting 69 HRs with 497 RBIs in 1,175 games. He led the AL 3B in fielding (1935-1936). Red was named 4 times to AL All-Star team. He led the AL in hits (139) and runs (213) in 1939, posting his highest career season BA of .329 with 14 HRs and 80 RBIs. He had appeared in 6 World Series with the Yankees, while hitting .284 with No HRs and 6 RBIs in 28 games. In 1942, he would retire from the Yankees. After his 4-year Coaching stint at Yale Univ., Rolfe would coach the 1946-1947 Toronto Huskies of the BAA. In 1947, he would return to the Yankees as an MLB Coach. After the 1947 AL season had ended, Rolfe would join the Detroit Tigers as Director of Minor League System, but he returned to the field after only 1 season at the job; when he succeeded veteran Manager Steve O'Neill as the Tiger Manager after the 1948 AL campaign was completed. Red was the 1949-1952 MLB Tigers Manager for 539 games, finishing with an overall record of 278-256 with a WP of .521. His best season as an MLB Manager was in 1950, finishing 2nd place in the AL to the Yankees with a 95-59 mark. He was let go by the Tigers during the 1952 AL season. Rolfe then would return to Dartmouth College as the Athletic Director of his alma mater from 1954 to 1967. The College's baseball diamond is named in his honor.
1969-Orioles starter Mike Cuellar throws a complete game 3-hitter against the Yankees in a 4-1 win. Bronx CF Ron Woods has the Yankees only 3 hits in the game, with 2 singles and a HR for the Bombers only run.
1970-The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat the Yankees, this time striking in the 9th inning on a Birds Slugger Frank Robinson HR and a 2-out single by Don Buford. The O's overcome an 8-6 deficit to win the game by the final score of 9-8.
1974-Yankees Shortstop Jim Mason ties the MLB record with 4 doubles in a 12-5 victory over the Rangers. Off the field, the Yankees purchased veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. from the Angels for Cash to strength their infield at 2B. He had been hitting just .222 for the Angels, he had lost his starting 2B job with the Angels to Denny Doyle. He was expected to replace light hitting veteran Gene Michael at 2B. He would the hold the team’s 2B job until Rookie 2B Willie Randolph joined the team in 1976.
1977-The Yankees are led by HRs off the bats of Catcher Thurman Munson and 3B Graig Nettles, as they beat the Orioles by the score of 7-5. Yankees Starter Don Gullett wins his 7th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1980-At Dodger Stadium, the 51st MLB All-Star Game features Astros J.R. Richard (10-4) and the Orioles Steve Stone (12-3) are the game starters; with Richard going just 2 innings because of various back and shoulder problems that he has been having this season. The game draws a crowd of 56,088 fans to Dodger Stadium. The NL squad battles back to wins its 9th consecutive All-Star Game by the score of 4-2, pinning the loss on Yankees’ hurler Tommy John, who had followed Steve Stone. Reds OF Ken Griffey Sr. goes 2-for-3 with a solo HR to win the game's MVP Award. Yankee starters for the game were Shortstop Bucky Dent and OF Reggie Jackson. Also, the Yankees players: Closer Rich Gossage, 3B Graig Nettles and 2B Willie Randolph were on the team, they would appear in the game.
1982-Oakland A’s Manager Billy Martin records his 1,000th MLB career win as an MLB Manager as the A's would beat the Yankees by the score of 6-3. The A’s batters chase Yankees Starter Doyle Alexander for 4 runs in the 1st inning of game. A’s Starter Mike Norris picks up the win, despite giving up 2 Yankees HRs to John Mayberry and Oscar Gamble.
1984-Yankees Former Reserve INF/OF Kevin Russo (2010) was born.
On June 6,2006, INF Kevin Russo was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had played college baseball at Baylor Univ. Kevin made his MLB Player debut with the 2010 Yankees, appearing in 31 games as Reserve INF, while hitting just .184. On November 3, 2012, Kevin was granted his MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. On November 18, 2012, Kevin was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Tigers.
1986-Former Yankees Pitcher Jaime Garcia (2017) was born.
Jaime García was selected in the 30th round of the 2004 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Orioles, but he did not sign with the team. The Cardinals had chose him in the 22nd round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He was inked to a deal this time by MLB Scout Joe Almaraz, the same scout who had scouted him for the Orioles in 2004. He made 2 appearances in 2011 World Series for the Cardinals with no record. Jamie would pitch for the Cardinals (2008, 2010-2016), then he was traded to the Braves on December 1, 2016, who later on July 24, 2017, would trade him to the Twins along with Catcher Anthony Recker for Minor League Pitching Prospect Huascar Ynoa. He made just 1 appearance for the 2017 Twins, defeating the A’s by the score of 6-3 on July 28th, then he was traded again, this time heading to the Yankees in return for 2 Minor League Pitching prospects; Dietrich Enns and Zack Littell. He would post a 0-3 record with a 4.82 ERA in 8 games for the team. He had pitched in 1 game of the AL 2017 Post season against the Indians, pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief with no decision. On November 2, 2017, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. On February 15, 2018, he would sign a 1-year deal with the Blue Jays, worth $10 million.
1986-Former Yankees Reserve OF Johnny Cooney (1944) had passed away. (1901-1986)
Johnny Cooney, whose MLB playing career stretched from 1921 to 1944, essentially had 2 MLB careers. He first arrived began as a Pitcher with the Braves, winning 14 games in 1925 with 20 complete games, with 2 shutouts and 245 2/3 innings. He was no longer able to manage that load the following season, dabbling in some position play and mound work through to 1930. After 4 years back in the Minor Leagues, rebuilding himself in the American Association, he returned to the MLB with the Dodgers in 1935 as a full-time outfielder, not making a single pitching appearance henceforth. Johnny would hit .318 and .319 in back-to-back seasons back with the Boston Bees (1940 and 1941), finishing his MLB playing career in a split season with the Braves and Yankees during World War II. With the 1944, John only appeared in 10 games for the team, hitting .125 with No HRs and only 1 RBI. The Yankees would release him. Johnny hit only 2 MLB HRs, which remarkably came on consecutive days with the Boston Bees: September 24-25,1939. He also had umpired 1 MLB game; a June 28,1941 NL contest between the Dodgers and the Braves, when the regular NL Umpire crew was unable to arrive on time for the game. He went on to be a long-time member of the Braves' MLB Coaching staff from 1946 to 1955, even managing them for part of the 1949 NL season. He remained with the club for 3 years, after they became the Milwaukee Braves. Later, he would spend 8 seasons as a White Sox MLB Coach from 1957 to 1964, while Al Lopez had managed the team.
1993-Former Yankees Minor League P Caleb Frare was born.
Caleb Frare was drafted by the Yankees in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Player Draft. On July 29, 2018, the Yankees had traded Minor League Reliever Caleb Frare to the White Sox for future considerations. He had pitched for the 2018 AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while posting a 4-1 record with a 0.62 ERA with 5 saves in 31 games. He had made 1 appearance with AAA Scranton (IL) with no record. With the 2018 White Sox, he was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in 11 games. He had spent time with their AAA team. On June 27, 2020, Caleb was released by the White Sox Organization.
2000-The Yankees will defeat the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual day-night doubleheader. With the 1st game played at Shea Stadium and the nightcap played at Yankee Stadium. It is the 1st time since 1903, that 2 teams have played 2 games in different stadiums on the same day. Veteran Starter Dwight Gooden wins the 1st game with a 6-inning effort in his 1st start since returning to the Yankees. Veteran All-Star Starter Roger Clemens wins the nightcap and precipitate a near brawl, when he drills Mets Catcher Mike Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza will suffer a head concussion.
2002-Yankees AL All-Star 1B Jason Giambi out-homers NL All-Star Cubs OF Sammy Sosa by the score of 7-1, in the final round to take the 2002 MLB All-Star Game HR Derby Crown.
2018-Starters and reserves for the 2018 All-Star Game that will be played at Nationals Park in Washington, DC on July 17th are announced. Beyond the expected participants like Mike Trout and Bryce Harper, the game will feature more unexpected actors, such as Yankees 2B Gleyber Torres, who began the year in the minors, voted as the starter for the AL at his position.
July 9th
1874-Former Yankees Pitcher John “Jack” Powell (1905-1906) was born. (1874-1944)
On March 6,1904, Starter Jack Powell was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Highlanders for INF/P Harry Howell and Cash. For the 1904 Yankees, Powell would post a 23-19 record with a 2.44 ERA in 47 games. Overall, John would record a 31-32 mark with a 2.81 ERA in 84 games for the Yankees before returning to the Browns in 1906. As an MLB Pitcher, Jack Powell had finished his pitching career with a 245-254 record with a 2.97 ERA in 578 games in a 16-season Pitching career (1897-1912) starting with the Cleveland Spiders (NL), Cardinals, Browns (twice) and the Yankees.
1932-Former Yankees Reliever Tex Clevenger (1961-1962) was born. (1932-2019)
On May 8,1961, Tex was traded by the new AL expansion team, the Angels along with veteran OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for Rookie OF Lee Thomas, Pitchers Ryne Duren and Johnny James. Veteran MLB Reliever Tex Clevenger work out of the 1961-1962 Yankees bullpen, appearing in 42 games, while posting a 3-1 record with a 3.75 ERA with no saves. In 1953, the Red Sox had originally had signed Tex as an MLB Amateur Free Agent, later he would pitch for the 1956-1960 Senators. In the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft, the Angels had selected him from the original Washington Senators. With the Angels, he had appeared as a Reliever in 12 games, while posting a 2-1 record with a 1.69 ERA and 1 save. With their bullpen already having veteran relievers Art Fowler and Tom Morgan, Tex was made available for a trade. For the 1961 Yankees, he would post a 1-1 record with no saves in 21 games. Tex didn’t make any World Series appearances with the 1961-1962 Yankees. In 1962, Tex would post a 2-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 21 games. He would spend the 1963 season with the AAA Richmond (IL), while posting a 4-9 record in 47 games. At the end of the 1963 Minor League season, Clevenger would retire from pro baseball season. In 8 AL seasons, Tex had posted a 36-37 record with 4.18 ERA in 307 games. As an AL Reliever, Tex had a 19-15 record with 30 saves.
1932-At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Bomber OF Ben Chapman would hit 3 HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the Tigers. Chapman’s 2 HRs are Inside-the-Park HRs, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-9. He would finish the game with 3-HRs with 6 RBIs. In the Opener, the Yankees had beaten the Tigers by a score of 7-6 with HRs hit by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Swell.
1936-The temperature is 106 degrees in Central Park, the hottest July 9th on record in New York City as the Indians take on the Yankees at the Stadium. The temperature at the ballpark is 102. The Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning, but the Tribe come back to score 11 runs on 15 hits, including 5 HRs, to win the game by a score of 11-4. Hal Trosky, Roy Weatherly and Joe Vosmik, all homer in the 2nd inning to tie the MLB record. Trosky hits another HR to tie for the AL lead with 23 HRs. Also, the Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig and Indians Earl Averill each hit HRs in the game.
1937-Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle, as he delivers 2-HRs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees maul the Senators by a score of 16-2. The “Yankee Clipper” will accomplish this feat only once again in his MLB playing career during the 1948 AL season.
1939-The Red Sox would sweep a doubleheader with the Yankees by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 to sweep a 5-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees AL lead is now 6 1/2 games. Boston Shortstop Joe Cronin drives in runs in both games, giving him 12 games in a row with an RBI.
1940-At the MLB All-Star game is played in Sportsman Park in St. Louis, 5 NL hurlers would combine to throw the 1st shutout in All-Star Game history. Paul Derringer, Bucky Walters, Whit Wyatt, Larry French and Carl Hubbell would allow only 3-hits the AL squad by the score of 4-0 with the help of Max West's 3-run HR. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing starts the game, giving 5 hits and 3 NL runs for the loss. On Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy’s AL squad are starting Outfielders Charlie Keller and Joe DiMaggio, Catcher Bill Dickey and 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon. On the AL Reserve Bench are Yankees 3B Red Rolfe. Starter Monte Pearson was the 2nd Yankee hurler to be named to the AL All-Star pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game.
1947-The Yankees would sell veteran Pitcher Mel Queen Sr. to the Pirates for Cash. For the Yankees (1942,1944,1946-1947), Mel would post an 8-4 record with a 4.27 ERA in 43 games before being sold to the Pirates. He is the father of former MLB player Mel Queen Jr. Queen’s spot on the Yankees roster, will be filled by Pitcher Vic Raschi, who had been pitching for AA Portland (PCL) with a 7-2 record.
1947-At Sportmans Park in St. Louis, Yankees Relief Ace Joe Page hits his 2nd MLB game winning HR in the 9th inning to beat the Browns by the score of 4-3.
