Post by fwclipper51 on Aug 10, 2024 14:28:10 GMT -5
This Week in Yankees History August 11th-17th
August 11th
1906-Before a crowd of 15‚000 fans at Hilltop Park‚ the White Sox whip the Highlanders by the score of 8-1. New York’s 3B George Moriarty gets into a fight with a fan in the 8th inning before NYC police will break it up.
1907-Former Yankees Pitcher Norman “Bobo” Newsome (1947) was born. (1907-1962)
After being obtained from the Senators on July 11,1947, veteran hurler Bobo Newsome went 7-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 17 games (15 Starts) for the Yankees before being released to the Giants in the spring of 1948. He had been in 14 games for the 1947 Nats, while posting a 4-6 record with a 4.09 ERA. In the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers, Bobo went 0-1 with a 19.29 ERA for the Yankees in 2 games. He had pitched for 1940 Tigers; he was 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 3 games in the 1940 World Series for the Tigers against the Reds. With the 1939-1941 Tigers, Newsome won 20 games in an AL season, 3 times. He had finished his 20-season MLB pitching career (1929-1953) with a 211-222 record with a 3.98 ERA in 600 games.
1907-Former Yankees Pitcher John Gordon “Dusty” Rhoades (1929-1932) was born.(1907-1960)
For the Yankees, Pitcher Gordon “Dusty” Rhoades would post a 7-9 record with 4.57 ERA in 41 games before being traded by the team to the Red Sox on August 1,1932 for veteran MLB Reliever Wilcy Moore. His best Yankees season was in 1931, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.41 ERA in 18 games. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 43-74 record with a 4.85 ERA and 4 saves in 200 games.
1912-In a Tribe 8-3 victory over the Yankees‚ Indians’ Joe Jackson becomes the 2nd AL player to steal home twice in a game. He steals home in the 1st inning‚ then in the 7th inning‚ he steals 2nd base‚ 3rd base and home.
1919-Indians OF Tris Speaker ties an AL record‚ by scoring 5 runs in a 15-9 win at New York.
1921-The Yankees would move 1% point ahead of the Indians with a 7-3 win over the A's.
1923-The Tigers beat the Yankees by the score of 10-4‚ in a series that features the top 2 hitters in the AL. Babe Ruth goes 3-for-8 against the Tigers‚ while Harry Heilmann is 5-for-10 against the Yankees. The 2 players are neck and neck at .390 for the year. After the game‚ AL President Ban Johnson rules that Babe Ruth must give up his Sam Crawford bat‚ made for him by the future Hall of Famer. The bat is "four pieces of seasoned wood‚ carefully glued together." On August 21‚1923, Ban Johnson rules that only 1-piece bats will be allowed‚ a rule that also affects St. Louis Browns Slugger Ken Williams‚ who is also using a plugged bat.
1929-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 500th MLB career HR, this one off of the Indians' hurler Willis Hudlin. Second place all-time MLB HR list is currently Phillies Slugger Cy Williams with 237 HRs.
1934-At Fenway Park‚ Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits a HR and then departs in the 9th inning with the Yankees leading by the score of 2-1. The Sox tie it up‚ and in the 13th inning Tony Lazzeri lands a HR to put the Bombers ahead again. Wes Ferrell‚ batting for Fritz Ostermueller‚ wins the game for Boston‚ 3-2.
1935-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Jake Zalusky (1903) had passed away. (1877-1935)
For the 1903 Yankees, Catcher Jake Zalusky had appeared in just 7 games. He would hit .313 with No HRs and 1 RBI. He was traded along with Rookie Pitcher Eddie Quick to the AA Toledo (AA) for Rookie Catcher Red Kleinow.
1936-Former Yankees Pitcher (1967-1968) and Yankees MLB Pitching Coach (1985-1986) Bill Monbouquette) was born. (1936-2015)
On May 31,1967, veteran Starter Bill Monbouquette was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees, after being released by the Tigers. Bill went pitched well for the team, while posting a 6-5 record with a 2.36 ERA in 33 games. In 2 seasons in the Bronx, Bill would post a 11-12 record in 50 games with the Yankees. On July 12,1968, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for veteran Reliever Lindy McDaniel. In 11 MLB seasons, Bill had posted a 114-112 record with a 3.68 ERA and 3 saves in 343 games. He had started out with the Red Sox in 1958, pitching for them until his trade to the Tigers in the fall of 1965. He was named to the AL All-Star team Pitching staff in 1960,1962-1963. After retiring as an active player in 1968, he would manage in the Minor Leagues. He would become an MLB Pitching Coach, having a stint with the 1982-1983 Mets, after managing in their farm system for 5 seasons. Bill was the Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for the 1985-1986 AL seasons.
1943-Former Yankees Starter, now with the St. Louis Browns, “Smokey” Steve Sundra stops the Bronx Bombers on just 1-hit‚ a HR by Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller. The Browns would win the game by the score of 9-1.
1946-Former Yankees Reserve INF Eddie Leon (1975) was born.
On December 5,1974, INF Eddie Leon was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for veteran MLB Reliever Cecil Upshaw. Eddie had only appeared in 1 game with the Yankees before being released by the team on May 5,1975.
1950-While Hitting just .279‚ Yankees veteran CF Joe DiMaggio is benched for the 1st time in his MLB playing career by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel. He is currently languishing in a 4 for 38 batting slump. His replacement‚ Reserve OF Cliff Mapes wallops a 7th-inning HR to give the Yankees a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia A's.
1951-Philadelphia A’s batter Eddie Joost hits a HR in the 9th inning to tie the game at 4-4‚ but the Yankees win in 11th inning by the score of 7-4. Sloppy fielding by the A’s and a 2-run single by Yogi Berra account for the Bombers late game scoring. The win goes to new Yankees Reliever Bob “Sarge” Kuzava‚ who was acquired from the Senators‚ while A’s hurler Alex Kellner takes the loss.
1952-At Yankee Stadium‚ the 3rd place Red Sox trailing 1st-place Yankees by 4 games‚ manage just 2 hits off of veteran Starter Allie Reynolds‚ as the ”Super Chief” wins the game by the score of 7-0. For Allie Reynolds‚ it's his 4th 2-hitter of the 1952 AL season. Mickey Mantle's 1st inning HR‚ off of veteran Starter Sid Hudson‚ is all the scoring the Bombers need‚ but Mantle adds a double in the 4th inning, with a 2-run HR against the lefty in the 5th inning off of Red Sox hurler Ralph Brickner.
1955-At Yankee Stadium, Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams hits a single off of Yankees Starter Bob Turley for his 2,000th MLB career hit despite his milestone hit, the Red Sox lose the game anyway to the Yankees by a score of 5-3. Turley picks-up his 13th win of the 1955 AL season, while veteran Bronx hurler Tommy Byrne gets his 1st save of the season. Red Sox Starter Frank Baumann is the losing pitcher for Boston, being chased for 4 runs in the 1st inning of the game. The Thursday game draws a crowd of 18,572 fans to Yankee Stadium.
1956-Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 40th HR of the 1956 AL season off of Orioles hurler Hal “Skinny” Brown‚ as the Yankees clip the Birds by the score of 10-5. Mantle is the 1st Yankee player since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to hit 40 HRs in a season.
1960-Former Yankees Minor League Manager Al Pedrique (2013-2017) was born.
After his active playing career ended, Al Pedrique had spent several seasons as a Minor League Coach and Manager. He would managed the 1995 Spokane Indians, 1996-1997 GCL Royals, 1999-2000 Michigan Battle Cats, 2001 El Paso Diablos and the 2002-2003 Tucson Sidewinders. He was a Coach for the 1998 New Orleans Zephyrs. He served as an Diamondbacks MLB Coach in 2004 before being promoted to interim manager in midseason. The D-Backs were having an awful season, when he was named to the job and the team did not improve at all under his leadership. After the 2004 NL season had ended, he would join the Astros organization. He worked in the team's front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. He was the Director of Latin American Operations in 2007. In 2009, he became the Astros' Minor League Field Coordinator. Pedrique was an MLB Coach for the 2010-2012 Astros. Then he returned to the Minor Leagues as Manager for the Yankees organization with the 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL). In 2014, he moved to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL). In 2015, he would move up to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Al was the Manager of the 2017 Yankees AAA team at Scranton (IL). After the 2017 AL season, Al would leave the Yankees organization. He had been one of the candidates to replace recently fired Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. In 2018, he would returned to the MLB, when he was named MLB 1B Coach of the A’s after having been considered for several MLB managerial openings that off-season.
1963-Former Yankees Minor League OF Van Snider was born.
On December 12,1989, Reserve OF Van Snider was traded by the Reds along with veteran hurler Tim Leary to the Yankees for Minor League P Rodney Imes and 1B/OF Hal Morris. Van never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. After leaving pro baseball in 1996, he became a policeman in Ohio.
1965-Former Yankees Minor League INF Carlos Martinez was born. (1965-2006)
In 1983, the Yankees had signed INF Carlos Martinez as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never appear in an MLB game with the Yankees. On July 30,1986, he was traded by the Yankees with a Player to be Named Later and Catcher Ron Hassey to the White Sox for a Player to be Named Later, OF/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. On December 24,1986, the Yankees would send Minor League C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade.
1966-It is déjà vu all over again‚ as Orioles OF Frank Robinson makes another game saving catch against the Yankees. Robby dives into the stands to rob Clete Boyer of an 11th-inning HR‚ preserving a 6-5 Orioles' win. Robby did it 2 months earlier against the Bombers.
1967-In the 2nd inning of the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Indians‚ Yankees Starter Al Downing strikes out the side on just 9 pitches. Downing becomes the 12th MLB pitcher in history to accomplish this rare pitching performance. The Yankees would beat the Indians by the score of 5-3.
1969-The Yankees would sell veteran Pitcher Ken Johnson to the Cubs for $20,000 waiver price. For the1969 Yankees, Ken had posted a 1-2 record with a 3.46 ERA in 12 games. For the 1969 Cubs, he will go 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 9 games. He had started the 1969 MLB season with the Braves by going 0-1with a 4.97 ERA and 1 save in 9 games before being sent to the Yankees.
1976-Former Yankees Reserve OF Bubba Crosby (2004-2006) was born.
On July 31,2003, OF Bubba Crosby was traded by the Dodgers along with Pitcher Scott Proctor to the Yankees for veteran 3B Robin Ventura. Bubba would win the 2003 James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. He would hit .211 with 4 HRs and 19 RBIs in 196 games for the team before being granted MLB Free Agency after the 2006 MLB season had ended.
1977-Oakland A’s Catcher Manny Sanguillen foils a no-hit bid by Bronx veteran starter Mike Torrez. His lone hit is off of Yankees Starter Mike Torrez, who finishes the game with a 3-0 shutout, while throwing a 2-hitter.
1980-At Yankee Stadium, Yankees Slugger Reggie Jackson hits his 400th MLB career HR off of Chicago Starter Brit Burns during the Yankees 3-1 victory over the White Sox.
1984-Former Yankees OF Melky “The Milkman” Cabrera (2005-2009) was born.
In 2001, the Yankees had signed OF Melky Cabrera as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had hit .269 with 36 HRs and 228 RBIs in 569 MLB games for the Yankees. On December 22,2009, Melky was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Arodys Vizcaino, P Michael Dunn and Cash to the Braves for Reliever Boone Logan and veteran Starter Javier Vazquez. In the winter of 2010, the Braves would release him. He would spend the 2011 AL season with the Royals, who would trade him during the Winter of 2011 to the Giants. He would play for the 2011-2012 Giants. On August 15,2012, All-Star OF Melky Cabrera of the Giants sees his outstanding season come to a crashing end with a 50-game suspension by the MLB for testing positive for testosterone, a performance-enhancing drug. Cabrera was hitting .346 with a NL leading 159 hits, but he will not be eligible to return to play this year unless the Giants make it to the 2nd round of the NL Postseason. The Giants will indeed make it all the way to the World Series, but they will have cut off all remaining ties with their disgraced star by then. Since then, he has played for the Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, and the Pirates.
1995-The Yankees had traded veteran OF Luis Polonia to the Braves for Minor League OF Troy Hughes. Luis had hit .311 for the 1994 Yankees. In 1995, he was hitting .261 in 67 games for the team, but with the Free Agent signing of OF/DH Darryl Strawberry, the Yankees had decided to trade Luis. In exchanged for Luis, the Braves will send them Class AA OF Tory Hughes, who was hitting .255 for AA Greenville (SL). The Yankees will assign him to the AA Norwich Navigators (EL). He never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1998-Yankees veteran Starter David Wells stops the Twins on a 4-hitter to win by the score of 7-0. In his last start, the Yankee lefty had pitched a perfect game against the Twins.
2001-Led by the 2 Giambi Brothers‚ the Oakland A’s beat the visiting Yankees by the score of 8-6 for its 10th straight win. Jason and Jeremy each club 2-run HRs‚ the 2nd time they've both gone deep in the same game. They did it twice last season as well.
2003-The Royals would beat the Yankees by the score of 12-9‚ as the teams set an AL record by stroking 19 doubles. Kansas City strokes 11 of the 2-baggers‚ just 1 shy of the AL mark.
2012-The Yankees would beat the Blue Jays by the score of 5-2 behind the pitching of Ivan Nova and a 3-run HR hit by Casey McGehee. Derek Jeter collects his league-leading 150th hit of the 2012 AL season, joining Hall of Famer OF Hank Aaron as the only 2 MLB players to have 17 MLB seasons of 150 or more hits.
2013-It's an eventful afternoon at New Yankee Stadium as the Yankees defeat the Tigers by the score of 5-4. First, Alex Rodriguez hits his 1st HR of the 2013 AL season off of Tigers Starter Justin Verlander in the 2nd inning and in the process passes Hall of Famer Stan Musial for 5th place on the all-time MLB RBI list with 1,951. Then, leading off the 4th inning, Alfonso Soriano also goes deep off of Verlander for the 2,000th hit of his MLB playing career. The Yankees hand a 4-2 lead to Closer Mariano Rivera in the top of the 9th inning, but for the 3rd straight time, Mariano blows the opportunity by allowing solo HRs to Tiger Sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Rodriguez. However, Yankees OF Brett Gardner homers in turn, off of Tigers Reliever José Veras with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, ending the game.
2023-The Yankees announced that they have recalled Pitchers Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez. One roster spot was opened, when Reliever Nick Ramirez was optioned to AAA Scranton yesterday. The other corresponding MLB roster move was Starter Nestor Cortes landing on the 15-day IL, retroactive to August 8th, with a left rotator cuff strain.
August 12th
1906-An Sunday afternoon crowd estimated at 30‚000 fans are on hand at Comiskey Park in Chicago to watch the red-hot White Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 3-0. The gates are closed an hour before game time‚ locking many fans outside.
1918-At Fenway Park‚ the Yankees win their 10th of 15 games with the AL leaders by beating Boston by the score of 2-1. Getting his opportunity because of the war‚ lefty Hank Robinson is making his 1st MLB start since 1915. He allows just 3 hits in besting Red Sox Starter Babe Ruth‚ who gives up 4 Yankee hits. Jack Fournier scores the winning run on a squeeze bunt‚ while Babe Ruth‚ hitless on the afternoon‚ pops out for the last out of the game.
1932-AL President Will Harridge upholds Detroit's protest of its August 1st game against the Yankees. He orders the game to be replayed on September 8th. The Tigers had protested because Yankee hitters Tony Lazzeri's and Ben Chapman's batting order was orally reversed after the lineup cards were handed in before the game.
1934-A crowd of 41,766 fans turns out to Fenway Park to see what will probably be Babe Ruth's last MLB game being played in Boston. In Game 1 of the double-header, Ruth goes 2-5 with a double, but he misplays a Billy Werber line drive into a triple. Ruth is 0-1 with 2 walks in the 2nd game, before leaving the game in the 6th inning. In 1935, Babe will return to Boston as a member of NL Boston Braves.
1937-In the 1st of 2 games with the Yankees‚ Red Sox Slugger Jimmie Foxx hits one way out of Fenway Park‚ the ball leaving the park to the right of the CF flag pole. The shot comes off of New York's Kemp Wicker helping out the Red Sox overpower the Yankees by the score of 16-10; stopping the Bombers winning streak at 10 games. The Red Sox overcome a 6-run deficit. Buck Newsom is credited with his 11th win. In Game 2‚ Yankees Starter Bump Hadley out-pitches Red Sox Starter Archie McKain to push Bronx Bombers lead to 11 1/2 games over Boston.
1939-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees bombard the feeble A's by the score of
18-4, as Bronx Starter “Smokey” Steve Sundra (6-0) coasts to the win. Bombers 1B Babe Dahlgren has 4 hits‚ including a solo HR in the 6th inning and a Grand Slam HR in 7th inning, as he drives in 6 runs in the game. Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon adds with his 18th HR of the 1939 AL season.
1945-In the lid-lifter at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, former Braves hurler Jim Tobin acquired on MLB waivers by the Tigers‚ pitches 3 scoreless innings against the Yankees. Tobin clubs a 3-run game-ending HR in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game by a score of 9-6. Another former Braves pitcher‚ now with the Yankees, Reliever Jim Turner serves up the HR. The Tigers would win the nightcap by the score of 8-2‚ behind Starter Hal Newhouser's 18th win of the 1945 AL season.
1950-Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds hits a bases-loaded single and hurls the Bronx Bombers to a 7-2 win over the A’s. The loss goes to Philadelphia Starter Carl Scheib‚ but Reliever Bobby Shantz pitches the last 6 2/3 innings and clouts his only MLB career HR off of the Super Chief.
1951-The Yankees would lose a pair to Philadelphia. The Athletics would use 17 hits to win the opener by the score of 9-5, then they use Pennsylvania's Sunday Blue Law, which calls for a 7:00 PM curfew to win the nightcap by the score of 7-4. New York starts an 8th-inning 5-run rally at 6:37 PM and take a 9-7 lead‚ but the curfew wipes it out before A’s batter Pete Suder can hit. Beginning next season‚ the AL will adopt the 40-year-old suspended game policy of the NL.
1953-Playing without the injured CF Mickey Mantle, who is out for 10 days with a sprained knee, the Yankees would explode for 28 hits off of Senators pitching‚ 2 hits shy of the AL record. The Bombers would roll to a 22-1 victory over the Nats. Yankees Rookie P Steve Kraly‚ relieving Starter Whitey Ford‚ gives up a run to avert the largest shutout win in history. Ford has 4 hits‚ while Yogi Berra and Billy Martin, each collect 5 RBIs. Hank Bauer scores 5 runs for the Bronx Bombers.
1956-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 41st HR of the 1956 AL season‚ his 7th HR in 8 days to pace the Bronx Bombers to a 6-2 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles.
1958-The Yankees would top the Orioles by the score of 7-2 at Yankee Stadium. Mickey Mantle's 33rd HR of the 1958 AL season off of a Ken Lehman knuckleball‚ gives him the AL HR lead.
1961-At Griffith Stadium‚ Roger Maris belts his 43rd HR off of expansion Senators veteran Starter Richard Donovan‚ but it's the Bronx Bombers only score as they lose the game by the score 5-1‚ the Yankees 1st loss in 10 games. For the expansion Nats, it is their 1st win in 8 games. Gene Green's Pinch-Hit Grand Slam HR off of Yankees Reliever Luis Arroyo is the big blow for the Nats.
1962-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Pavlas (1995-1996) was born.
In 1984, the Cubs had signed Pitcher Dave Pavlas as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. On February 8,1995, Dave Pavlas was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. With the 1995 Yankees, Dave would post a 0-0 record with a 2.51 ERA and 1 save in 20 games.
1964-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle sets an MLB record, when he hits a HR from both sides of the plate for the 10th time in his MLB playing career. Mantle hits a left-handed HR off of veteran hurler Ray Herbert over the 461 FT marker in CF, the ball lands 15 rows into the bleachers, 502 FT from home plate. The Yankees 7-3 victory over the White Sox marks the 1st start and MLB Pitching Career victory by Bronx Rookie Pitcher Mel Stottlemyre, who was called up from AAA Richmond (IL) to booster the Yankees starting rotation.
1969-Citing "personal problems‚" Yankees AL Golden Glove winner 1B Joe Pepitone goes AWOL from the team. He will come back to the team, but the Yankees Front Office will trade him in the fall to the Astros for former Yankees Minor Leaguer C/1B/OF Curt Blefary.
1973-The Oakland A's were 6 runs behind in the 7th inning‚ but they rally to beat the Yankees by the score of 13-12, move to within 1 game of the 1st-place Royals in the AL West.
1974-Former New York Yankees OF/1B Mickey Mantle and his long-time Yankees teammate Pitcher Whitey Ford head a group of 6 Hall of Fame inductees at Cooperstown. Their Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is on hand to see his “boys” entered the Hall of Fame.
1977-Yankee Starters Catfish Hunter and Ed Figueroa combine to sweep the Angels by scores of 10-1 and 9-3, as the Yankees bang out 25 hits. Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss hits 2 HRs in the Opener, while Reggie Jackson hits 2 HRs in the nightcap. Both of the Yankee Starters throw 6-hitters in their victories over the Angels.
1985-At Chicago‚ veteran Starter Phil Niekro goes the route to pick up his 295th MLB career win as the Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 10-4. The Bombers have a 7-run 7th inning to break the game wide open with Ron Hassey belting a 2-run HR and RBI single to lead the scoring in the frame.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League OF Jose Tabata was born.
OF Prospect Jose Tabata was signed by the Yankees on his 16th birthday. He would make his pro debut with the 2005 GCL Yankees. hitting .314, while stealing 22 bases in 28 tries. He led the Gulf Coast League in steals and was 9th in batting average. He made the league All-Star outfield alongside Matt Kutler and Francisco Guzman. Baseball America rated him as the league's #7 prospect, 3rd among Outfielders after Andrew McCutchen and Jay Bruce and ahead of teammate Austin Jackson. They had also ranked him as the #3 prospect in the Yankees system. In 2006, the teenager would hit .298 with 15 swipes in 20 attempts for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) despite 3 stints on the DL. He had played center field and hit 9th for the World team in the 2006 Futures Game in an 8-5 loss. BA rated him as the #2 prospect in the South Atlantic League, behind Andrew McCutchen. If he had qualified, Tabata would have tied for 8th in the SAL in average. BA ranked him as the #2 Yankees prospect and as the best batting prospect in the 2006 SAL. That winter, he played for the Caribes de Oriente, hitting .275. Tabata was the RF for the Class A 2007 Tampa Yankees (FSL), hitting .307 with 15 steals in 21 tries. He would place 4th in the FSL in average and made the All-Star outfield. BA ranked him as the #9 prospect in the FSL. In August, he had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist, which had been damaged by a pitch in July of 2006. BA would rate Tabata as the #3 Yankees prospect after P Joba Chamberlain and OF Austin Jackson. In 2008, Jose would battle more injuries; as he only would hit .248 in 79 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL).Then he was traded along with Pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens to the Pirates in exchange for MLB Players: OF/1B Xavier Nady and P Damaso Marte. In 2015, Jose would finish his MLB playing career that lasted only 6 seasons with a .275 BA along with 17 HRs and 126 RBIs in 509 games.
1990-Former Yankees Pitcher Ryan Weber (2022-2023) was born.
Ryan Weber was selected in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Braves. He would pitch the MLB in 2015-2016 seasons. With the Braves had posted a 1-4 record in 21 games. In 2017 he was claimed on waivers from the Braves by Mariners, who he appeared in just 1 game. In 2018, he would appear in just 2 games for the Rays. The 2019-2020 seasons, he would be with the Red Sox, while posting a 3-7 record in 31 games. In 2021, he would split the season with the Brewers and the Mariners with no decisions. On March 13, 2022, veteran MLB Reliever Ryan Weber was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. On June 20, 2022, he was granted Free Agency by the team, after refusing an outright assignment to AAA Scranton. On June 22, 2022, Weber was resigned as a Free Agent by the club. On July 25, 2022, Weber was once again granted Free Agency by the team as the Yankees had to make more roster moves with player trades and pitcher returning from injuries. On July 29, 2022, he was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. On September 19, 2022, Ryan was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees, after being DFA by the team. This move finished his 2022 AL season. Ryan had appeared in 5 games for the Yankees with no decisions and 1 save. On December 12, 2022, Ryan Weber was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. For the 2023 season for the Yankees, he would post a 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA and 1 save in 8 games. Also, he was the Yankees AAA Scranton club, Ryan would post a 3-3 record with a 5.77 ERA in 7 games.
1994-The MLB players decided go on strike. The Yankees are in 1st place in the AL East. The Yankees in AL East and the Montreal Expos in NL East have the best team records in the MLB. This player strike will cancel the 1994 World Series for MLB.
1997-Dean Palmer homers and drives in 4-runs as the Royals end the Yankees' 3-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory. Palmer‚ who is 10-for-21 with runners in scoring position, he has 16 RBIs in 18 games since coming over in a trade with the Rangers‚ singles home a run in the 4th inning‚ opens the 6th inning with his 17th HR‚ then he hits a go-ahead‚ 2-run double in the 7th inning. Mike Perez (2-0) ‚ the 2nd of 5 Royals' pitchers is the winner. Royals Closer Jeff Montgomery pitches the 9th inning for his 8th save‚ the 250th of his MLB pitching career. He retires 32 consecutive batters‚ 1 shy of the Royal franchise record‚ before Yankees CF Bernie Williams singles with 2 outs in the 9th inning.
2002-Former Yankees, A’s, Braves and Cardinals OF and Hall of Famer Enos “Country” Slaughter (1954-1955,1956-1959) had passed away. (1916-2002)
In 1938, Veteran OF Enos Slaughter came up to the MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing for them until 1953. He had missed the 1943-1945 MLB seasons due to military service. As a Cardinal, he had appeared in 1,820 games, while hitting .306 with 146 HRs and 1,148 RBIs. On April 11,1954, veteran OF Enos “Country” Slaughter was traded by the Cardinals to the Yankees for 3 Minor League Players: OF Bill Virdon, P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger. His 1st tour with the 1954-1955 Yankees was unsuccessful with Enos only hitting .249 in 69 games. On May 11,1955, he was traded by the Yankees along with veteran P Johnny Sain to Kansas City for P Sonny Dixon and Cash. On August 25,1956, Enos was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the A’s. His return to the Yankees brought the release of long-time Yankees Shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Enos performed better for the team with his 2nd tour as a Pinch-Hitter and Reserve OF before fading during the 1959 AL season, being sold to the Braves. Enos retired as an active player at the end of 1959 MLB season. After his MLB days, Slaughter was a Player-Manager in the Minor Leagues in 1960-1961, still hitting for a good average. Later, he was Head Baseball Coach at Duke Univ. from 1971-1977. He had played on 4 World Champion teams: the 1942 and 1946 Cardinals and the 1956 and 1958 Yankees teams, while appearing in 27 games; hitting .291 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. His best World Series for the Yankees was in 1956, when Enos would hit .350 in 6 games with 1 HR and 4 RBIs against the Dodgers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
2011-Yankees veteran Starter CC Sabathia gives up 5 HRs, while facing the Rays. Tampa Bay hitters Casey Kotchman, Kelly Shoppach, Johnny Damon, Elliot Johnson and Evan Longoria, would all hit solo HRs off the Yankees ace, accounting for all of the Rays' runs in a 5-1 victory. Rays Starter David Price is the winner.
2012-Blue Jays LF Rajai Davis drives in 5 runs and makes a tremendous catch in the 7th inning, scaling the 10-FT Outfield fence to deprive Yankees hitter Casey McGehee of a HR as the Blue Jays defeat the Yankees by the score of 10-7. Ray’s Slugger Edwin Encarnacion hits a 2-run HR, also he adds a double and a single in support of Davis's fielding heroics.
