This Week in Yankees History Se[tember 15th-September 21st
Sept 21, 2024 19:34:20 GMT -5
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This Week in Yankees History September 15th-21st
September 15th
1881-Former Yankees Pitcher Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle (1906-1911) was born. (1881-1947)
In August of 1906, Pitcher Joe Doyle was purchased by the Highlanders from Wheeling (CL). Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle went 22-21 with a 2.70 ERA and 1 save in 77 games during his Yankees Pitching career. He was nicked–named “Slow Joe” because of long time that he took between his pitches. On May 31,1910, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Reds for $2,000 Cash. He was 0-2 in 3 games for the 1910 Yankees. For the 1910 Reds, Joe would pitch in 5 games with no decisions, ending his MLB Pitching career. Doyle would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 22-21 record with 2.86 ERA in 82 games.
1904-The Red Sox would edge the Yankees by the score of 3-2 to move back into 1st place in the AL. Red Sox Starter Jesse Tannehill only allows 9 Bronx hits in besting the Yankees Starter Al Orth. The nightcap is called after 9 innings with the score tied at 1-1.
1908-The Yankees Rookie Starter Pete Wilson makes his MLB Pitching debut by shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0.
1917-At the Polo Grounds, Red Sox Starter Babe Ruth takes an 8-0 lead into the 9th inning before allowing 3 Yankees runs. He finishes with a complete game with 8-3 win and slugs his 2nd and last HR of the 1917 AL season.
1921-At the Polo Grounds, Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his HR # 55 of the 1921 AL season during the Yankees 10-6 win over the St. Louis Browns. Yankees Starter Carl Mays picks up his 24th win of the AL season. Also, Outfielders Elmer Miller and Bob Meusel hit HRs for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees take the 2nd game of the doubleheader by a score of 13-5. Bronx Starter Bill Piercy picks-up his 4th win of the 1921 AL season. Yankees 1B Wally Pipp hits his 8th HR of the campaign. Browns Slugger Ken Williams hits a HR in each game, bringing his 1921 season total to 23 HRs.
1924-Former Yankees Player/Manager and HOF Frank Chance (1913-1914) had passed away. (1898-1924)
Frank Chance came to the Yankees at the end of his fine Hall of Fame MLB playing career. He was a Player/Manager during the 1913-1914 AL seasons. In 1913, Chance finished in 7th place with a 57-94 record. In 1914, he was in 6th place with a 60-74 record before being replaced by Yankees Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh for the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. Chance and the Team Owners had disagreements over player personnel matters. He was paid off for the remaining time left on his 3-year Managers contract. He appeared in 13 games for the Yankees as Player-Manager, hitting just .208. Playing for the Yankees, Frank Chance lost the chance of finishing with an MLB lifetime BA of .300; he finishes his MLB playing career with a .297 mark. Frank had spent most of his MLB active playing career with the Cubs in the NL. Chance was part of the Cubs famous “Evers to Tinker to Chance” DP trio. He was a Player/ Manager of the Cubs from 1905 to 1912. His Cubs teams won the NL Pennants in 1906-1908 and 1910. His Cubs teams never finished below 3rd place in the NL. Frank Chance was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.
1926-The Yankees would beat the Tribe by the score of 6-4. As veteran Yankees RF Bob Meusel drives home 3 runs with 3 sacrifice flies. This ties the MLB record set by Cubs Harry Steinfeldt in 1909. Veteran Bronx Starter Bob Shawkey is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.
1937-AL President Will Harridge would uphold Indian's protest of the August 6th Yankees win and the entire game is replayed as the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The protested game is called a tie with all game stats retained except those following the disputed call.
1937-Former Yankees 3B Charlie Smith (1967-1968) was born. (1937-1994)
On December 6,1966, INF Charlie Smith came to the Yankees from the Cardinals in a trade for AL All-Star OF Roger Maris. He was going to be the Yankees new 3B for 1967 AL season, since the team had recently traded veteran 3B Clete Boyer to the Braves. This trade is considered to be one of the worst modern trades made in Yankees team history. Charlie would appear in 181 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .224 with 10 HRs and 45 RBIs. He was traded to the Giants for Reserve INF Nate Oliver in December of 1968. Smith had played in the MLB from 1960-1969 starting with the Dodgers, Phillies, White Sox, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees and the Cubs. He never appears with the Giants, who had traded him to the Cubs before the 1969 NL season had started. As an MLB player, Charlie would hit .239 with 69 HRs and 281 RBIs in 771 games.