1955-Bronx Bomber Slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5-for-5 at the plate, as Yankees Starter Bob Turley tosses a 2-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Senators. Also, Mantle would hit a double and 4 singles in the game.
1957-The 1957 MLB All-Star Game was played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, in front a crowd of 30,693 fans. The American League won the 24th midsummer classic by a score of 6 to 5. Tigers Starter Jim Bunning is the AL winning Pitcher, while Phillies Starter Curt Simmonds takes the loss for the NL team. Both teams had score 3 runs in the 9th inning, but White Sox OF Minnie Minoso's running catch with the bases loaded chokes off the NL's last-half rally. There were no HRs hit in the game. The 1957 AL squad was managed by Casey Stengel, who had Yankees Coaches 3B Frank Crosetti and Pitching Coach Jim Turner with him. The AL squad had Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra and CF Mickey Mantle in the starting line-up. The following Yankee players were on the AL All-Star team: C Elston Howard, Shortstop Gil McDougald, 2B Bobby Richardson, Pitchers Bobby Shantz, Bob Grim and 1B Bill Skowron. Bob Grim would pitch 1 inning in relief for the AL team.
1958-On Capitol Hill in Washington, D. C., Yankees Manager Casey Stengel and All-Star CF Mickey Mantle appear in front of the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee which is investigating the baseball monopoly power in regards to sport's Antitrust Exemption. After “The Old Professor'” gives 45 minutes of rambling and confusing testimony, Senator Estes Kefauver laughs, when Mickey Mantle's answers his inquiry about the topic with, "My views are just about the same as Casey's."
1959-The Red Sox club the Yankees by a score of 14-6 before 30,253 fans; the largest crowd at Fenway Park so far, this 1959 AL season. Red Sox Starter Frank Sullivan is the winner. The Boston batting line-up rocks Yankee Starter Bob Turley and Reliever Jim Coates for 14 runs and 10 hits. Red Sox Sluggers Vic Wertz, Ted Williams and Bobby Avila club HRs. Williams and Avila, both drive in 6 runs in the game. Yankees Reliever Jim Bronstad pitches 1 scoreless inning of relief.
1960-Yankees Starter Jim Coates suffers his 1st loss after 9 straight wins and 14 straight wins over 1959-1960 AL seasons, as the Red Sox beat the Bombers by a score of 6-5. The Red Sox are led by veteran 1B Vic Wertz, who slugs a HR, double and single to drive in 4 runs. Jim Coates' MLB pitching career record is now 17-2.
1963-The 1963 MLB All-Star Game was played at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, in front of a crowd of 44,160 fans. The National League won the 34th midsummer classic by a score of 5 to 3. NL Starter Larry Jackson picks up the victory, while Tigers Jim Bunning takes the loss for the AL squad. Yankees 1B Joe Pepitone was the only starter in the AL line-up. Mickey Mantle did not play due to an injury. Yankees Manager Ralph Houk had the following Yankee players on the AL squad, P Jim Bouton, C Elston Howard, 2B Bobby Richardson and OF Tommy Tresh. The All-Star MVP was Giants OF Willie Mays. After playing 2 All-Star Games each year from 1959 to 1962, the MLB had reverted back to a single game in 1963, a format that has been in place ever since. The extra All-Star games that were played were to help out the MLB player’s pension funds
1968-The 1968 MLB All-Star Game was played indoors at Houston’s Astrodome in front of a crowd of 48,321 fans. The National League won the 39th midsummer classic by a score of 1 to 0. AL Starter Luis Tiant gave up the only run scored in the game is the loser, while Dodgers Starter The All- Don Drysdale in the winner for the NL team. Only 2 Yankee players, who were on the AL squad OF Mickey Mantle and Starter Mel Stottlemyre, who had appeared in the game. The 39th All-Star Star game MVP was Giants OF Willie Mays.
1972-The Twins would lose to the Yankees by a score of 9-6, despite Rich Reese's pinch-hit Grand Slam HR. For Reese, it is his 3rd pinch Grand Slam HR, tying Ron Northey's MLB record. Yankees Starter Steve Kline picks up his 8th victory with relief help from Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle, who gets his 19th save of the 1972 AL season.
1973-Former Yankees Minor League Player and Manager Nick Ortiz was born.
The Red Sox had selected Nick Ortiz in the 34th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Debuting with the 1991 GCL Red Sox, the youngster hit .260 with 21 walks in 35 games. He would split 1992 between the Elmira Pioneers and the GCL Red Sox. In 1993, Nick would play for the Utica Blue Sox and Fort Lauderdale Red Sox. With the 1994 Sarasota Red Sox, he would hit .269, while moving primarily to 3rd base. Back with Sarasota in 1995, he would put up a .247 line and fielded only .887 at 3B. For the 1996 campaign, he was now playing in the Yankees organization, Ortiz would make appearances with the Class A Michigan Battle Cats and AA Trenton Thunder. In 1997, starting at 2nd for Trenton, he would hit .281, one of his best seasons. Ortiz then began a stretch of bouncing from team to team, splitting 1998 season between the Boston and Montreal chains. In 1999, he was with the Dodgers' San Antonio Missions and the Indians' Akron Aeros and the AAA Buffalo Bisons. In 2000, Nick was back with the Yankees' AA Norwich Navigators (EL) and the Royals' Wichita Wranglers. Back at shortstop, he would lead Texas League players at that position in both fielding percentage (.980) and double plays (84). Spending his only full year at AAA, he would hit .250 for the 2001 Omaha Golden Spikes, while fielding .975 as their main shortstop. The Cidra native sat out 2002 season, then he would return in 2003 with Wichita and the Cubs' West Tenn. Diamond Jaxx. In 2004, Ortiz would hit .229 for the Independent Bridgeport Bluefish (AL). He would play for 3 Atlantic League clubs in 2006, putting together a composite line of .303. He was 6th in the league in average, but he would lose All-Star Shortstop honors to Raul Marval. The veteran had hit .318 for the 2006-2007 Criollos de Caguas, 3rd in the Puerto Rican League, then he had a big season with the 2007 Bridgeport Bluefish, batting .297 with 28 doubles, 93 runs and a career-high 20 steals in 28 tries. He would finish 3rd in runs, tied for 8th in doubles and 8th in steals. Ortiz would play for the Puerto Rican National Team in the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. In 2018, Nick Ortiz would become a Manager with the Class A Pulaski Yankees (APL). Then in 2019, Nick would move to the Class A GCL Yankees West team. In 2020, Ortiz would leave the Yankees organization to become a Quality Control Coach with the Giants.
1985-Yankees veteran Starter Ron Guidry works 8 2/3 innings to win his 10th straight start of the 1985 AL season, beating the Royals by a score of 6-4. Guidry allows only 9 hits and strikes out 1 Royals batter.
1986-The Padres had traded veteran Reliever Tim Stoddard to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Ed Whitson, who had become the target of such fan abuse in New York City, that Yankees Manager Lou Piniella could no longer pitch him at Yankee Stadium. Whitson had been with the Padres, before signing an MLB Free Agent deal with the Yankees. Ed Whitson’s Yankees Pitching career ends with a 15-10 mark with 5.38 ERA in 44 games. For the 1986-1988 Yankees, Tim Stoddard will post a 10-6 record with a 4.38 ERA and 11 saves in 109 games.
1989-Former Yankees Reliever Luis Avilan (2020) was born.
On February 3, 2020, veteran MLB Reliever Luis Avilan was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. He had appeared in 10 games in relief for the 2020 Yankees; while posting a 0-0 record with a 4.32 ERA. On August 28, 2020, he was released by the Yankees in an MLB roster move. He had been sidelined by pitching shoulder injury.
1999-The Yankees Uniform Lou Gehrig wore when he made his famous "luckiest man on earth" speech on July 4,1939 is sold for $451,541 at auction. Leland's spokesman Marty Appel says the flannel pinstripe uniform worn by the Hall of Fame 1B was purchased by a South Florida man, who did not want his name made public. The winning bid was made over the telephone.
2000-The Yankees lose to the Mets Starter Mike Hampton by the score of 2-0. Benitez closes for the Mets, while Yankees Starter Andy Pettitte is the loser. The Yankees also lose regular LF Shane Spencer, who blows out his knee on a play in the outfield that ends his 2000 AL season. The game was played at Shea Stadium draws a crowd of 54,283 fans, the largest regular season crowd for the Mets since the 1970 NL season. Newly acquired veteran OF Dave Justice from the Indians will take over the regular LF position for the Yankees, with Spencer, who is out for the rest of 2000 AL season.
2010-Former Yankees Reserve INF (1953) and Long-time Yankees Minor League Manager Frank Verdi had passed away. (1926-2010)
On May 10,1953, INF Frank Verdi made his only MLB appearance with the Yankees in a game against the Red Sox. He had entered the game playing shortstop in the bottom of the 6th inning. With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning, the Yankees were up by the score of 5-3. Red Sox hurler Ken Holcombe entered the game to relieve Ellis Kinder; Yankees Manager Casey Stengel replaced Frank Verdi with Pinch-Hitter Bill Renna. Verdi never appeared in another MLB game again. After his active playing career was over, he became a Minor League Manager in 1961, managing for the 1961 Twins and 1962 Mets organizations. He was with the Yankees Minor League organization from 1963-1972. He won 2 International League crowns with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1969 and 1970. In 1974, Frank would manage the AAA Denver Bears (AA) for Houston organization. From 1977-1980, he would manage the AAA Tidewater Tides (IL) for the Mets organization. He would return to the Yankees Minor League system to manage the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) in 1981-1982. He would win the 1981 International League Championship with the Clippers. He would return to Rochester to manage the 1984-1985 Orioles AAA Red Wings teams. From 1993-1995, he managed several teams in the Independent Leagues. In 2008, he was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
2011-At New Yankee Stadium, Bronx bomber Shortstop Derek Jeter becomes the 28th member of the 3,000 MLB Career Hit club with a 5-for-5 day against the Tampa Bay Rays. The 2nd of the 5 hits, a HR off of Ray’s Starter David Price in the 3rd inning, gets him to the MLB hits milestone. He is the 1st player to collect his 3,000 hit for the Yankees, the 1st to do it at Yankee Stadium. He then adds 2 singles and a double as the Yankees defeat the Rays by the score of 5-4.
2019-The 2019 MLB All-Star Game, the 90th edition of the midsummer Classic was played at Progressive Field in Cleveland. It was the 6th time the game was held in Cleveland. The game was timed to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Progressive Field. It was the 1st time the game was held in an AL ballpark since the 2014 edition. A crowd of 37,747 fans had attended the night game. The AL would record its 7th straight win, a 4-3 victory over the NL in a game in which only 2 HRs, both solo shots were hit, whereas HR records were falling left and right across MLB that year. The winner of the Ted Williams Award as the game's MVP was Indians P Shane Bieber, who had struck out all 3 batters that he had faced in his 1 inning of work. Yankees Starter Masahiro Tanka is the winning pitcher for the AL squad. Yankees Closer Aroldis Chapman strikes out the NL side in the 9th inning to preserve the AL team victory. The Yankees had 2 players in the starting line-up: 2B D.J. LeMahieu and Catcher Gary Sanchez. Also, Closer Aroldis Chapman, 2B Gleyber Torres and Starter Masahiro Tanka were on the AL team.
2023-The Yankees have release veteran Reliever Colten Brewer to allow him to sign a player contract with Hanshin Tigers in Japan. He had appeared in 3 games with the team, while pitching 8 1/3 innings. He was acquired by the Yankees from the Rays on Opening Day 2023.
2023-The Yankees have fired their current MLB Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson. His 2 assistants, Casey Dyes and Bud Wilkerson are staying with the team until the current season ends. GM Cashman has told the NYC Sports Media that Lawson’s replacement will come in from outside the Yankees organization. His replacement will be former MLB player Sean Casey.
July 10th
1908-The Red Sox had purchased veteran 1B/OF Jake Stahl from the Yankees. On October 13,1907, 1B/OF Jake Stahl was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the White Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees would send INF/OF Frank LaPorte to the Boston Americans (aka Red Sox). Then the Americans would send INF Freddy Parent to the White Sox. For the 1908 Yankees, Jake will play in 75 games, while hitting .255 with 2 HRs and 45 RBIs.
1916-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Shortstop Rube Oldring (1905, 1916) again. Rube had appeared in 43 games with the 1916 Yankees, while hitting just .234. In 1905, he had appeared in only 8 games for the Yankees, while hitting .300. It was revealed later by his son, that he was on loan by the Connie Mack’s A’s, who took him back in 1906, rather let him stay with the Yankees. He had spent most of his MLB playing career with the Philadelphia A’s.
1917-Thanks to Bronx hurler Ray Caldwell's 9-2/3 innings of no-hit relief, the Yankees would beat the Browns in St. Louis by a score of 7-5 in a 17-inning game.