2015-The Blue Jays would overtake the Yankees for 1st place in the AL East after registering their 10th straight win, a 10-3 victory over the A's combined with a Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Indians, their 5th loss in a row.
2016-As announced a week earlier, Alex Rodriguez plays his final game for the Yankees today, going 1 for 4 with a 1st-inning RBI double off of Rays Starter Chris Archer in a 6-3 Yankees win. The Yankees indulge him by letting him play at his old position, 3rd base, in the 9th inning; he then leaves the game under the crowd's applause after 1 out, ending his MLB playing career only 4 HR short of 700 MLB HR mark, but he is done as an MLB active player at the age of 41.
2019-The Yankees would beat up on their favorite patsies by sweeping the Orioles in a doubleheader by the scores of 8-5 and 11-8. Gleyber Torres, who has made it a personal mission to demolish O's pitching this season, hits 3 more long balls, giving him 13 HRs against the Birds this season, the most by a player against any team since the start of the MLB divisional play era. The last player to hit that many against 1 team was Yankees slugger Roger Maris against the White Sox in his record-breaking 1961 AL season, while the all-time record belongs to yet another Yankee player, Lou Gehrig, who hit 14 HRs against the 1936 Indians. Torres also has 5 multi-HR games against Baltimore, the most ever against 1 team.
2021-The idyllic setting of a ballfield built into the cornfields near Dyersville, IA features a thriller of a ball game as the White Sox, playing in uniforms inspired by those worn by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and his teammates from 1919, defeat the Yankees by the score of 9-8. The game commemorates the 1989 movie Field of Dreams in the presence of its star, Kevin Costner, and features the players entering the field by walking through the cornrows into a gate in center field, just like in the movie. They then proceed to blast 8 HRs into a perfect Iowa summer night. The Sox lead 7-4 in the top of the 9th, when Aaron Judge hits his 2nd long ball of the game to bring the Yankees within 1, and after a walk, Giancarlo Stanton does the same to put them on top, both blasts coming off All-Star closer Liam Hendriks. But Yankees reliever Zack Britton can't nail down the win, as with 1 out, he would walk Seby Zavala and the next batter, Tim Anderson, hits a ball into the night that lands in the cornfields for a walk-off 2-run HR.
August 13th
1875-Former Yankees Shortstop (1903-1909) and Player-Manager (1908) Norman “Tabasco Kid” Elberfeld was born. (1875-1944)
On June 10,1903, Shortstop Norman ”Kid” Elberfeld was traded by the Tigers to the Highlanders for 2 Shortstops: Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. The Kid’s best Yankees player season was in 1906, when he would hit .306 with 2 HRs and 31 RBIs in 99 games for the team as their starting Shortstop. During the 1908 AL season, when Manager Clark Griffth had quit as the Manager in a dispute with Team Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery, he would manage the Yankees to a poor 27-71 record (8th Place. The Kid would finish his Yankees playing career with a lifetime BA of .268 with 4 HRs and 257 RBIs in 268 games. On December 14,1909, he was purchased for $5,000 by the Senators from the Yankees. The Yankees had tried to trade him to the Nats for P Walter Johnson and C Gabby Street, but the Nats didn’t want to make a trade, instead they would buy Elberfeld from Yankees.
1906-Former Yankees Pitcher Kemp Wicker (1936-1938) was born. (1906-1973)
For the Yankees,Pitcher Kemp Wicker would post a 9-5 record with a 4.95 ERA in 24 games. He had appeared in 1 game of the 1937 World Series for the team against the Giants with no record. On February 6,1939, Kemp Wicker was purchased along with Minor League C Chris Hartje by the Dodgers from the Yankees for $50,000 cash.
1921-At Shibe Park, a crowd of 33,000 fans, the largest crowd to watch an A’s game in Philadelphia since the 1914 AL season, as they see Yankees Starter Carl Mays win his 15th straight game over the Mackmen as the Bronx Bombers would prevail by a score of 7-2 in Game 1. In the nightcap, the Bombers Starter Bob Shawkey coasts home to a 13-7 win. Yankees OF Bob Meusel would hit HRs in each game.
1922-Yankees Shortstop Everett Scott nears 1,000 MLB consecutive games played, but it takes an extra effort to keep his streak alive. He spends $40 to hire a car to get to Chicago in time for the game after a train that he is on is wrecked.
1924-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees will regain the AL lead with 1-0 and 2-1 victories in a doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns. In the Opener, Yankees Starter Herb Pennock picks-up his 16th win of the 1924 AL season, while pitching a 4-hit shutout of the Browns. Loser Ernie Wingard is now 11-8 for St. Louis. In the 2nd game, Bullet Joe Bush defeats Browns Starter Urban Shocker in a 2-1 victory. Bush is now 11-11 for the 1924 season, while Shocker is now at 10-10 for the season.
1930-Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Bob” Wiesler (1951,1954-1955) was born. (1930-2014)
Bob Weiser was a hard throwing left-hander, who was signed by the Yankees out of high school in St. Louis, MO before the start of the 1949 MLB season. He would go on to lead his loop in strikeouts 3 seasons in a row. He was assigned to the Independence Yankees (KOML) his 1st pro season, he helped his team to the league pennant and playoffs with a 12-11 record with a league-leading 240 strikeouts, while pitching 185 innings. Bob came right back the following season with the Joplin Miners (WA), helping his team to the 1950 league pennant; while leading the league with a 2.35 ERA and 277 strikeouts. Also, he was chosen for the All-Star team. With the 1951 AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), he posted a 10-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and again led the league with 162 strikeouts in 194 innings. On August 3rd, he was called up to Yankee Stadium, he would lose his only 2 MLB decisions in 4 games. Bob Wiesler was then called up for Korean War Military Service, missing the 1952 AL season, while serving with in the Army. Bob had MLB stints with the 1954-1954 Yankees, going 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 6 games in 1954 and 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 16 games in 1955. Overall, Bob would post a 3-6 record with a 4.95 ERA in 26 games for the team. On February 8,1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, C Lou Berberet, INF Herb Plews and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for veteran AL Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. On April 2,1956, the Yankees would later send AAA Denver Bears OF Whitey Herzog to the Nats to complete the trade. Bob had a record of 3-12 with a 6.44 ERA in 37 games for the Senators that season. Then in 1957, he would post a 1-1 record with 4.41 ERA for the Nats. In 1958, he would finish out his MLB pitching career with the Senators with no decisions in 4 appearances. This would complete Wiesler's 6-season MLB Pitching career with an overall 7-19 record with a 5.74 ERA, while appearing in 70 games.
1932-It looks like the Yankees scoring streak might be broken, but Yankees Starter Red Ruffing hits a HR in the 10th inning to beat Senators hurler Al Thomas by a score of 1-0. In 1906, Tom Hughes was the last MLB pitcher to hit an extra-inning, game-winning HR.
1939-Former Yankees Pitcher William “Bill” Stafford (1960-1965) was born. (1939-2001)
Before the start of the 1957 AL Season, the Yankees had signed Pitcher William “Bill” Stafford as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1960, Bill would come up to the Yankees, as a 20-yearold rookie , while posting a 3-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 11 games. In 1961, he would have a 14-9 record with a 2.68 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees. He was the winning pitcher of Roger Maris HR #61 game, winning a 1-0 shutout of the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Bill had appeared in the 1960-1961-1962 World Series for Yankees going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 4 games. As a regular starter for the 1962 AL season, he would go 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 35 games. In the April of 1963, while starting the Yankees season opener at Kansas City, Bill would hurt his pitching arm in the cold weather. In 1964, he would bounce back to go 5-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 4 saves in 31 games for the club. In 1965, he had arm problems again, dropping him to a 3-8 mark with 3.56 ERA in 22 games. On June 10,1966, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with P Gil Blanco and OF Roger Repoz to Kansas City for Pitcher Fred Talbot and Catcher Billy Bryan. At the time of his trade, Bill was 5-0 at AAA Richmond (IL). He was supposed to start 1 of the games for the Yankees in the up-coming series against the Tigers in Detroit. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Stafford would post a 43-40 record with a 3.52 ERA with 9 saves in 186 games. Clippers Note: The Yankees should have held on to Bill Stafford, because Fred Talbot was a failure (14-24 with 3.00 ERA in 89 games) as a Starter and Catcher Bill Bryant never hit very much for the Yankees. In Fall of 2001, Bill would pass away from a fatal heart attack.
1939-In the 2nd game of a doubleheader, Yankees would defeat Athletics by a score of 21-0 to equal the MLB record for lopsided shutouts. Yankee hitters Joe DiMaggio and Babe Dahlgren, each have 2-HRs, 1 each an Inside-the-Park HR. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing would collect 4 hits along with the victory. The Yankees had dropped the 1st game to the Mackmen by a score of 12-9.
1940-Former Yankees MLB Bullpen Coach (1992-2001) and MLB Pitcher Tony Cloninger was born. (1940-2018)
Former MLB P Tony Cloninger was the 1992-2002 MLB Bullpen Coach for the Yankees; he would leave the team for an MLB bullpen job with the 2003-2004 Red Sox. After, he had recovered from cancer, he would serve as a Boston Scout in the Class A Carolina League in 2005. As of 2011, he was a Player Development consultant for the Red Sox. As an MLB player, Tony Cloninger had pitched for the Braves, Cardinals and the Reds during his 12-season MLB pitching career, while posting an overall 113-97 record. On June 16,1966 against the Mets, he had clubbed a pair of HRs in a game. Several weeks later, on July 3rd, he would hit 2 Grand Slams in 1 game against the Giants at Candlestick Park, as the Braves won the game by the score of 17-3. Overall, during a 6-game stretch from June 16th to July 3rd, he had hit 4 HRs with 18 RBIs, while appearing in 2 games with a 0-1 pitching record. In 1970, Tony had appeared with the Reds in the World Series against the Orioles, while pitching in 2 games with a 0-1 record.
1947-Former Yankees Reserve INF (1972-1980) and MLB Baseball Executive Fred “Chicken” Stanley (1973-1980) was born.
On October 24,1972, INF Fred Stanley was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for C George Pena. Fred had played a key role as infield reserve for the Yankees. He did appear in 3 World Series with the 1976-1978 Yankees. As a Yankees player for 8 seasons, he had appeared in 521 games, while hitting .222 with 6 HRs and 78 RBIs. On November 3,1980, he was traded by the Yankees to Athletics for Starter Mike Morgan. After retiring as an active MLB player in 1983, he would work in the Oakland A’s front office. Then he would join the Giants organization. From 2000-2004, Fred would manage in the Giants farm system. From 2005-2007, Stanley was the Giants coordinator of Minor League Instruction. From 2008-2011, Fred was the Giants Director of Player Development.
1957-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle goes 3-for-3 and drives in 3 runs as the Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 3-2. Mantle improves his BA to .384 while rival Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams, with 1-for-2 is at .388. A week later, Mantle will hurt himself when he angrily swings a golf club at a branch and gouges his shinbone. This leg injury will effectively take him out of the running for a 2nd-straight AL Triple Crown. Yankees GM George Weiss will use this incident with Mantle in a new player contract dispute during the winter. Weiss will try to scare Mantle by telling him; that he will trade him to the Indians for Starter Herb Score and OF Rocky Colavito, he doesn’t sign his new player contract with the team. Yankees Co-Team Owner Dan Topping will step in and get a Mantle a new 1958 MLB player contract. This incident will mark the beginning of the end of George Weiss career as the Yankees GM, who will be forced into retirement in October of 1960.
1961-In the 1st of 2 games with the new expansion Senators, Roger Maris belts his 44th HR to tie his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle. An inning later, Mantle hits a Bennie Daniels offering for his 45th HR, but that's all Daniels allows winning the game by the score of 12-2. Slugger Roger Maris adds his 45th HR in the 1st inning in Game 2, as the Yankees win that game by the score of 9-4.
1964-CBS Inc. buys 80% of the New York Yankees from Team Co-Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping Sr., effective November 2,1964. Dan Topping Sr. will sell his remaining 20% of the Yankees to CBS Inc. in the fall of 1966.
1964-Former Yankees OF Jay Buhner (1987-1988) was born.
On December 20,1984, 19-year-old Class A Minor League OF Jay Buhner was traded by the Pirates along with INF Dale Berra and P Alfonso Pulido to the Yankees for OF Steve Kemp, INF Tim Foli and Cash. For the 1987-1988 Yankees, Jay would only appear in 32 games, while just hitting .198 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs. On July 21,1988, Jay was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later and Minor League Pitcher Rich Balabon to the Mariners for veteran 1B/DH Ken Phelps. On October 12,1988, the Yankees would later send Minor League P Troy Evers to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1969-AL Golden Glove Award Winner 1B Joe Pepitone returns to the Yankees, but he does not play in their 5-2 loss to Minnesota. Twins INF Rich Reese is 4-for-4 with 2-HRs and 2 singles to drive in 4-runs for the Twins as Starter Jim Kaat is the winner over Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre (16-9). Reese will have hits his 1st 3 at bats tomorrow before flying out.
1972-Former Hall of Fame and Yankees Farm Director (1932-1947), General Manager George Weiss (1948-1960) had passed away. (1899-1972)
Baseball Executive George Weiss would spend 29 years in the Yankees organization before being retired in October of 1960. Before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1948, he helped run the Yankees Minor League system (1932-1947) as Farm Director under Yankees long-time GM Edward Barrow (1920-1945). Weiss had previously run the Hartford Minor League franchise before being hired by Yankees GM Edward Barrow in 1932. In 1961, he would join the new NL Expansion Team; New York Mets, as their 1st team President and General Manager, along with former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel as the team’s 1st MLB manager. In 1971, he was elected into the Baseball Hall Of Fame as a Baseball Executive.
1973-Veteran Bronx OF Roy White hits HRs from both sides of the plate as the Yankees top the Angels by a score of 6-0.
1973-The Yankees would sell veteran MLB Reserve INF Bernie Allen to the Expos for $25,000 Cash. Allen had appeared in 17 games for the Yankees, while hitting .228. He will close out his MLB playing career with the Expos by hitting just .180 in 16 games.
1978-The Yankees would erupt for 5 runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Orioles before heavy rains force a delay of the game. Thanks to stalling tactics of Manager Earl Weaver and some slow-moving Baltimore groundskeepers, the game is called, and the score reverts to the last complete inning. The Orioles win the game by a score of 3-0; with former Yankees Minor League P Scott McGregor is the winner for the O’s. This rule will be changed by MLB in 1980, and the game, today would have been suspended.
1980-The Yankees had traded Pitcher Ken Clay and a Player to be Named Later to the Rangers for 41-yearold veteran Starter Gaylord Perry. Clay had pitched for the 1977-1979 Yankees, while posting a 6-14 record with a 4.72 ERA and 3 saves in 79 games. He had appeared 2 World Series with the Yankees with no record. Ken will go 2-3 in 8 games for the Rangers. He will finish his MLB pitching career with the 1981 Mariners, while posting a 2-7 record with a 4.63 ERA in 22 games. Overall, as a MLB Pitcher Ken had recorded a 10-24 with a 4.68 ERA in 111 MLB games. Gaylord Perry will go 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 games for the 1980 Yankees, before becoming an MLB Free Agent; signing with the Braves for the 1981 NL season. The Player to be Name Later in the trade by Yankees would be AAA OF Marvin Thompson, who was sent to the Rangers on October 1,1980. Before the trade was made by the Yankees, they had called up P Mike Griffin from AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He was sent back to the Clippers to make room for Perry on the Yankees 25-man MLB roster.
1984-Former Yankees Reliever Boone Logan (2010-2013) was born.
In 2002, Pitcher Boone Logan was selected by the White Sox in the 20th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut in 2003 with the Great Falls White Sox, the 1st of 3 seasons with the Rookie-level club. After finishing the 2005 season in Class A, he would make the jump to the MLB in 2006, when he made the Sox Opening Day roster. He had posted a 5.68 ERA in his 1st 12 contests in the MLB before being demoted to the AAA Charlotte Knights (IL). After going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 11 saves at AAA Charlotte, he would rejoin the White Sox bullpen in September. He would spend most of the 2007 season with the White Sox, recording a 2-1 mark with a 4.97 ERA in 68 games, working out of the bullpen. After spending the majority of 2008 season with the White Sox as well, he was dealt to the Braves along with veteran Starter Javier Vazquez following the end of the 2008 MLB season. After the 2009 MLB season had ended, Boone Logan was traded again along with P Javier Vazquez by the Braves; this time to the Yankees. As a Reliever for the Yankees, he would appear in 256 games, while posting a 19-7 record with a 3.38 ERA and 1 save. In 2012, he led the AL in appearances with 80 games. In the AL post-season action with the Yankees, Boone went 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 games. After the 2013 AL season, Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Rockies. He had started the 2018 NL season with the Brewers, but he was released by the team in June, ending his MLB Pitching career.
1995-The flags fly at half-mast at Yankee Stadium, as Former Yankees HOF, AL MVP, MLB Coach (1970), All-Star OF/1B Mickey Charles Mantle (1951-1968) dies of Liver Cancer at the age of 63 in Dallas, Texas. (1931-1995)
Before the start of the 1949 AL season, Mickey Mantle was signed by the Yankees Super MLB Scout Tom Greenwade, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had played in only 3 seasons in the Yankees Minor League system, before joining the team in 1951. He was briefly with the 1950 team the last month of the AL season, but he did not play in any games. Mickey Mantle was the greatest switch-hitter of all time. He hit 536 MLB Career HRs; including 18 HRs in 230 at bats in 65 games in the World Series play. He won the AL Triple Crown in 1956 (BA .353, 52 HRs, 130 RBIs). For his 1956 AL Triple Crown season, he was named the 1956 Major League Player of the Year. Mantle was selected for 20 AL All-Star games during his playing career. He was the AL MVP 3 times (1956-1957 and 1962). He was the AL HR leader 4 times in his Yankees playing career. Mickey Mantle had played in 2,401 games as a Yankees player, while hitting a lifetime .298. With all of Mantle's power, he suffered thought an assortment of leg and knee injuries and his bones were beset by osteomylitis; a disease that weakened his bone structure. The 1st of his leg injuries occurred in the 1951 World Series against the Giants; when he got his spikes caught in a drainage valve cover in the Yankee Stadium Outfield, while chasing a fly ball hit by future long-time rival NL CF Willie Mays. He was never really the same after that injury. Mantle was named the Sporting News All-Star team 4 times during his playing career. In the 1961 Babe Ruth 60 HR record chase, he would hit 54 HRs before injuries stopping him in the HR race, while his Yankees teammate Roger Maris would finish the 1961 AL season with 61 HRs. Mickey won his only AL Glove Award for Outfield in 1962. In 1964, he would finish 2nd in the AL MVP Award voting, losing out to the Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson. In 1965, Mantle won the Hutch Award. On January 16,1974, Mickey Mantle along with his long-time Yankees teammate Pitcher Whitey Ford were elected on to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. On February 2,1983, Hall of Famers Mantle and Willie Mays accepted Greeter positions at a casino in Atlantic City, NJ. On February 3,1983 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn had banned both of them from organized baseball. On March 18,1985, the new MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth would reinstated both men.
1996-White Sox 3B Robin Ventura belts his team-record 9th Grand Slam HR to pace the White Sox to an 8-4 win over the Yankees. Bombers P David Weathers would serve up the gopher ball.
1997-The Red Sox had traded veteran C/DH/1B Mike Stanley and INF Randy Brown to the Yankees in exchange for Minor League P Tony Armas Jr. and a Player to be Named Later. Mike Stanley would hit .287 with 3 HRs in 28 games for the team, before leaving for MLB Free Agency; signing with the Blue Jays for the 1998 AL Season. On September 29,1998, the Yankees would send Reliever Jim Mecir to the Red Sox. He had a
1-5 record with no saves in 51 games. That November, the Red Sox had left him exposed to the MLB Expansion Player Draft; he was selected by the new Tampa AL club as their 36th player draft pick. Armas and Brown, both remained in the Minor Leagues, switching teams in their new organizations.
1998-Yankees Starter Orlando Hernandez sets a Yankees Rookie Pitching record by striking out 13 Texas batters, while the beating the Rangers by a score of 2-0. The original Yankees Rookie Pitching record was 12 strikeouts set by Yankees Rookie Starter Stan Bahnsen in 1968.
2003-Former Yankees Pitcher Charlie Devens (1932-1934) had passed away. (1910-2003).
Former Harvard Univ. Baseball star P Charlie Devens would post a 5-3 record with 3.42 ERA in 16 games for the 1932-1934 Yankees. He did not appear in the 1932 World Series with the club against the Cubs. Charlie would spend parts of 1933-1934 baseball seasons with the AA Newark Bears (IL), posting a 19-13 record during those seasons.
2007-Former Yankees Hall of Fame Shortstop (1941-1956) and Long-Time Yankees Broadcasting Announcer Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto had passed away. (1917-2007)
In 1937, the Yankees had signed infielder Phil Rizzuto as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1940, he would win the Minor League player of the Year Award with the AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In 1941, he played in his 1st season as a Yankee player, while appearing in 133 games, hitting .307. Phil would miss the 1943-1945 AL seasons, while serving with the Navy. As a Yankees player, Phil would appear in 9 World Series, while hitting .242 in 52 games. He was named to the AL All Star squad 5 times. He led the AL Shortstops in fielding in 1949-1950. In 1950, Phil had his best Yankees player career season as he won the AL MVP Award, while hitting .324 in 155 games with 200 hits, while scoring 100 runs. Also, in 1950, he had won the MLB Best Player Award. In 1951, Phil won the Babe Ruth Award hitting .320 against the Giants in the 1951 World Series. During 1955-1956 seasons, Phil was slowed down by injuries and age; he was no longer the Yankees starting Shortstop. On August 25,1956, Phil was released by the Yankees during Old Timer’s Day. Phil turned down a player contract offer from the Dodgers, who wanted him spend some time with their AAA Montreal Royals (IL) to get into playing shape, before joining the MLB team. Also, he turned a chance to manage the Senators for the 1957 AL season. In 1957, Phil would start his long-time broadcasting career with the Yankees joining Mel Allen and Red Barber in the broadcasting booth, replacing veteran Jim Woods, who would move to the Giants. In 1994, the Veteran’s Committee would elect Phil into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Former Red Sox HOF Slugger Ted Williams led the push for his election in the HOF, saying that he could beat you with his bat or glove. That if the Red Sox had him on their team, they would have beaten those Yankees teams.
2011-Back in the line-up after being benched for a week, Yankees DH Jorge Posada drives in 6 runs, including 4-runs on a 5th-inning HR and the Yankees win the game by the score of 9-2 over the Rays. Bronx Starter Phil Hughes is the winner over Blue Jays Starter Jeremy Hellickson, while Yankees OF Curtis Granderson hits his 33rd HR of the 2011 AL season, catching Blue Jays Slugger Jose Bautista atop the MLB HR board.
2012-The Yankees use a couple of scrubs to defeat the Rangers by the score of 8-2. Reliever David Phelps starts in place of the injured veteran Starter CC Sabathia. He would pitch 5 innings for the victory, while veteran MLB Pitcher Derek Lowe, making his 1st appearance for the Bronx Bombers, after being released by the Indians last week, he adds 4 scoreless innings to pick up his 1st MLB save since 2001. Bronx Slugger Nick Swisher hits a Grand Slam HR to propel the Yankees' offense, meanwhile Rangers Starter Ryan Dempster gives up 8 runs for the 2nd time since being acquired by the Rangers at the July 31st MLB trading deadline.
2016-Two Bronx Bomber Rookies Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back HRs in their respective 1st MLB at-bats in the 2nd inning to lead the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Rays. No teammates had ever homered in their 1st at-bat in the same game, let alone back-to-back. The Yankees would hit 3 more HRs later in the game by 2B Starlin Castro, OF Aaron Hicks and Shortstop Didi Gregorius to put the game away; in a sign that the team's youth movement is going well, because not one of these players is over 25.
August 14th
1888-Former Yankees 1B Babe Borton (1913) was born. (1888-1954)
In 1912, Babe Borton would burst onto the MLB scene by hitting .371 in 105 at-bats for the White Sox. Except for part of a season that he spent with the 1913 Yankees (.133 in 33 games). He was an above-average hitter in the MLB. On June 1,1913, 1B Babe Horton was traded by the White Sox along with INF Rollie Zeider to the Yankees for 1B Hal Chase. On July 7,1913, Babe was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to AA Jersey City Skeeters (IL) for INF John Knight. In 1914, he would sign to play for the Chicago Whales in the Federal League. He was a leader in a couple offensive categories in the 1915 Federal League, while he hit only .224 in the 1916 AL, he made up for it with lots of walks. He holds the record for the most walks in a season (92) in the Federal League. His last active MLB season was with the 1916 St. Louis Browns. Later, in 1920, he was kicked out of the AA Pacific Coast League, after admitting that he had conspired with gamblers to throw games.
1919-The Yankees would overcome Catcher Muddy Ruel's hitting into a triple play as they beat the Tigers in 15 innings by the score of 5-4.
1919-The Yankees get a court injunction to barring further interference by the AL Team Owners, who had sought to prevent Starter Carl Mays from playing with the Yankees for the rest of 1919 AL season. The Red Sox had traded the troubled hurler to the Yankees for 2 players and $40,000 cash, after a personnel dispute with Mays; who felt that the team hasn’t giving him enough support on the field when he pitched for them. Mays had walked off the playing field during a Red Sox game.
1924-The Yankees had purchased OF Ben Pascual and Pitcher Ray Francis from the Atlanta Crackers (SL) for an undisclosed amount of Cash. Ben Pascual will become a Reserve OF for the Yankees, hitting over .300, 4 times, while playing with the team. Pitcher Ray Francis will go 0-0 in 4 games for the 1924 Yankees before being sent to the Red Sox in a trade in 1925.
1929-Former Yankees Reserve OF Jim Pisoni (1959-1960) was born. (1929-2007)
On June 15,1957, OF Jim Pisoni was traded by the A’s along with P Ryne Duren and OF Harry Simpson to the Yankees for INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held and OF Bob Martyn. Jim was a weak hitting outfielder, who appeared only in 37 games with the Yankees, while hitting just .143. While with the Yankees organization, he spent most of his time at AAA team level (Denver and Richmond). On December 1,1958, Jim was drafted by the Braves from the Yankees organization in the 1958 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On May 7,1959, Jim was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Braves to the Yankees.
1929-It is “Charlie Gehringer Day” in Detroit, and the popular Tigers 2B handles 10 chances in the field, at the plate he hits 3 singles, a HR and steals home in a 17-13 win over the visiting Yankees.
1934-The largest weekday crowd in history watches as the Tigers sweep a pair at Yankee Stadium. It is the Tigers' 14th straight win. Tiger’s Starter “Schoolboy” Rowe has won 13 games in a row. The next day, the Yankees will end the Tigers winning streak.
1937-The Yankees had purchased hurler Ivy Andrews from the Indians for the $7,500 waiver price. For the 1937 Indians, he was 3-4 as a Reliever. Ivy was originally with the 1931-1932 Yankees, going 4-2 in 11 games before being traded to the Red Sox. For the 1937 Yankees, Ivy would go 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 1 save in 11 games. In his 2nd tour with the 1937-1938 Bombers, he had a 4-5 record and 2 saves in 30 games. To make a 25-man MLB roster move, the Yankees will send down Rookie hurler Spud Chandler to their AA club, the Newark Bears (IL).
1938-On August 12,1938, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Pitcher Wes Farrell, who had been released by the Senators. He was a former 3-time 20-game winner in the AL with the Indians and Red Sox. For the 1938 Nats, he had posted a 13-8 record with a 5.92 ERA. With the 1938 Yankees, Wes would post a 2-2 record with an 8.10 ERA in the last weeks of the AL season. In 1939, he would go 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 3 games before being released by the team on May 28th.