1938-Former Yankees Pitcher Gaylord Perry (1980) was born. (1938-2022)
Veteran MLB Starter Gaylord Perry was obtained by the Yankees from the Rangers for Pitcher Ken Clay and a Minor League Player to be Named Later. Minor League INF Marvin Thompson would be sent to the Rangers in October of 1980 to complete the trade. Perry would post a 4-4 record with a 4.44 ERA in 10 games before leaving the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent in the fall of 1980. Gaylord would pitch in the MLB from 1962 to 1983.He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 314-265 record with a 3.11 ERA and 10 saves in 777 games. He was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
1947-The Yankees would clinch their 15th AL pennant, when the White Sox beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-3, while the Yankees are idled by rain.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Pagan (1973-1976) was born.
In 1970, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Dave Pagan as an MLB Free Agent. He had appeared in 40 games for the team, while posting a 2-4 record with 4.01 ERA and 1 save before being traded to the Orioles on June 15,1976, as part of the Doyle Alexander trade. He had been moving back and forth between the Yankees and their AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL) since 1973.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) passes away at the age of 36. (1913-1949)
Tiny Bonham would join the Yankees in 1940, as a 26-year-old Rookie going 9-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games. His best season for the Yankees was in 1942, when he went 21-5 with 2.27 ERA with 6 shutouts and 22 complete games. He was 1942 AL All-Star team member. Tiny finished his Yankees pitching career record with a 79-50 mark (WP.612). He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 4 games. In 1946, Bonham was dealing with injuries, he posted a 5-8 record with a 3.70 ERA for the 1946 Yankees. On October 24,1946, the team traded Tiny to the Pirates for P Cookie Cuccurullo. He went 11-8 and 6-10 for the 1947-1948 Pirates. After a 1-4 start in 1949, Tiny Bonham won 6 straight games for a floundering Pirates club, including an 8–2 victory over the Phillies on August 28th in his final MLB appearance. Eighteen days later, Bonham died in a Pittsburgh hospital at the age of 36, following an appendectomy and stomach surgery. Mrs. Bonham will receive the 1st benefits under the MLB Players Pension Plan, $90 a month for 10 years.
1950-For an MLB-record 6th time, veteran MLB Slugger Johnny Mize hits 3-HRs in 1 game, but the Yankees still lose the game by the score of a 9-7 in Detroit. Johnny Mize matches Babe Ruth's mark of doing it in both leagues, but the Babe only had 2 3-HR games. With the victory, the Tigers recapture 1st place in the AL from the Yankees.
1956-Former Yankees Pitcher John Pacella (1982) was born.
On March 31,1981, Pitcher John Pacella was traded by the Padres along with OF Jerry Mumphrey to the Yankees for OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre, 2 Minor League hurlers: Tim Lollar and Chris Welch. John had appeared in 3 games for the 1982 Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record with a 7.20 ERA. On May 12,1982, John was traded by the Yankees along with P Pete Filson, Reserve INF Larry Milbourne and Cash to the Twins for P Roger Erickson and Catcher Butch Wynegar.
1959-At Yankee Stadium, veteran Starter Whitey Ford makes a rare relief appearance against the White Sox, going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning as the White Sox score 2 in the 8th inning and 1 in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees by the score of 4-3. Mickey Mantle hits 2 HRs in the Bombers loss, a 2-run shot in 1st inning off of veteran Starter Billy Pierce and a solo HR shot in the 9th inning off of Reliever Bob Shaw, who gets his 3rd save of the 1959 AL season, while lefty Starter Billy Pierce picks up his 14th victory of the season. Ralph Terry had started for the Yankees, going 7 innings, while giving up 8-Chicago hits and allowing only 1-run.