1934-The 2nd annual MLB All-Star Game produced Giants Starter Carl Hubbell's amazing feat of striking out 5 future HOF Players in a row. Off to a shaky start with 2 men on base in the 1st inning, Hubbell uses his screwball to fan AL Sluggers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Jimmy Foxx. He adds Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to start the 2nd inning. After 3 scoreless innings, he leaves with the NL, ahead by a score of 4-0. The AL batting lineup rallies, scoring 9 runs off of NL Pitchers Warneke, Mungo and Dean, while Tribe P Mel Harder pitches 5 shutout innings in relief of Yankees Starter Red Ruffing to hold the lead. Frankie Frisch and Joe Medwick hit HRs for the NL squad. The Indian’s Earl Averill's 3-RBIs are decisive for the AL squad’s 9-7 victory.
1936-The Yankees roll to an easy victory over the Indians, as Bronx Starter Red Ruffing takes the shutout, winning the game by a score of 18-0. Lloyd Brown, the 1st of 3 Tribe pitchers used in the game is the loser. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig has a pair of HRs to take over the 1936 AL HR lead with 23.
1951-Using 4 HRs from NL Sluggers Stan Musial, Bob Elliott, Ralph Kiner and Gil Hodges, the NL All-Stars would defeat the AL team at Detroit's Briggs Stadium in the 1951 MLB All-Star Game. Pirates Ralph Kiner hits a HR for the 3rd year in a row. The only starting Yankee player on the All-Star starting team is Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had veteran All-Star OF Joe DiMaggio and Shortstop Phil Rizzuto on his Reserve Player list. Yankees P Eddie Lopat relieves St. Louis Browns Starter Ned Garver in the 4th inning, he gives up 3 NL runs and hits takes the loss for the AL squad. The 1951 MLB All-Star day game in Detroit draws a crowd of 52,075 fans. Giant’s veteran Starter Sal “The Barber” Maglie is the winner for the NL squad.
1956-In the 1956 MLB All-Star Game played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC, Cardinals 3B Ken Boyer makes 3 sparkling defensive plays and gets 3 hits as the NL team defeats the AL squad by a score of 7-3. A crowd of 26,843 fans had attended the day game held in the Nation’s capital Yankees CF Mickey Mantle and Catcher Yogi Berra are in the AL starting line-up. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel has 2B Billy Martin and Shortstop Gil McDougald as his Reserve Players. He had selected Whitey Ford and Johnny Kucks to the AL All-Star Pitching staff. MLB All-Stars Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams and Stan Musial hit HRs in the game. Willie Mays's pinch-hit 2-run HR off of Yankees hurler Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Bronx pitching ace. Mickey Mantle hits his HR off of veteran Braves Starter Warren Spahn. Ford pitches 1 inning for the AL squad, while giving up 3 NL hits and 2 runs. White Sox Starter Billy Pierce starts for the AL team and takes the AL loss. Pirates Bob Friend is the winning pitcher for the NL squad.
1956-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Giard (1927) had passed away. (1898-1956)
On December 17,1924, hurler Joe Giard was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers “Bullet” Joe Bush and Milt Gaston to the St. Louis Browns for veteran Starter Urban Shocker. For the 1925 Browns, he would post a 13-15 record with a 5.74 ERA in 52 games. On February 8,1927, Joe Giard traded by the Browns along with OF Cedric Durst to the Yankees for veteran Starter Sad Sam Jones. For the 1927 Yankees, he would appear in 16 games with no record. He didn’t appear in the 1927 World Series against the Pirates. He would pitch in the Minor Leagues from 1928-1929 before retiring from the game.
1962-At the newly opened D.C. Stadium in Washington, D.C., John F. Kennedy becomes the 1st U.S. President ever to throw the ceremonial 1st pitch at an MLB All-Star Game. Thanks to the game's MVP Maury Wills scoring 2 of the NL team's 3 runs and Willie Mays' amazing game-ending catch, the NL beats the Junior circuit by the score of 3-1 in the 1st of 2 Mid-Summer Classics to be held this summer, the extra games were played to increase the MLB Player’s Pension Funds. Yankee Manager Ralph Houk has his M& M boys (Mantle & Maris) in the AL starting line-up. Maris gets an RBI for the AL team. He has 2B Bobby Richardson, Catcher Elston Howard and Rookie Shortstop Tom Tresh on the AL bench. Yankees Starter Ralph Terry is selected for the All-Star team Pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game. Giants Starter Juan Marichal is the NL winner with relief help from Braves Bob Shaw, who gets the save.
1965-Former Yankee Reliever Buddy Groom (2005) was born.
On February 9, 2005, Reliever Buddy Groom was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He would appear in 24 games working out of the 2005 Yankees bullpen, while posting a 1-0 mark with a 4.91 ERA. On July 31, 2005, Buddy was sent to the Diamondbacks by the Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
1977-A 5-0 loss to the Orioles drops the Yankees into 2nd place in AL East, ½ game behind the Red Sox. The Yankees would not re-enter 1st place until August 23,1977, they would soon fall 5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Sam Marsonek (2004) was born.
On December 13,1999, Pitcher Sam Marsonek was traded by the Rangers along with Pitcher Brandon Knight to the Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. Sam would appear in 1 game with the 2004 Yankees with no record, before becoming an MLB Free Agent in the winter of 2004.
1988-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernie Nevel (1950-1951) had passed away. (1919-1988)
Before the start of the 1946 AL season, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Ernie Nevel, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Nevel was farmed out to the Augusta Tigers (SAL), where the 27-year-old would go 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 36 appearances. This would be the 1st year of 9 seasons that he would spend in the Minor Leagues. After 4 more years of Minor League baseball and tying for the league lead with a 21-win performance with the pennant-winning Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL) in 1950, Ernie would make it to the Yankees. He got a very short look by the Yankees in late September of 1950, making 3 appearances, losing 1 game and having a 9.95 ERA. The AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) would be Ernie's home for the biggest part of the 1951 season; where he would post a 14-11 record with a 3.86 ERA. He would show up again in Yankee Stadium, appearing in 1 game, while pitching 4 innings with no decision and that was it for his 2nd shot at the MLB hitters. In 1952, it was back to the AAA Blues, where he posted a 7-6 record in 22 appearances before being traded to the Reds. Ernie had appeared in a total of 4 games with the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record. On August 28,1952, Ernie was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League players: Outfielders Jim Greengrass and Bob Marquis, MLB P Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 Cash to the Reds for veteran NL All-Star Starter Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell.
1996-Former Yankees Minor League P Drew Finley was born.
Drew Finley was a 3rd-round pick of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees in 2015. Finley, a 22-year-old righty, has yet to move past the low A level despite 3 attempts. In 120 innings as a pitcher over 4 seasons, he carries an unsightly 5.48 ERA with a 2-11 record in 42 games in the Yankees organization. On November 21,2018, he was traded along with Cash to the Dodgers for INF/OF Tim Locastro.
1996-Former Yankees Pitcher Phil Bickford (2024) was born.
On June 6, 2013, Pitcher Phil Bickford was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 2013 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he did not sign with the team. On June 8, 2015, he was drafted by the Giants in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 2015 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would sign by the Giants on June 26, 2015. On August 1, 2016, Phil was traded by the Giants along with Andrew Susac to the Brewers for Will Smith. On May 3, 2021, he was selected off waivers by the Dodgers from the Brewers. With the 2023 Dodgers, he had posted a 2-3 record with a 5.14 ERA in 36 games. On August 1, 2023, Phil was traded by the Dodgers along with Adam Kolarek to the Mets for cash. For the 2023 Mets, Phil would post a 3-2 record with a 4.62 ERA and 1 save in 25 games. On March 26, 2024, Phil was released by the Mets. On April 3, 2024, Phil would be signed to minor league contract by the Yankees. Currently Phil has MLB pitching career record of 11-8 with a 4.43 ERA with 2 saves in 179 games. He was pitching for AAA Scranton (IL). On June 21, 2024, the Yankees would select his contract from AAA Scranton, when they had DFA Veteran Reliever Victor Gonzalez. He would appear in 5 games for the 2024 Yankees with no decisions with a 14.40 ERA, before being DFA by the team and becoming a MLB Free Agent.
1997-Yankees Rookie Starter Hideki Irabu strikes out 9 Tiger batters and gets the win in his MLB Pitching debut as the Yankees defeat Detroit by a score of 10-3.
1999-The Yankees' winning streak of 124 consecutive games when they led entering the 9th inning ends as Mets PH Matt Franco singles off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera giving the Mets a dramatic come-from-behind Subway Series MLB Inter-League 9-8 victory.
2001-In his final MLB All-Star Game appearance, Orioles 3B Cal Ripken is named the MVP of the game. His HR along with consecutive HRs from fellow AL teammates Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez power the AL team to its 5th victory in a row beating the NL squad at Seattle's Safeco Field by a score of 4-1. Yankees Pitcher Roger Clemens was the starter for the AL team, also Bronx Pitcher Andy Pettitte pitched 1 scoreless inning for the AL team. Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera was selected to the AL team, but didn’t play due to a leg injury. The 2001 MLB Mid-Summer Classic was played in Baltimore’s Camden Yards, draws a crowd of 47,364 fans.
2011-CC Sabathia wins his 13th game of the year for the Yankees, as they eke out a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay. The only run scores on a couple of miscues, after Robinson Cano starts the 7th inning with a single off of James Shields. B.J. Upton makes a nice catch on Jorge Posada's fly ball to center, but his throw to 1st to double Cano sails into the 1st base dugout. Cano moves to 3rd on the play, then he scores when Shields' pick-off attempt is above 3B Sean Rodriguez's head. The game takes only 2:11, tied for quickest this year.
2017-Yankees RF Aaron Judge adds another flourish to his outstanding 2017 AL Rookie season, as he wins the MLB All-Star Game HR Derby, staged at Marlins Park on the eve of the 2017 MLB All-Star Game with a total of 47 HRs, including 4 HR shots measured at over 500 feet. He defeats Marlins Miguel Sano for the title as local favorite and defending 2016 MLB All-Star HR Champion Giancarlo Stanton is eliminated in the 1st round.
2019-Former Yankees Pitcher Jim “Bull Dog” Bouton had passed away at the age of 80. (1939-2019)
In 1958, Jim Bouton had pitched at West Michigan Univ. before signing with the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would reach the Bronx in 1962. Bouton was the winning pitcher of the 22-inning game against the Tigers in 1962. He would finish his Yankees Rookie season with an 7-7 record along with a 3.99 ERA and 2 saves in 36 games. He didn’t appear in the 1962 World Series against the Giants. For the Yankees in 1963, as a Starter Jim would post a 21–7 record with a 2.53 ERA in 40 games. He was named to the 1962 AL All-Star team pitching staff. In 1964, he had posted an 18-13 record with a 3.02 ERA in 38 games for the team. He would appear in 2 World Series for the 1963-1964 Yankees, going 2-1 with a 1.48 ERA in 3 games; winning 2 games against the 1964 Cardinals; while losing a 1-0 shutout, a 4-hitter to the Dodgers Starter Don Drysdale in 1963 World Series. In 1965, he would injure his pitching arm, he was never being effective starter again for the Yankees. His Yankees Pitching career record was a 55-51 record with a 3.36 ERA and 4 saves in 197 games. In October of 1968, he was sold by the Yankees to the AAA Seattle Angels (PCL), who would become the new AL Expansion Team, the Seattle Pilots. Bouton would resurfaced in the MLB as a knuckleball relief pitcher in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots and later pitch for the Astros. This period is well documented his baseball book in “Ball Four”. Although he was moderately successful, after the backlash against “Ball Four”, Bouton would disappear from the MLB. He continued to pitch for pro and semipro teams, he eventually made it back to the MLB with the 1978 Braves for 5 games, pitching at the age of 39. Bouton had gone 11-9 with a 2.82 ERA with the 1978 Savannah Braves, some thought that Braves Team Owner Ted Turner recalled Bouton largely as a way of selling tickets to some September games. Bouton, however, turned people's heads, pitching much better than anyone expected. On September 14th, he would throw a 3-hitter over 6 innings to record a victory over the Giants. On September 24th, he would work 8 innings, while giving up only 2 runs in a hard luck loss against the Reds in Atlanta.After the 1978 NL season was completed, he would retire from baseball. His last MLB comeback was documented in “Ball Five”, which was published as an addition to his more famous book, “Ball Four.” Jim Bouton would finish MLB Pitching career with a 62-63 record, along with a 3.57 ERA and 6 saves in 304 games. Also, he had worked as a TV Sportscaster for WABC-TV and WCBS-TV in New York City. He had briefly acted in movies and had a comedy CBS-TV TV Show called “Ball Four.” Also, he was creator of the “Big Chew” bubble gum company.