1942-The Yankees would turn an MLB-record 7-double plays in an 11-2 win over the Philadelphia A’s. Yankees Catcher Bill Dickey guns down 2 A’s runners following called 3rd strikes, 3 are started by the DP combo of Phil Rizzuto and Joe Gordon, Reliever Johnny Murphy triggers another and 3B Red Rolfe initiates another one. The 7 DPs give the Yankees 150 on the year; they'll finish with 190 DPs for the 1942 AL season, just missing the (since surpassed) MLB mark they set in the 1941 AL season with 194.
1950-Former Yankees Shortstop Jim Mason (1974-1976) was born.
On December 6,1973, Shortstop Jim Mason was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers for $100,000 Cash. In 1974, Jim would hit .250 with 5 HRs and 37 RBIs in 152 games before fading during the 1975-1976 AL seasons. Overall, Jim had appeared in 339 games with the Yankees, while hitting .208 with 8 HRs and 67 RBIs. Mason was the 1st MLB player to hit a HR in the only World Series plate appearance of his MLB playing career in the 1976 World Series against the Reds. It would be only Yankees HR hit in the 1976 World Series. On November 5,1976, Jim was selected by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as the 30th pick in the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. During his 9-season MLB active player He had played for the Senators/Rangers, Yankees, Blue Jays and the Expos for during his 9-season MLB active career.
1957-Former Yankees OF Tim Hendryx (1915-1917) had passed away. (1891-1957)
In 1911, Tim Hendryx would make his 1st MLB appearance with the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians). Then he was sent down by the Naps to Class A New Orleans Pelicans (SA). On August 15,1915, OF Tim Hendryx was purchased by the Yankees from New Orleans (SA). Tim was a Reserve OF on the 1915-1916 teams, while appearing in only 18 games. Also in 1916, he would spend some time playing at AA Richmond (IL). In1917, he was a semi-regular OF for the club, while hitting .249 in 125 games. He would play in 168 games for the Yankees, while hitting .251 with 5 HRs and 50 RBIs. On March 18,1918, Tim was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Yankees to the Browns. Then the Reds would send a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees. Next, St. Louis would send veteran OF Lee Magee to the Reds. Meanwhile the Reds would sent C Tommy Clarke on April 25,1918 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Clarke would never appear with the Yankees. Later, Tim would play for the 1919 Browns, then the 1920-1921 Red Sox before returning to play in the high Minor Leagues until 1926.
1959-The veteran Red Sox 1B Vic Wertz hits a pinch-hit Grand Slam HR off of Yankees Closer Ryne Duren to pace the 11-6 Boston win. Red Sox 2B Pete Runnels walks twice in 1 inning to tie an MLB record.
1960-The Yankees would lose a doubleheader to the Senators and fall to 3rd place in the AL, a half-game behind the Orioles and the White Sox. Nats Starter Camilo Pascual's Grand Slam HR is the difference in a 5-4, 1st-game win for the Senators. In the 2nd inning, Mickey Mantle, believing there are 2 outs, jogs to 1B on a grounder to 3B. The Senators turn a DP, with Yankees Roger Maris suffering bruised ribs trying to break it up at 2B. Maris will miss 18 games as a result of the rib injury. Yankee Stadium fans heavily boo Mickey Mantle; Manager Casey Stengel replaces him in the starting lineup with Reserve OF Bob Cerv. Both clubs would set an MLB record by using 17 pinch-hitters, 9 by the Yankees and 8 by the Nats in the doubleheader (more than 18 innings), while playing an MLB record 24 errorless innings.
1966-The Yankees would sweep 2 games from the Tribe by winning the nightcap by a score of 6-4. The Indians help in the 2nd game by making 6 errors in 1 inning, 1 short of the record. Mickey Mantle helps with a HR off of P Jack Kralick, but he'll sit the next 12 days after re-injuring his knee. Tom Tresh hits his 16th HR of the 1966 AL season. Steve Hamilton picks-up the win in relief of Bronx Starter Fred Talbot. Indians Reliever Tom Kelly in relief of Tribe Starter Sam McDowell takes the loss. In the 2nd game, the Yankees would beat the Tribe by the score of 7-3 with Yankees Reliever Dooley Womack gaining the victory, Fritz Peterson had started the game for the Yankees. Joe Pepitone hits his 27th HR of the1966 AL season. A crowd of 31,948 fans had attended the doubleheader played at Yankee Stadium.
1969-In a 3-2 win over the White Sox, the Yankees 2B Horace Clarke triples with 2 on in the 9th inning, then he scores the winning run on a passed ball. Wilbur Wood takes the loss for the White Sox, while Yankees Reliever Jack Aker is the winner.
1977-The Yankees had collected 15 hits, including HRs by Mickey Rivers and Graig Nettles to swamp the Angels by a score of 15-3. Yankees Starter Richard “Dirt” Tidrow allows just 2 Angels hits in 6 innings of work for the win.
1985-Former Yankees Pitcher Esmil Rodgers (2014-2015) was born.
On July 31, 2014, Pitcher Esmil Rogers was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Blue Jays. For the 2014-2015 Yankees, he had appeared in 36 games, while posting a 3-1 record with 5.59 ERA for the team. On July 31,2015, Rogers was released by the team.
1990-The Angels post a 9-5 win over the Yankees with the winning margin coming on an Inside-the-Park Grand Slam HR by Luis Polonia. Yankees veteran RF Jesse Barfield misses a shoestring catch and his leisurely pursuit of the ball allows Polonia to score. Jim Abbott is the winner for the Angels. Jesse Barfield will misplay another drive into a 4-run IPHR in 2 weeks.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Giovanny Gallegos (2017-2018) was born.
In 2012, Mexican born hurler Giovanny Gallegos was signed with the Yankees as an International Free Agent. After the 2016 AL season, the Yankees will add him to their 40-man MLB roster. In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Gallegos had pitched for the Mexican National Baseball team. On May 12, 2017, he would make his MLB Pitching debut for the Yankees against the Astros. As Yankees hurler, Gallegos would post a 0-1 record with a 4.76 ERA and 1 save in 20 games. On July 29, 2018, he was traded by the Yankees along with MLB Reliever Chasen Shreve to the Cardinals for 1B Luke Voit and International Bonus Slot money.
1995-Current Yankees Pitcher Josh Maciegwski (2024) was born.
Pitcher Josh Maciegwski was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, NC). On April 8, 2024, the Yankees would call-up P Josh Maciegwski from AAA Scranton, where he was 1-0 in 2 games. He has a Yankees minor league pitching record of 26-18 with a 3.52 ERA in 101 games.
1995-Former Yankees Pitcher Stephen Ridings (2021) was born.
Stephen Ridings was drafted by the Cubs in the 8th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Haverford College (Haverford, PA). He never appears with the Cubs at the MLB level. On March 9, 2019, he was traded by the Cubs to the Royals for Minor League OF Donnie Dewees. Steve never pitches for the Royals at the MLB level. In 2020, he did not pitch due the Minor League season being canceled due to the COVIDS-19 outbreak. On November 4, 2020, he was released by the Royals. On January 6, 2021, Ridings was signed as a Free Agent with the Yankees. On July 21st, he combined with Luis Gil and Reggie McClain in no-hitting the Rochester Red Wings, 8-0. Two weeks later, on August 3rd, he was called up to the Bronx when the Yankees had to place a number of pitchers on the COVID-19 list. His teammates in both AA Somerset and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gil, started the game against the Orioles in place of Starter Gerrit Cole, after he had pitched 6 scoreless innings, Stephen would take over and struck out the side; while allowing just 1 hit in the 7th as the Yankees went on to win easily by the score of 13-1. Stephen would finish the 2021 season in the Bronx with a 0-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in 5 games. He did not pitch during the 2022 season, due to pitching arm issues. On November 22, 2022, he was put on waivers by the Yankees; the Mets would claim him. On July 30, 2023, he was released by the Mets. He is currently pitching for the 2024 High Point Rockers, a independent team (Atlantic League).
2002-The Yankees overcome a straight steal of home by Mike Sweeney to beat the Royals by the score of 3-2. Bombers CF Bernie Williams hits an RBI single to give Yankee hurler Ramiro Mendoza (8-3) the win.
2010-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hits 3 HRs and drives in 5 runs taking over the 2010 AL RBI lead with 97, as the Yankees defeat the Royals by the score of 8-3. Yankees Starter Phil Hughes is the winner.
2012-Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda pitches a 2-hitter, while shutting out the Rangers by the score of 3-0. All 3 Yankees runs score in the 7th inning, when Nick Swisher homers off of Rangers hurler Alexi Ogando with Derek Jeter on base and then Mark Teixeira follows with a solo HR blast.
2013-Veteran Bronx Bomber OF Alfonso Soriano goes 3-for-3 with a pair of HRs and a MLB career-high 7 RBIs in the Yankees' 11-3 win over the Angels. Yesterday, Soriano had another 2-HR game with 6 RBIs. His13 RBIs in 2 games are the 2nd-most in Yankees history: Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri had drove in 15 runs in 2 games during the 1936 AL season.
2014-The Rays would shut out the Yankees by the score of 5-0 behind the pitching of Starter Alex Cobb to reach the .500 mark at 62-62. What is remarkable is that they were 18 games below .500 on June 10th, making them only the 4th team in MLB history to return to parity from such a deficit.
August 15th
1912-Little-known Yankees OF Guy Zinn steals home twice in a 5-4 win at Detroit; this will add to last-place New York's MLB record of 18 steals of home for the 1912 AL season. The Yankees will win tomorrow game by the score of 9-8, when Zinn hits a 9th inning double.
1930-Former Yankees Minor League OF Bob Martyn was born. (1930-2015)
In 1952, OF Bob Martyn was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Yankees. An impressive Minor League player, he was named to 3 All-Star teams, while playing in the Yankees farm system. In the 1956 American Association All-Star Game, he would hit 2 HRs, winning the MVP Award for the game. That season, Bob was playing for Manager Ralph Houk’s AAA Denver Bears (AA). On June 15,1957, the Yankees would send OF Bob Martyn, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and Pitcher Ralph Terry to the A’s for Pitcher Ryne Duren, OF Jim Pisoni and MLB OF Harry Simpson. On April 12,1959, he was traded back to the Yankees along with INF Mike Baxes by A’s for Minor League OF Russ Snyder and Reserve INF Tom Carroll. Mike was sent down by the team to the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL), he would never appear with the Yankees in an MLB game. He would retire from baseball in 1960.
1948-Before a crowd of 72,468 fans, the largest home game attendance of the 1948 AL season at Yankee Stadium, the Philadelphia Athletics would sweep a pair from the Yankees by 5-3 scores as they regain 2nd place in the AL. The Athletics would win the opener in 10 innings, after Joe DiMaggio ties the score with his 20th HR of the 1948 AL season. Also, DiMaggio triples home a run in the extra frame, but Reliever Lou Brissie preserves the win for A’s Starter Carl Scheib. The Mackmen had a total of 20 hits in the 2 games, including a triple and double by Sam Chapman. The Yankees are now in 4th place, 5 games back in the 1948 AL pennant race.
1955-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 2nd time in his MLB playing career, tying the MLB mark. The Yankees would beat the Orioles by the score of 12-6 in Game 2 as they sweep the doubleheader from the Birds to move back into 1st place in the AL.
1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Cowley (1984-1985) was born.
On November 22,1983, Pitcher Joe Cowley was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. In 2 seasons with the Yankees, Joe had posted a 21-8 record with a 3.81 ERA in 46 games. On December 12,1985, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with Catcher Ron Hassey to the White Sox for veteran Starter Britt Burns and 2 Minor League Pitchers: Glen Braxton and Mike Soper.
1958-Former Yankees Minor League OF Tom Dodd was born
From 1977-1979, Tom Dodd was college baseball player at the Univ. of Oregon. The Yankees had selected him in the 1st round of the 1980 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had played in the Yankees Minor League organization, before being traded on May 20,1982 to the Blue Jays as part of the John Mayberry trade. On December 9, 1982 Tom would return to the Yankees in a trade, when Blue Jays would send Tom back to the Yankees as part of the OF David Collins for Reliever Dale Murray trade. In 1982, Tom had played at the AA level with the Nashville Sounds (SL) and with the Blue Jays’ Knoxville team (SL). He had hit .235 for the season. The Yankees would assign him with AA Nashville Sounds (SL) for the 1983 season. He would finally reach the MLB in 1986, with a brief stay of 8 games with the Orioles. Tom’s MLB playing career finished with .231 BA with 1 HR and 2 RBIs in 8 games. He continued to play in the Minor Leagues from 1987 to 1990 before retiring as an active player.
1960-Behind Yankees veteran Starter Art Ditmar's 5-hitter aided by Mickey Mantle's 2-HRs, off of Orioles hurlers Jerry Walker and Hoyt Wilhelm, as the Yankees get a 4-3 win and 1st place in the AL. The 2nd HR comes after Birds Catcher Clint Courtney had dropped a Mickey Mantle foul ball pop-up. The Orioles loss is only its 2nd in their last 15 games. The Orioles and the defending 1959 AL Champs White Sox, now trail the Yankees by a half-game.
1961-At a game played at Yankee Stadium, Bronx RF Roger Maris hits his 46th HR off of Chicago Starter Juan Pizarro for the Yankees only run in a 2-1 loss to the visiting White Sox. The veteran lefty hurler Pizarro allows just 4 Yankee hits, as Yankees Ace Whitey Ford loses in his bid for his 21st win of the 1961 AL season.
1963-Former Yankees Pitcher Karl Drews (1946-1948) had passed away. (1920-1963)
Pitching for the 1946-1948 Yankees, hurler Karl Drews had posted an 8-10 record with 4.76 ERA and 2 saves in 52 games before being sold to St. Louis Browns on August 9,1948. Karl had made 2 appearances in the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers with no decisions. The Browns would trade him to the Phillies during the 1951 MLB season; where he had his best MLB pitching season in 1952 by posting a 14-15 record with a 2.72 ERA in 33 games for the Phillies. In 1954, Drews would finish his MLB pitching career with a 44-53 record with a 4.76 ERA and 7 saves in 218 games. His Grandson, Matt Drews had pitched in the Yankees organization during the 1990’s before being traded to the Tigers. He was a No.1 draft pick by the Yankees in 1993 MLB Amateur Player Draft.
1966 Former All-Star Yankees 3B Scott Brosius (1998-2001) was born.
On November 18,1997, INF Scott Brosius was sent by Oakland to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal that was made on November 7,1997. Oakland would send a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Kenny Rogers and Cash. Scott’s best season for the Yankees was in 1998, when he hit .300 and made the AL All-Star team. He was the 1998 World Series MVP and won AL Babe Ruth Award. In 1999, he won an AL Golden Glove for 3B. After the 2001 World Series, Scott retired as an active player from the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankee player, Scott had hit .267 with 65 HRs with 282 RBIs in 540 games. As an MLB player, he would play in 1,146 MLB games, while hitting .257 with 141 HRs and 531 RBIs.
1968-The Yankees would edge the Oakland A’s by the score of 4-3. The A’s hurler Blue Moon Odom gives up a triple to Tommy Tresh, a walk, then he serves up a 3-run HR to Slugger Mickey Mantle for the difference in the game.
1971-Oakland Ace Vida Blue raises his 1971 pitching record to a 22-4 mark as the A's beat the Yankees by a score of 6-4. He would scatter 10 Yankee hits; at the plate, he scores the tie breaking run on a wild pitch.
1972-Former Yankees Minor League OF Chris Singleton was born
On November 11,1997, OF Chris Singleton was traded by the Giants along with P Alberto Castillo to the Yankees for veteran 3B Charlie Hayes and Cash. Singleton had played only 1 season in the Yankees farm system, hitting .254 for the 1998 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On December 8,1998, Chris was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for a Player to be Named Later. On January 10,1999, the White Sox would send Minor League P Rich Pratt to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1975-Former Yankees Pitcher Ben Ford (2000) was born.
In 1994, the Yankees had originally drafted HS Pitcher Ben Ford. He would pitch in the Yankees Minor League system from 1994-1997, reaching AA Norwich (EL) in 1997. Then he was selected by the Diamondbacks from the Yankees Organization in the 1997 MLB Expansion Team Player Draft. Returning to the Yankees on March 30,1999, when the D-Backs had traded P Ben Ford and C Izzy Molina to the Bronx for MLB Pitcher Darren Holmes. He would spend the 1999 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) as a Reliever. With the Yankees in 2000, Ben would post a 0-1 record with a 9.00 ERA in 4 games with the team. On July 21, 2000, Ford was traded by the Yankees along with P Oswaldo Mairena to the Cubs for veteran OF Glenallen Hill.
1977-Yankees Starter Mike Torrez throws his 5th straight complete game of the season, a 6-2 win over the White Sox. Yankees are now just 4 1/2 games in back of the Red Sox.
1991-Yankees All-Star 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees would still beat the Royals by the score of 5-1. He will get one 2-days later and the cut hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children's charity. Mattingly is not alone; Yankees Reliever Steve Farr, C Matt Nokes and P Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club’s hair policy. OF Mel Hall, who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games, is warned that his appearance is "borderline."
2002-The Yankees would top the Royals by the score of 7-5, as Yankees CF Bernie Williams gets 5 hits in the game, including a double.
2007-Yankees Rookie OF Slugger Shelley Duncan hits a dramatic 3-run HR with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game but the Orioles rally with 3 runs of their own in the 10th inning off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera to win the game by a score of 6-3.
2014-Former Yankees Reserve INF Jerry Lumpe (1956-1959) had passed away. (1933-2014)
In 1951, INF Jerry Lumpe was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Player. Lumpe had played in the Yankees farm system from 1951-1956, when he was called up by the team from AAA Richmond (IL). He was one of many young Yankee infielders, who couldn’t break into the Yankees infield lineup of Manager Casey Stengel. He had played Shortstop for the Yankees at Shortstop during their 1956 baseball tour of Japan, when regular Shortstop Phil Rizzuto stayed home for his daughter’s birth that fall. He did appear in the 1957-1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves, hitting .231 in 12 games. Billy Martin and Bobby Richardson had blocked Jerry at 2B. He did gain some playing time at 2B, when Martin was traded to KC on June 15,1957. He was lost in Stengel’s infield platoon system at Shortstop, 2B and 3B. He was one of the young Yankee players along with OF Norm Siebern, 1B Marv Throneberry, who were openly criticized by Manager Casey Stengel in the NYC sports media; as he stopped being a supporter of the Yankee youth movement, instead relying on veteran players on the MLB team roster. Casey on Lumpe to the NYC sports media “Jerry Lumpe looks like the best hitter in the world until you put him in the lineup.” Also, Jerry also had some player contract money problems in dealing with Bronx GM George Weiss, which Jerry commented, “They really know how to make you feel not wanted.” His Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle helped him out 1 season by loaning him free use of his house in New Jersey for the season; when Jerry has facing serious family medical problems. MLB players didn’t have health care plans then, like today’s modern players do now. On May 26,1959, Jerry has able to leave the Yankees, when he was traded along with 2 veteran Pitchers: Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant to Kansas City A’s for P Ralph Terry and INF Hector Lopez. With the A’s, he became their regular 2B playing for them until 1963. On November 18,1963, Jerry was traded by the A’s along with 2 Pitchers: Ed Rakow and Dave Wickersham to the Tigers for veteran Reliever Bob Anderson, All-Star OF Rocky Colavito and $50,000 Cash. Jerry would play 2B for the Tigers until 1967. He would finish his MLB playing career with a .268 BA, while hitting 47 HRs and 454 RBIs in 1,371 games. His best MLB playing season would be with the 1962 A’s, hitting .301 with 3 HRs and 54 RBIs in 156 games. In 1964, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Later, he would become an MLB Coach for the Oakland A’s, when Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and other players teased about his MLB playing career; Jerry just showed them his 1956 Yankees World Championship Ring and the joking by the A’s players immediately stopped, because he had a World Series Championship Ring that they didn’t have.
2014-The Rays shut out the Yankees, 5-0, behind Starter Alex Cobb, to reach the .500 mark at 62-62. What is remarkable is that they were 18 games below .500 on June 10th, making them only the 4th team in MLB history to return to parity from such a deficit.
2023-The Braves and Yankees, who were both pre-seasons favorites to make it far this year, are headed in opposite directions. Today, the Braves consolidate their position as the owners of the best record in the MLB with a 5-0 win over the Yankees, who fall to .500 on the season and are in last place in the AL East. Braves hurlers Bryce Elder, A.J. Minter and Kirby Yates combine on a 1-hit shutout with D.J. LeMahieu's 2nd-inning single the only safety. Braves HRs by hitters Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna account for all the 5 runs.
August 16th
1889-Former Yankees Pitcher Henry “Rube” Robinson (1918) was born. (1889-1965)
On June 20,1918, Pitcher Henry “Rube” Robinson was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. For the 1918 Yankees, Rube would post a 2-4 record with a 3.00 ERA in 11 games.
1903-Toledo native George Mullin pitching for the Tigers helps the game attendance today with 6,000 fans showing up as the Tigers take on Yankees in a Sunday game in Toledo. Mullin is racked for 8 runs, but Detroit scores 12 runs led by the hitting of Sam Crawford, who is 5-for-6 for the game.
1913-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) was born. (1913-1949).
For the 1940-1946 Yankees, Bronx hurler Tiny Bonham would post a 79-50 record with a 2.73 ERA and 6 saves in 158 games. He was a member of 1942-1943 AL All-Star teams. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1942, when he posted a 21-5 record with a 2.27 ERA along with an AL leading 22 complete games for the team. He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 1-2 record with a 3.21 ERA in 4 games. On October 24,1946, Tiny was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for P Cookie Cuccurullo. In 1947, he went 11-7 with 3.85 ERA for the Bucs. In 1948, he would drop to a 6-11 mark with a 4.31 ERA. On September 15,1949, Bonham would pass away, following having stomach surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital. At the time of his death, he had a 2-1 record with a 4.25 ERA in 18 games for the 1949 Pirates. Overall, Tiny had posted a 103-72 record with a 3.06 ERA and 9 saves in 231 MLB games.
1920-At the Polo Grounds, Indians Shortstop Ray Chapman, 29 is beaned by a Yankees Starter Carl Mays pitch. Chapman is a right-handed batter, who likes to crowd the plate, Chapman freezes and fails to get out of the way of the May’s submarine delivery. He is carried from the field and dies the next day from a fractured skull. Carl Mays, a surly, unpopular pitcher is the target of fans' and MLB players' outrage. Ray Chapman, a Cleveland favorite since breaking in with the team in 1912, had been married the previous year. In October, his wife will receive a full World Series share, of $3,986.34. The incident has no effect on Carl Mays's pitching. One week later, he will blank the Tigers by the score of 10-0 and go on to win 26 and lose 11 games during the 1920 AL season. Joe Sewell will be called up by the Indians to take Chapman's place at 2B, for 14 MLB seasons, he will be the hardest man to strike out in MLB.
1922-Former Yankees OF (1949-1954) and MLB Scout Gene Woodling was born.(1922-2001).
Gene Woodling had originally come up to the MLB with the 1943 Indians. In 1944-1945, he had spent time serving in the military. In 1946, the Tribe had traded him to the Pirates for veteran Catcher Al Lopez. In 1947, Gene was on loan from the Pirates to the Yankees, where he played for the AA Newark Bears (IL); where he hit .289 with 8 HRs and 54 RBIs in 128 games. At the end of 1947 season, Pirates would trade Gene to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). On September 30,1948, OF Gene was purchased by the Yankees from the AA Seals (PCL). In 1948, he had hit .385 with 22 HRs and 107 RBIs in 146 games for the Seals (PCL), winning the 1948 Minor League Player Award. He would play in the Outfield on 5 straight Yankees World Championship teams (1949-1953). Gene would hit .318 in 5 World Series for the Yankees. He hit over .300 in 1952 and 1953 AL seasons. During the 1954 AL season, Gene would break his thumb ending his season. He had appeared in 97 games for the 1954 team, while hitting .250 with 3 HRs and 40 RBIs. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel would platoon Gene with fellow Yankees teammate Hank Bauer in the Yankees Outfield. As Yankees player from 1949-1954, he had played in 698 games, while hitting .285 with 51 HRs and 336 RBIs. After the 1954 AL season, Gene was part of the big 17-player trade between the Orioles and Yankees. In 1959, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Gene would play in the MLB for 17 seasons, appearing in 1,796 games, while hitting .284 with 147 HRs with 830 RBIs. After his retirement as an active MLB player in 1962, after playing for the expansion Senators and the Mets; Woodling was a Mets 1B MLB Coach in 1963. Later, he worked as an Orioles MLB Coach from 1964-1967 under his old Yankees OF teammate, now Orioles Manager Hank Bauer. Later, he would become a Yankees and Indians MLB Scout. Gene was responsible for signing Kent State college Catcher Thurman Munson for the Yankees.
1927-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth becomes the 1st MLB Player to hit a ball over Chicago’s Comiskey Park’s Roof.
1929-Former Yankees Minor League INF Curt Roberts was born. (1929-1969)
Curt Roberts was the 1st Black MLB player for the Pirates. He played 2B briefly for the Bucs; until Rookie 2B Bill Mazeroski would replace him. In 1956, Curt was picked up by KC. On April 4,1957, he was traded by the team to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made in February of 1957. On February 19,1957, the A’s had sent players to be named later, INF Wayne Belardi, INF Jack McMahan, Pitchers Art Ditmar and Bobby Shantz to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, P Rip Coleman, Infielders Milt Graff and Billy Hunter, Pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan and MLB OF Irv Noren. Curt never appeared with the Yankees at MLB level. He was sent to their AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA) in 1957. Later he would play for the other Yankees AAA club, the Richmond Virginians (IL.)
1948-After a 2-year struggle battling Throat Cancer, New York Yankees Hall of Fame OF/Pitcher Babe Ruth (1920-1934) dies at age 53 in New York City. After his funeral mass was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, his body would be put on public display at Yankee Stadium, where it will be viewed by more than 100,000 fans. After his public viewing at Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth was buried at Gate Haven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.
1952-Former Yankees Reliever Al Holland (1986-1987) was born.
Veteran MLB Reliever Al Holland was signed and released as an MLB Free Agent with the team during the 1986-1987 AL seasons. Al had posted a 1-0 record with a 6.32 ERA in 28 games as a Reliever for the Yankees.
1961-Yankees Slugger Roger Maris ties an AL record with his 7th HR in his 6th straight game, as the Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 5-4 in the 9th inning. His 2 HR blasts were off of veteran Starter Billy Pierce to give him 48 HRs, 3 more than his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
1963-Former Yankees MLB Coach (2008-2017) and Current Phillies Manager Rob Thomson (2022-2024) was born.