Jim Bouton, despite his successful baseball career, will forever be better known for “Ball Four”, which consists of diary entries describing daily life in the game. It was edited by Sports Journalist Leonard Shecter, a long-time friend of Bouton's. Perhaps the biggest controversy involving Bouton and his book, which was published in 1970, was his description of the habitual use of amphetamines by many MLB players. In addition to the controversy surrounding amphetamines, the book was seen by some members of the baseball establishment as a blight on the game because it depicted "the nation's heroes" acting human and doing immoral - but still entirely normal - things like drinking, swearing and chasing women. MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn even tried to get Bouton to sign a written apology and claim that the book's events were faked and entirely concocted by Schecter. Bouton, true to his nickname of "Bulldog", refused to cave in to pressure from Kuhn and others and stood by his story. A follow-up volume, “I'm Glad You Didn't Take It Personally,” was issued in 1971. It was dedicated by Bouton to his detractors. Bouton would go on to write several other books, both fiction and non-fiction and to become a fan favorite. The baseball establishment always seemed to distance itself from Jim Bouton, although he was finally invited back to an Old-Timer's Day at Yankee Stadium in 1998. His son had written an editorial in the New York Times requesting that the Yankees should have him back for an Old Timer’s Day game appearance. At the game, while on the mound, Jim threw his classic pitching style, in which his hat flew off his head after throwing a pitch, drawing the crowd’s attention.
2021-Former Yankees Pitcher Richard “Dirt” Tidrow (1974-1979) had passed away at age of 74. (1947-2021)
On January 28,1967, hurler Richard Tidrow was drafted by the Indians in the 4th round of the 1967 MLB Amateur Player Draft (January Secondary). He would pitch for the Tribe from 1972 to April 1974. As an Indians starter, he had posted a 29-34 record with a 3.78 ERA in 85 games. On April 26,1974, Richard “Dirt” Tidrow came over to the Yankees from the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade. With the Yankees, he became the Set-Up Man for Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle. After pitching effectively in relief for several seasons, he would return to the starting rotation during the 1978 AL season, following injuries to veteran Bronx Starters Catfish Hunter and Don Gullett, as he went 7-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 31 games for the team. As a Yankees Pitcher, he had posted a 40-33 record with a 3.61 ERA and 23 saves in 211 games; before being traded to Cubs for hurler Ray Burris during the 1979 AL season. He would finish with an MLB Pitching career with a record of 100-94 with a 3.68 ERA and 55 saves in 620 games. Tidrow had pitched in the MLB for the Indians, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and the Mets. “Dirt” had appeared in 2 World Series with the Yankees, pitching in 4 games with no record. In the AL Post Season for the Yankees, he went 1-0 in 8 games. When his MLB Pitching career ended in 1984, Tidrow has been an MLB Scout for the Yankees. Since 1994, he has worked in the front office for the Giants. Tidrow was a Special Assistant to the GM in 1996. Then Tidrow was the Giants Farm Director from 1997 to 2005. In 2012, he is the "Vice President, Player Personnel,” a job he has held since at least 2008.
2023-The Yankees have announced that former MLB player Sean Casey will become the Yankees new MLB Hitting Coach for the rest of the 2023 MLB season. Casey replaces the currently fired Hitting Coach Dillon Lawson.
July 11th
1884-Former Yankees OF/Pitcher Harold “Harry” Wolter (1910-1913) was born. (1884-1970)
On January 18,1910, Pitcher/OF Harry Wolter was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox for $1,500. Harry will hit .277 with 10 HRs and 122 RBIs in 396 games for the Yankees. Even though he was a Pitcher, the Yankees never used him as one in his 4 seasons with the team. After playing for the Yankees, Harry would return to the Minor Leagues, playing in the Class AA Pacific Coast League, before returning to the MLB finishing out his playing career with the 1917 Cubs. Overall, as an MLB Player with the Reds, Pirates, Cardinals, Red Sox, Yankees and the Cubs, Harry had played in 588 games, while hitting .270 with 12 HRs and 67 RBIs.
1904-The Highlanders salvage the last game of the series with the Pilgrims (aka Red Sox), winning the game by the score of 10-1, but Boston leaves New York City with a 2 1/2 game lead in the 1904 AL pennant race. Outfielder Patsy Dougherty has 4 of New York's 17 hits.
1911-Former Yankees Pitcher Vitautis "Vito” Tamulis (1934-1935) was born. (1911-1974)
A HS baseball star, Vito Tamulis had turned down several college scholarship offers, so Yankees MLB Scout Gene McCann signed him shortly before his 19th birthday. He would started his way up in the Yankees farm chain with the Class D Chambersburg Young Yanks (BRL), going 6-2 right out of high school in 1930. In 1931, his 2nd season in pro ball, Vito moved up to the Class C Cumberland Colts (MAL), making the All-Star team with a 15-4 record and a league-leading 1.92 ERA. In the following season, 1932 in a 3-team split-season with the Albany Senators and the Binghamton Triplets (EL) and the AA Newark Bears (IL), Vito came up with a combined 20-7 record with a 2.41 ERA (not counting his Newark ERA, presently unavailable). After another 3-team season with Binghamton, Albany and AA Newark in 1933, he had posted a 10-8 with a 5.08 ERA; Vito would spend the 1934 baseball season with the AA Newark Bears (IL). He would go 13-7 with a 2.74 ERA for the AA Bears. He got his 1st chance at MLB hitters when the Yankees would bring him up for a late season debut on September 25,1934. Vito would pitch a 7-hit shutout against the A’s. Tamulis would spend the 1935 AL season with the Yankees, posting a 10-5 record with a 4.09 ERA that included 3 shutouts. Also, as a batter, Vito would hit .246. During the following winter, Vito was stricken with pleurisy and missed half the 1936 AL season. Not fully recovered, he would spend the balance of the 1936 baseball season with the AA Newark Bears (IL); he still managed to have a 7-5 record in 96 innings. He would remain with the AA Bears in 1937, going 18-6 with a 3.98 ERA in 190 innings. Overall, Tamulis would post a 11-5 record with a 3.87 ERA and 1 save with a 7.63 ERA in 31 games for the Yankees. For whatever the reason, Tamulis was then traded by the Yankees to the St. Louis Browns for 1B Harry Davis on December 4,1937. He had a 0-3 record with a 7.63 ERA in 3 games for the Browns, who then would waived him to the Dodgers in May of 1938; where he had 3 good seasons with Brooklyn, posting a 29-19 record with a 3.37 ERA and 9 saves in 97 games. He had appeared briefly with the 1941 Phillies going 0-1 in 6 games, then he went back to 1941 Dodgers with a 0-0 record in 12 games to finish out his MLB pitching career. Overall, Vito had posted a 40-28 record with a 3.97 ERA in 170 MLB games.
1920-At the Polo Grounds, a Sunday crowd of 35,000 fans watch a game between the Yankees and the Tigers. The Yankees edge the Bengals by the score of 6-5. Bronx Starter Carl Mays picks up his 12th victory of the 1920 AL season; while Tigers Starter Howard Ehmke takes the complete game loss, he is now at 4-11 mark. Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 27th HR of the season, while Ty Cobb and Sammy Hale hit HRs for the Tigers.
1939-With another Yankees-dominated starting lineup, the AL team defeats the NL squad by a score of 3-1 in the 7th MLB All-Star Game played at Yankee Stadium. Reds OF Ival Goodman fractures his shoulder diving for a ball. Yankees’ veteran hurler Red Ruffing starts the game for the AL squad. Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits a HR for the AL team. The following Yankee players were on the 1939 AL squad: Shortstop Frank Crosetti, Catcher Bill Dickey, Pitchers Lefty Gomez, Red Ruffing and Johnny Murphy, 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon, 3B Red Rolfe and OF George Selkirk. The 1939 MLB All-Star game attendance at Yankee Stadium was 62,892 fans. The 6 Yankee position players would play the entire game, which was managed by Yankees Skipper Joe McCarthy.
1945-Yankees Catcher Aaron Robinson returns from the military. Also, Yankees veteran Starter Red Ruffing is back too, so are MLB players Hugh Mulcahy and Buddy Lewis. Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller will follow; a couple of dozen former MLB players will be in their MLB uniforms before the 1945 AL season is finished.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Stan Thomas (1977) was born.
On August 2,1977, Pitcher Stan Thomas was sent to the Yankees by the Mariners as part of a conditional deal. Stan would post a 1-0 record with a 7.11 ERA in 3 games for the 1977 Yankees. On December 12,1977, Stan was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Ed Ricks and Cash to the White Sox for 1B/DH Jim Spencer, OF Tommy Cruz and Minor League P Bob Polinsky.
1956-Veteran Minor League P Tom Lasorda was traded by Kansas City to the Yankees for Minor League P Wally Burnette. Before joining the A’s, Tommy had been a pitcher in the Brooklyn Dodgers system. He was traded to Kansas City by the Dodgers to clear an MLB roster spot for young Bonus Rookie lefty named Sandy Koufax. Tommy never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. Lasorda will pitch for the Yankees AAA club, the Denver Bears (AA). In 1958, he will return to the Dodgers organization. After retiring as an active player in 1960, he will become a Manager in the Dodgers farm system. Later, he will become an MLB Manager for the Dodgers, replacing the retiring long-time Dodgers Manager Walter Alston.
1959-At Fenway Park, Red Sox Shortstop Don Buddin cracks a 10th inning Grand Slam HR off of Reliever Bob Turley to give the Red Sox an 8-4 win over the Yankees. Bob Turley had replaced Bronx Reliever Jim Bronstad, who took over when Yankees Closer Ryne Duren and Catcher Yogi Berra are tossed out of the game by Umpire Al Summers for arguing pitches.
1959-Former Yankees OF Frank Gilhooley (1913-1918) had passed away.(1892-1959)
On August 25,1913, OF Frank Gilhooley was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. He had appeared in 250 games for the Yankees, while hitting .277 with 2 HRs and 55 RBIs. On December 18,1918, Frank was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Ray Caldwell, Slim Love, C Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and Pitcher Ernie Shore.
1961-At San Francisco’s Candlestick Park, the notoriously vicious winds dominate the 1st game of 1961's 2 MLB All-Star Games. A capacity crowd witnesses a record 7 errors, not to mention hometown hero Stu Miller's wind-induced balk, enabling the AL to forge a 3-3 tie before losing the game by the score of 5-4 in 10 innings. Although kept in the park by the aforementioned wind, All-Star sophomore Pirates OF Roberto Clemente has a huge game, tripling and scoring the game's 1st run, driving in the 2nd with a sacrifice fly, driving Yankees OF Mickey Mantle to the CF fence and delivering the walk-off single, off of Orioles knuckleballer Hoyt Wilhelm. The game-winning rally is comprised solely of contributions by the NL's 4 premier outfielders, in order of appearance: Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Frank Robinson and Clemente. The AL All-Star starting line-up featured Yankees Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in the outfield, while Tony Kubek was the starting Shortstop. Yankees Ace Whitey Ford had started the game, giving up 3 NL hits and 1 run with no decision. Yankee Catchers Yogi Berra and Elston Howard are Reserve Players. Orioles Manager Paul Richards manages the AL squad with Yankees 3B Coach Frank Crosetti as one of his All-Star Game Coaches. Yankees 1960 Manager Casey Stengel was let go by the team; his replacement Ralph Houk wasn’t allowed to manage the 1961 AL All-Star team. The 2nd place 1960 Orioles Manager Paul Richards was named the AL All Star Game Manager.
1962-The Senators would send veteran MLB 1B Dale Long back to the Yankees for Minor League Prospect OF Don Lock, who was playing at AAA Richmond (IL). This will be veteran Dale Long’s 2nd tour with the Yankees. Dale will hit .298 in pinstripes this season. Don Lock was unable to break into the Yankees starting outfield, despite hitting well in the Yankees Minor League system, while showing good HR power.
1992-Former Yankees Pitcher Johnny Barbato (2016) was born.
Johnny Barbato was picked in the 6th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Padres out of a HS in Miami, FL. He only made his pro debut the following season, with the Eugene Emeralds (NL), going 1-4 with a 4.89 ERA in 15 games as a starting pitcher. In 2012, he had a good season as a reliever for the Fort Wayne Wizards (ML) with a record of 6-1, a 1.84 ERA and 3 saves in 48 outings. He had struck out 84 batters in 73 1/3 innings. In 2013, he moved up to the Lake Elsinore Storm (CAL) but he saw his ERA balloon to 5.01 in 49 games, including 7 starts; his record was only 3-6, but he did record 14 saves. In 2014, Barbato pitched in AA for the 1st time, with the San Antonio Missions (TL). He was limited to 27 outings, all in relief, but got things back on track with an ERA of 2.87 and 16 saves to go along with a 2-2 record. On December 29th of that year, he was traded to the Yankees in return for established MLB Reliever Shawn Kelley. He went 1-2 with a 7.62 ERA in 13 games for the 2016 Yankees. Also, he spent time with AAA Scranton (IL). On April 17, 2017, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for a Player to be Named Later. On June 14, 2017, the Pirates would send Minor League P Matt Frawley to the Yankees to complete the trade. He had started the 2018 AL season with the Tigers, then he was sent down to AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL).