Catcher Rob Thomson had played for Team Canada in the 1984 Olympics. He was selected by the Tigers in the 32nd round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Rob would play in the Minor Leagues from 1985 to 1988. He was 0 for 5 for the 1985 Bristol Tigers and hit .187 for the Gastonia Jets that year, playing 3B as well as Catching. In 1986, Thomson would hit .252 for the Gastonia Tigers. He was 4 for 22 with a HR for the Class A Lakeland Tigers (FSL). By 1987, he was full-time with Lakeland, managing only show a .228 in 71 games. In 1988, Rob went 0 for 7 for Lakeland in 1988 to finish his active playing career. In 1988-1989, Thomson was a Minor League Coach for the Tigers organization. Then he would join the Yankees organization as Coach for the 1990 Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). Next, he would spend the 1992 season as a Coach with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (EL). He would coach through the 1994 season, then he would manage the Class A 1995 Oneonta Yankees (EL) to a 34-41 record. Thomson was a Minor League Coach for the 1996-1997 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He would serve as the Minor League Field Coordinator in 1998-1999, then as Director of Player Development from 2000 to 2002 and VP of Minor League Development in 2003. In 2007, Thompson was the Yankees' MLB Field Coordinator, acting as a bridge between the Yankees' Advance Scouts and their MLB Coaching Staff. In 2008, he was appointed MLB Bench Coach by new Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. For the 2009 AL season, he was reassigned to the position of 3B MLB Coach. In 2015, he moved back to being the Yankees MLB Bench Coach. After the 2017 AL season had ended, Rob was released by the team. He been interviewed by the Yankees front office for the Yankees Manager job opening. Rob was hired by the Phillies to be their MLB Bench Coach for the 2018 NL season. During the 2022 NL season, Rob would replace Joe Girardi as the Phillies Manager. He would take the team to win the NL Championship and be in the 2022 World Series.
1965-Former Yankees Reliever Xavier Hernandez (1994) was born.
On November 27,1993, Reliever Xavier Hernandez was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for 2 players: Pitcher Domingo Jean and Reserve INF Andy Stankiewicz. For the 1994 Yankees, he would post a 4-4 record with a 5.85 ERA and 6 saves in 31 games. In the fall of 1994, the Yankees would grant him his MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Reds for the 1995 NL season.
1975-Former Yankees Reserve OF Michael “Prime Time” Coleman (2001) was born.
On March 21, 2001, OF Michael Coleman was traded by the Reds along with INF Prospect Drew Henson to the Yankees for Minor League OF Prospect Wily Mo Pena. He had appeared in 12 games with the 2001 Yankees, while hitting just .211 with 1 HR and 7RBIs. The Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency in October of 2001. On July 17, 2005, Michael Coleman was purchased by the Yankees from the Independent League team, the Bridgeport Bluefish (AL). He would spend rest of the 2005 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On October 15, 2005, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency.
1976-Yankees CF Mickey Rivers hits an Inside-the-Park HR against Rangers veteran Starter Gaylord Perry as the Yankees win the game by the score of 5-1. Yankees Reserve INF Fred “Chicken” Stanley, who also HRs in the game.
1977-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would blow a 9-4 lead in the top of the 9th inning, when the White Sox would score 6-runs, but a 2-run HR by 1B Chris Chambliss in the bottom of the 9th inning gives the Yankees an 11-10 comeback win.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Brian Gordon (2011) was born.
Capping a journeyman's pitching career, Brian Gordon got a chance to return to the MLB in June 2011, when the Yankees' starting rotation was crippled by injuries. In his 1st MLB appearance since 2008, he held his former team, the Rangers to 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings on June 16th. He had been signed by the Yankees from the Phillies’ AAA affiliate, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (IL), where he was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA, the best record in the International League. The Yankees went on to win the game by the score of 3-2 in extra innings. The developing fairy tale came to a crashing stop in his next MLB start, in the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Reds on June 22nd. He gave up a HR to the 1st batter he faced, Chris Heisey, who would go on to hit 3 in the Reds' 10-2 win. Gordon would give up 2 more long balls while taking the loss. Gordon didn't last long in the MLB. He would finished the 2011 season with the SK Wyverns (Korea Baseball Organization), where he would posted a 6-4 record with a 3.81 ERA in 14 games. After doing well in the postseason, he was called on to start game 5 of the 2011 Korean Series. He would lose a 1-0 duel to Woo-Chan Cha, serving up a 4th-inning HR to the Samsung Lions' Bong-kyu Kang. That gave Samsung its 5th title, beating defending champions SK 4 games to 1.
1989-Yankees OF/DH Luis Polonia is arrested in his hotel room for having sex with a 15-year-old girl. After the 1989 MLB season was completed, he will be sentenced to 60 days in jail.
2000-The Rangers would shut out the Yankees by the score of 5-0, as Starter Brian Sikorski hurls scoreless ball into the 8th inning in his MLB pitching debut. Rangers OF Gabe Kapler goes hitless in the game, ending his 28-game AL hitting streak.
2006-Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner helps break ground for the new Yankee Stadium, is dubbed by some as “The House The Boss Built.”
2009-Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter hits an RBI double off Seattle's Starter Doug Fister in the 3rd inning for his 2,674th hit as a Shortstop, surpassing Luis Aparicio's all-time leading total for the position. The Yankees will lose the game, however by the score of 10-3 as Fister records his 1st win in the majors.
2010-Yankees Minor League Closer Jonathan Albaladejo earns his 39th save of the 2010 International League season for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in a 7-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens, breaking the IL single-season mark held by Matt Whiteside since 2004. In October, he will be sold by the Yankees to a Japanese League team.
2016-The Blue Jays score 8 runs in the 8th to mount a come-from-behind 12-6 win over the Yankees, as they take over 1st place from Orioles in a tightly-fought AL East race. Catcher Russell Martin's 2nd HR of the contest puts the Jays ahead to stay. While his catching counterpart for the Yankees, Gary Sanchez, also HRs twice, making it the 1st time in AL history that both starting catchers have done so. Troy Tulowitzki has 4 hits and also HRs for Toronto, while Scott Feldman earns his 1st win since being acquired in a mid-season trade.
2017-Short of infielders because of injuries, the Mets start Catcher Travis d'Arnaud at 3B in their game against the Yankees. However, as d'Arnaud has never played the position professionally, Manager Terry Collins decides to switch him and starting 2nd baseman Asdrubal Cabrera every time a right-handed batter comes up, in order to minimize the chance of a ball actually being hit towards the improvised infielder. The 2 end up exchanging positions 18 times as the Yankees prevail by the score of 5-3, making for an unusual box score that reads "Cabrera 2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b" and "d'Arnaud 3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b".
August 17th
1908-The Yankees would trade 2B Harry Niles to the Red Sox for 2B Frank LaPorte, who had played for the Yankees in 1905-1908. Niles was a major disappointment for the Yankees, hitting only .249 with 4 HRs and 24 RBIs in 95 games. He had come to the team in a trade in November of 1907 that saw Yankees regular 2B Jimmy Williams (1903-1907) go to the St. Louis Browns. Frank La Porte was hitting .237 in 62 games for the Red Sox. He would become the Yankees Reserve Infielder, also he could play in the outfield as well. He would hit .276 with 6 HRs and 227 RBIs in 516 games for the Yankees before being traded to the St. Louis Browns on February 11,1911.
1915-Yankees base runner Fritz Maisel steals 2B, 3B and home in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia A’s.
1919-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest Nevel (1950-1951) was born. (1919-1988)
In 1946, Pitcher Ernie Nevel was signed by the Yankees, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Nevel was farmed out by the Yankees to the Augusta Tigers (SAL), where the 27-year-old would post a 5-3 record with a 4.85 ERA in 36 appearances. This would be the 1st season of 9; that he would spend in the Minor Leagues. After 4 more seasons 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 Bronx. He got a very short look by the Yankees in late September, making 3 appearances, losing 1 game, while posting a 9.95 ERA. The AA Kansas City Blues (AA) would be Ernie's home for the biggest part of the 1951 season. The 32-year-old hurler would go 14-11 with a 3.86 ERA. He would show up again in Yankee Stadium, appearing in 1 game, pitching 4 innings with no decision; that was it for his 2nd shot at the MLB hitters. It was back to the AAA Blues in 1952, where he went 7-6 in 22 appearances. On August 28,1952, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Minor League Players OF Jim Greengrass, OF Bob Marquis, MLB P Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 Cash to the Reds for veteran All-Star Starter Ewell Blackwell. Nevel would be with the 1953 Reds for 10 appearances, all in relief; he would have no decisions along with a 6.10 ERA.
1920-Cleveland Indians Shortstop Ray Chapman dies in a New York City hospital as a result head injuries from being hit by a pitch thrown by Yankees Submariner Hurler Carl Mays. The Ray Chapman tragedy remains the only on-field fatality in MLB history.
1923-After 111 games of the 1923 AL season are played, Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth is hitting .401 with 31 HRs. He will finish the 1923 AL season with league leading 41 HRs. He'll wind up with his highest BA, .393 with 205 hits, an MLB record 170 walks and 4 times hit by pitches, Babe Ruth will reach base a record 379 times.
1925-Yankees had released OF Bobby Veach and Pitcher Alex Ferguson to the Senators for future considerations and the $4,000 waiver price. Since being obtained by the Yankees from the Red Sox, Bobby Veach had hit .353 in 56 games for the team. He would hit .243 in 18 games with the Nats in his last MLB active season. With the Senators, Alex Ferguson would go 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 7 games. In the 1925 World Series with the Nats against the Pirates, he went 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 2 games. For the 1925 Yankees, he had gone 4-2 with a 7.79 ERA with 1 save in 21 games.
1929-The Yankees had purchased Pitcher Lefty Gomez from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) for delivery in September 1930. From 1930-1942, Lefty Gomez would post a Yankees Pitching career record of 189-101 with a WP of .649 along with 1,468 strikeouts and 173 complete games. He was the 1st Starter for the AL team in the 1st All-Star Game in 1932.
1933-On his way establishing the MLB record mark of playing in 2,130 consecutive games, Bronx Bombers 1B Lou Gehrig quietly surpasses former Yankees Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott's previous MLB record of 1,308 games. The 1st baseman's single and triple doesn't prevent the last place Browns from beating the Yankees in 10 innings by the score of 7-6 at St. Louis Sportsman's Park.
1943-Yankees 1B Nick Etten singles twice off of White Sox Pitcher Bill Dietrich, breaking a 17-game stretch, in which Etten didn't single. Six of the 17 games were hitless, but Etten either doubled or HR in the other games. The Yankees AL lead is now at 9 1/2 games with the Bombers winning their 9th straight series, most of which are now 4 games as a result of wartime travel restrictions. The streak of winning each series will stretch to 13 before being broken by the Senators.
1944-Former Yankees Minor League INF Ron Boyer was born.
Infielder Ron Boyer was the younger brother of former MLB players Ken Boyer, Clete Boyer, Cloyd Boyer and Minor Leaguers Lynn Boyer, Wayne Boyer and Len Boyer and the Uncle of Dave Boyer and Mickey Boyer. Ron would spend 8 seasons as an infielder in the Yankees Minor League system playing from 1962-1969. He only hit above .200 twice. Ron Boyer never hit double-digit HRs. In 1967, Ron made it to the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL) for just 23 games. Boyer would spend the rest of 1966-1969 seasons playing at AA level baseball for the Yankees.
1944-Yankees OF Johnny Lindell, who was converted from a Pitcher by the team in 1943, hits 4 straight doubles to share an MLB hitting mark. The Yankees would defeat the Tribe by a score of 10-3.
1946-Former Yankees Pitcher Skip Lockwood (1975) was born.
On December 3,1974, Pitcher Skip Lockwood was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for veteran DH/C Bill Sudakis. On April 7,1975, Skip Lockwood was released by the Yankees. Oakland would pick him up, who would later trade him to the Mets during the 1975 MLB season.
1948-A day after Babe Ruth dies, Yankees OF Tommy Henrich hits his 4th Grand Slam HR of the 1948 AL season off of Senators starter Sid Hudson to join Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Rudy York and, later Al Rosen and Ray Boone for the AL record. Henrich, who broke in with the Yankees in 1937, had never hit a Grand Slam HR before the 1948 AL season. Yankees Rookie Starter Bob Porterfield wins the game for the Yankees by the score of 8-1.
1948-An estimated crowd of 100,000 fans passes by the body of New York Yankees Hall of Fame Slugger Babe Ruth that is on display at Yankee Stadium.
1950-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher (1918) and MLB Coach (1918-1919) Paddy O’Connor had passed away. (1879-1950
Reserve Catcher Paddy O’Connor had appeared in 1 game for the 1918 Yankees, going 1 for 3 at the plate, then he would become an MLB Coach for the team for the 1918-1919 AL seasons. He had previously played in the NL with the Pirates and Cardinals. He had played 1 season with the 1915 Pittsburgh Rebels (Federal League).
1951-Former Yankees Reserve INF Butch Hobson (1982) was born.
On March 24,1982, INF Butch Hobson was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for Reliever Bill Castro. Butch only appeared in 30 games with the 1982 Yankees, while hitting only .172 after spending most of the 1982 season playing with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).
1953-In the 2nd game of a twin-bill played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Veteran Yankees hurler Bob “Sarge” Kuzava shuts out the Mackmen by the score of 9-0, while allowing 11 A’s hits along the way. He receives run support from Yankee Hitters: Joe Collins, who hits 2 HRs and Billy Martin’s solo HR. Joe Coleman would take the loss for the A’s. In the Opener, the Yankees would win by the score of 10-3 as Yankees Starter Whitey Ford picks-up his 15th win of the 1953 AL season with relief help from Tom Gorman. Bronx Catcher Yogi Berra hits a 2-run HR in the game.
1967-Former Yankees Pitcher Ray Caldwell (1910-1918) had passed away. (1888-1967)
In August of 1910, Pitcher Ray Caldwell was purchased by the Yankees from McKeesport (O-PAL) for $2,000 Cash. For the 1910-1918 Yankees, Ray would post a 96-97 record with a 3.00 ERA in 248 games. The spit-ball starter had 2 fine seasons for the club; 1914 (17-9) and 1915 (19-16). On December 18,1918, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Pitchers: Frank Gilhooley, Elmer “Slim” Love, Catcher Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and Pitcher Ernie Shore.
1971-Former Yankees All-Star Catcher Jorge Posada (1995-2011) was born.
Jorge Posada was the starting catcher of the 1998-2010 Yankees. During that time, the Yankees had won 4 World Series. Posada staked a claim as one of the best hitting catchers of all-time. Jorge Posada was selected in the 24th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft. While he grew up in Puerto Rico, he would attend jr. college in the U.S, where scouts had noticed him. He was actually a 2B during his 1st pro season with the 1991 Class A Oneonta (NYPL). He would hit .235 in 71 games, but he had walked 51 times, already showing signs of superior plate discipline. Also, Jorge also played 11 games behind the plate that season. By 1992, he was a full-time catcher. He would hit .277 in 101 games for the Class A Greensboro Hornets (SAL) that year, banging 22 doubles with 12 HRs. In 1993, he had played 118 games with the Class A Prince William Yankees (CL) with another 7 games with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (EL), hitting .260 with 27 doubles and 17 HRs. Now a top prospect, he would skipped the AA level in 1994, landing the starting job behind the plate with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL), where he would hit .240 with 11 HRs in 92 games. Back to AAA in 1995, he would hit .255 in 108 games. The Yankees called up Jorge for the 1st time in September of 1995. With the team set to return to the postseason for the 1st time since 1981, there was little opportunity for the youngster to get much playing time, so he mainly watched, getting into only 1 game on September 4th, when he caught 1 inning. In spite of his lack of playing time in the MLB, the Yankees added his name to the postseason roster as a 3rd-string Catcher behind Starter Mike Stanley and Reserve C/INF Jim Leyritz.
The team's fans probably 1st became aware of his existence, when he was called to pinch-run for 3B Wade Boggs in the 12th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS against the Mariners. He came in to score on Ruben Sierra's double, as the Yankees went on to win the game on Leyritz's 15th-inning HR. In 1996, he was back at AAA Columbus for 1 more season, hitting .271, along with 11 HRs, 22 doubles and 6 triples in 106 games. He was return to the Yankees for 8 games, going 1 for 14, but this time he was not on the 1996 Postseason roster. The Yankees went on to win their 1st World Series title since 1978 that season, while he was technically part of that team; his contribution was almost non-existent. In 1997, Posada made the team out of MLB spring training camp, he would spend the season splitting catching duties with veteran Starting Catcher Joe Girardi. He would play in 60 games hitting .250 with 12 doubles and 6 HRs; he also drew 30 walks for a solid .359 OBP. That combination of better than average OBP and power would hold over the years and make him an extremely valuable member of the Yankees' line-up, as he turned the catcher position, usually the weakest in the batting order, into one of the most productive. However, his defense would always a bit of an Achilles heel, especially his relatively weak throwing arm. He hit his 1st MLB HR on May 4th, off of Royals' Jim Converse. That 1st season, Girardi got most of the playing time as a result of his better defense, including in the ALDS, when the Yankees had lost to the Indians.
In 1998, Jorge was the starter, however, he would not relinquish the job for 13 seasons, except for a brief time late in 2008, when he was injured and needed season ending surgery. In 1998, he would play in 111 games as the Yankees had a superlative season, winning 114 games on their way to a World Series sweep of the Padres. On May 17th, he had caught David Wells' perfect game against the Twins. Posada would hit 17 HRs and drove in 63 runs that year, hitting HRs in both the ALCS and World Series. The Yankees would repeat as World Champions in 1999, although Posada had one of his weakest seasons, hitting just .245 with 12 HRs in 112 games. He was still sharing playing time with Girardi in the postseason, but he started 2 of the 4 games in the World Series, going 2 for 8 with a double against the Braves. In 2000, Posada would emerge as a true star, as the Yankees won their 3rd straight World Championship.
Now the uncontested starter following Girardi’s MLB Free Agency departure, hitting .287 with 35 doubles, 28 HRs and 86 RBIs, as he played in 151 games. He was named to the AL All-Star team for the 1st of 5 times. Also, he won his 1st of 5 Silver Slugger Awards as the AL's best-hitting Catcher. The Yankees would beat the cross-town Mets in the World Series that year, with Posada starting all 16 postseason games. In 2001, he would hit .277 with 22 HRs with 95 RBIs, returning to the AL All-Star Game, he won the Silver Slugger Award again. He played in the World Series for the 4th straight season, again starting every postseason game behind the plate. On September 2nd, he would catch Veteran Starter Mike Mussina's bid for a perfect game against the Red Sox, when Moose struck out 13 batters and finally gave up a single to Carl Everett with 2 outs in the 9th inning. Jorge had a great series against the A’s in the 2001 ALDS, going 8 for 18 to make the difference in a tightly fought series in which the Yankees trailed 2 games to none. In the 3rd game on October 13th, he hit a 5th-inning solo HR off of A’s Starter Barry Zito for the Yankees' only run, then in the 7thinning, he caught Derek Jeter's amazing flip throw that nailed Jeremy Giambi at the plate to preserve the win. However, the Yankees lost the 2001 Fall Classic in 7 games to the Diamondbacks. He had another All-Star, Silver Slugger season in 2002, banging out 40 doubles with 20 HRs, while driving in 99 runs, but the Yankees stumbled in the postseason, losing to the Angels in the ALDS. In 2003, the Yankees returned to the World Series for the 5th time in 6 years, Posada was again at the center of things. He reached 100 RBIs and hit 30 HRs for the only time of his career, finishing with 101 RBIs, while hitting .281 with a .401 OBP in 142 games.
He was 8 for 27 with 4 doubles and a HR in the memorable 7-game win over the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS. In Game 7 on October 16th, he hit a 2-out double off a tired Pedro Martinez in the 7th inning, scoring Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui to tie the game which the Bronx Bombers would win on Aaron Boone's HR in extra innings. But like the rest of the Yankees' hitters, he fell flat in the Fall Classic as the Yankees lost to the Marlins. His 2004-2006 MLB seasons were still very good, but not quite at the level of the previous 4 seasons, he failed to make the AL All-Star team or win a Silver Slugger during that stretch. He hit between 19 and 23 HRs, with a BA between .262-.277, but the Yankees did not manage to go deep in any of the 3 AL postseasons. In 2007, he put it all together for 1 last time, though, hitting an amazing .338 at age 35 - the 4th best average in the AL hitting 42 doubles and 20 HRs. He was an AL All Star team selection for the final time, he won the Silver Slugger Award also for a 5th and last time, but it all came to naught when the Yankees were surprised by the Indians in the ALDS, during which he hit only .133.
The 2008 AL season was the Yankees' last season in historic Yankee Stadium. The team would have wanted to leave the hallowed confines of the "House that Ruth Built" as a winner under new skipper Joe Girardi, but it wasn't to be. Posada was injured for much of the 2nd half, playing in only 51 games and being limited to a mere 3 HRs as MLB veterans Jose Molina and Ivan Rodriguez would closed out the season as the team's 2 backstops. The Yankees would miss the postseason for the 1st and only time of Posada's playing career that year, and there was much speculation in the off-season that he was done, coming off an injury-filled season at 37, with his throwing arm - never particularly powerful, just about gone. However, he made a great comeback in 2009, playing 111 games, 100 of them as the Catcher, while hitting .285 with 22 HRs and 81 RBIs. Not only did the Yankees return to the post-season, but also they inaugurated New Yankee Stadium with another World Championship by defeating the Phillies in 6 games. On April 16,2009 .Posada was the 1st Yankee to hit a HR in the new ballpark, connecting off of Starter Cliff Lee. Like in the good old days, Jorge would play in all of the postseason games, being the DH in those Jose Molina caught for starter A.J. Burnett, who seemed to have irreconcilable differences with Posada's pitch selection. Jorge was still the starter in 2010, although catching only in 83 games and making 2 trips on the DL, during which young Catcher Francisco Cervelli got a lot of playing time. His BA fell to .248, but the power was still there with 18 HRs with 23 doubles. One major highlight came on June 12-13th, when he tied an MLB record by hitting a Grand Slam HR in consecutive games. The Yankees now had a difficult decision to make for 2011 season: let Posada catch again for the final year of his contract, release him, or find some other solution. Encouraged by his good power numbers, they decided to make Posada a full-time DH, with Catcher Russell Martin being brought in as an MLB Free Agent to handle catching duties. Jorge was in fact the starting DH against right-handed pitchers for most of the season, but the end of the line was clearly drawing closer. His BA fell to a .235 mark. Jorge went for long stretches when he was contributing almost nothing with the bat. A few power spurts during the season helped him finish with 14 HRs and as many doubles, but he was benched increasingly frequently as the season progressed, especially after top prospect Jesus Montero was called up in September and showed a live bat. He played a few games in the field, the most memorable being the only game at 2B of his MLB playing career; it came in the 9th inning on August 25th, in the game in which the Yankees became the 1st MLB team to hit 3 Grand Slams HRs in 1 game. Another highlight was on August 13th, when he hit the 10th and last Grand Slam HR of his MLB career as he drove in 6 runs in a win over the Rays at New Yankee Stadium. Finally, he had a last hurrah in the ALDS, as he hit .429 against the Tigers. The Yankees would bow out in 5 games. Though after the season, the rumors began mounting that he would announce his retirement before the following spring. The rumors which were confirmed when Jorge Posada announced his player retirement at a press conference organized at New Yankee Stadium on January 24, 2012. Jorge Posada was a teammate of Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter for all 17 seasons that he played in the MLB, more seasons than any other trio of teammates in history. It is likely that all 3 will eventually be enshrined in Cooperstown. Jorge probably faces the most difficult task of the 3, as he was often overshadowed by stars more prominent in the sports media during his playing career, but his numbers do not lie: 1,829 games - over 1500 of them behind the plate - and a career batting line of .273 with 275 HRs, 379 doubles and over 1,000 RBIs.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Chad Qualls (2012) was born.
On July 1, 2012, veteran MLB Reliever Chad Qualls was traded by the Phillies to the Yankees for Player to be Named or Cash. For the 2012 Yankees, he would appear in 8 games, while posting a 1-0 record with a 6.14 ERA. On July 31, 2012, Chad was traded by the club to the Bucs for veteran INF Casey McGehee.
1986-Former Yankees Reserve OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) had passed away. (1895-1986)
For the 1917-1920 Yankees, Sammy Vick was a Reserve Outfielder. Sammy had appeared in 169 games for the team, while hitting .246 with 2 HRs and 41 RBIs. On December 15,1920, he was traded by the team along with 2B Del Pratt, Catcher Muddy Ruel and Pitcher Hank Thormahlen to the Red Sox for 2 Pitchers: Waite Hoyt and Harry Harper, Catcher Wally Schang and INF Mike McNally.
1987-Former Yankees Reserve OF Thomas Neal (2013) was born.
On January 18, 2013, OF Thomas Neal was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He only appeared in 4 games with the team, while hitting just .182, spending most of the 2013 season with AAA Scranton (IL). On August 5, 2013, Neal was selected off waivers by the Cubs from the Yankees.
1995-Former Yankees Minor League Player and Manager Ray White (1937-1940) had passed away. (1910-1995)
Ray White was a Minor League baseball Pitcher and Manager. He had pitched from 1933-1940, going 55-37 in 170 games. Over the course of his 6-season career, he had thrown 877 innings. In 1934, he went 17-9 while splitting the season between the Norfolk Tars and Binghamton Triplets. From 1937-1940, he would manage in the Yankees Minor League system with the Bassett Furnituremakers (Bi-State League), Norfolk Tars (PL) and the Augusta Tigers (SAL).
1997-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Frisco Parotte to the Cubs for MLB 2B Rey Sanchez. The Yankees had traded for Sanchez to give them infield insurance at Shortstop and 2B. Reserve INF Luis Sojo was out with a broken forearm. For the 1997 Cubs, Rey was hitting .249 in 72 games. With the trade being made, the Yankees would send back young INF Homer Bush to AAA Columbus (IL) to have him play regularly. Rey Sanchez will take over 2B from Pat Kelly by hitting .312 in 38 games. In the off-season, the Yankees would lose him to MLB Free Agency; when he signs with the Giants for the 1998 NL season. Frisco Parotte was former 1993 MLB Amateur Player Draft pick by the Yankees, he was 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA at Class A Greensboro (SAL).
2002-At Seattle’s Safeco Field, after hitting a HR in the 7th inning off of Mariner Reliever James Baldwin, Yankees All-Star 2B Alfonso Soriano becomes the 1st 2nd baseman to hit 30 HRs and steal 30 bases in the same MLB season. Bobby Bonds was the only other Yankees player to post a 30/30 season accomplishing the feat in 1975. Bronx CF Bernie Williams singles in his 1st at bat to give him 11 consecutive hits. He makes an out his next time up to fall 1 short of the MLB record. The Yankees would win the game by the score of 8-3 behind veteran AL Starter Mike Mussina, who picks up his 15th victory of the 2002 AL season. Meanwhile Seattle Starter Ryan Franklin takes the loss, he is now at 4-3 mark. A crowd of 46,174 fans had watched this Saturday game.
2022-The 1st-place Yankees, whose offense has been inordinately quiet of late, trail the Rays 4-0 before a 2-run HR by 2B Gleyber Torres puts them on the scoreboard in the 6th. After a 1-hour rain delay, they manage to tie the game with single runs in the 7th and 8th; but in the top of the 10th, Bronx Closer Aroldis Chapman gives up a 3-run double to Francisco Mejia. In the bottom of the frame, however, the Yankees would load the bases with a walk and a single, in addition to the designated runner, Josh Donaldson hits an ultimate Grand Slam HR off of Rays Reliever Jalen Beeks to transform the 7-4 deficit into an 8-7 Yankees walk-off win.
August 11th
1906-Before a crowd of 15‚000 fans at Hilltop Park‚ the White Sox whip the Highlanders by the score of 8-1. New York’s 3B George Moriarty gets into a fight with a fan in the 8th inning before NYC police will break it up.
1907-Former Yankees Pitcher Norman “Bobo” Newsome (1947) was born. (1907-1962)
After being obtained from the Senators on July 11,1947, veteran hurler Bobo Newsome went 7-5 with a 2.80 ERA in 17 games (15 Starts) for the Yankees before being released to the Giants in the spring of 1948. He had been in 14 games for the 1947 Nats, while posting a 4-6 record with a 4.09 ERA. In the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers, Bobo went 0-1 with a 19.29 ERA for the Yankees in 2 games. He had pitched for 1940 Tigers; he was 2-1 with a 1.38 ERA in 3 games in the 1940 World Series for the Tigers against the Reds. With the 1939-1941 Tigers, Newsome won 20 games in an AL season, 3 times. He had finished his 20-season MLB pitching career (1929-1953) with a 211-222 record with a 3.98 ERA in 600 games.