1995-New York Yankees Hall of Fame CF/1B Mickey Mantle's final public appearance increases awareness of organ donation programs.
2000-At Turner Field in Atlanta, a crowd of 51,523 fans see the AL squad beats the NL team by a score of 6-3 in the 71st MLB All-Star contest, dubbed the “All Scar” game due to the many stars absent from the both leagues lineups because of injuries. Yankees' Shortstop Derek Jeter and the Braves' 3B Chipper Jones provide the offensive punch with both players going 3-for-3 at plate. Jeter is named the All-Star Game MVP Award winner for his performance in game, becoming the 1st Yankee player to win the award. Catcher Jorge Posada, OF Bernie Williams and Closer Mariano Rivera were named to the AL Squad. Rivera pitches in the 9th inning to finish the game.
2009-The Yankees hit a season-high 5 HRs in Los Angeles, including 2 HRs by 3B Alex Rodriguez, but they still lose the game by the score of 14-8 to the Angels, who have scored 24 runs in 2 games since their 2 most potent offensive weapons, Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter, hit the DL simultaneously on July 9th. The Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez moves past another steroid-tainted player, Rafael Palmeiro for 10th on the all-time MLB HR Career list.
2010-Former Yankee Stadium Public Announcer Robert “Bob” Sheppard (1951-2007) had passed away. (1910-2010)
The long-time Public Address Announcer of the Yankees, Bob Sheppard is the most famous PA voice in sports history. His slow, deep cadence has rung out from "Now batting for the Yankees, number five, Joe DiMaggio" to "Now batting for the Yankees, number two, Derek Jeter." He is New York through and through having graduated from St. John's University in the class of 1932. At St. John's, he spent 4 years on the football team. Also, he was the 1B for their baseball squad. He joined the Yankees in DiMaggio's last year,1951. He has been at the microphone high above Yankee Stadium ever since. He has announced thousands of players over more than 4,000 games. Of course, being the announcer for the Yankees meant that Bob Sheppard was the PA announcer for dozens of World Series games. He has worked 20 World Series in all. He has also been the Public Address announcer for the New York Football Giants, a position he has held from 1956-2005. Since announcing is a part time seasonal job, 81 games a year plus the MLB postseason, Bob Sheppard also taught speech at St. John's University for 25 years. During his winter stay in Florida, Sheppard reads at daily Mass. He is often approached after Mass by fans that say, "You sound like the guy at Yankee Stadium..." He then stops them and confirms he is the voice of Yankee Stadium. Bob Sheppard has kept his age a guarded secret through the years but the combination of his college graduation (1932); his 1910 birth date given on imdb.com seems plausible. His last season of regular work was 2007; he would officially retire from the Yankees in 2009.
2011-CC Sabathia wins his 13th game of the year for the Yankees, as they eke out a 1-0 win over the Tampa Bay. The only run scores on a couple of miscues, after Robinson Cano starts the 7th inning with a single off of James Shields. B.J. Upton makes a nice catch on Jorge Posada's fly ball to center, but his throw to 1st to double Cano sails into the 1st base dugout. Cano moves to 3rd on the play, then he scores when Shields' pick-off attempt is above 3B Sean Rodriguez's head. The game takes only 2:11, tied for quickest this year.
2011-Yankees 2B Robinson Cano wins the annual MLB All-Star Game HR Derby with a record-breaking performance in the final round at Chase Field. After Adrian Gonzalez ties the best-ever HR total for a final round with 11, Cano hitting off his Father Jose, a former MLB Pitcher with the Astros. Robbie launches 12 balls into the stands with 4 outs to spare to claim the 2011 MLB All-Star HR Crown.
2012-Former Yankees Minor League and MLB Pitcher Art Ceccarelli had passed away. (1930-2012)
On May 19,1960, Pitcher Art Ceccarelli was traded by the Cubs to Yankees for hurler Mark Freeman. Art never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). Art had originally been signed by the Dodgers organization in the early 1950’s. This was Art’s 3rd tour with the Yankees organization; he had pitched for the 1954 AA Birmingham Triplets (EL), while posting a 15-12 record with a .3.70 ERA in 35 games. In 1955, he spent the season with the Kansas City A’s, posting a 4-7 mark with a 5.31 ERA. He had started the 1956 season with the A’s appearing in only 3 games, going 0-1. Then he would pitch again in 1956 for the Yankees organization at AA Binghamton (EL), dropping to a 0-3 record with a 9.43 ERA in 12 games. He was sent back to the A’s organization, pitching for their AAA team, the Columbus Jets (IL.) In 1957, the Orioles had acquired Art, where he posted a 0-5 mark in 20 games. Then the Orioles sent him to their AAA team in Vancouver (PCL) for the 1957-1958 seasons. Then the Cubs would pick him up. In 1959-1960, Art was with the Cubs, posting a 5-5 record in 20 games before being traded to the Yankees. With the Yankees 1960 AAA Richmond (IL) club, he would post a 9-4 record with a 3.96 ERA in 21 games. In 1961, Art had posted a 9-6 record with a 3.32 ERA in 28 games. At the end of the 1961 MLB season, he would leave the Yankees organization, signing with the Indians organization, where he pitched for their AAA team until his player retirement in 1963.
2013-Yankees Team Captain Derek Jeter plays for the Yankees for the 1st time since breaking his ankle in Game 1 of the 2012 ALCS. Inserted as the Yankees DH, he singles on the 1st pitch; he sees and comes in to score as the Yankees beat the Royals by the score of 8-4. Jeter comes back after only 4 rehabilitation outings in the Minor Leagues, after 2 Yankees starters, CF Brett Gardner and DH Travis Hafner were injured the previous day. However, Jeter leaves the game after the 5th inning with a tight quad muscle and he will undergo an MRI test.
2017-The Yankees had released veteran DH/1B Chris Carter. He had hit just .201 with 8 HRs, 26 RBIs and 76 strikeouts in 208 plate appearances over 62 games with the team. Also, he made 4 errors in 56 games, while playing at 1B. The Yankees had designated Carter for assignment on June 24th. He was out-righted to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL) on June 28th, but he never played a game for the RailRiders; instead, he was re-added to the MLB 25-man roster on June 29th, but he went just 3-for-17 with 2 walks and 6 strikeouts before being DFA again following the Yankees' loss to the Blue Jays on July 4th.
2022-Former Yankees Reserve INF Richard “Ducky” Schofield Sr. (1966) had passed away. (1935-2022)
Richard Schofield is the Father of former MLB player Richard Schofield Jr. and the Grandfather of Jayson Werth of the Nationals. On May 11,1966, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Giants for $25,000 to fill in for injured Shortstop Ruben Amaro. He would hit just .155 in 25 games for the Bombers before being traded to the Dodgers on September 10,1966 for Pitcher Thad Tillotson and Cash. With the 1966 Dodgers, he would play 3B, while hitting .257. He had originally come up to the MLB with the Cardinals as a “Bonus Baby” in 1953. Later, he would play for the 1960 Pirates, as a Reserve INF, filling in for Bucs starting Shortstop Richard Groat, when he was injured. He was the Bucs starting Shortstop in 1963-1965. The Pirates would trade him to the Giants in 1965, where he became their starting shortstop.
July 12th
1905-The Tigers would beat the Yankees by a score of 6-3 with the help of 2 errors by Yankees 1B Jack Doyle. The veteran 1st basemen Doyle was signed yesterday by the team and this will be his only appearance for New York.
1911-Yankees 3B Roy Hartzell acquired from the St. Louis Browns in January for 3B Jimmy Austin and INF Frank LaPorte, has an MLB career day as the Yankees cleanup hitter. He hits a 3-run double and another double in 1 inning. Then he piles on with a sacrifice fly and Grand Slam HR to drive in a total of 8 runs. It is an AL record until Jimmie Foxx's 9 RBI in a game in 1933. Yankees defeated the Browns by a score of 12-2.
1912-In the Yankees 4-1 win over the St. Louis Browns, Bronx Starter Jack Warhop swipes home in the 3rd inning. It is Warhop’s 2nd steal of home plate in 3 seasons.
1921-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 137th MLB career HR, passing 19th-century MLB star Roger Connor's MLB record of 136 HRs.
1934-Tigers Starter “Schoolboy” Rowe fans 11 Yankees batters in a 4-2 win that puts the Tigers back in 1st place in the AL.
1943-An Armed Forces All-Star team managed by Yankees HOF Babe Ruth, featuring MLB Players Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams play a fund-raising game against the Braves in Boston. Ruth pinch-hits in the 8th inning and flies out to right field. The All-Stars win on a Splendid Splinter HR by the score of 9-8.
1949-The 1949 MLB All-Star Game was played at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, in front of a crowd of 32,577 fans. The American League won the 16th midsummer classic by a score of 11-7. The only Yankees All-Starter was OF Joe DiMaggio. On the AL squad were the following Yankee players: Pitchers Vic Raschi and Allie Reynolds and OF/1B Tommy Henrich. Vic Raschi would appear in the game. The winning AL pitcher was Tigers starter Virgil Trucks, meanwhile Dodgers Don Newcombe was the loser for the NL team. The contest marks the 1st appearance of black players in an All-Star Game: Dodger players: Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Don Newcombe in the NL lineup and Indians Larry Doby among the AL stars.
1951-At Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium in the 1st game of a doubleheader, Yankees Starter Allie “Super Chief” Reynolds No-hits the Indians by a score of 1-0 for the 1st of his 2 No-hitters of the 1951 AL season. Yankees OF Gene Woodling's 7th inning HR off of Tribe Starter Bob Feller is the difference in the 1-0 game. The Chief's no-hitter is the 1st by a Yankees pitcher since Monte Pearson in 1938. The night before this game, Yankees Manager Casey Stengel was asked why by the Cleveland sports media, why he refused the Yankee bullpen pitchers to ride in golf carts on their way in from the visiting team’s bullpen. Casey Stengel replied, “that Yankees only ride in Cadillac’s,” whereupon the Indians GM Hank Greenberg had a Cadillac placed in the Yankees bullpen for the next game. Obviously, it went unused with Allie Reynolds throwing a No-Hitter. In the 2nd game of the doubleheader, the Yankees win behind Starter Vic Raschi as Joe DiMaggio cinches it with a 3-run HR off of Tribe P Chuck Stobbs.
1955-In the 1955 MLB All-Star Game is played at County Stadium in Milwaukee, the AL squad takes a 5-run lead on a 3-run HR by Mickey Mantle off of Phillies hurler Robin Roberts, only to see the NL squad tie it. Braves Pitcher Gene Conley strikes out the side in the 12th inning. Cardinals All-Star Stan Musial comes to bat in the bottom of 12th inning of a 5-5 All-Star deadlock. AL Catcher Yankees Yogi Berra complains about his feet hurting, Musial tells him "Don't worry, I'll have you home in a minute" then “Stan the Man” hits a game-winning HR on the next pitch.
1959-NBC-TV uses outfield TV cameras with 80-inch lenses to show the catchers' signals during a Yankee-Red Sox game. MLB Commissioner Ford Frick requests that they halt its use. It doesn't help Yankees, who drop their last 4 games to the Red Sox, who wins today’s game by a score of 7-3.
1967-The 1967 Mayor’s Trophy game is held at Yankee Stadium. A crowd of 31,5852 fans watched the Mets shutout the Yankees by the score of 4-0. Mets would use 4 veteran hurlers: Don Cardwell, Dennis Bennett, Bob Shaw and Jack Lamabe combined for a 5-hitter against the Bronx Bombers. Bronx Pitcher Cecil Perkins had started the game and took the lost.
1968-The Giants had traded veteran hurler Lindy McDaniel to the Yankees for MLB veteran Starter Bill Monbouquette. Lindy McDaniel would pitch effectively 3 of 5 seasons as a Yankees Relief Pitcher, including a 9-5 record with 25-saves season in 1970. He would post a 38-29 record with 58 saves as a Yankees Reliever. On December 7,1973, he was traded to the Royals for OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright. Bill Monbouquette was at the end of his fine MLB pitching career, which started with the Red Sox in the 1950’s, then he pitched for the Tigers during the mid-1960’s, before joining the Yankees in 1967. For the 1967-1968 Yankees, he had an 11-12 record with a 3.19 ERA in 50 games.
1977-Bronx 2B Willie Randolph hits the game-winning HR as Yankees Starter Don Gullett pitches the Bronx Bombers to a 5-2 win over the Brewers. The win stops the Yankees losing streak at 3 games.