1907-Former Yankees Pitcher John Gordon “Dusty” Rhoades (1929-1932) was born.(1907-1960)
For the Yankees, Pitcher Gordon “Dusty” Rhoades would post a 7-9 record with 4.57 ERA in 41 games before being traded by the team to the Red Sox on August 1,1932 for veteran MLB Reliever Wilcy Moore. His best Yankees season was in 1931, posting a 6-3 record with a 3.41 ERA in 18 games. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 43-74 record with a 4.85 ERA and 4 saves in 200 games.
1912-In a Tribe 8-3 victory over the Yankees‚ Indians’ Joe Jackson becomes the 2nd AL player to steal home twice in a game. He steals home in the 1st inning‚ then in the 7th inning‚ he steals 2nd base‚ 3rd base and home.
1919-Indians OF Tris Speaker ties an AL record‚ by scoring 5 runs in a 15-9 win at New York.
1921-The Yankees would move 1% point ahead of the Indians with a 7-3 win over the A's.
1923-The Tigers beat the Yankees by the score of 10-4‚ in a series that features the top 2 hitters in the AL. Babe Ruth goes 3-for-8 against the Tigers‚ while Harry Heilmann is 5-for-10 against the Yankees. The 2 players are neck and neck at .390 for the year. After the game‚ AL President Ban Johnson rules that Babe Ruth must give up his Sam Crawford bat‚ made for him by the future Hall of Famer. The bat is "four pieces of seasoned wood‚ carefully glued together." On August 21‚1923, Ban Johnson rules that only 1-piece bats will be allowed‚ a rule that also affects St. Louis Browns Slugger Ken Williams‚ who is also using a plugged bat.
1929-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his 500th MLB career HR, this one off of the Indians' hurler Willis Hudlin. Second place all-time MLB HR list is currently Phillies Slugger Cy Williams with 237 HRs.
1934-At Fenway Park‚ Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits a HR and then departs in the 9th inning with the Yankees leading by the score of 2-1. The Sox tie it up‚ and in the 13th inning Tony Lazzeri lands a HR to put the Bombers ahead again. Wes Ferrell‚ batting for Fritz Ostermueller‚ wins the game for Boston‚ 3-2.
1935-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Jake Zalusky (1903) had passed away. (1877-1935)
For the 1903 Yankees, Catcher Jake Zalusky had appeared in just 7 games. He would hit .313 with No HRs and 1 RBI. He was traded along with Rookie Pitcher Eddie Quick to the AA Toledo (AA) for Rookie Catcher Red Kleinow.
1936-Former Yankees Pitcher (1967-1968) and Yankees MLB Pitching Coach (1985-1986) Bill Monbouquette) was born. (1936-2015)
On May 31,1967, veteran Starter Bill Monbouquette was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees, after being released by the Tigers. Bill went pitched well for the team, while posting a 6-5 record with a 2.36 ERA in 33 games. In 2 seasons in the Bronx, Bill would post a 11-12 record in 50 games with the Yankees. On July 12,1968, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for veteran Reliever Lindy McDaniel. In 11 MLB seasons, Bill had posted a 114-112 record with a 3.68 ERA and 3 saves in 343 games. He had started out with the Red Sox in 1958, pitching for them until his trade to the Tigers in the fall of 1965. He was named to the AL All-Star team Pitching staff in 1960,1962-1963. After retiring as an active player in 1968, he would manage in the Minor Leagues. He would become an MLB Pitching Coach, having a stint with the 1982-1983 Mets, after managing in their farm system for 5 seasons. Bill was the Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for the 1985-1986 AL seasons.
1943-Former Yankees Starter, now with the St. Louis Browns, “Smokey” Steve Sundra stops the Bronx Bombers on just 1-hit‚ a HR by Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller. The Browns would win the game by the score of 9-1.
1946-Former Yankees Reserve INF Eddie Leon (1975) was born.
On December 5,1974, INF Eddie Leon was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for veteran MLB Reliever Cecil Upshaw. Eddie had only appeared in 1 game with the Yankees before being released by the team on May 5,1975.
1950-While Hitting just .279‚ Yankees veteran CF Joe DiMaggio is benched for the 1st time in his MLB playing career by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel. He is currently languishing in a 4 for 38 batting slump. His replacement‚ Reserve OF Cliff Mapes wallops a 7th-inning HR to give the Yankees a 7-6 win over the Philadelphia A's.
1951-Philadelphia A’s batter Eddie Joost hits a HR in the 9th inning to tie the game at 4-4‚ but the Yankees win in 11th inning by the score of 7-4. Sloppy fielding by the A’s and a 2-run single by Yogi Berra account for the Bombers late game scoring. The win goes to new Yankees Reliever Bob “Sarge” Kuzava‚ who was acquired from the Senators‚ while A’s hurler Alex Kellner takes the loss.
1952-At Yankee Stadium‚ the 3rd place Red Sox trailing 1st-place Yankees by 4 games‚ manage just 2 hits off of veteran Starter Allie Reynolds‚ as the ”Super Chief” wins the game by the score of 7-0. For Allie Reynolds‚ it's his 4th 2-hitter of the 1952 AL season. Mickey Mantle's 1st inning HR‚ off of veteran Starter Sid Hudson‚ is all the scoring the Bombers need‚ but Mantle adds a double in the 4th inning, with a 2-run HR against the lefty in the 5th inning off of Red Sox hurler Ralph Brickner.
1955-At Yankee Stadium, Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams hits a single off of Yankees Starter Bob Turley for his 2,000th MLB career hit despite his milestone hit, the Red Sox lose the game anyway to the Yankees by a score of 5-3. Turley picks-up his 13th win of the 1955 AL season, while veteran Bronx hurler Tommy Byrne gets his 1st save of the season. Red Sox Starter Frank Baumann is the losing pitcher for Boston, being chased for 4 runs in the 1st inning of the game. The Thursday game draws a crowd of 18,572 fans to Yankee Stadium.
1956-Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 40th HR of the 1956 AL season off of Orioles hurler Hal “Skinny” Brown‚ as the Yankees clip the Birds by the score of 10-5. Mantle is the 1st Yankee player since Joe DiMaggio in 1937 to hit 40 HRs in a season.
1960-Former Yankees Minor League Manager Al Pedrique (2013-2017) was born.
After his active playing career ended, Al Pedrique had spent several seasons as a Minor League Coach and Manager. He would managed the 1995 Spokane Indians, 1996-1997 GCL Royals, 1999-2000 Michigan Battle Cats, 2001 El Paso Diablos and the 2002-2003 Tucson Sidewinders. He was a Coach for the 1998 New Orleans Zephyrs. He served as an Diamondbacks MLB Coach in 2004 before being promoted to interim manager in midseason. The D-Backs were having an awful season, when he was named to the job and the team did not improve at all under his leadership. After the 2004 NL season had ended, he would join the Astros organization. He worked in the team's front office as a Special Assistant to the General Manager. He was the Director of Latin American Operations in 2007. In 2009, he became the Astros' Minor League Field Coordinator. Pedrique was an MLB Coach for the 2010-2012 Astros. Then he returned to the Minor Leagues as Manager for the Yankees organization with the 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL). In 2014, he moved to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL). In 2015, he would move up to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Al was the Manager of the 2017 Yankees AAA team at Scranton (IL). After the 2017 AL season, Al would leave the Yankees organization. He had been one of the candidates to replace recently fired Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. In 2018, he would returned to the MLB, when he was named MLB 1B Coach of the A’s after having been considered for several MLB managerial openings that off-season.
1963-Former Yankees Minor League OF Van Snider was born.
On December 12,1989, Reserve OF Van Snider was traded by the Reds along with veteran hurler Tim Leary to the Yankees for Minor League P Rodney Imes and 1B/OF Hal Morris. Van never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. After leaving pro baseball in 1996, he became a policeman in Ohio.
1965-Former Yankees Minor League INF Carlos Martinez was born. (1965-2006)
In 1983, the Yankees had signed INF Carlos Martinez as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never appear in an MLB game with the Yankees. On July 30,1986, he was traded by the Yankees with a Player to be Named Later and Catcher Ron Hassey to the White Sox for a Player to be Named Later, OF/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. On December 24,1986, the Yankees would send Minor League C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade.
1966-It is déjà vu all over again‚ as Orioles OF Frank Robinson makes another game saving catch against the Yankees. Robby dives into the stands to rob Clete Boyer of an 11th-inning HR‚ preserving a 6-5 Orioles' win. Robby did it 2 months earlier against the Bombers.
1967-In the 2nd inning of the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Indians‚ Yankees Starter Al Downing strikes out the side on just 9 pitches. Downing becomes the 12th MLB pitcher in history to accomplish this rare pitching performance. The Yankees would beat the Indians by the score of 5-3.
1969-The Yankees would sell veteran Pitcher Ken Johnson to the Cubs for $20,000 waiver price. For the1969 Yankees, Ken had posted a 1-2 record with a 3.46 ERA in 12 games. For the 1969 Cubs, he will go 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 9 games. He had started the 1969 MLB season with the Braves by going 0-1with a 4.97 ERA and 1 save in 9 games before being sent to the Yankees.
1976-Former Yankees Reserve OF Bubba Crosby (2004-2006) was born.
On July 31,2003, OF Bubba Crosby was traded by the Dodgers along with Pitcher Scott Proctor to the Yankees for veteran 3B Robin Ventura. Bubba would win the 2003 James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. He would hit .211 with 4 HRs and 19 RBIs in 196 games for the team before being granted MLB Free Agency after the 2006 MLB season had ended.
1977-Oakland A’s Catcher Manny Sanguillen foils a no-hit bid by Bronx veteran starter Mike Torrez. His lone hit is off of Yankees Starter Mike Torrez, who finishes the game with a 3-0 shutout, while throwing a 2-hitter.
1980-At Yankee Stadium, Yankees Slugger Reggie Jackson hits his 400th MLB career HR off of Chicago Starter Brit Burns during the Yankees 3-1 victory over the White Sox.
1984-Former Yankees OF Melky “The Milkman” Cabrera (2005-2009) was born.
In 2001, the Yankees had signed OF Melky Cabrera as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had hit .269 with 36 HRs and 228 RBIs in 569 MLB games for the Yankees. On December 22,2009, Melky was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Arodys Vizcaino, P Michael Dunn and Cash to the Braves for Reliever Boone Logan and veteran Starter Javier Vazquez. In the winter of 2010, the Braves would release him. He would spend the 2011 AL season with the Royals, who would trade him during the Winter of 2011 to the Giants. He would play for the 2011-2012 Giants. On August 15,2012, All-Star OF Melky Cabrera of the Giants sees his outstanding season come to a crashing end with a 50-game suspension by the MLB for testing positive for testosterone, a performance-enhancing drug. Cabrera was hitting .346 with a NL leading 159 hits, but he will not be eligible to return to play this year unless the Giants make it to the 2nd round of the NL Postseason. The Giants will indeed make it all the way to the World Series, but they will have cut off all remaining ties with their disgraced star by then. Since then, he has played for the Blue Jays, White Sox, Indians, and the Pirates.
1995-The Yankees had traded veteran OF Luis Polonia to the Braves for Minor League OF Troy Hughes. Luis had hit .311 for the 1994 Yankees. In 1995, he was hitting .261 in 67 games for the team, but with the Free Agent signing of OF/DH Darryl Strawberry, the Yankees had decided to trade Luis. In exchanged for Luis, the Braves will send them Class AA OF Tory Hughes, who was hitting .255 for AA Greenville (SL). The Yankees will assign him to the AA Norwich Navigators (EL). He never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1998-Yankees veteran Starter David Wells stops the Twins on a 4-hitter to win by the score of 7-0. In his last start, the Yankee lefty had pitched a perfect game against the Twins.
2001-Led by the 2 Giambi Brothers‚ the Oakland A’s beat the visiting Yankees by the score of 8-6 for its 10th straight win. Jason and Jeremy each club 2-run HRs‚ the 2nd time they've both gone deep in the same game. They did it twice last season as well.
2003-The Royals would beat the Yankees by the score of 12-9‚ as the teams set an AL record by stroking 19 doubles. Kansas City strokes 11 of the 2-baggers‚ just 1 shy of the AL mark.
2012-The Yankees would beat the Blue Jays by the score of 5-2 behind the pitching of Ivan Nova and a 3-run HR hit by Casey McGehee. Derek Jeter collects his league-leading 150th hit of the 2012 AL season, joining Hall of Famer OF Hank Aaron as the only 2 MLB players to have 17 MLB seasons of 150 or more hits.
2013-It's an eventful afternoon at New Yankee Stadium as the Yankees defeat the Tigers by the score of 5-4. First, Alex Rodriguez hits his 1st HR of the 2013 AL season off of Tigers Starter Justin Verlander in the 2nd inning and in the process passes Hall of Famer Stan Musial for 5th place on the all-time MLB RBI list with 1,951. Then, leading off the 4th inning, Alfonso Soriano also goes deep off of Verlander for the 2,000th hit of his MLB playing career. The Yankees hand a 4-2 lead to Closer Mariano Rivera in the top of the 9th inning, but for the 3rd straight time, Mariano blows the opportunity by allowing solo HRs to Tiger Sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Victor Rodriguez. However, Yankees OF Brett Gardner homers in turn, off of Tigers Reliever José Veras with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning, ending the game.
2023-The Yankees announced that they have recalled Pitchers Jhony Brito and Randy Vásquez. One roster spot was opened, when Reliever Nick Ramirez was optioned to AAA Scranton yesterday. The other corresponding MLB roster move was Starter Nestor Cortes landing on the 15-day IL, retroactive to August 8th, with a left rotator cuff strain.
August 12th
1906-An Sunday afternoon crowd estimated at 30‚000 fans are on hand at Comiskey Park in Chicago to watch the red-hot White Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 3-0. The gates are closed an hour before game time‚ locking many fans outside.
1918-At Fenway Park‚ the Yankees win their 10th of 15 games with the AL leaders by beating Boston by the score of 2-1. Getting his opportunity because of the war‚ lefty Hank Robinson is making his 1st MLB start since 1915. He allows just 3 hits in besting Red Sox Starter Babe Ruth‚ who gives up 4 Yankee hits. Jack Fournier scores the winning run on a squeeze bunt‚ while Babe Ruth‚ hitless on the afternoon‚ pops out for the last out of the game.
1932-AL President Will Harridge upholds Detroit's protest of its August 1st game against the Yankees. He orders the game to be replayed on September 8th. The Tigers had protested because Yankee hitters Tony Lazzeri's and Ben Chapman's batting order was orally reversed after the lineup cards were handed in before the game.
1934-A crowd of 41,766 fans turns out to Fenway Park to see what will probably be Babe Ruth's last MLB game being played in Boston. In Game 1 of the double-header, Ruth goes 2-5 with a double, but he misplays a Billy Werber line drive into a triple. Ruth is 0-1 with 2 walks in the 2nd game, before leaving the game in the 6th inning. In 1935, Babe will return to Boston as a member of NL Boston Braves.
1937-In the 1st of 2 games with the Yankees‚ Red Sox Slugger Jimmie Foxx hits one way out of Fenway Park‚ the ball leaving the park to the right of the CF flag pole. The shot comes off of New York's Kemp Wicker helping out the Red Sox overpower the Yankees by the score of 16-10; stopping the Bombers winning streak at 10 games. The Red Sox overcome a 6-run deficit. Buck Newsom is credited with his 11th win. In Game 2‚ Yankees Starter Bump Hadley out-pitches Red Sox Starter Archie McKain to push Bronx Bombers lead to 11 1/2 games over Boston.
1939-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees bombard the feeble A's by the score of
18-4, as Bronx Starter “Smokey” Steve Sundra (6-0) coasts to the win. Bombers 1B Babe Dahlgren has 4 hits‚ including a solo HR in the 6th inning and a Grand Slam HR in 7th inning, as he drives in 6 runs in the game. Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon adds with his 18th HR of the 1939 AL season.
1945-In the lid-lifter at Detroit’s Briggs Stadium, former Braves hurler Jim Tobin acquired on MLB waivers by the Tigers‚ pitches 3 scoreless innings against the Yankees. Tobin clubs a 3-run game-ending HR in the bottom of the 11th inning to win the game by a score of 9-6. Another former Braves pitcher‚ now with the Yankees, Reliever Jim Turner serves up the HR. The Tigers would win the nightcap by the score of 8-2‚ behind Starter Hal Newhouser's 18th win of the 1945 AL season.
1950-Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds hits a bases-loaded single and hurls the Bronx Bombers to a 7-2 win over the A’s. The loss goes to Philadelphia Starter Carl Scheib‚ but Reliever Bobby Shantz pitches the last 6 2/3 innings and clouts his only MLB career HR off of the Super Chief.
1951-The Yankees would lose a pair to Philadelphia. The Athletics would use 17 hits to win the opener by the score of 9-5, then they use Pennsylvania's Sunday Blue Law, which calls for a 7:00 PM curfew to win the nightcap by the score of 7-4. New York starts an 8th-inning 5-run rally at 6:37 PM and take a 9-7 lead‚ but the curfew wipes it out before A’s batter Pete Suder can hit. Beginning next season‚ the AL will adopt the 40-year-old suspended game policy of the NL.
1953-Playing without the injured CF Mickey Mantle, who is out for 10 days with a sprained knee, the Yankees would explode for 28 hits off of Senators pitching‚ 2 hits shy of the AL record. The Bombers would roll to a 22-1 victory over the Nats. Yankees Rookie P Steve Kraly‚ relieving Starter Whitey Ford‚ gives up a run to avert the largest shutout win in history. Ford has 4 hits‚ while Yogi Berra and Billy Martin, each collect 5 RBIs. Hank Bauer scores 5 runs for the Bronx Bombers.
1956-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 41st HR of the 1956 AL season‚ his 7th HR in 8 days to pace the Bronx Bombers to a 6-2 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles.
1958-The Yankees would top the Orioles by the score of 7-2 at Yankee Stadium. Mickey Mantle's 33rd HR of the 1958 AL season off of a Ken Lehman knuckleball‚ gives him the AL HR lead.
1961-At Griffith Stadium‚ Roger Maris belts his 43rd HR off of expansion Senators veteran Starter Richard Donovan‚ but it's the Bronx Bombers only score as they lose the game by the score 5-1‚ the Yankees 1st loss in 10 games. For the expansion Nats, it is their 1st win in 8 games. Gene Green's Pinch-Hit Grand Slam HR off of Yankees Reliever Luis Arroyo is the big blow for the Nats.
1962-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Pavlas (1995-1996) was born.
In 1984, the Cubs had signed Pitcher Dave Pavlas as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. On February 8,1995, Dave Pavlas was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. With the 1995 Yankees, Dave would post a 0-0 record with a 2.51 ERA and 1 save in 20 games.
1964-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle sets an MLB record, when he hits a HR from both sides of the plate for the 10th time in his MLB playing career. Mantle hits a left-handed HR off of veteran hurler Ray Herbert over the 461 FT marker in CF, the ball lands 15 rows into the bleachers, 502 FT from home plate. The Yankees 7-3 victory over the White Sox marks the 1st start and MLB Pitching Career victory by Bronx Rookie Pitcher Mel Stottlemyre, who was called up from AAA Richmond (IL) to booster the Yankees starting rotation.
1969-Citing "personal problems‚" Yankees AL Golden Glove winner 1B Joe Pepitone goes AWOL from the team. He will come back to the team, but the Yankees Front Office will trade him in the fall to the Astros for former Yankees Minor Leaguer C/1B/OF Curt Blefary.
1973-The Oakland A's were 6 runs behind in the 7th inning‚ but they rally to beat the Yankees by the score of 13-12, move to within 1 game of the 1st-place Royals in the AL West.
1974-Former New York Yankees OF/1B Mickey Mantle and his long-time Yankees teammate Pitcher Whitey Ford head a group of 6 Hall of Fame inductees at Cooperstown. Their Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is on hand to see his “boys” entered the Hall of Fame.
1977-Yankee Starters Catfish Hunter and Ed Figueroa combine to sweep the Angels by scores of 10-1 and 9-3, as the Yankees bang out 25 hits. Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss hits 2 HRs in the Opener, while Reggie Jackson hits 2 HRs in the nightcap. Both of the Yankee Starters throw 6-hitters in their victories over the Angels.
1985-At Chicago‚ veteran Starter Phil Niekro goes the route to pick up his 295th MLB career win as the Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 10-4. The Bombers have a 7-run 7th inning to break the game wide open with Ron Hassey belting a 2-run HR and RBI single to lead the scoring in the frame.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League OF Jose Tabata was born.
OF Prospect Jose Tabata was signed by the Yankees on his 16th birthday. He would make his pro debut with the 2005 GCL Yankees. hitting .314, while stealing 22 bases in 28 tries. He led the Gulf Coast League in steals and was 9th in batting average. He made the league All-Star outfield alongside Matt Kutler and Francisco Guzman. Baseball America rated him as the league's #7 prospect, 3rd among Outfielders after Andrew McCutchen and Jay Bruce and ahead of teammate Austin Jackson. They had also ranked him as the #3 prospect in the Yankees system. In 2006, the teenager would hit .298 with 15 swipes in 20 attempts for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) despite 3 stints on the DL. He had played center field and hit 9th for the World team in the 2006 Futures Game in an 8-5 loss. BA rated him as the #2 prospect in the South Atlantic League, behind Andrew McCutchen. If he had qualified, Tabata would have tied for 8th in the SAL in average. BA ranked him as the #2 Yankees prospect and as the best batting prospect in the 2006 SAL. That winter, he played for the Caribes de Oriente, hitting .275. Tabata was the RF for the Class A 2007 Tampa Yankees (FSL), hitting .307 with 15 steals in 21 tries. He would place 4th in the FSL in average and made the All-Star outfield. BA ranked him as the #9 prospect in the FSL. In August, he had surgery to remove the hamate bone from his right wrist, which had been damaged by a pitch in July of 2006. BA would rate Tabata as the #3 Yankees prospect after P Joba Chamberlain and OF Austin Jackson. In 2008, Jose would battle more injuries; as he only would hit .248 in 79 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL).Then he was traded along with Pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Daniel McCutchen and Jeff Karstens to the Pirates in exchange for MLB Players: OF/1B Xavier Nady and P Damaso Marte. In 2015, Jose would finish his MLB playing career that lasted only 6 seasons with a .275 BA along with 17 HRs and 126 RBIs in 509 games.
1990-Former Yankees Pitcher Ryan Weber (2022-2023) was born.
Ryan Weber was selected in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Braves. He would pitch the MLB in 2015-2016 seasons. With the Braves had posted a 1-4 record in 21 games. In 2017 he was claimed on waivers from the Braves by Mariners, who he appeared in just 1 game. In 2018, he would appear in just 2 games for the Rays. The 2019-2020 seasons, he would be with the Red Sox, while posting a 3-7 record in 31 games. In 2021, he would split the season with the Brewers and the Mariners with no decisions. On March 13, 2022, veteran MLB Reliever Ryan Weber was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. On June 20, 2022, he was granted Free Agency by the team, after refusing an outright assignment to AAA Scranton. On June 22, 2022, Weber was resigned as a Free Agent by the club. On July 25, 2022, Weber was once again granted Free Agency by the team as the Yankees had to make more roster moves with player trades and pitcher returning from injuries. On July 29, 2022, he was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. On September 19, 2022, Ryan was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees, after being DFA by the team. This move finished his 2022 AL season. Ryan had appeared in 5 games for the Yankees with no decisions and 1 save. On December 12, 2022, Ryan Weber was signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. For the 2023 season for the Yankees, he would post a 1-0 with a 3.14 ERA and 1 save in 8 games. Also, he was the Yankees AAA Scranton club, Ryan would post a 3-3 record with a 5.77 ERA in 7 games.
1994-The MLB players decided go on strike. The Yankees are in 1st place in the AL East. The Yankees in AL East and the Montreal Expos in NL East have the best team records in the MLB. This player strike will cancel the 1994 World Series for MLB.
1997-Dean Palmer homers and drives in 4-runs as the Royals end the Yankees' 3-game winning streak with a 6-4 victory. Palmer‚ who is 10-for-21 with runners in scoring position, he has 16 RBIs in 18 games since coming over in a trade with the Rangers‚ singles home a run in the 4th inning‚ opens the 6th inning with his 17th HR‚ then he hits a go-ahead‚ 2-run double in the 7th inning. Mike Perez (2-0) ‚ the 2nd of 5 Royals' pitchers is the winner. Royals Closer Jeff Montgomery pitches the 9th inning for his 8th save‚ the 250th of his MLB pitching career. He retires 32 consecutive batters‚ 1 shy of the Royal franchise record‚ before Yankees CF Bernie Williams singles with 2 outs in the 9th inning.
2002-Former Yankees, A’s, Braves and Cardinals OF and Hall of Famer Enos “Country” Slaughter (1954-1955,1956-1959) had passed away. (1916-2002)
In 1938, Veteran OF Enos Slaughter came up to the MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals, playing for them until 1953. He had missed the 1943-1945 MLB seasons due to military service. As a Cardinal, he had appeared in 1,820 games, while hitting .306 with 146 HRs and 1,148 RBIs. On April 11,1954, veteran OF Enos “Country” Slaughter was traded by the Cardinals to the Yankees for 3 Minor League Players: OF Bill Virdon, P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger. His 1st tour with the 1954-1955 Yankees was unsuccessful with Enos only hitting .249 in 69 games. On May 11,1955, he was traded by the Yankees along with veteran P Johnny Sain to Kansas City for P Sonny Dixon and Cash. On August 25,1956, Enos was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the A’s. His return to the Yankees brought the release of long-time Yankees Shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Enos performed better for the team with his 2nd tour as a Pinch-Hitter and Reserve OF before fading during the 1959 AL season, being sold to the Braves. Enos retired as an active player at the end of 1959 MLB season. After his MLB days, Slaughter was a Player-Manager in the Minor Leagues in 1960-1961, still hitting for a good average. Later, he was Head Baseball Coach at Duke Univ. from 1971-1977. He had played on 4 World Champion teams: the 1942 and 1946 Cardinals and the 1956 and 1958 Yankees teams, while appearing in 27 games; hitting .291 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. His best World Series for the Yankees was in 1956, when Enos would hit .350 in 6 games with 1 HR and 4 RBIs against the Dodgers. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.
2011-Yankees veteran Starter CC Sabathia gives up 5 HRs, while facing the Rays. Tampa Bay hitters Casey Kotchman, Kelly Shoppach, Johnny Damon, Elliot Johnson and Evan Longoria, would all hit solo HRs off the Yankees ace, accounting for all of the Rays' runs in a 5-1 victory. Rays Starter David Price is the winner.
2012-Blue Jays LF Rajai Davis drives in 5 runs and makes a tremendous catch in the 7th inning, scaling the 10-FT Outfield fence to deprive Yankees hitter Casey McGehee of a HR as the Blue Jays defeat the Yankees by the score of 10-7. Ray’s Slugger Edwin Encarnacion hits a 2-run HR, also he adds a double and a single in support of Davis's fielding heroics.
2015-The Blue Jays would overtake the Yankees for 1st place in the AL East after registering their 10th straight win, a 10-3 victory over the A's combined with a Yankees' 2-1 loss to the Indians, their 5th loss in a row.
2016-As announced a week earlier, Alex Rodriguez plays his final game for the Yankees today, going 1 for 4 with a 1st-inning RBI double off of Rays Starter Chris Archer in a 6-3 Yankees win. The Yankees indulge him by letting him play at his old position, 3rd base, in the 9th inning; he then leaves the game under the crowd's applause after 1 out, ending his MLB playing career only 4 HR short of 700 MLB HR mark, but he is done as an MLB active player at the age of 41.
2019-The Yankees would beat up on their favorite patsies by sweeping the Orioles in a doubleheader by the scores of 8-5 and 11-8. Gleyber Torres, who has made it a personal mission to demolish O's pitching this season, hits 3 more long balls, giving him 13 HRs against the Birds this season, the most by a player against any team since the start of the MLB divisional play era. The last player to hit that many against 1 team was Yankees slugger Roger Maris against the White Sox in his record-breaking 1961 AL season, while the all-time record belongs to yet another Yankee player, Lou Gehrig, who hit 14 HRs against the 1936 Indians. Torres also has 5 multi-HR games against Baltimore, the most ever against 1 team.
2021-The idyllic setting of a ballfield built into the cornfields near Dyersville, IA features a thriller of a ball game as the White Sox, playing in uniforms inspired by those worn by "Shoeless" Joe Jackson and his teammates from 1919, defeat the Yankees by the score of 9-8. The game commemorates the 1989 movie Field of Dreams in the presence of its star, Kevin Costner, and features the players entering the field by walking through the cornrows into a gate in center field, just like in the movie. They then proceed to blast 8 HRs into a perfect Iowa summer night. The Sox lead 7-4 in the top of the 9th, when Aaron Judge hits his 2nd long ball of the game to bring the Yankees within 1, and after a walk, Giancarlo Stanton does the same to put them on top, both blasts coming off All-Star closer Liam Hendriks. But Yankees reliever Zack Britton can't nail down the win, as with 1 out, he would walk Seby Zavala and the next batter, Tim Anderson, hits a ball into the night that lands in the cornfields for a walk-off 2-run HR.
August 13th
1875-Former Yankees Shortstop (1903-1909) and Player-Manager (1908) Norman “Tabasco Kid” Elberfeld was born. (1875-1944)
On June 10,1903, Shortstop Norman ”Kid” Elberfeld was traded by the Tigers to the Highlanders for 2 Shortstops: Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. The Kid’s best Yankees player season was in 1906, when he would hit .306 with 2 HRs and 31 RBIs in 99 games for the team as their starting Shortstop. During the 1908 AL season, when Manager Clark Griffth had quit as the Manager in a dispute with Team Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery, he would manage the Yankees to a poor 27-71 record (8th Place. The Kid would finish his Yankees playing career with a lifetime BA of .268 with 4 HRs and 257 RBIs in 268 games. On December 14,1909, he was purchased for $5,000 by the Senators from the Yankees. The Yankees had tried to trade him to the Nats for P Walter Johnson and C Gabby Street, but the Nats didn’t want to make a trade, instead they would buy Elberfeld from Yankees.
1906-Former Yankees Pitcher Kemp Wicker (1936-1938) was born. (1906-1973)
For the Yankees,Pitcher Kemp Wicker would post a 9-5 record with a 4.95 ERA in 24 games. He had appeared in 1 game of the 1937 World Series for the team against the Giants with no record. On February 6,1939, Kemp Wicker was purchased along with Minor League C Chris Hartje by the Dodgers from the Yankees for $50,000 cash.
1921-At Shibe Park, a crowd of 33,000 fans, the largest crowd to watch an A’s game in Philadelphia since the 1914 AL season, as they see Yankees Starter Carl Mays win his 15th straight game over the Mackmen as the Bronx Bombers would prevail by a score of 7-2 in Game 1. In the nightcap, the Bombers Starter Bob Shawkey coasts home to a 13-7 win. Yankees OF Bob Meusel would hit HRs in each game.
1922-Yankees Shortstop Everett Scott nears 1,000 MLB consecutive games played, but it takes an extra effort to keep his streak alive. He spends $40 to hire a car to get to Chicago in time for the game after a train that he is on is wrecked.
1924-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees will regain the AL lead with 1-0 and 2-1 victories in a doubleheader sweep of the St. Louis Browns. In the Opener, Yankees Starter Herb Pennock picks-up his 16th win of the 1924 AL season, while pitching a 4-hit shutout of the Browns. Loser Ernie Wingard is now 11-8 for St. Louis. In the 2nd game, Bullet Joe Bush defeats Browns Starter Urban Shocker in a 2-1 victory. Bush is now 11-11 for the 1924 season, while Shocker is now at 10-10 for the season.
1930-Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Bob” Wiesler (1951,1954-1955) was born. (1930-2014)
Bob Weiser was a hard throwing left-hander, who was signed by the Yankees out of high school in St. Louis, MO before the start of the 1949 MLB season. He would go on to lead his loop in strikeouts 3 seasons in a row. He was assigned to the Independence Yankees (KOML) his 1st pro season, he helped his team to the league pennant and playoffs with a 12-11 record with a league-leading 240 strikeouts, while pitching 185 innings. Bob came right back the following season with the Joplin Miners (WA), helping his team to the 1950 league pennant; while leading the league with a 2.35 ERA and 277 strikeouts. Also, he was chosen for the All-Star team. With the 1951 AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), he posted a 10-9 record with a 2.92 ERA and again led the league with 162 strikeouts in 194 innings. On August 3rd, he was called up to Yankee Stadium, he would lose his only 2 MLB decisions in 4 games. Bob Wiesler was then called up for Korean War Military Service, missing the 1952 AL season, while serving with in the Army. Bob had MLB stints with the 1954-1954 Yankees, going 3-2 with a 4.15 ERA in 6 games in 1954 and 0-2 with a 3.91 ERA in 16 games in 1955. Overall, Bob would post a 3-6 record with a 4.95 ERA in 26 games for the team. On February 8,1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, C Lou Berberet, INF Herb Plews and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for veteran AL Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. On April 2,1956, the Yankees would later send AAA Denver Bears OF Whitey Herzog to the Nats to complete the trade. Bob had a record of 3-12 with a 6.44 ERA in 37 games for the Senators that season. Then in 1957, he would post a 1-1 record with 4.41 ERA for the Nats. In 1958, he would finish out his MLB pitching career with the Senators with no decisions in 4 appearances. This would complete Wiesler's 6-season MLB Pitching career with an overall 7-19 record with a 5.74 ERA, while appearing in 70 games.
1932-It looks like the Yankees scoring streak might be broken, but Yankees Starter Red Ruffing hits a HR in the 10th inning to beat Senators hurler Al Thomas by a score of 1-0. In 1906, Tom Hughes was the last MLB pitcher to hit an extra-inning, game-winning HR.
1939-Former Yankees Pitcher William “Bill” Stafford (1960-1965) was born. (1939-2001)
Before the start of the 1957 AL Season, the Yankees had signed Pitcher William “Bill” Stafford as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1960, Bill would come up to the Yankees, as a 20-yearold rookie , while posting a 3-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 11 games. In 1961, he would have a 14-9 record with a 2.68 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees. He was the winning pitcher of Roger Maris HR #61 game, winning a 1-0 shutout of the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Bill had appeared in the 1960-1961-1962 World Series for Yankees going 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in 4 games. As a regular starter for the 1962 AL season, he would go 14-9 with a 3.67 ERA in 35 games. In the April of 1963, while starting the Yankees season opener at Kansas City, Bill would hurt his pitching arm in the cold weather. In 1964, he would bounce back to go 5-0 with a 2.67 ERA and 4 saves in 31 games for the club. In 1965, he had arm problems again, dropping him to a 3-8 mark with 3.56 ERA in 22 games. On June 10,1966, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with P Gil Blanco and OF Roger Repoz to Kansas City for Pitcher Fred Talbot and Catcher Billy Bryan. At the time of his trade, Bill was 5-0 at AAA Richmond (IL). He was supposed to start 1 of the games for the Yankees in the up-coming series against the Tigers in Detroit. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Stafford would post a 43-40 record with a 3.52 ERA with 9 saves in 186 games. Clippers Note: The Yankees should have held on to Bill Stafford, because Fred Talbot was a failure (14-24 with 3.00 ERA in 89 games) as a Starter and Catcher Bill Bryant never hit very much for the Yankees. In Fall of 2001, Bill would pass away from a fatal heart attack.
1939-In the 2nd game of a doubleheader, Yankees would defeat Athletics by a score of 21-0 to equal the MLB record for lopsided shutouts. Yankee hitters Joe DiMaggio and Babe Dahlgren, each have 2-HRs, 1 each an Inside-the-Park HR. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing would collect 4 hits along with the victory. The Yankees had dropped the 1st game to the Mackmen by a score of 12-9.
1940-Former Yankees MLB Bullpen Coach (1992-2001) and MLB Pitcher Tony Cloninger was born. (1940-2018)
Former MLB P Tony Cloninger was the 1992-2002 MLB Bullpen Coach for the Yankees; he would leave the team for an MLB bullpen job with the 2003-2004 Red Sox. After, he had recovered from cancer, he would serve as a Boston Scout in the Class A Carolina League in 2005. As of 2011, he was a Player Development consultant for the Red Sox. As an MLB player, Tony Cloninger had pitched for the Braves, Cardinals and the Reds during his 12-season MLB pitching career, while posting an overall 113-97 record. On June 16,1966 against the Mets, he had clubbed a pair of HRs in a game. Several weeks later, on July 3rd, he would hit 2 Grand Slams in 1 game against the Giants at Candlestick Park, as the Braves won the game by the score of 17-3. Overall, during a 6-game stretch from June 16th to July 3rd, he had hit 4 HRs with 18 RBIs, while appearing in 2 games with a 0-1 pitching record. In 1970, Tony had appeared with the Reds in the World Series against the Orioles, while pitching in 2 games with a 0-1 record.
1947-Former Yankees Reserve INF (1972-1980) and MLB Baseball Executive Fred “Chicken” Stanley (1973-1980) was born.
On October 24,1972, INF Fred Stanley was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for C George Pena. Fred had played a key role as infield reserve for the Yankees. He did appear in 3 World Series with the 1976-1978 Yankees. As a Yankees player for 8 seasons, he had appeared in 521 games, while hitting .222 with 6 HRs and 78 RBIs. On November 3,1980, he was traded by the Yankees to Athletics for Starter Mike Morgan. After retiring as an active MLB player in 1983, he would work in the Oakland A’s front office. Then he would join the Giants organization. From 2000-2004, Fred would manage in the Giants farm system. From 2005-2007, Stanley was the Giants coordinator of Minor League Instruction. From 2008-2011, Fred was the Giants Director of Player Development.
1957-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle goes 3-for-3 and drives in 3 runs as the Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 3-2. Mantle improves his BA to .384 while rival Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams, with 1-for-2 is at .388. A week later, Mantle will hurt himself when he angrily swings a golf club at a branch and gouges his shinbone. This leg injury will effectively take him out of the running for a 2nd-straight AL Triple Crown. Yankees GM George Weiss will use this incident with Mantle in a new player contract dispute during the winter. Weiss will try to scare Mantle by telling him; that he will trade him to the Indians for Starter Herb Score and OF Rocky Colavito, he doesn’t sign his new player contract with the team. Yankees Co-Team Owner Dan Topping will step in and get a Mantle a new 1958 MLB player contract. This incident will mark the beginning of the end of George Weiss career as the Yankees GM, who will be forced into retirement in October of 1960.
1961-In the 1st of 2 games with the new expansion Senators, Roger Maris belts his 44th HR to tie his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle. An inning later, Mantle hits a Bennie Daniels offering for his 45th HR, but that's all Daniels allows winning the game by the score of 12-2. Slugger Roger Maris adds his 45th HR in the 1st inning in Game 2, as the Yankees win that game by the score of 9-4.
1964-CBS Inc. buys 80% of the New York Yankees from Team Co-Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping Sr., effective November 2,1964. Dan Topping Sr. will sell his remaining 20% of the Yankees to CBS Inc. in the fall of 1966.
1964-Former Yankees OF Jay Buhner (1987-1988) was born.
On December 20,1984, 19-year-old Class A Minor League OF Jay Buhner was traded by the Pirates along with INF Dale Berra and P Alfonso Pulido to the Yankees for OF Steve Kemp, INF Tim Foli and Cash. For the 1987-1988 Yankees, Jay would only appear in 32 games, while just hitting .198 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs. On July 21,1988, Jay was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later and Minor League Pitcher Rich Balabon to the Mariners for veteran 1B/DH Ken Phelps. On October 12,1988, the Yankees would later send Minor League P Troy Evers to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1969-AL Golden Glove Award Winner 1B Joe Pepitone returns to the Yankees, but he does not play in their 5-2 loss to Minnesota. Twins INF Rich Reese is 4-for-4 with 2-HRs and 2 singles to drive in 4-runs for the Twins as Starter Jim Kaat is the winner over Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre (16-9). Reese will have hits his 1st 3 at bats tomorrow before flying out.
1972-Former Hall of Fame and Yankees Farm Director (1932-1947), General Manager George Weiss (1948-1960) had passed away. (1899-1972)
Baseball Executive George Weiss would spend 29 years in the Yankees organization before being retired in October of 1960. Before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1948, he helped run the Yankees Minor League system (1932-1947) as Farm Director under Yankees long-time GM Edward Barrow (1920-1945). Weiss had previously run the Hartford Minor League franchise before being hired by Yankees GM Edward Barrow in 1932. In 1961, he would join the new NL Expansion Team; New York Mets, as their 1st team President and General Manager, along with former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel as the team’s 1st MLB manager. In 1971, he was elected into the Baseball Hall Of Fame as a Baseball Executive.
1973-Veteran Bronx OF Roy White hits HRs from both sides of the plate as the Yankees top the Angels by a score of 6-0.
1973-The Yankees would sell veteran MLB Reserve INF Bernie Allen to the Expos for $25,000 Cash. Allen had appeared in 17 games for the Yankees, while hitting .228. He will close out his MLB playing career with the Expos by hitting just .180 in 16 games.
1978-The Yankees would erupt for 5 runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Orioles before heavy rains force a delay of the game. Thanks to stalling tactics of Manager Earl Weaver and some slow-moving Baltimore groundskeepers, the game is called, and the score reverts to the last complete inning. The Orioles win the game by a score of 3-0; with former Yankees Minor League P Scott McGregor is the winner for the O’s. This rule will be changed by MLB in 1980, and the game, today would have been suspended.
1980-The Yankees had traded Pitcher Ken Clay and a Player to be Named Later to the Rangers for 41-yearold veteran Starter Gaylord Perry. Clay had pitched for the 1977-1979 Yankees, while posting a 6-14 record with a 4.72 ERA and 3 saves in 79 games. He had appeared 2 World Series with the Yankees with no record. Ken will go 2-3 in 8 games for the Rangers. He will finish his MLB pitching career with the 1981 Mariners, while posting a 2-7 record with a 4.63 ERA in 22 games. Overall, as a MLB Pitcher Ken had recorded a 10-24 with a 4.68 ERA in 111 MLB games. Gaylord Perry will go 4-4 with a 4.40 ERA in 10 games for the 1980 Yankees, before becoming an MLB Free Agent; signing with the Braves for the 1981 NL season. The Player to be Name Later in the trade by Yankees would be AAA OF Marvin Thompson, who was sent to the Rangers on October 1,1980. Before the trade was made by the Yankees, they had called up P Mike Griffin from AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He was sent back to the Clippers to make room for Perry on the Yankees 25-man MLB roster.
1984-Former Yankees Reliever Boone Logan (2010-2013) was born.
In 2002, Pitcher Boone Logan was selected by the White Sox in the 20th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut in 2003 with the Great Falls White Sox, the 1st of 3 seasons with the Rookie-level club. After finishing the 2005 season in Class A, he would make the jump to the MLB in 2006, when he made the Sox Opening Day roster. He had posted a 5.68 ERA in his 1st 12 contests in the MLB before being demoted to the AAA Charlotte Knights (IL). After going 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA and 11 saves at AAA Charlotte, he would rejoin the White Sox bullpen in September. He would spend most of the 2007 season with the White Sox, recording a 2-1 mark with a 4.97 ERA in 68 games, working out of the bullpen. After spending the majority of 2008 season with the White Sox as well, he was dealt to the Braves along with veteran Starter Javier Vazquez following the end of the 2008 MLB season. After the 2009 MLB season had ended, Boone Logan was traded again along with P Javier Vazquez by the Braves; this time to the Yankees. As a Reliever for the Yankees, he would appear in 256 games, while posting a 19-7 record with a 3.38 ERA and 1 save. In 2012, he led the AL in appearances with 80 games. In the AL post-season action with the Yankees, Boone went 0-0 with a 2.35 ERA in 13 games. After the 2013 AL season, Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Rockies. He had started the 2018 NL season with the Brewers, but he was released by the team in June, ending his MLB Pitching career.
1995-The flags fly at half-mast at Yankee Stadium, as Former Yankees HOF, AL MVP, MLB Coach (1970), All-Star OF/1B Mickey Charles Mantle (1951-1968) dies of Liver Cancer at the age of 63 in Dallas, Texas. (1931-1995)
Before the start of the 1949 AL season, Mickey Mantle was signed by the Yankees Super MLB Scout Tom Greenwade, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had played in only 3 seasons in the Yankees Minor League system, before joining the team in 1951. He was briefly with the 1950 team the last month of the AL season, but he did not play in any games. Mickey Mantle was the greatest switch-hitter of all time. He hit 536 MLB Career HRs; including 18 HRs in 230 at bats in 65 games in the World Series play. He won the AL Triple Crown in 1956 (BA .353, 52 HRs, 130 RBIs). For his 1956 AL Triple Crown season, he was named the 1956 Major League Player of the Year. Mantle was selected for 20 AL All-Star games during his playing career. He was the AL MVP 3 times (1956-1957 and 1962). He was the AL HR leader 4 times in his Yankees playing career. Mickey Mantle had played in 2,401 games as a Yankees player, while hitting a lifetime .298. With all of Mantle's power, he suffered thought an assortment of leg and knee injuries and his bones were beset by osteomylitis; a disease that weakened his bone structure. The 1st of his leg injuries occurred in the 1951 World Series against the Giants; when he got his spikes caught in a drainage valve cover in the Yankee Stadium Outfield, while chasing a fly ball hit by future long-time rival NL CF Willie Mays. He was never really the same after that injury. Mantle was named the Sporting News All-Star team 4 times during his playing career. In the 1961 Babe Ruth 60 HR record chase, he would hit 54 HRs before injuries stopping him in the HR race, while his Yankees teammate Roger Maris would finish the 1961 AL season with 61 HRs. Mickey won his only AL Glove Award for Outfield in 1962. In 1964, he would finish 2nd in the AL MVP Award voting, losing out to the Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson. In 1965, Mantle won the Hutch Award. On January 16,1974, Mickey Mantle along with his long-time Yankees teammate Pitcher Whitey Ford were elected on to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. On February 2,1983, Hall of Famers Mantle and Willie Mays accepted Greeter positions at a casino in Atlantic City, NJ. On February 3,1983 MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn had banned both of them from organized baseball. On March 18,1985, the new MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth would reinstated both men.
1996-White Sox 3B Robin Ventura belts his team-record 9th Grand Slam HR to pace the White Sox to an 8-4 win over the Yankees. Bombers P David Weathers would serve up the gopher ball.
1997-The Red Sox had traded veteran C/DH/1B Mike Stanley and INF Randy Brown to the Yankees in exchange for Minor League P Tony Armas Jr. and a Player to be Named Later. Mike Stanley would hit .287 with 3 HRs in 28 games for the team, before leaving for MLB Free Agency; signing with the Blue Jays for the 1998 AL Season. On September 29,1998, the Yankees would send Reliever Jim Mecir to the Red Sox. He had a
1-5 record with no saves in 51 games. That November, the Red Sox had left him exposed to the MLB Expansion Player Draft; he was selected by the new Tampa AL club as their 36th player draft pick. Armas and Brown, both remained in the Minor Leagues, switching teams in their new organizations.
1998-Yankees Starter Orlando Hernandez sets a Yankees Rookie Pitching record by striking out 13 Texas batters, while the beating the Rangers by a score of 2-0. The original Yankees Rookie Pitching record was 12 strikeouts set by Yankees Rookie Starter Stan Bahnsen in 1968.
2003-Former Yankees Pitcher Charlie Devens (1932-1934) had passed away. (1910-2003).
Former Harvard Univ. Baseball star P Charlie Devens would post a 5-3 record with 3.42 ERA in 16 games for the 1932-1934 Yankees. He did not appear in the 1932 World Series with the club against the Cubs. Charlie would spend parts of 1933-1934 baseball seasons with the AA Newark Bears (IL), posting a 19-13 record during those seasons.
2007-Former Yankees Hall of Fame Shortstop (1941-1956) and Long-Time Yankees Broadcasting Announcer Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto had passed away. (1917-2007)
In 1937, the Yankees had signed infielder Phil Rizzuto as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1940, he would win the Minor League player of the Year Award with the AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In 1941, he played in his 1st season as a Yankee player, while appearing in 133 games, hitting .307. Phil would miss the 1943-1945 AL seasons, while serving with the Navy. As a Yankees player, Phil would appear in 9 World Series, while hitting .242 in 52 games. He was named to the AL All Star squad 5 times. He led the AL Shortstops in fielding in 1949-1950. In 1950, Phil had his best Yankees player career season as he won the AL MVP Award, while hitting .324 in 155 games with 200 hits, while scoring 100 runs. Also, in 1950, he had won the MLB Best Player Award. In 1951, Phil won the Babe Ruth Award hitting .320 against the Giants in the 1951 World Series. During 1955-1956 seasons, Phil was slowed down by injuries and age; he was no longer the Yankees starting Shortstop. On August 25,1956, Phil was released by the Yankees during Old Timer’s Day. Phil turned down a player contract offer from the Dodgers, who wanted him spend some time with their AAA Montreal Royals (IL) to get into playing shape, before joining the MLB team. Also, he turned a chance to manage the Senators for the 1957 AL season. In 1957, Phil would start his long-time broadcasting career with the Yankees joining Mel Allen and Red Barber in the broadcasting booth, replacing veteran Jim Woods, who would move to the Giants. In 1994, the Veteran’s Committee would elect Phil into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Former Red Sox HOF Slugger Ted Williams led the push for his election in the HOF, saying that he could beat you with his bat or glove. That if the Red Sox had him on their team, they would have beaten those Yankees teams.
2011-Back in the line-up after being benched for a week, Yankees DH Jorge Posada drives in 6 runs, including 4-runs on a 5th-inning HR and the Yankees win the game by the score of 9-2 over the Rays. Bronx Starter Phil Hughes is the winner over Blue Jays Starter Jeremy Hellickson, while Yankees OF Curtis Granderson hits his 33rd HR of the 2011 AL season, catching Blue Jays Slugger Jose Bautista atop the MLB HR board.
2012-The Yankees use a couple of scrubs to defeat the Rangers by the score of 8-2. Reliever David Phelps starts in place of the injured veteran Starter CC Sabathia. He would pitch 5 innings for the victory, while veteran MLB Pitcher Derek Lowe, making his 1st appearance for the Bronx Bombers, after being released by the Indians last week, he adds 4 scoreless innings to pick up his 1st MLB save since 2001. Bronx Slugger Nick Swisher hits a Grand Slam HR to propel the Yankees' offense, meanwhile Rangers Starter Ryan Dempster gives up 8 runs for the 2nd time since being acquired by the Rangers at the July 31st MLB trading deadline.
2016-Two Bronx Bomber Rookies Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge hit back-to-back HRs in their respective 1st MLB at-bats in the 2nd inning to lead the Yankees to an 8-4 win over the Rays. No teammates had ever homered in their 1st at-bat in the same game, let alone back-to-back. The Yankees would hit 3 more HRs later in the game by 2B Starlin Castro, OF Aaron Hicks and Shortstop Didi Gregorius to put the game away; in a sign that the team's youth movement is going well, because not one of these players is over 25.
August 14th
1888-Former Yankees 1B Babe Borton (1913) was born. (1888-1954)
In 1912, Babe Borton would burst onto the MLB scene by hitting .371 in 105 at-bats for the White Sox. Except for part of a season that he spent with the 1913 Yankees (.133 in 33 games). He was an above-average hitter in the MLB. On June 1,1913, 1B Babe Horton was traded by the White Sox along with INF Rollie Zeider to the Yankees for 1B Hal Chase. On July 7,1913, Babe was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to AA Jersey City Skeeters (IL) for INF John Knight. In 1914, he would sign to play for the Chicago Whales in the Federal League. He was a leader in a couple offensive categories in the 1915 Federal League, while he hit only .224 in the 1916 AL, he made up for it with lots of walks. He holds the record for the most walks in a season (92) in the Federal League. His last active MLB season was with the 1916 St. Louis Browns. Later, in 1920, he was kicked out of the AA Pacific Coast League, after admitting that he had conspired with gamblers to throw games.
1919-The Yankees would overcome Catcher Muddy Ruel's hitting into a triple play as they beat the Tigers in 15 innings by the score of 5-4.
1919-The Yankees get a court injunction to barring further interference by the AL Team Owners, who had sought to prevent Starter Carl Mays from playing with the Yankees for the rest of 1919 AL season. The Red Sox had traded the troubled hurler to the Yankees for 2 players and $40,000 cash, after a personnel dispute with Mays; who felt that the team hasn’t giving him enough support on the field when he pitched for them. Mays had walked off the playing field during a Red Sox game.
1924-The Yankees had purchased OF Ben Pascual and Pitcher Ray Francis from the Atlanta Crackers (SL) for an undisclosed amount of Cash. Ben Pascual will become a Reserve OF for the Yankees, hitting over .300, 4 times, while playing with the team. Pitcher Ray Francis will go 0-0 in 4 games for the 1924 Yankees before being sent to the Red Sox in a trade in 1925.
1929-Former Yankees Reserve OF Jim Pisoni (1959-1960) was born. (1929-2007)
On June 15,1957, OF Jim Pisoni was traded by the A’s along with P Ryne Duren and OF Harry Simpson to the Yankees for INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held and OF Bob Martyn. Jim was a weak hitting outfielder, who appeared only in 37 games with the Yankees, while hitting just .143. While with the Yankees organization, he spent most of his time at AAA team level (Denver and Richmond). On December 1,1958, Jim was drafted by the Braves from the Yankees organization in the 1958 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On May 7,1959, Jim was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Braves to the Yankees.
1929-It is “Charlie Gehringer Day” in Detroit, and the popular Tigers 2B handles 10 chances in the field, at the plate he hits 3 singles, a HR and steals home in a 17-13 win over the visiting Yankees.
1934-The largest weekday crowd in history watches as the Tigers sweep a pair at Yankee Stadium. It is the Tigers' 14th straight win. Tiger’s Starter “Schoolboy” Rowe has won 13 games in a row. The next day, the Yankees will end the Tigers winning streak.
1937-The Yankees had purchased hurler Ivy Andrews from the Indians for the $7,500 waiver price. For the 1937 Indians, he was 3-4 as a Reliever. Ivy was originally with the 1931-1932 Yankees, going 4-2 in 11 games before being traded to the Red Sox. For the 1937 Yankees, Ivy would go 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 1 save in 11 games. In his 2nd tour with the 1937-1938 Bombers, he had a 4-5 record and 2 saves in 30 games. To make a 25-man MLB roster move, the Yankees will send down Rookie hurler Spud Chandler to their AA club, the Newark Bears (IL).