1987-The Yankees would trade MLB Pitcher Bob Tewksbury along with 2 Minor League Pitchers: Rich Scheid and Dean Wilkins to the Cubs for MLB Starter Steve Trout, who has just pitched back-to-back shutouts for the Cubs. A major disappointment for the Yankees, Steve post a 0-4 record with a 6.60 ERA in 14 games. On December 22,1987, Trout was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve OF Henry Cotto to the Mariners for 3 Pitchers: Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker and Wade Taylor.
1989-Former Yankees 1978 Cy Young Winner Ron “Gator” Guidry retires from MLB baseball. During his 14-year MLB pitching career with the 1975-1988 Yankees, “Louisiana Lightning” compiles a 170-91 pitching record with a 3.29 ERA in 368 games. The Gator is most remembered for his 1978 AL season performance, when he posted a 25-3 record with a WP .893 along with a 1.74 ERA; winning the AL Cy Young Award and the 1978 AL The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award. In the World Series play with the Yankees, Ron went 3-1 with a 1.69 ERA in 4 games. In AL post-season series play, Ron was 2-1 in 4 games. Guidry won the AL Golden Glove for Pitchers from 1982-1987. He was selected to the AL All-Star team 4 times during his MLB pitching career. In 1984, Ron Guidry was the winner of the Roberto Clemente Award. He later became a Yankees MLB Pitching Coach. Later, Ron would write a baseball book about his Yankees spring training camp driving experiences with Yankees Hall of Fame Catcher Yogi Berra.
1990-The White Sox Starter Melido Perez pitches a rain-shortened 6-inning no-hitter over the Yankees, as the White Sox win the game by a score of 8-0. His brother, Pascual is watching the game on the Yankees bench. This is the 7th no-hitter of the 1990 MLB season, the most since 1917 MLB season. Lance Johnson makes a diving over the shoulder catch in the 5th inning to save a hit; also, he belts out a 3-run HR for the White Sox.
1990-Current Yankees Minor League Reliever Chasen Shreve (2015-2018) was born.
On June 8, 2010, Pitcher Chasen Shreve was drafted by the Braves in the11th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had appeared in 15 games for the 2014 Braves with no record. On January 1, 2015, he was traded by the Braves along with P David Carpenter to the Yankees for Minor League P Manny Banuelos. As a Yankees Reliever, Chasen had posted a 14-6 record with a 3.92 ERA with 2 saves in 180 games. On July 29, 2018, Chasen was traded by the Yankees with along P Giovanny Gallegos to the Cardinals for 1B Luke Voit and International Bonus Slot Money. At the time of the trade, Shreve had a 2-2 record with a 4.26 ERA and 1 save in 40 games with the Yankees. With the 2018 Cardinals, he went 1-2 with a 3.07 ERA in 20 games. In 2022, he had signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees, but he did not appear at the MLB level with the team. After the season, the club would granted him MLB Free Agency. In June of 2024, Chasen would sign a minor league deal with the Yankees, he is currently pitching for AAA Scranton.
1999-Current Yankees Catcher Austin Wells (2024) was born.
Catcher Austin Wells was selected by the Yankees with the #28 pick in the 1st round of the 2020 MLB Amateur Player Draft, out of the Univ. of Arizona. Two years earlier, he had been drafted by the same Yankees in the 35th round of the 2018 amateur draft after graduating from High School, but he chose to go on to college. At Arizona, he would hit .353 as a freshman in 2019 and .375 in 2020 before the season was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic. He would make his pro debut in 2021 with the Class A Tampa Tarpons (Low-SE). Wells was promoted to the Hudson Valley Renegades (High-East) before the end of the year. In a combined 103 games, he had hit .264 with 16 HRs and 76 RBIs and was named an organizational All-Star. Then he would play in the AZL after the season. In 2022, he started the year at Hudson Valley, went down briefly to Tampa after an injury, then he would finished the season with the Somerset Patriots in the AA Eastern League. In 92 games, he had hit .277 with 20 HRs and 65 RBIs and was again named an organization All-Star. He was a non-roster invitee to the 2023 Yankees' MLB spring training in 2023. In 2024, he would make the Yankees 26-man MLB roster as a Reserve Catcher.
2000-In a 6-player deal, the Reds had traded veteran MLB Starter Denny Neagle, who was 8-2 with a 3.52 ERA and Reserve OF Mike Frank to the Yankees for 4 Minor Leaguer Players: 3BProspect Drew Henson, OF Jackson Melian, Pitchers Brian Reith and Ed Yarnall. None of the players received by the Reds did anything of value at the MLB level. Within a year, 3B Prospect Drew Henson would be traded back to the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, MLB Coach and Yankees Broadcast Announcer Robert “Bobby” Murcer (1965-1966,1969-1974,1979-1983) passes away from Cancer. (1946-2008)
Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, but he still had a very good MLB playing career with the Yankees. He made the AL All-Star team in 1971-1974. He would win a AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best Yankees season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331 with 25 HRs and 94 RBIs. Overall, Bobby had appeared in 1,256 games with the Yankees, while hitting .278 with 175 HRs and 687 RBIs. In the winter of 1974, he was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner had promised him that he would be always a Yankee player, as long as he owned the team. Bobby was unhappy during his time with the Giants, he hated playing at Candlestick Park with the bad weather and strong winds blowing in the outfield. In February of 1977, Giants would trade him to the Cubs for 3B Bill Madlock. At Wrigley Field, the Cubs fans liked Bobby as a player; he enjoyed playing daytime baseball in Chicago. During the 1979 MLB season, Bobby would return to the Yankees, coming from the Cubs in a trade for Minor League P Pete Semall. He would appear in 1 World Series with the 1981 Yankees with no hits. After finishing out his Yankee playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees Radio-Television announcer. His overall MLB playing career record was a career .277 BA, finishing with 252 HRs and 1,043 RBIs.
2008-In a 9-4 victory over the Blue Jays, the Yankees Alex Rodriguez hits his 537th MLB career HR passing Yankees HOF OF Mickey Mantle on the All-Time MLB Career HR list. Already this season, A-Rod has passed Hall of Fame Sluggers Ted Williams, Willie Mc Covey, Jimmie Foxx and Mickey Mantle. Next up on the list is former Phillies HOF slugger Mike Schmidt who is 12th on list with 548 MLB career HRs. As a Yankee player, A-Rod has hit 192 HRs. Also, in the game, Yankees Captain Derek Jeter hit his 200 MLB career HR for the Yankees.
2008-Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Schaeffer (1952) had passed away.(1924-2008)
Harry Schaeffer had served in the Navy during World War II. The 22-year-old left-hander would return just in time to put together a 12-6 record with the 1946 Class D Stroudsburg Poconos (NAL). Harry was obtained by the Yankees organization from Stroudsburg as part of a Minor League working agreement before the start of the 1947 baseball season. He would spend time his playing time until 1952 in the Minors, working his way up the ladder in the Yankees farm system. One of his good seasons came in 1948 with the Class B Manchester Yankees (NEL), when he forged a league-leading 2.33 ERA and put together a 12-9 record; while pitching 209 innings, plus making the All-Star team. Harry went all-out for the 1951 Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL), when he went 19-9 with a 2.59 ERA; while pitching 261 innings, opening the door for his 1st trip to Yankee Stadium. Schaeffer's MLB pitching career began and ended in 1952, when he lost his only decision in 5 games for the Yankees. Harry would spend the rest of 1952 season splitting time with the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) and the AAA Oakland Oaks (PCL) putting together a combined 7-5 record with a 3.07 ERA for the season. The left-hander would spend 2 more seasons in the high Minor Leagues, spending 1953 season with the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), while winning 11 games. Harry finished up his Minor League pitching career in 1954, pitching for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (AA) and the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL). Harry would end his 9-season run with an 84-67 record with a 3.32 ERA, while pitching 1,241 innings in 248 games.
July 13th
1889-Former Yankees and HOF Pitcher Stan “The Silent Pole” Coveleski (1928) was born. (1899-1984)
Stan Coveleski would finish his long MLB Pitching career with the 1928 Yankees by going 5-1 with a 5.74 ERA in 12 games. He didn’t appear in the 1928 World Series against the Cardinals for the Yankees. Stan had finished his 14-season MLB Pitching career posting a 215-142 record with a 2.89 ERA and 11 saves in 450 games. He had pitched for the A’s, Indians, Senators and the Yankees. He had won 20 games or more in 5 seasons in the AL. He had appeared in 2 World Series (1920 Indians and 1924 Senators), while posting a 3-2 record in 5 games. In 1969, the Veteran’s Committee will elect him to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1905-The Philadelphia Athletics would "sell" Catcher Mike "Doc" Powers to the Highlanders. Powers will be sold back to the Athletics on August 7th. As noted by Lyle Spatz, Powers was needed to replace back-up Catcher Red Kleinow, who was injured yesterday in a game with the Tigers. Powers will play mainly at 1B, replacing starting 1B Hal Chase, whose nose was broken in the Tigers game.
1919-Red Sox “Submarine” Starter Carl Mays quits the mound after 2 innings at Chicago, blaming his Boston teammates for lack of support a-field. In defiance of Ban Johnson's order that no action be taken until Carl Mays is returned to good standing. Red Sox Manager Edward Barrow trades Mays to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers Bob McGraw and Allen Russell with $40,000 Cash on July 29,1919. AL President Ban Johnson suspends Carl Mays indefinitely and orders AL umpires not to let him pitch for New York. The Yankees would get a court order restraining Ban Johnson from interfering, further eroding Johnson's authority and standing. The AL Directors will reinstate Carl Mays. In retaliation, on October 29th the National Commission will refuse to recognize the Yankees' 3rd-place finish, they will withhold the players' share of the pool. New York's Co-Team Owners Jacob Ruppert and Col. Huston will pay the players shares out of their own pockets.
1920-The fans are flocking to see the mighty Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hit HRs (12 HRs in June). A twin bill with the St. Louis Browns draws a Polo Grounds attendance record of 38,823 fans, the 3rd record-breaker of the 1920 AL season. The Browns take the 1st game by the score of 6-4. Browns Starter Urban Shocker throws a complete game, while picking up his 12th victory of the season. Bronx Starter Rip Collins take the lost, he is now 5-3 for the season. In the 2nd game the Bombers bounce back to a 7-2 win, as Yankees Starter George Mogridge throws a complete game victory to even his pitching record to 4-4. Also, Browns Starter Weilman throws a complete game, the loss drops his pitching record to 6-6. Oddly there are no HRs hit by either team during the twin-bill.
1920-Former Yankees Pitcher Frank “Dutch” Hiller (1946,1948-1949) was born. (1920-1987)
Before the start of the 1943 AL season, the Yankees had signed 22-yearold Frank “Dutch” Hiller as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. "Dutch" as he was sometimes called was out of Lafayette College in PA, where he starred on the mound with a 22-2 record, he also had played College Football and Basketball. He would start out his pro baseball career with his hometown AA Newark Bears (IL). He would win a total of 39 games for the 1943-1945 AA Bears. After a short trial with the 1946 Yankees, he had posted a 0-2 record with a 4.76 ERA in 3 games. "Dutch" was a 15-game winner with the 1947 AAA Kansas City Blues (AA) before heading back to Yankee Stadium, going 5-2 with a 4.04 ERA in 22 games for the 1948 Yankees. He was back in the Bronx in 1949, going 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 4 appearances, he would finish out the 1949 season with the AAA Blues again with an 11-8 record with a 5.79 ERA. Overall, Frank had posted a 5-6 pitching career record for the Yankees, while appearing in 29 games. On February 10,1950, Dutch was purchased by the Cubs from the Yankees. Dutch would proceed to have his best MLB career season by going 12-5 for the 1950 Cubs, but he fell to a 6-12 mark for the 1951 NL season. On January 3,1952, Frank was traded by the Cubs to the Reds for P Willie Ramsdell. Hiller would spend the season with the 1952 Reds, while posting a 5-8 record with a 4.63 ERA. At the end of the 1952 NL season the Reds would deal him to the Giants for OF Gail Henly. He would pitch 19 innings for the 1953 Giants, while posting a 2-1 record with a 6.15 ERA in 19 games; this would be the end of his 7-season MLB pitching career. He would finish out his MLB pitching career with a 30-32 record with a 4.42 ERA in 138 games. "Dutch," who is now at age of 33 would give it 1 more shot with the 1954 AAA San Francisco Seals (PCL). He would finish out his 8 seasons in the Minor Leagues with an 82-54 record and a 3.18 ERA.
1923-Yankees veteran Starter Bob Shawkey hits a triple and double in the 3rd inning, tying an AL record for most extra-base hits by a pitcher in 1 inning. As the Yankees downed Connie Mack’s Athletics by a score of 10-6.