1938-On August 12,1938, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Pitcher Wes Farrell, who had been released by the Senators. He was a former 3-time 20-game winner in the AL with the Indians and Red Sox. For the 1938 Nats, he had posted a 13-8 record with a 5.92 ERA. With the 1938 Yankees, Wes would post a 2-2 record with an 8.10 ERA in the last weeks of the AL season. In 1939, he would go 1-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 3 games before being released by the team on May 28th.
1942-The Yankees would turn an MLB-record 7-double plays in an 11-2 win over the Philadelphia A’s. Yankees Catcher Bill Dickey guns down 2 A’s runners following called 3rd strikes, 3 are started by the DP combo of Phil Rizzuto and Joe Gordon, Reliever Johnny Murphy triggers another and 3B Red Rolfe initiates another one. The 7 DPs give the Yankees 150 on the year; they'll finish with 190 DPs for the 1942 AL season, just missing the (since surpassed) MLB mark they set in the 1941 AL season with 194.
1950-Former Yankees Shortstop Jim Mason (1974-1976) was born.
On December 6,1973, Shortstop Jim Mason was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers for $100,000 Cash. In 1974, Jim would hit .250 with 5 HRs and 37 RBIs in 152 games before fading during the 1975-1976 AL seasons. Overall, Jim had appeared in 339 games with the Yankees, while hitting .208 with 8 HRs and 67 RBIs. Mason was the 1st MLB player to hit a HR in the only World Series plate appearance of his MLB playing career in the 1976 World Series against the Reds. It would be only Yankees HR hit in the 1976 World Series. On November 5,1976, Jim was selected by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as the 30th pick in the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. During his 9-season MLB active player He had played for the Senators/Rangers, Yankees, Blue Jays and the Expos for during his 9-season MLB active career.
1957-Former Yankees OF Tim Hendryx (1915-1917) had passed away. (1891-1957)
In 1911, Tim Hendryx would make his 1st MLB appearance with the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians). Then he was sent down by the Naps to Class A New Orleans Pelicans (SA). On August 15,1915, OF Tim Hendryx was purchased by the Yankees from New Orleans (SA). Tim was a Reserve OF on the 1915-1916 teams, while appearing in only 18 games. Also in 1916, he would spend some time playing at AA Richmond (IL). In1917, he was a semi-regular OF for the club, while hitting .249 in 125 games. He would play in 168 games for the Yankees, while hitting .251 with 5 HRs and 50 RBIs. On March 18,1918, Tim was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Yankees to the Browns. Then the Reds would send a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees. Next, St. Louis would send veteran OF Lee Magee to the Reds. Meanwhile the Reds would sent C Tommy Clarke on April 25,1918 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Clarke would never appear with the Yankees. Later, Tim would play for the 1919 Browns, then the 1920-1921 Red Sox before returning to play in the high Minor Leagues until 1926.
1959-The veteran Red Sox 1B Vic Wertz hits a pinch-hit Grand Slam HR off of Yankees Closer Ryne Duren to pace the 11-6 Boston win. Red Sox 2B Pete Runnels walks twice in 1 inning to tie an MLB record.
1960-The Yankees would lose a doubleheader to the Senators and fall to 3rd place in the AL, a half-game behind the Orioles and the White Sox. Nats Starter Camilo Pascual's Grand Slam HR is the difference in a 5-4, 1st-game win for the Senators. In the 2nd inning, Mickey Mantle, believing there are 2 outs, jogs to 1B on a grounder to 3B. The Senators turn a DP, with Yankees Roger Maris suffering bruised ribs trying to break it up at 2B. Maris will miss 18 games as a result of the rib injury. Yankee Stadium fans heavily boo Mickey Mantle; Manager Casey Stengel replaces him in the starting lineup with Reserve OF Bob Cerv. Both clubs would set an MLB record by using 17 pinch-hitters, 9 by the Yankees and 8 by the Nats in the doubleheader (more than 18 innings), while playing an MLB record 24 errorless innings.
1966-The Yankees would sweep 2 games from the Tribe by winning the nightcap by a score of 6-4. The Indians help in the 2nd game by making 6 errors in 1 inning, 1 short of the record. Mickey Mantle helps with a HR off of P Jack Kralick, but he'll sit the next 12 days after re-injuring his knee. Tom Tresh hits his 16th HR of the 1966 AL season. Steve Hamilton picks-up the win in relief of Bronx Starter Fred Talbot. Indians Reliever Tom Kelly in relief of Tribe Starter Sam McDowell takes the loss. In the 2nd game, the Yankees would beat the Tribe by the score of 7-3 with Yankees Reliever Dooley Womack gaining the victory, Fritz Peterson had started the game for the Yankees. Joe Pepitone hits his 27th HR of the1966 AL season. A crowd of 31,948 fans had attended the doubleheader played at Yankee Stadium.
1969-In a 3-2 win over the White Sox, the Yankees 2B Horace Clarke triples with 2 on in the 9th inning, then he scores the winning run on a passed ball. Wilbur Wood takes the loss for the White Sox, while Yankees Reliever Jack Aker is the winner.
1977-The Yankees had collected 15 hits, including HRs by Mickey Rivers and Graig Nettles to swamp the Angels by a score of 15-3. Yankees Starter Richard “Dirt” Tidrow allows just 2 Angels hits in 6 innings of work for the win.
1985-Former Yankees Pitcher Esmil Rodgers (2014-2015) was born.
On July 31, 2014, Pitcher Esmil Rogers was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Blue Jays. For the 2014-2015 Yankees, he had appeared in 36 games, while posting a 3-1 record with 5.59 ERA for the team. On July 31,2015, Rogers was released by the team.
1990-The Angels post a 9-5 win over the Yankees with the winning margin coming on an Inside-the-Park Grand Slam HR by Luis Polonia. Yankees veteran RF Jesse Barfield misses a shoestring catch and his leisurely pursuit of the ball allows Polonia to score. Jim Abbott is the winner for the Angels. Jesse Barfield will misplay another drive into a 4-run IPHR in 2 weeks.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Giovanny Gallegos (2017-2018) was born.
In 2012, Mexican born hurler Giovanny Gallegos was signed with the Yankees as an International Free Agent. After the 2016 AL season, the Yankees will add him to their 40-man MLB roster. In the 2017 World Baseball Classic, Gallegos had pitched for the Mexican National Baseball team. On May 12, 2017, he would make his MLB Pitching debut for the Yankees against the Astros. As Yankees hurler, Gallegos would post a 0-1 record with a 4.76 ERA and 1 save in 20 games. On July 29, 2018, he was traded by the Yankees along with MLB Reliever Chasen Shreve to the Cardinals for 1B Luke Voit and International Bonus Slot money.
1995-Current Yankees Pitcher Josh Maciegwski (2024) was born.
Pitcher Josh Maciegwski was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2018 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Univ. of North Carolina at Charlotte (Charlotte, NC). On April 8, 2024, the Yankees would call-up P Josh Maciegwski from AAA Scranton, where he was 1-0 in 2 games. He has a Yankees minor league pitching record of 26-18 with a 3.52 ERA in 101 games.
1995-Former Yankees Pitcher Stephen Ridings (2021) was born.
Stephen Ridings was drafted by the Cubs in the 8th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Haverford College (Haverford, PA). He never appears with the Cubs at the MLB level. On March 9, 2019, he was traded by the Cubs to the Royals for Minor League OF Donnie Dewees. Steve never pitches for the Royals at the MLB level. In 2020, he did not pitch due the Minor League season being canceled due to the COVIDS-19 outbreak. On November 4, 2020, he was released by the Royals. On January 6, 2021, Ridings was signed as a Free Agent with the Yankees. On July 21st, he combined with Luis Gil and Reggie McClain in no-hitting the Rochester Red Wings, 8-0. Two weeks later, on August 3rd, he was called up to the Bronx when the Yankees had to place a number of pitchers on the COVID-19 list. His teammates in both AA Somerset and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Gil, started the game against the Orioles in place of Starter Gerrit Cole, after he had pitched 6 scoreless innings, Stephen would take over and struck out the side; while allowing just 1 hit in the 7th as the Yankees went on to win easily by the score of 13-1. Stephen would finish the 2021 season in the Bronx with a 0-0 record with a 1.80 ERA in 5 games. He did not pitch during the 2022 season, due to pitching arm issues. On November 22, 2022, he was put on waivers by the Yankees; the Mets would claim him. On July 30, 2023, he was released by the Mets. He is currently pitching for the 2024 High Point Rockers, a independent team (Atlantic League).
2002-The Yankees overcome a straight steal of home by Mike Sweeney to beat the Royals by the score of 3-2. Bombers CF Bernie Williams hits an RBI single to give Yankee hurler Ramiro Mendoza (8-3) the win.
2010-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hits 3 HRs and drives in 5 runs taking over the 2010 AL RBI lead with 97, as the Yankees defeat the Royals by the score of 8-3. Yankees Starter Phil Hughes is the winner.
2012-Yankees Starter Hiroki Kuroda pitches a 2-hitter, while shutting out the Rangers by the score of 3-0. All 3 Yankees runs score in the 7th inning, when Nick Swisher homers off of Rangers hurler Alexi Ogando with Derek Jeter on base and then Mark Teixeira follows with a solo HR blast.
2013-Veteran Bronx Bomber OF Alfonso Soriano goes 3-for-3 with a pair of HRs and a MLB career-high 7 RBIs in the Yankees' 11-3 win over the Angels. Yesterday, Soriano had another 2-HR game with 6 RBIs. His13 RBIs in 2 games are the 2nd-most in Yankees history: Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri had drove in 15 runs in 2 games during the 1936 AL season.
2014-The Rays would shut out the Yankees by the score of 5-0 behind the pitching of Starter Alex Cobb to reach the .500 mark at 62-62. What is remarkable is that they were 18 games below .500 on June 10th, making them only the 4th team in MLB history to return to parity from such a deficit.
August 15th
1912-Little-known Yankees OF Guy Zinn steals home twice in a 5-4 win at Detroit; this will add to last-place New York's MLB record of 18 steals of home for the 1912 AL season. The Yankees will win tomorrow game by the score of 9-8, when Zinn hits a 9th inning double.
1930-Former Yankees Minor League OF Bob Martyn was born. (1930-2015)
In 1952, OF Bob Martyn was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Yankees. An impressive Minor League player, he was named to 3 All-Star teams, while playing in the Yankees farm system. In the 1956 American Association All-Star Game, he would hit 2 HRs, winning the MVP Award for the game. That season, Bob was playing for Manager Ralph Houk’s AAA Denver Bears (AA). On June 15,1957, the Yankees would send OF Bob Martyn, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and Pitcher Ralph Terry to the A’s for Pitcher Ryne Duren, OF Jim Pisoni and MLB OF Harry Simpson. On April 12,1959, he was traded back to the Yankees along with INF Mike Baxes by A’s for Minor League OF Russ Snyder and Reserve INF Tom Carroll. Mike was sent down by the team to the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL), he would never appear with the Yankees in an MLB game. He would retire from baseball in 1960.
1948-Before a crowd of 72,468 fans, the largest home game attendance of the 1948 AL season at Yankee Stadium, the Philadelphia Athletics would sweep a pair from the Yankees by 5-3 scores as they regain 2nd place in the AL. The Athletics would win the opener in 10 innings, after Joe DiMaggio ties the score with his 20th HR of the 1948 AL season. Also, DiMaggio triples home a run in the extra frame, but Reliever Lou Brissie preserves the win for A’s Starter Carl Scheib. The Mackmen had a total of 20 hits in the 2 games, including a triple and double by Sam Chapman. The Yankees are now in 4th place, 5 games back in the 1948 AL pennant race.
1955-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 2nd time in his MLB playing career, tying the MLB mark. The Yankees would beat the Orioles by the score of 12-6 in Game 2 as they sweep the doubleheader from the Birds to move back into 1st place in the AL.
1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Cowley (1984-1985) was born.
On November 22,1983, Pitcher Joe Cowley was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. In 2 seasons with the Yankees, Joe had posted a 21-8 record with a 3.81 ERA in 46 games. On December 12,1985, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with Catcher Ron Hassey to the White Sox for veteran Starter Britt Burns and 2 Minor League Pitchers: Glen Braxton and Mike Soper.
1958-Former Yankees Minor League OF Tom Dodd was born
From 1977-1979, Tom Dodd was college baseball player at the Univ. of Oregon. The Yankees had selected him in the 1st round of the 1980 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had played in the Yankees Minor League organization, before being traded on May 20,1982 to the Blue Jays as part of the John Mayberry trade. On December 9, 1982 Tom would return to the Yankees in a trade, when Blue Jays would send Tom back to the Yankees as part of the OF David Collins for Reliever Dale Murray trade. In 1982, Tom had played at the AA level with the Nashville Sounds (SL) and with the Blue Jays’ Knoxville team (SL). He had hit .235 for the season. The Yankees would assign him with AA Nashville Sounds (SL) for the 1983 season. He would finally reach the MLB in 1986, with a brief stay of 8 games with the Orioles. Tom’s MLB playing career finished with .231 BA with 1 HR and 2 RBIs in 8 games. He continued to play in the Minor Leagues from 1987 to 1990 before retiring as an active player.
1960-Behind Yankees veteran Starter Art Ditmar's 5-hitter aided by Mickey Mantle's 2-HRs, off of Orioles hurlers Jerry Walker and Hoyt Wilhelm, as the Yankees get a 4-3 win and 1st place in the AL. The 2nd HR comes after Birds Catcher Clint Courtney had dropped a Mickey Mantle foul ball pop-up. The Orioles loss is only its 2nd in their last 15 games. The Orioles and the defending 1959 AL Champs White Sox, now trail the Yankees by a half-game.
1961-At a game played at Yankee Stadium, Bronx RF Roger Maris hits his 46th HR off of Chicago Starter Juan Pizarro for the Yankees only run in a 2-1 loss to the visiting White Sox. The veteran lefty hurler Pizarro allows just 4 Yankee hits, as Yankees Ace Whitey Ford loses in his bid for his 21st win of the 1961 AL season.
1963-Former Yankees Pitcher Karl Drews (1946-1948) had passed away. (1920-1963)
Pitching for the 1946-1948 Yankees, hurler Karl Drews had posted an 8-10 record with 4.76 ERA and 2 saves in 52 games before being sold to St. Louis Browns on August 9,1948. Karl had made 2 appearances in the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers with no decisions. The Browns would trade him to the Phillies during the 1951 MLB season; where he had his best MLB pitching season in 1952 by posting a 14-15 record with a 2.72 ERA in 33 games for the Phillies. In 1954, Drews would finish his MLB pitching career with a 44-53 record with a 4.76 ERA and 7 saves in 218 games. His Grandson, Matt Drews had pitched in the Yankees organization during the 1990’s before being traded to the Tigers. He was a No.1 draft pick by the Yankees in 1993 MLB Amateur Player Draft.
1966 Former All-Star Yankees 3B Scott Brosius (1998-2001) was born.
On November 18,1997, INF Scott Brosius was sent by Oakland to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal that was made on November 7,1997. Oakland would send a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Kenny Rogers and Cash. Scott’s best season for the Yankees was in 1998, when he hit .300 and made the AL All-Star team. He was the 1998 World Series MVP and won AL Babe Ruth Award. In 1999, he won an AL Golden Glove for 3B. After the 2001 World Series, Scott retired as an active player from the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankee player, Scott had hit .267 with 65 HRs with 282 RBIs in 540 games. As an MLB player, he would play in 1,146 MLB games, while hitting .257 with 141 HRs and 531 RBIs.
1968-The Yankees would edge the Oakland A’s by the score of 4-3. The A’s hurler Blue Moon Odom gives up a triple to Tommy Tresh, a walk, then he serves up a 3-run HR to Slugger Mickey Mantle for the difference in the game.
1971-Oakland Ace Vida Blue raises his 1971 pitching record to a 22-4 mark as the A's beat the Yankees by a score of 6-4. He would scatter 10 Yankee hits; at the plate, he scores the tie breaking run on a wild pitch.
1972-Former Yankees Minor League OF Chris Singleton was born
On November 11,1997, OF Chris Singleton was traded by the Giants along with P Alberto Castillo to the Yankees for veteran 3B Charlie Hayes and Cash. Singleton had played only 1 season in the Yankees farm system, hitting .254 for the 1998 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On December 8,1998, Chris was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for a Player to be Named Later. On January 10,1999, the White Sox would send Minor League P Rich Pratt to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1975-Former Yankees Pitcher Ben Ford (2000) was born.
In 1994, the Yankees had originally drafted HS Pitcher Ben Ford. He would pitch in the Yankees Minor League system from 1994-1997, reaching AA Norwich (EL) in 1997. Then he was selected by the Diamondbacks from the Yankees Organization in the 1997 MLB Expansion Team Player Draft. Returning to the Yankees on March 30,1999, when the D-Backs had traded P Ben Ford and C Izzy Molina to the Bronx for MLB Pitcher Darren Holmes. He would spend the 1999 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) as a Reliever. With the Yankees in 2000, Ben would post a 0-1 record with a 9.00 ERA in 4 games with the team. On July 21, 2000, Ford was traded by the Yankees along with P Oswaldo Mairena to the Cubs for veteran OF Glenallen Hill.
1977-Yankees Starter Mike Torrez throws his 5th straight complete game of the season, a 6-2 win over the White Sox. Yankees are now just 4 1/2 games in back of the Red Sox.
1991-Yankees All-Star 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees would still beat the Royals by the score of 5-1. He will get one 2-days later and the cut hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children's charity. Mattingly is not alone; Yankees Reliever Steve Farr, C Matt Nokes and P Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club’s hair policy. OF Mel Hall, who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games, is warned that his appearance is "borderline."
2002-The Yankees would top the Royals by the score of 7-5, as Yankees CF Bernie Williams gets 5 hits in the game, including a double.
2007-Yankees Rookie OF Slugger Shelley Duncan hits a dramatic 3-run HR with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game but the Orioles rally with 3 runs of their own in the 10th inning off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera to win the game by a score of 6-3.
2014-Former Yankees Reserve INF Jerry Lumpe (1956-1959) had passed away. (1933-2014)
In 1951, INF Jerry Lumpe was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Player. Lumpe had played in the Yankees farm system from 1951-1956, when he was called up by the team from AAA Richmond (IL). He was one of many young Yankee infielders, who couldn’t break into the Yankees infield lineup of Manager Casey Stengel. He had played Shortstop for the Yankees at Shortstop during their 1956 baseball tour of Japan, when regular Shortstop Phil Rizzuto stayed home for his daughter’s birth that fall. He did appear in the 1957-1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves, hitting .231 in 12 games. Billy Martin and Bobby Richardson had blocked Jerry at 2B. He did gain some playing time at 2B, when Martin was traded to KC on June 15,1957. He was lost in Stengel’s infield platoon system at Shortstop, 2B and 3B. He was one of the young Yankee players along with OF Norm Siebern, 1B Marv Throneberry, who were openly criticized by Manager Casey Stengel in the NYC sports media; as he stopped being a supporter of the Yankee youth movement, instead relying on veteran players on the MLB team roster. Casey on Lumpe to the NYC sports media “Jerry Lumpe looks like the best hitter in the world until you put him in the lineup.” Also, Jerry also had some player contract money problems in dealing with Bronx GM George Weiss, which Jerry commented, “They really know how to make you feel not wanted.” His Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle helped him out 1 season by loaning him free use of his house in New Jersey for the season; when Jerry has facing serious family medical problems. MLB players didn’t have health care plans then, like today’s modern players do now. On May 26,1959, Jerry has able to leave the Yankees, when he was traded along with 2 veteran Pitchers: Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant to Kansas City A’s for P Ralph Terry and INF Hector Lopez. With the A’s, he became their regular 2B playing for them until 1963. On November 18,1963, Jerry was traded by the A’s along with 2 Pitchers: Ed Rakow and Dave Wickersham to the Tigers for veteran Reliever Bob Anderson, All-Star OF Rocky Colavito and $50,000 Cash. Jerry would play 2B for the Tigers until 1967. He would finish his MLB playing career with a .268 BA, while hitting 47 HRs and 454 RBIs in 1,371 games. His best MLB playing season would be with the 1962 A’s, hitting .301 with 3 HRs and 54 RBIs in 156 games. In 1964, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Later, he would become an MLB Coach for the Oakland A’s, when Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and other players teased about his MLB playing career; Jerry just showed them his 1956 Yankees World Championship Ring and the joking by the A’s players immediately stopped, because he had a World Series Championship Ring that they didn’t have.
2014-The Rays shut out the Yankees, 5-0, behind Starter Alex Cobb, to reach the .500 mark at 62-62. What is remarkable is that they were 18 games below .500 on June 10th, making them only the 4th team in MLB history to return to parity from such a deficit.
2023-The Braves and Yankees, who were both pre-seasons favorites to make it far this year, are headed in opposite directions. Today, the Braves consolidate their position as the owners of the best record in the MLB with a 5-0 win over the Yankees, who fall to .500 on the season and are in last place in the AL East. Braves hurlers Bryce Elder, A.J. Minter and Kirby Yates combine on a 1-hit shutout with D.J. LeMahieu's 2nd-inning single the only safety. Braves HRs by hitters Marcell Ozuna and Ronald Acuna account for all the 5 runs.
August 16th
1889-Former Yankees Pitcher Henry “Rube” Robinson (1918) was born. (1889-1965)
On June 20,1918, Pitcher Henry “Rube” Robinson was purchased by the Yankees from the Cardinals. For the 1918 Yankees, Rube would post a 2-4 record with a 3.00 ERA in 11 games.
1903-Toledo native George Mullin pitching for the Tigers helps the game attendance today with 6,000 fans showing up as the Tigers take on Yankees in a Sunday game in Toledo. Mullin is racked for 8 runs, but Detroit scores 12 runs led by the hitting of Sam Crawford, who is 5-for-6 for the game.
1913-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) was born. (1913-1949).
For the 1940-1946 Yankees, Bronx hurler Tiny Bonham would post a 79-50 record with a 2.73 ERA and 6 saves in 158 games. He was a member of 1942-1943 AL All-Star teams. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1942, when he posted a 21-5 record with a 2.27 ERA along with an AL leading 22 complete games for the team. He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 1-2 record with a 3.21 ERA in 4 games. On October 24,1946, Tiny was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for P Cookie Cuccurullo. In 1947, he went 11-7 with 3.85 ERA for the Bucs. In 1948, he would drop to a 6-11 mark with a 4.31 ERA. On September 15,1949, Bonham would pass away, following having stomach surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital. At the time of his death, he had a 2-1 record with a 4.25 ERA in 18 games for the 1949 Pirates. Overall, Tiny had posted a 103-72 record with a 3.06 ERA and 9 saves in 231 MLB games.
1920-At the Polo Grounds, Indians Shortstop Ray Chapman, 29 is beaned by a Yankees Starter Carl Mays pitch. Chapman is a right-handed batter, who likes to crowd the plate, Chapman freezes and fails to get out of the way of the May’s submarine delivery. He is carried from the field and dies the next day from a fractured skull. Carl Mays, a surly, unpopular pitcher is the target of fans' and MLB players' outrage. Ray Chapman, a Cleveland favorite since breaking in with the team in 1912, had been married the previous year. In October, his wife will receive a full World Series share, of $3,986.34. The incident has no effect on Carl Mays's pitching. One week later, he will blank the Tigers by the score of 10-0 and go on to win 26 and lose 11 games during the 1920 AL season. Joe Sewell will be called up by the Indians to take Chapman's place at 2B, for 14 MLB seasons, he will be the hardest man to strike out in MLB.
1922-Former Yankees OF (1949-1954) and MLB Scout Gene Woodling was born.(1922-2001).
Gene Woodling had originally come up to the MLB with the 1943 Indians. In 1944-1945, he had spent time serving in the military. In 1946, the Tribe had traded him to the Pirates for veteran Catcher Al Lopez. In 1947, Gene was on loan from the Pirates to the Yankees, where he played for the AA Newark Bears (IL); where he hit .289 with 8 HRs and 54 RBIs in 128 games. At the end of 1947 season, Pirates would trade Gene to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). On September 30,1948, OF Gene was purchased by the Yankees from the AA Seals (PCL). In 1948, he had hit .385 with 22 HRs and 107 RBIs in 146 games for the Seals (PCL), winning the 1948 Minor League Player Award. He would play in the Outfield on 5 straight Yankees World Championship teams (1949-1953). Gene would hit .318 in 5 World Series for the Yankees. He hit over .300 in 1952 and 1953 AL seasons. During the 1954 AL season, Gene would break his thumb ending his season. He had appeared in 97 games for the 1954 team, while hitting .250 with 3 HRs and 40 RBIs. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel would platoon Gene with fellow Yankees teammate Hank Bauer in the Yankees Outfield. As Yankees player from 1949-1954, he had played in 698 games, while hitting .285 with 51 HRs and 336 RBIs. After the 1954 AL season, Gene was part of the big 17-player trade between the Orioles and Yankees. In 1959, he was named to the AL All-Star team. Gene would play in the MLB for 17 seasons, appearing in 1,796 games, while hitting .284 with 147 HRs with 830 RBIs. After his retirement as an active MLB player in 1962, after playing for the expansion Senators and the Mets; Woodling was a Mets 1B MLB Coach in 1963. Later, he worked as an Orioles MLB Coach from 1964-1967 under his old Yankees OF teammate, now Orioles Manager Hank Bauer. Later, he would become a Yankees and Indians MLB Scout. Gene was responsible for signing Kent State college Catcher Thurman Munson for the Yankees.
1927-Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth becomes the 1st MLB Player to hit a ball over Chicago’s Comiskey Park’s Roof.
1929-Former Yankees Minor League INF Curt Roberts was born. (1929-1969)
Curt Roberts was the 1st Black MLB player for the Pirates. He played 2B briefly for the Bucs; until Rookie 2B Bill Mazeroski would replace him. In 1956, Curt was picked up by KC. On April 4,1957, he was traded by the team to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made in February of 1957. On February 19,1957, the A’s had sent players to be named later, INF Wayne Belardi, INF Jack McMahan, Pitchers Art Ditmar and Bobby Shantz to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, P Rip Coleman, Infielders Milt Graff and Billy Hunter, Pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan and MLB OF Irv Noren. Curt never appeared with the Yankees at MLB level. He was sent to their AAA team, the Denver Bears (AA) in 1957. Later he would play for the other Yankees AAA club, the Richmond Virginians (IL.)
1948-After a 2-year struggle battling Throat Cancer, New York Yankees Hall of Fame OF/Pitcher Babe Ruth (1920-1934) dies at age 53 in New York City. After his funeral mass was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, his body would be put on public display at Yankee Stadium, where it will be viewed by more than 100,000 fans. After his public viewing at Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth was buried at Gate Haven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.
1952-Former Yankees Reliever Al Holland (1986-1987) was born.
Veteran MLB Reliever Al Holland was signed and released as an MLB Free Agent with the team during the 1986-1987 AL seasons. Al had posted a 1-0 record with a 6.32 ERA in 28 games as a Reliever for the Yankees.
1961-Yankees Slugger Roger Maris ties an AL record with his 7th HR in his 6th straight game, as the Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 5-4 in the 9th inning. His 2 HR blasts were off of veteran Starter Billy Pierce to give him 48 HRs, 3 more than his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
1963-Former Yankees MLB Coach (2008-2017) and Current Phillies Manager Rob Thomson (2022-2024) was born.
Catcher Rob Thomson had played for Team Canada in the 1984 Olympics. He was selected by the Tigers in the 32nd round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Rob would play in the Minor Leagues from 1985 to 1988. He was 0 for 5 for the 1985 Bristol Tigers and hit .187 for the Gastonia Jets that year, playing 3B as well as Catching. In 1986, Thomson would hit .252 for the Gastonia Tigers. He was 4 for 22 with a HR for the Class A Lakeland Tigers (FSL). By 1987, he was full-time with Lakeland, managing only show a .228 in 71 games. In 1988, Rob went 0 for 7 for Lakeland in 1988 to finish his active playing career. In 1988-1989, Thomson was a Minor League Coach for the Tigers organization. Then he would join the Yankees organization as Coach for the 1990 Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). Next, he would spend the 1992 season as a Coach with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (EL). He would coach through the 1994 season, then he would manage the Class A 1995 Oneonta Yankees (EL) to a 34-41 record. Thomson was a Minor League Coach for the 1996-1997 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He would serve as the Minor League Field Coordinator in 1998-1999, then as Director of Player Development from 2000 to 2002 and VP of Minor League Development in 2003. In 2007, Thompson was the Yankees' MLB Field Coordinator, acting as a bridge between the Yankees' Advance Scouts and their MLB Coaching Staff. In 2008, he was appointed MLB Bench Coach by new Yankees Manager Joe Girardi. For the 2009 AL season, he was reassigned to the position of 3B MLB Coach. In 2015, he moved back to being the Yankees MLB Bench Coach. After the 2017 AL season had ended, Rob was released by the team. He been interviewed by the Yankees front office for the Yankees Manager job opening. Rob was hired by the Phillies to be their MLB Bench Coach for the 2018 NL season. During the 2022 NL season, Rob would replace Joe Girardi as the Phillies Manager. He would take the team to win the NL Championship and be in the 2022 World Series.
1965-Former Yankees Reliever Xavier Hernandez (1994) was born.
On November 27,1993, Reliever Xavier Hernandez was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for 2 players: Pitcher Domingo Jean and Reserve INF Andy Stankiewicz. For the 1994 Yankees, he would post a 4-4 record with a 5.85 ERA and 6 saves in 31 games. In the fall of 1994, the Yankees would grant him his MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Reds for the 1995 NL season.
1975-Former Yankees Reserve OF Michael “Prime Time” Coleman (2001) was born.
On March 21, 2001, OF Michael Coleman was traded by the Reds along with INF Prospect Drew Henson to the Yankees for Minor League OF Prospect Wily Mo Pena. He had appeared in 12 games with the 2001 Yankees, while hitting just .211 with 1 HR and 7RBIs. The Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency in October of 2001. On July 17, 2005, Michael Coleman was purchased by the Yankees from the Independent League team, the Bridgeport Bluefish (AL). He would spend rest of the 2005 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). On October 15, 2005, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency.
1976-Yankees CF Mickey Rivers hits an Inside-the-Park HR against Rangers veteran Starter Gaylord Perry as the Yankees win the game by the score of 5-1. Yankees Reserve INF Fred “Chicken” Stanley, who also HRs in the game.
1977-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would blow a 9-4 lead in the top of the 9th inning, when the White Sox would score 6-runs, but a 2-run HR by 1B Chris Chambliss in the bottom of the 9th inning gives the Yankees an 11-10 comeback win.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Brian Gordon (2011) was born.
Capping a journeyman's pitching career, Brian Gordon got a chance to return to the MLB in June 2011, when the Yankees' starting rotation was crippled by injuries. In his 1st MLB appearance since 2008, he held his former team, the Rangers to 2 runs in 5 1/3 innings on June 16th. He had been signed by the Yankees from the Phillies’ AAA affiliate, Lehigh Valley IronPigs (IL), where he was 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA, the best record in the International League. The Yankees went on to win the game by the score of 3-2 in extra innings. The developing fairy tale came to a crashing stop in his next MLB start, in the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Reds on June 22nd. He gave up a HR to the 1st batter he faced, Chris Heisey, who would go on to hit 3 in the Reds' 10-2 win. Gordon would give up 2 more long balls while taking the loss. Gordon didn't last long in the MLB. He would finished the 2011 season with the SK Wyverns (Korea Baseball Organization), where he would posted a 6-4 record with a 3.81 ERA in 14 games. After doing well in the postseason, he was called on to start game 5 of the 2011 Korean Series. He would lose a 1-0 duel to Woo-Chan Cha, serving up a 4th-inning HR to the Samsung Lions' Bong-kyu Kang. That gave Samsung its 5th title, beating defending champions SK 4 games to 1.
1989-Yankees OF/DH Luis Polonia is arrested in his hotel room for having sex with a 15-year-old girl. After the 1989 MLB season was completed, he will be sentenced to 60 days in jail.
2000-The Rangers would shut out the Yankees by the score of 5-0, as Starter Brian Sikorski hurls scoreless ball into the 8th inning in his MLB pitching debut. Rangers OF Gabe Kapler goes hitless in the game, ending his 28-game AL hitting streak.
2006-Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner helps break ground for the new Yankee Stadium, is dubbed by some as “The House The Boss Built.”
2009-Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter hits an RBI double off Seattle's Starter Doug Fister in the 3rd inning for his 2,674th hit as a Shortstop, surpassing Luis Aparicio's all-time leading total for the position. The Yankees will lose the game, however by the score of 10-3 as Fister records his 1st win in the majors.
2010-Yankees Minor League Closer Jonathan Albaladejo earns his 39th save of the 2010 International League season for the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees in a 7-4 victory over the Toledo Mud Hens, breaking the IL single-season mark held by Matt Whiteside since 2004. In October, he will be sold by the Yankees to a Japanese League team.
2016-The Blue Jays score 8 runs in the 8th to mount a come-from-behind 12-6 win over the Yankees, as they take over 1st place from Orioles in a tightly-fought AL East race. Catcher Russell Martin's 2nd HR of the contest puts the Jays ahead to stay. While his catching counterpart for the Yankees, Gary Sanchez, also HRs twice, making it the 1st time in AL history that both starting catchers have done so. Troy Tulowitzki has 4 hits and also HRs for Toronto, while Scott Feldman earns his 1st win since being acquired in a mid-season trade.
2017-Short of infielders because of injuries, the Mets start Catcher Travis d'Arnaud at 3B in their game against the Yankees. However, as d'Arnaud has never played the position professionally, Manager Terry Collins decides to switch him and starting 2nd baseman Asdrubal Cabrera every time a right-handed batter comes up, in order to minimize the chance of a ball actually being hit towards the improvised infielder. The 2 end up exchanging positions 18 times as the Yankees prevail by the score of 5-3, making for an unusual box score that reads "Cabrera 2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b" and "d'Arnaud 3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b-2b-3b".
August 17th
1908-The Yankees would trade 2B Harry Niles to the Red Sox for 2B Frank LaPorte, who had played for the Yankees in 1905-1908. Niles was a major disappointment for the Yankees, hitting only .249 with 4 HRs and 24 RBIs in 95 games. He had come to the team in a trade in November of 1907 that saw Yankees regular 2B Jimmy Williams (1903-1907) go to the St. Louis Browns. Frank La Porte was hitting .237 in 62 games for the Red Sox. He would become the Yankees Reserve Infielder, also he could play in the outfield as well. He would hit .276 with 6 HRs and 227 RBIs in 516 games for the Yankees before being traded to the St. Louis Browns on February 11,1911.
1915-Yankees base runner Fritz Maisel steals 2B, 3B and home in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia A’s.
1919-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest Nevel (1950-1951) was born. (1919-1988)
In 1946, Pitcher Ernie Nevel was signed by the Yankees, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Nevel was farmed out by the Yankees to the Augusta Tigers (SAL), where the 27-year-old would post a 5-3 record with a 4.85 ERA in 36 appearances. This would be the 1st season of 9; that he would spend in the Minor Leagues. After 4 more seasons 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 Bronx. He got a very short look by the Yankees in late September, making 3 appearances, losing 1 game, while posting a 9.95 ERA. The AA Kansas City Blues (AA) would be Ernie's home for the biggest part of the 1951 season. The 32-year-old hurler would go 14-11 with a 3.86 ERA. He would show up again in Yankee Stadium, appearing in 1 game, pitching 4 innings with no decision; that was it for his 2nd shot at the MLB hitters. It was back to the AAA Blues in 1952, where he went 7-6 in 22 appearances. On August 28,1952, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Minor League Players OF Jim Greengrass, OF Bob Marquis, MLB P Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 Cash to the Reds for veteran All-Star Starter Ewell Blackwell. Nevel would be with the 1953 Reds for 10 appearances, all in relief; he would have no decisions along with a 6.10 ERA.
1920-Cleveland Indians Shortstop Ray Chapman dies in a New York City hospital as a result head injuries from being hit by a pitch thrown by Yankees Submariner Hurler Carl Mays. The Ray Chapman tragedy remains the only on-field fatality in MLB history.
1923-After 111 games of the 1923 AL season are played, Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth is hitting .401 with 31 HRs. He will finish the 1923 AL season with league leading 41 HRs. He'll wind up with his highest BA, .393 with 205 hits, an MLB record 170 walks and 4 times hit by pitches, Babe Ruth will reach base a record 379 times.
1925-Yankees had released OF Bobby Veach and Pitcher Alex Ferguson to the Senators for future considerations and the $4,000 waiver price. Since being obtained by the Yankees from the Red Sox, Bobby Veach had hit .353 in 56 games for the team. He would hit .243 in 18 games with the Nats in his last MLB active season. With the Senators, Alex Ferguson would go 5-1 with a 3.25 ERA in 7 games. In the 1925 World Series with the Nats against the Pirates, he went 1-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 2 games. For the 1925 Yankees, he had gone 4-2 with a 7.79 ERA with 1 save in 21 games.
1929-The Yankees had purchased Pitcher Lefty Gomez from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) for delivery in September 1930. From 1930-1942, Lefty Gomez would post a Yankees Pitching career record of 189-101 with a WP of .649 along with 1,468 strikeouts and 173 complete games. He was the 1st Starter for the AL team in the 1st All-Star Game in 1932.
1933-On his way establishing the MLB record mark of playing in 2,130 consecutive games, Bronx Bombers 1B Lou Gehrig quietly surpasses former Yankees Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott's previous MLB record of 1,308 games. The 1st baseman's single and triple doesn't prevent the last place Browns from beating the Yankees in 10 innings by the score of 7-6 at St. Louis Sportsman's Park.
1943-Yankees 1B Nick Etten singles twice off of White Sox Pitcher Bill Dietrich, breaking a 17-game stretch, in which Etten didn't single. Six of the 17 games were hitless, but Etten either doubled or HR in the other games. The Yankees AL lead is now at 9 1/2 games with the Bombers winning their 9th straight series, most of which are now 4 games as a result of wartime travel restrictions. The streak of winning each series will stretch to 13 before being broken by the Senators.
1944-Former Yankees Minor League INF Ron Boyer was born.
Infielder Ron Boyer was the younger brother of former MLB players Ken Boyer, Clete Boyer, Cloyd Boyer and Minor Leaguers Lynn Boyer, Wayne Boyer and Len Boyer and the Uncle of Dave Boyer and Mickey Boyer. Ron would spend 8 seasons as an infielder in the Yankees Minor League system playing from 1962-1969. He only hit above .200 twice. Ron Boyer never hit double-digit HRs. In 1967, Ron made it to the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL) for just 23 games. Boyer would spend the rest of 1966-1969 seasons playing at AA level baseball for the Yankees.
1944-Yankees OF Johnny Lindell, who was converted from a Pitcher by the team in 1943, hits 4 straight doubles to share an MLB hitting mark. The Yankees would defeat the Tribe by a score of 10-3.
1946-Former Yankees Pitcher Skip Lockwood (1975) was born.
On December 3,1974, Pitcher Skip Lockwood was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for veteran DH/C Bill Sudakis. On April 7,1975, Skip Lockwood was released by the Yankees. Oakland would pick him up, who would later trade him to the Mets during the 1975 MLB season.
1948-A day after Babe Ruth dies, Yankees OF Tommy Henrich hits his 4th Grand Slam HR of the 1948 AL season off of Senators starter Sid Hudson to join Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Rudy York and, later Al Rosen and Ray Boone for the AL record. Henrich, who broke in with the Yankees in 1937, had never hit a Grand Slam HR before the 1948 AL season. Yankees Rookie Starter Bob Porterfield wins the game for the Yankees by the score of 8-1.
1948-An estimated crowd of 100,000 fans passes by the body of New York Yankees Hall of Fame Slugger Babe Ruth that is on display at Yankee Stadium.
1950-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher (1918) and MLB Coach (1918-1919) Paddy O’Connor had passed away. (1879-1950
Reserve Catcher Paddy O’Connor had appeared in 1 game for the 1918 Yankees, going 1 for 3 at the plate, then he would become an MLB Coach for the team for the 1918-1919 AL seasons. He had previously played in the NL with the Pirates and Cardinals. He had played 1 season with the 1915 Pittsburgh Rebels (Federal League).
1951-Former Yankees Reserve INF Butch Hobson (1982) was born.
On March 24,1982, INF Butch Hobson was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for Reliever Bill Castro. Butch only appeared in 30 games with the 1982 Yankees, while hitting only .172 after spending most of the 1982 season playing with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).
1953-In the 2nd game of a twin-bill played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Veteran Yankees hurler Bob “Sarge” Kuzava shuts out the Mackmen by the score of 9-0, while allowing 11 A’s hits along the way. He receives run support from Yankee Hitters: Joe Collins, who hits 2 HRs and Billy Martin’s solo HR. Joe Coleman would take the loss for the A’s. In the Opener, the Yankees would win by the score of 10-3 as Yankees Starter Whitey Ford picks-up his 15th win of the 1953 AL season with relief help from Tom Gorman. Bronx Catcher Yogi Berra hits a 2-run HR in the game.
1967-Former Yankees Pitcher Ray Caldwell (1910-1918) had passed away. (1888-1967)
In August of 1910, Pitcher Ray Caldwell was purchased by the Yankees from McKeesport (O-PAL) for $2,000 Cash. For the 1910-1918 Yankees, Ray would post a 96-97 record with a 3.00 ERA in 248 games. The spit-ball starter had 2 fine seasons for the club; 1914 (17-9) and 1915 (19-16). On December 18,1918, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2 Pitchers: Frank Gilhooley, Elmer “Slim” Love, Catcher Roxy Walters and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for veteran Starter Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and Pitcher Ernie Shore.
1971-Former Yankees All-Star Catcher Jorge Posada (1995-2011) was born.
Jorge Posada was the starting catcher of the 1998-2010 Yankees. During that time, the Yankees had won 4 World Series. Posada staked a claim as one of the best hitting catchers of all-time. Jorge Posada was selected in the 24th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft. While he grew up in Puerto Rico, he would attend jr. college in the U.S, where scouts had noticed him. He was actually a 2B during his 1st pro season with the 1991 Class A Oneonta (NYPL). He would hit .235 in 71 games, but he had walked 51 times, already showing signs of superior plate discipline. Also, Jorge also played 11 games behind the plate that season. By 1992, he was a full-time catcher. He would hit .277 in 101 games for the Class A Greensboro Hornets (SAL) that year, banging 22 doubles with 12 HRs. In 1993, he had played 118 games with the Class A Prince William Yankees (CL) with another 7 games with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (EL), hitting .260 with 27 doubles and 17 HRs. Now a top prospect, he would skipped the AA level in 1994, landing the starting job behind the plate with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL), where he would hit .240 with 11 HRs in 92 games. Back to AAA in 1995, he would hit .255 in 108 games. The Yankees called up Jorge for the 1st time in September of 1995. With the team set to return to the postseason for the 1st time since 1981, there was little opportunity for the youngster to get much playing time, so he mainly watched, getting into only 1 game on September 4th, when he caught 1 inning. In spite of his lack of playing time in the MLB, the Yankees added his name to the postseason roster as a 3rd-string Catcher behind Starter Mike Stanley and Reserve C/INF Jim Leyritz.
The team's fans probably 1st became aware of his existence, when he was called to pinch-run for 3B Wade Boggs in the 12th inning of Game 2 of the ALDS against the Mariners. He came in to score on Ruben Sierra's double, as the Yankees went on to win the game on Leyritz's 15th-inning HR. In 1996, he was back at AAA Columbus for 1 more season, hitting .271, along with 11 HRs, 22 doubles and 6 triples in 106 games. He was return to the Yankees for 8 games, going 1 for 14, but this time he was not on the 1996 Postseason roster. The Yankees went on to win their 1st World Series title since 1978 that season, while he was technically part of that team; his contribution was almost non-existent. In 1997, Posada made the team out of MLB spring training camp, he would spend the season splitting catching duties with veteran Starting Catcher Joe Girardi. He would play in 60 games hitting .250 with 12 doubles and 6 HRs; he also drew 30 walks for a solid .359 OBP. That combination of better than average OBP and power would hold over the years and make him an extremely valuable member of the Yankees' line-up, as he turned the catcher position, usually the weakest in the batting order, into one of the most productive. However, his defense would always a bit of an Achilles heel, especially his relatively weak throwing arm. He hit his 1st MLB HR on May 4th, off of Royals' Jim Converse. That 1st season, Girardi got most of the playing time as a result of his better defense, including in the ALDS, when the Yankees had lost to the Indians.
In 1998, Jorge was the starter, however, he would not relinquish the job for 13 seasons, except for a brief time late in 2008, when he was injured and needed season ending surgery. In 1998, he would play in 111 games as the Yankees had a superlative season, winning 114 games on their way to a World Series sweep of the Padres. On May 17th, he had caught David Wells' perfect game against the Twins. Posada would hit 17 HRs and drove in 63 runs that year, hitting HRs in both the ALCS and World Series. The Yankees would repeat as World Champions in 1999, although Posada had one of his weakest seasons, hitting just .245 with 12 HRs in 112 games. He was still sharing playing time with Girardi in the postseason, but he started 2 of the 4 games in the World Series, going 2 for 8 with a double against the Braves. In 2000, Posada would emerge as a true star, as the Yankees won their 3rd straight World Championship.
Now the uncontested starter following Girardi’s MLB Free Agency departure, hitting .287 with 35 doubles, 28 HRs and 86 RBIs, as he played in 151 games. He was named to the AL All-Star team for the 1st of 5 times. Also, he won his 1st of 5 Silver Slugger Awards as the AL's best-hitting Catcher. The Yankees would beat the cross-town Mets in the World Series that year, with Posada starting all 16 postseason games. In 2001, he would hit .277 with 22 HRs with 95 RBIs, returning to the AL All-Star Game, he won the Silver Slugger Award again. He played in the World Series for the 4th straight season, again starting every postseason game behind the plate. On September 2nd, he would catch Veteran Starter Mike Mussina's bid for a perfect game against the Red Sox, when Moose struck out 13 batters and finally gave up a single to Carl Everett with 2 outs in the 9th inning. Jorge had a great series against the A’s in the 2001 ALDS, going 8 for 18 to make the difference in a tightly fought series in which the Yankees trailed 2 games to none. In the 3rd game on October 13th, he hit a 5th-inning solo HR off of A’s Starter Barry Zito for the Yankees' only run, then in the 7thinning, he caught Derek Jeter's amazing flip throw that nailed Jeremy Giambi at the plate to preserve the win. However, the Yankees lost the 2001 Fall Classic in 7 games to the Diamondbacks. He had another All-Star, Silver Slugger season in 2002, banging out 40 doubles with 20 HRs, while driving in 99 runs, but the Yankees stumbled in the postseason, losing to the Angels in the ALDS. In 2003, the Yankees returned to the World Series for the 5th time in 6 years, Posada was again at the center of things. He reached 100 RBIs and hit 30 HRs for the only time of his career, finishing with 101 RBIs, while hitting .281 with a .401 OBP in 142 games.
He was 8 for 27 with 4 doubles and a HR in the memorable 7-game win over the Red Sox in the 2003 ALCS. In Game 7 on October 16th, he hit a 2-out double off a tired Pedro Martinez in the 7th inning, scoring Bernie Williams and Hideki Matsui to tie the game which the Bronx Bombers would win on Aaron Boone's HR in extra innings. But like the rest of the Yankees' hitters, he fell flat in the Fall Classic as the Yankees lost to the Marlins. His 2004-2006 MLB seasons were still very good, but not quite at the level of the previous 4 seasons, he failed to make the AL All-Star team or win a Silver Slugger during that stretch. He hit between 19 and 23 HRs, with a BA between .262-.277, but the Yankees did not manage to go deep in any of the 3 AL postseasons. In 2007, he put it all together for 1 last time, though, hitting an amazing .338 at age 35 - the 4th best average in the AL hitting 42 doubles and 20 HRs. He was an AL All Star team selection for the final time, he won the Silver Slugger Award also for a 5th and last time, but it all came to naught when the Yankees were surprised by the Indians in the ALDS, during which he hit only .133.
The 2008 AL season was the Yankees' last season in historic Yankee Stadium. The team would have wanted to leave the hallowed confines of the "House that Ruth Built" as a winner under new skipper Joe Girardi, but it wasn't to be. Posada was injured for much of the 2nd half, playing in only 51 games and being limited to a mere 3 HRs as MLB veterans Jose Molina and Ivan Rodriguez would closed out the season as the team's 2 backstops. The Yankees would miss the postseason for the 1st and only time of Posada's playing career that year, and there was much speculation in the off-season that he was done, coming off an injury-filled season at 37, with his throwing arm - never particularly powerful, just about gone. However, he made a great comeback in 2009, playing 111 games, 100 of them as the Catcher, while hitting .285 with 22 HRs and 81 RBIs. Not only did the Yankees return to the post-season, but also they inaugurated New Yankee Stadium with another World Championship by defeating the Phillies in 6 games. On April 16,2009 .Posada was the 1st Yankee to hit a HR in the new ballpark, connecting off of Starter Cliff Lee. Like in the good old days, Jorge would play in all of the postseason games, being the DH in those Jose Molina caught for starter A.J. Burnett, who seemed to have irreconcilable differences with Posada's pitch selection. Jorge was still the starter in 2010, although catching only in 83 games and making 2 trips on the DL, during which young Catcher Francisco Cervelli got a lot of playing time. His BA fell to .248, but the power was still there with 18 HRs with 23 doubles. One major highlight came on June 12-13th, when he tied an MLB record by hitting a Grand Slam HR in consecutive games. The Yankees now had a difficult decision to make for 2011 season: let Posada catch again for the final year of his contract, release him, or find some other solution. Encouraged by his good power numbers, they decided to make Posada a full-time DH, with Catcher Russell Martin being brought in as an MLB Free Agent to handle catching duties. Jorge was in fact the starting DH against right-handed pitchers for most of the season, but the end of the line was clearly drawing closer. His BA fell to a .235 mark. Jorge went for long stretches when he was contributing almost nothing with the bat. A few power spurts during the season helped him finish with 14 HRs and as many doubles, but he was benched increasingly frequently as the season progressed, especially after top prospect Jesus Montero was called up in September and showed a live bat. He played a few games in the field, the most memorable being the only game at 2B of his MLB playing career; it came in the 9th inning on August 25th, in the game in which the Yankees became the 1st MLB team to hit 3 Grand Slams HRs in 1 game. Another highlight was on August 13th, when he hit the 10th and last Grand Slam HR of his MLB career as he drove in 6 runs in a win over the Rays at New Yankee Stadium. Finally, he had a last hurrah in the ALDS, as he hit .429 against the Tigers. The Yankees would bow out in 5 games. Though after the season, the rumors began mounting that he would announce his retirement before the following spring. The rumors which were confirmed when Jorge Posada announced his player retirement at a press conference organized at New Yankee Stadium on January 24, 2012. Jorge Posada was a teammate of Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter for all 17 seasons that he played in the MLB, more seasons than any other trio of teammates in history. It is likely that all 3 will eventually be enshrined in Cooperstown. Jorge probably faces the most difficult task of the 3, as he was often overshadowed by stars more prominent in the sports media during his playing career, but his numbers do not lie: 1,829 games - over 1500 of them behind the plate - and a career batting line of .273 with 275 HRs, 379 doubles and over 1,000 RBIs.
1978-Former Yankees Pitcher Chad Qualls (2012) was born.
On July 1, 2012, veteran MLB Reliever Chad Qualls was traded by the Phillies to the Yankees for Player to be Named or Cash. For the 2012 Yankees, he would appear in 8 games, while posting a 1-0 record with a 6.14 ERA. On July 31, 2012, Chad was traded by the club to the Bucs for veteran INF Casey McGehee.
1986-Former Yankees Reserve OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) had passed away. (1895-1986)
For the 1917-1920 Yankees, Sammy Vick was a Reserve Outfielder. Sammy had appeared in 169 games for the team, while hitting .246 with 2 HRs and 41 RBIs. On December 15,1920, he was traded by the team along with 2B Del Pratt, Catcher Muddy Ruel and Pitcher Hank Thormahlen to the Red Sox for 2 Pitchers: Waite Hoyt and Harry Harper, Catcher Wally Schang and INF Mike McNally.
1987-Former Yankees Reserve OF Thomas Neal (2013) was born.
On January 18, 2013, OF Thomas Neal was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He only appeared in 4 games with the team, while hitting just .182, spending most of the 2013 season with AAA Scranton (IL). On August 5, 2013, Neal was selected off waivers by the Cubs from the Yankees.
1995-Former Yankees Minor League Player and Manager Ray White (1937-1940) had passed away. (1910-1995)
Ray White was a Minor League baseball Pitcher and Manager. He had pitched from 1933-1940, going 55-37 in 170 games. Over the course of his 6-season career, he had thrown 877 innings. In 1934, he went 17-9 while splitting the season between the Norfolk Tars and Binghamton Triplets. From 1937-1940, he would manage in the Yankees Minor League system with the Bassett Furnituremakers (Bi-State League), Norfolk Tars (PL) and the Augusta Tigers (SAL).
1997-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Frisco Parotte to the Cubs for MLB 2B Rey Sanchez. The Yankees had traded for Sanchez to give them infield insurance at Shortstop and 2B. Reserve INF Luis Sojo was out with a broken forearm. For the 1997 Cubs, Rey was hitting .249 in 72 games. With the trade being made, the Yankees would send back young INF Homer Bush to AAA Columbus (IL) to have him play regularly. Rey Sanchez will take over 2B from Pat Kelly by hitting .312 in 38 games. In the off-season, the Yankees would lose him to MLB Free Agency; when he signs with the Giants for the 1998 NL season. Frisco Parotte was former 1993 MLB Amateur Player Draft pick by the Yankees, he was 1-1 with a 4.19 ERA at Class A Greensboro (SAL).
2002-At Seattle’s Safeco Field, after hitting a HR in the 7th inning off of Mariner Reliever James Baldwin, Yankees All-Star 2B Alfonso Soriano becomes the 1st 2nd baseman to hit 30 HRs and steal 30 bases in the same MLB season. Bobby Bonds was the only other Yankees player to post a 30/30 season accomplishing the feat in 1975. Bronx CF Bernie Williams singles in his 1st at bat to give him 11 consecutive hits. He makes an out his next time up to fall 1 short of the MLB record. The Yankees would win the game by the score of 8-3 behind veteran AL Starter Mike Mussina, who picks up his 15th victory of the 2002 AL season. Meanwhile Seattle Starter Ryan Franklin takes the loss, he is now at 4-3 mark. A crowd of 46,174 fans had watched this Saturday game.
2022-The 1st-place Yankees, whose offense has been inordinately quiet of late, trail the Rays 4-0 before a 2-run HR by 2B Gleyber Torres puts them on the scoreboard in the 6th. After a 1-hour rain delay, they manage to tie the game with single runs in the 7th and 8th; but in the top of the 10th, Bronx Closer Aroldis Chapman gives up a 3-run double to Francisco Mejia. In the bottom of the frame, however, the Yankees would load the bases with a walk and a single, in addition to the designated runner, Josh Donaldson hits an ultimate Grand Slam HR off of Rays Reliever Jalen Beeks to transform the 7-4 deficit into an 8-7 Yankees walk-off win.