1927-Former Yankees Minor League P Ruben Gomez was born. (1927-2004)
On December 3,1951, hurler Ruben Gomez was drafted by the Yankees from St. Jean (Provincial League; Canada) in the 1951 MLB Minor League Player Draft. Ruben would never pitch for the Yankees at the MBL level. When Yankees GM George Weiss decided that Elston Howard was going to be the 1st black Yankee MLB player, he released or traded away the other Minority players in the Yankees Minor League system. In June of 1952, Ruben Gomez was released by the Yankees organization. In spring of 1953, the Giants would sign him. In 1954, he would win 17 games for the NL Champion Giants. He would win 1 game in the 1954 World Series against the Indians. In 1957, Ruben will win 15 games for the Giants in their last season at the Polo Grounds. In 1958, Ruben won the 1st MLB game played at Seals Stadium in San Francisco, beating their long-time rivals the Dodgers by the score of 8-0. In 1959, the Giants would trade Gomez to the Phillies. In 1962-1963, he would later pitch for the Indians and Twins. He will spend the next couple of seasons in the Minor Leagues before coming back to the MLB in 1967 with the Phillies for 7 games with no record. In 10 MLB seasons, Ruben had posted a 76-86 record.
1934-In front of 20,000 fans during the 3rd inning at Navin Field in Detroit, Bronx veteran Slugger Babe Ruth wallops a Tommy Bridges' 3-2 pitch far over the RF wall for his 700th MLB career HR. The 4-2 Yankee victory over the Tigers put the Bronx Bombers back into 1st place, but Yankees’ veteran 1B Lou Gehrig is helped off the field in the 1st inning with a severe bout of lumbago.
1934-Former Yankees Reserve OF Ken Hunt (1959-1960) was born. (1934-1997)
In 1952, the Yankees had signed OF Ken Hunt as an MLB Free Agent. He would appear in only 32 games with the 1959-1960 Yankees, while batting .303 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. He was unable to crack the regular starting Yankee outfield (Maris, Mantle and Lopez-Berra). In December of 1960, Ken was selected by the Angels in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft (Angels and the “new” Senators). Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel, who helped the Angels Front office with scouting reports on players available, recommended him to the Angels front office. Ken would hit 25 HRs with 70 RBIs in 149 games, while hitting .255 for the 1961 Angels. In 1962, he broke his collarbone only appearing in 13 games for the team, while hitting just .182. In 1963, Ken appeared in 52 games, while hitting just .183 for the Angles. On September 12,1963, he was sold to the Senators; he appeared in only 7 games with them, while hitting .200. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1964 Senators appearing in 51 games, hitting only .135 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs. Then he played in the Senators Minor League system until April 2,1966, when they traded him to the White Sox for hurler Bob Humphreys. He did not appear at the MLB level with the White Sox. Overall, Ken had appeared in 310 MLB games, while hitting .226 with 33 HRs and 111 RBIs. Ken was a close friend of former Yankees’ teammate OF Roger Maris. They are both buried next to each other in the same cemetery in Fargo, ND.
1940-Former Yankees Reliever Jack “Chief” Aker (1969-1972) was born.
The Yankees had obtained veteran Reliever Jack Aker from the Seattle Pilots for Pitcher Fred Talbot during the 1969 AL season. Working out of the Yankees bullpen, Jack would post a 16-10 record with a 2.23 ERA and 59 saves in 126 games. On May 17,1972, he was sent by the Yankees to the Cubs to complete an earlier deal made on January 20,1972. The Yankees would send a Player to be Named Later to the Cubs for veteran OF Johnny Callison. The Yankees would send Reliever Jack Aker on May 17,1972 to the Cubs to complete the trade. Overall, Jack went 47-45 with a 3.28 ERA in 495 games with 123 saves. Jack was originally signed by the Kansas City A’s. He had pitched for the A’s, Pilots, Yankees, Cubs, Braves and the Mets during his MLB pitching career (1964-1974). After his playing career ended, Aker was a Minor League Manager and an Indians MLB Coach in 1986-1987. He currently runs a baseball camp in the NY/NJ area. He was nicknamed "Chief" because of his American Indian heritage. He also offers free baseball clinics to Native American youth in the southwest U.S.
1940-In the 1st game of doubleheader, Yankees All-Star OF Joe DiMaggio drives in 7 runs during the Yankees 10-4 win against the St. Louis Browns. DiMaggio had 4 hits in that game, 2 HRs and 2 singles. In the 2nd game, the Yankee Clipper adds a 2-run HR, to finish the day with 9 runs batted in and help the Yankees complete a sweep of the Browns by a score of 12-6.
1943-The AL squad edges the NL team by the score of 5-3 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia in the 1st MLB All-Star Game played under the lights. A crowd of 31,938 baseball fans watched the Mid-season Classic. Red Sox INF Bobby Doerr is the AL hitting hero with a 3-run HR off of Cardinals P Mort Cooper in the 2nd inning. Pirates 1B Vince DiMaggio has a single, triple and HR in 3 trips. Doerr also handles 6 fielding chances. At the All-Star break, he had handled 307 errorless chances, dating back to May 20th. His streak will end at 349 chances, a record that he will break in 1948. The game is broadcast to GIs via shortwave radio. There are no Yankees in the AL All-Star starting line-up, but Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy has the following Bombers in reserve, 2B Joe Gordon, Catchers Bill Dickey and Buddy Rosar, Outfielders Charlie Keller and Johnny Lindell. Yankee Starters Spud Chandler and Tiny Bonham are on the AL Pitching staff, but they are not used in the game.
1947-Making his 14th MLB team uniform switch, veteran MLB hurler Bobo Newsom joins the Yankees. His 7-5 pitching record with a 2.80 ERA in 17 games for the rest of the 1947 AL season will help the Yankees to win the AL flag. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers, losing 1 game as a Starter, giving up 6 runs in 2 innings of work. For the 1948 MLB season, Bobo Newsom will join the Giants.
1948-A crowd of 34,009 fans watches the 1948 MLB All-Star game being played at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Yankees Starter Vic Raschi drives in the winning runs with a bases-loaded single in the 4th inning. He is the winning pitcher as the AL squad again tops the NL team by the score of 5-2. AL All-Stars Red Sox OF Ted Williams, Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio, Detroit 3B George Kell and Starter Hal Newhouser would miss starting in the AL lineup due to injuries. Yankees have 3 players in the AL starting line-up, OF Tommy Henrich, 1B George McQuinn and Catcher Buddy Rosar. Yankees Manager Bucky Harris has young Catcher Yogi Berra in reserve. Meanwhile Yankees Closer Joe Page is on the AL team pitching staff, but he doesn’t appear in the game.
1951-Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle strikes out 3 times in a game against the Indians. A crowd of 45,097 fans at Cleveland watched the Tribe beat the Bronx Bombers by the score of 11-8. Indians Starter Bob Lemon picks-up his 9th win, while Yankees Reliever Spec Shea drops to a 2-5 record. Yankees get HRs by Joe Collins and Gil McDougald, while the Tribe get HRs from Jim Hegan and Al Rosen.
1952-Bronx Starter Vic Raschi gives up only 1 Detroit hit as the Yankees rout the Tigers by the score of 11-1 in the 1st game of a doubleheader. The Yankees win the 2nd game by a score of 12-2.
1956-Former Yankees Reliever Bill Caudill (1982) was born.
On April 1,1982, Reliever Bill Caudill was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 19,1981. The Cubs would send Players to be Named Later to the Yankees for Minor League INF Pat Tabler. Bill had a very short career with the Yankees, less than 1 day. On April 1,1982, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later and Rookie Starter Gene Nelson to the Mariners for MLB Starter Shane Rawley. On April 6,1982, the Yankees would send Reserve OF Bobby Brown to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1959-The Red Sox would sweep their 5-game series with Yankees with a13-3 rout featuring a big 6th inning. Gene Stephens pinch-runs for Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams, when the Red Sox bat around; then he hits a Grand Slam HR.
1960-The Yankees host the 29th MLB All-Star game with AL squad losing to the NL team by a score of 6-0. Yankees Starter Whitey Ford is the losing pitcher, while Pirates Starter Veron Law is the winner for the NL. The Mid-Season Classic only draws a disappointing crowd of only 38,362 fans to Yankee Stadium. The following Yankees were on the 1960 AL All-Star team, Catcher Yogi Berra, Pitcher Whitey Ford, CF Mickey Mantle, RF Roger Maris,1B Bill Skowron and 2 Reserve Players; Pitcher Jim Coates and Catcher Elston Howard. White Sox Manager Al Lopez managed the 1960 AL squad facing the NL team, who were led by Dodger’s Walt Alston.
1961-White Sox veteran Starter Early Wynn gets an early departure as he retires just 2 Yankees batters in the 1st inning. Then Mickey Mantle (30th) and Roger Maris (34th) belt back-to-back HRs to sending the veteran pitcher to an early shower. For Slugger Mickey Mantle, it is the 13th HR in his MLB player career off of Early Wynn, his favorite target. The Yankees win the game by a score of 6-2.
1964-In Cleveland, the Bronx Bombers would hit 4 HRs to top the Tribe by a score of 10-4. Yankees Starter Roland Sheldon pitches a complete game, while giving up only 6 Indian hits and 4 runs. The Yankees 4-HRs were hit by: Clete Boyer 1 HR (2-run), Tom Tresh 2-HRs, (2-run HRs) and a solo HR shot by Mickey Mantle.
1973-Yankees CF Bobby Murcer hits 3 HRs, all off of Royals Starter Gene Garber, as he knocks in all the runs in the Yankees' 5-0 win over the Royals. Yankees veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre scatters 6 Royals hits in racking up his 39th shutout of his Yankees pitching career. Murcer will not hit another HR for the Yankees until August 19th.
1979-Former Yankees Pitcher Kei Igawa (2007-2008) was born.
On November 28, 2006, the Yankees won the bidding for Pitcher Kei Igawa, when the Hanshin Tigers accepted their offer of about $26 million. The Mets bid about $15 million for Igawa. Kei signed for a 5-year, $20 million deal. Igawa got married early in 2007, a fact that was revealed to the media by Yankees' Minor League Pitching Coach Bill Connors, before Kei could notify anyone. He made his MLB pitching debut as the starting pitcher against the Orioles on April 7, 2007, giving up 7 runs in 5 innings. Igawa was involved in 2 unusual records early in 2007. When he joined Sean Henn and Chase Wright in picking up wins in 1 sweep, it became the 1st time in MLB history that 3 pitchers got their 1st MLB win as part of a 3-game sweep. Later, when Philip Hughes joined Igawa and Wright in making his MLB pitching debut, they became the 1st trio of starting pitchers in 52 years to all make their debuts in the season's 1st 20 games. The prior trio had been Larry Jackson, Luis Arroyo and Floyd Wooldridge (1955 Cardinals). Igawa was 2-1 with a 7.63 ERA in his 1st 6 MLB games for the Yankees before he was demoted to the minors. He went 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in 2 games for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), and then he was moved up to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), posting a 2-2, record with a 2.80 ERA before returning to the Bronx. Igawa's record for the 2007 Yankees was a 2-3 mark with a 6.79 ERA in 12 games, when he returned to Scranton, where he was 5-4, with a 3.69 ERA overall. He would pitch 2 games for the 2008 Yankees, including 1 start, going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA. He would spend the rest of the 2008 season with Scranton, where he pitched very well, going 14-6, while posting a 3.45 ERA in 26 games with 117 strikeouts in 156.1 innings. In 2009, he fell back to 10-8 record with a 4.15 ERA, as he spent the entire season as a starter with Scranton. He was back for a 3rd full season in AAA in 2010, but he fell back again, this time posting a record of 3-4 with a 4.32 ERA in 22 games, 10 of them starts; he pitched only 77 innings that season. He was in the 2011 Yankees' MLB spring training camp, starting the last season on his 5-year contract with the Yankees, when a major earthquake hit Japan on March 11th. Igawa's native region was among the most affected. He would obtain permission from the Yankees front office to return home the next day in order to look after close relatives. Igawa would spend most of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) going 2-2 with a 4.31 ERA in 16 games (6 starts). Also, he made 4 starts at AAA Scranton, finishing with a 1-0 with a 2.78 ERA. Igawa would finish his 5-year contract with the Yankees with only 2 wins at the MLB level and 36 wins in the Minor Leagues. The team would grant him MLB Free Agency. In 2012, Igawa returned to Japan to pitch by signing with the Orix Buffaloes.
1984-The Yankees retired former players Roger Maris (#9) and Elston Howard (#32) Yankee uniform numbers. The team also erects plaques in their honor to pay tribute to their achievements as Bronx Bombers. Roger Maris had broken Babe Ruth’s HR Record of 60 HRs with 61 HRs in 1961. He had won back-to-back AL MVP Awards in 1960-1961. Elston Howard was the Yankees 1st black MLB player in 1955, he would play with the team from 1955 to August 3, 1967, when he was traded to the Red Sox. In 1963, he was the 1st Black player to win the AL MVP Award. In the fall of 1969, Howard became the 1st Yankees Black MLB Coach, a position that he held until his death in 1980.
1988-Yankees Current INF DJ LeMahieu (2019-2024) was born.
Second baseman D.J. LeMahieu was selected by the Tigers in the 41st round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he opted to attend college instead. At LSU, he played in the College World Series in 2008 and 2009. He was selected to the All-Tournament Team in the latter season as his team won the championship. He was then chosen by the Cubs in the 2nd round of the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He reached the MLB with the club 2 summers later. As a Rookie with the Cubs in 2011, D.J. played 37 games, going 15 for 60 with a pair of doubles. He was however victim of a logjam in the Cubs' middle infield, with Starlin Castro having established himself as a budding star at Shortstop, and Darwin Barney and Blake DeWitt both doing well at 2nd base. As a result, the Cubs decided that he was expendable, and on December 8th, he was traded to the Rockies along with Tyler Colvin in return for Ian Stewart and Casey Weathers. With incumbent 2B Mark Ellis having left the Rockies as a MLB Free Agent, LeMahieu stood a good chance to become a regular in Denver in 2012. He did not claim the job immediately, making a couple of stints with the AAA Colorado Springs SkySox (PCL) but his solid hitting when he was given a chance to play meant that his playing time increased as the season went along. On August 28th, however, it was his glove that put him in the record books, as he recorded 12 assists in a 9-inning game - an 8-4 win over the Dodgers - to tie a record held by several players, most recently Harold Reynolds of the Mariners in 1986¬. He hit .297 in 81 games that season, then in 2013, DJ hit .280 in 109 games. He was a full-time starter at 2B in 2014, when he played 149 games for the Rockies and hit .267 with 5 HRs and 42 RBIs. His glove was the best part of his game, as he was voted recipient of the Gold Glove as the NL's best-fielding 2B that season. However, in spite of his defensive prowess, his offense over his 1st 3 seasons with Colorado left something to be desired, as his limited power and few walks resulted on OPS+ numbers of 88, 74 and 76 over the 3 years.
In 2015, he was an NL All-Star for the 1st time as he played 150 games, while hitting .301 with 6 HRs and 61 RBIs, while scoring 85 runs. However, in 2016, there was no denying that he was a solid offensive player, as he won the NL Batting Title with a .348 BA. He had scored 104 runs and hit 32 doubles, 8 triples, 11 HRs with 66 RBIs. In 2017, he was back in the All-Star Game, although his season was clearly not as good. In 155 games, he had hit .310 with 8 HRs and 64 RBIs, scoring 95 runs. He won his 2nd Gold Glove at 2B, and also played in the postseason for the 1st time as Rockies made it to the NLWC Game against the Diamondbacks. He went 0 for 5 with 2 strikeouts. In 2018, the Rockies had one of their best seasons, almost winning the NL West title - they played and lost a 1-game playoff against the Dodgers, after being tied at the end of 162 games - and he hit .276 in 128 games. He had scored 90 runs and his 32 doubles and 15 HRs were both MLB career highs. Also, he repeated as a NL Gold Glove winner, but the relatively low batting average, normally the best part of his offensive game. In the postseason, he was 1 for 6 with a double as the Rockies defeated the Cubs in the NLWC Game. In the NLDs against the Brewers, he was 2 for 9 with 3 walks but he did not score or drive in a run in the 3 games.After the 2018 MLB season, DJ LeMahieu became an MLB Free Agent. On January 11, 2019, he signed a 2-year contract with the Yankees worth $24 million. The Yankees were heading into the 2019 AL season knowing that Shortstop Didi Gregorius would miss at least the 1st half after having Tommy John surgery, so their plan was likely to have D.J. play 2nd, with 2nd-year player Gleyber Torres sliding over to Shortstop. The Yankees had also signed veteran MLB Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to the MLB minimum player contract, a few days before, but this had been more akin to buying a lottery ticket. Indeed, with young 3B Miguel Andujar and the veteran Tulowitzki, both going down with injuries within the 1st couple of weeks of the season.
D.J. became a regular, he got off to one of his best seasons. He was the AL Player of the Month for June, when he hit .395 with 6 HRs and 29 RBIs. Many commentators noted that he was clearly the circuit's MVP for the 1st half of the season. That was perhaps he was more responsible than anyone for the Yankees having overcome their slew of early-season injuries to build a comfortable lead atop the AL East. He was also voted as the starting 2B on the AL team at the 2019 All-Star Game. He would finish the 2019 AL season with a .327 BA, while hitting 26 HRs and 102 RBIs in 145 games for the Yankees. In the 2019 ALDS, he hit .286 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs in 3 games. In the 2019 ALCS, DJ will hit .346 with 2 HRs and 3 RBIs in 6 games. He won an AL Silver Slugger Award for 2B. Given his batting line heavy in batting average, but light in extra-base hits and walks combined with excellent fielding gives him the profile of a prototypical middle infielder from another era. However, such players tend to be relatively short, but at 6' 4", LeMahieu is one of the tallest players to have played 2B on a regular basis in the MLB. In 2020, he would hit .364 with 10 HRs and RBIs in 50 games for the team. The Yankees had granted him MLB Free Agency, despite offers from other MLB clubs, D. J. decide to stay in the Bronx. On January 27, 2021, D.J. was signed as an MLB Free Agent for 6 years with the Yankees. In 2021, he would hit .268 with 10 HRs and 59 RBIs in 150 games. In 2022, D.J. would hit .261 with 12 HRs and 46 RBIs in 125 games and win a Golden Glove. In 2023, he would hit .243 with 15 HRs and 44 RBIs in 136 games.
1994-Former Reserve INF Yankees Jimmy Reese (1930-1931) had passed away.(1901-1994)
On August 12,1927, INF Jimmy Reese was traded by AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) along with INF Lyn Lary to the Yankees for $125,000 Cash. Debuting with the Yankees in 1930, Jimmy hit .346 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 77 games, while backing up Shortstop Tony Lazzeri. He was assigned as Babe Ruth's roommate and famously joked that in reality, he roomed with Ruth's suitcase. He said Ruth treated him "like a son." In 1931, Reese returned to earth, hitting just .241 with 3 HRs and 20 RBIs, while playing in 65 games for the team. He played with the 1930-1931 Yankees. His Yankees playing career totals were a .286 BA in 142 games. On November 12,1932, he became the Player to be Named Later in part of a deal to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for P Johnny Murphy and INF Jack Saltzgaver. Then in 1932, the Cardinals would pick him up on waivers. In February, 1933, Reese was purchased by the AA Los Angeles Angels (PCL) from the Cardinals ending his MLB playing career. After retiring as active player, he became a Coach and Manager in the Minor Leagues, mainly working in the Pacific Coast League. In 1973, he became the MLB Conditioning Coach for the Angels, a position that he held until his death in 1994. The Angels honored Jimmy for his long-time team service by retiring his uniform number.
2004-Yankees Manager Joe Torre manages the 2004 AL All-Star team to a 14-9 victory in the MLB All-Star Game played at Minute Maid Park in Houston, improving his MLB All-Star Team Manager record to 5-0-1 record. The following Yankees were on the 2004 All-Star Team, Derek Jeter, Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez and Garry Sheffield, Pitchers; Javier Vazquez, Tom Gordon and Yankees Closer Mario Rivera, who close out the game. Former Yankees player, now a Texas Ranger 2B Alfonso Soriano was named the game’s MVP.
2005-Former MLB Player, Yankees Minor League Manager and Special Spring Training Instructor Mickey Owen had passed away. (1916-2005)
Mickey Owen was a Catcher who played 13 years in the MLB, achieving prominence in the war years when he was an NL All-Star 4 times. He was 4th in the MVP voting in 1942. He appeared in the 1941 World Series batting usually 8th, but sometimes 7th in the Dodgers’ lineup. He is most famous for dropping a 3rd strike pitch from Dodgers’ P Hugh Casey to Yankees’ batter Tommy Henrich with 2 outs in the 9th inning of Game 4 of the World Series. Henrich reached 1st base and the Yankees scored 4 runs to turn a 4-3 loss into a 7-4 victory. After World War II, Owen defected to the Mexican League; he was banned by MLB for 3 seasons. Owen was unimpressive in the Liga, batting just .256 in 1946 for the Veracruz Blues; most of the other catchers in the League hit as well or better. He played in the MLB from 1937-1945, he returned to MLB in 1949 with the 1949-1951 Cubs. He finished out his MLB playing career with the 1954 Red Sox. Overall, he hit .255 with 14 HRs and 378 RBIs in 1,209 MLB games. He only hit .167 in 5 games in his only World Series appearance with the 1941 Dodgers. Once his active playing career ended, Owen was a Red Sox MLB Coach in 1955-1956. He was also a Minor League Manager (1953 and 1957) for the Yankees and the Braves organizations. Mickey was an MLB Scout for the 1958-1959 Orioles organization. Owen, also founded the Mickey Owen Baseball School for Boys in Miller, MO and a baseball academy, which he would sell in 1964.
2010-George Steinbrenner, Team Owner of the New York Yankees since 1973, passes away from a heart attack at his home in Tampa, FL. (1930-2010)
George Steinbrenner restored the New York Yankees to greatness during his team ownership (1973-2010), he spent lavishly on MLB Free Agents, fired 25 managers and front office personnel at a sometimes’ dizzying pace, but he saw the team win 7 World Series titles. In January of 1973, Cleveland, Ohio shipbuilder George Steinbrenner and a group of investors had acquired the New York Yankees from CBS, Inc. for 12 million dollars. He rebuilds the Yankees farm system that had fallen into disrepair under the CBS ownership to provide new young talent for the team. He had many run-ins with the MLB Commissioner’s office, over player trades, the umpires’ performances, including a ban from the running the team in the early 1990’s, which yield the rebuilding of the team with a core of 4 young players, that help the Yankees regained their World Champion status. Also, George feuded with Baseball’s Hall of Fame over ignoring past Yankees players like Shortstop Phil Rizzuto, keeping the Yankees out of the annual Hall of Fame game at Cooperstown, NY. He would build his own version of a Baseball Hall of Fame at Yankee Stadium, Monument Park. He had relinquished the team's operations to his son, Hal Steinbrenner as his health deteriorated badly in 2008.
2012-Yankees Catcher Russell Martin guns down Angels base runner Howie Kendrick on a steal attempt at 2nd base to preserve the Yankees' 6-5 win over the Angels to begin the 2012 season's 2nd half. It is the 3rd Angels base runner that Martin catches in a steal attempt tonight. Also, he also drives in the winning run in the 8th inning. Yankees 1B Mark Teixeria drives in the other 5 runs for the Yankees with a pair of HRs.
2017-The Yankees had acquired 1B Garrett Cooper from the Brewers in exchange for Pitcher Tyler Webb. Cooper was assigned to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL). Webb, 26,had made his MLB Pitching debut for the Yankees in 2017, posting a 4.50 ERA (6.0IP, 3H, 3ER, 4BB, 5K, 1HR) in 7 appearances. Cooper, 26, was batting .366 (102-for-279) with 64R, 29 doubles, 17 HRs, 82 RBIs and 33 BB in 75 games with the Brewers' AAA Colorado Springs team (PCL). At the All-Star break, he leads all AAA players in batting average and doubles, and ranks 2nd in the PCL in RBIs, on-base percentage (.428) and slugging (.652), is tied for 2nd in extra-base hits (46) and is 3rd in runs scored. The right-handed hitter went 1-for-3 with 1R and 1 RBI in Wednesday's Triple-A All-Star Game. The situation was quite different in his new organization: the Yankees had just promoted AAA 1B Ji-Man Choi to the Bronx and had released veteran Chris Carter; 2 other Bronx 1B Greg Bird and Tyler Austin, were on the DL and as a result there was likely to be a lot opportunity for Garrett to prove his mettle, if he continued to swing the bat well. Indeed, after sending him to AAA, the Yankees immediately changed their minds and called him up to make his Bronx debut as the starting 1B against the Red Sox on July 14th. He went 0 for 4 with 3 strikeouts. After going hitless in 2nd game as well, on July 16th, Cooper got his 1st MLB hit off of Red Sox Starter David Price, a double off the Fenway Park’s Green Monster. He went 6 for 25 (.240) in 8 games before being sent down to AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL) on August 1st. However, he was called back less than a week later, when veteran DH Matt Holliday was placed on the DL. On August 9th, he had the 1st 4-hit game of his MLB playing career in an 11-5 win over the Blue Jays, raising his average to .364. On August 17th, he was placed on the DL with tendinitis in his left hamstring and did not play again that season, finishing the year at .326 with No HRs and 6 RBIs in 13 games for the Yankees. On November 20, 2017, he was traded by the Yankees to the Marlins along with Minor League P Caleb Smith in return for Minor League P Mike King and International Bonus Money.