1960-The Orioles (83-58) and Yankees (82-57) open a crucial 4 games series with the Bird’s just .002 in back of New York. Yankees hitters Hector Lopez and Roger Maris crack HRs to back veteran Starter Whitey Ford's 4-2 win over the Birds. The 2 runs off of Starter Whitey Ford were the 1st the Birds have scored off him at Yankee Stadium in 33.2 innings. Veteran Bronx Reliever Bobby Shantz rescues Whitey Ford in the 9th inning for his 10th save of the 1960 AL season.
1961-The Yankees would set a new AL record for most HRs in a season (222), as they split a doubleheader in Detroit, winning the opener by the score of 11-1 and then losing the nightcap by the score of 4-2. Yankees HR blows by Bill Skowron and Yogi Berra in the Opener, help Starter Whitey Ford win his 24th victory of the season and increase the 1961 Yankees HR total to 222. This breaks the old MLB HR mark set by the 1947 Giants and later tied by the 1956 Reds. Norm Cash and Steve Boros hit HRs in the nightcap to back Tigers Starter Ron Kline's 7-hitter.
1963-At Metropolitan Stadium, Yankees Ace Whitey Ford throws a 2-hitter defeating the Twins by the score of 2-1. Twins Starter Lee Stange takes the loss, giving up 8-Yankee hits, while allowing the 2 Yankee runs. Clete Boyer gets the key hit of the game, scoring both Yankees runs. The victory is the 23rd win of the 1963 AL season for Whitey Ford, who is now at 23-7 mark.
1969-At Yankees Stadium, Tigers Starter Denny McLain records his 9th shutout of the 1969 AL season, a Tiger club pitching record beating the Yankees by a score of 2-0. McLain picks-up his 23rd win of the AL season, meanwhile Yankees Starter Stan Bahnsen drops to a 9-15 record for the 1969 season.
1976-Former Yankees Reliever Matt Thornton (2014) was born.
On January 10, 2014, Reliever Matt Thornton was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He went 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 46 games for the 2014 Yankees. On August 5, 2014, Matt was selected off waivers by the Nationals from the Yankees.
1978-The Yankees are now 1 1/2 games in front of the Red Sox; they would open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Yankee Starter Ron Guidry again gives up only 2-Red Sox hits as he wins a 4-0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive HRs off of Boston Starter Luis Tiant in the Yankees 4-run 4th inning.
1985-Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner calls Yankees All-Star OF Dave Winfield, “Mr. May,” after the Yankees lose 3 key games to the Blue Jays.
1985-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Jim Deshaies along with 2 other Minor Leaguer Players to be Named Later to the Astros for 40-year-old veteran MLB Starter Joe Niekro, who was 9-12 in 32 games for the 1985 Astros. Jim Deshaies had appeared in 2 games with the 1985 Yankees with a 0-1 record. This move reuniting the Niekro brothers as teammates for the 1st time since the 1974 NL season, when they were both with the Braves. Niekro will go 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 3 games for the 1985 Yankees. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League Players; INF Neder Horta and P Dody Rather to the Braves, neither player reached the MLB with the Braves.
1999-At the Sky Dome in Toronto, the Yankees would defeat the Blue Jays as Starter Andy Pettitte picks up his 13th victory by going 8 innings, while Yankees Closer Mo Rivera gets his 41st save of the 1999 AL season. Jays Starter Pat Hentgen takes the loss. The Yankees offensive is led by HRs by 1B Tino Martinez and CF Bernie Williams.
2002-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees score 4 runs to break a 4-4 tie with the White Sox in the 6th inning. The Yankees win the game by the final score of 8-4 with Starter Andy Pettitte picking up his 11th victory of the 2002 AL season. The Bronx Bombers hitting attack is led by HRs by Jason Giambi with 1 on and solo HR shots by Bernie Williams and Alfonso Soriano.
2008-Yankees Closer Mo Rivera passes MLB Closer Lee Smith for 2nd place on the All-Time MLB Save List behind Trevor Hoffman as the Yankees top the White Sox by the score of 4-2 to try to keep their 2008 AL Playoff hopes alive; The White Sox lead in the AL Central falls to a game and a half.
2010-At Tropicana Field, the Rays will take back 1st place in their seesaw battle with the Yankees for top spot in the AL East with a 4-3 win. Rays hitter Dan Johnson hits a pair of 2-run HRs off of Yankees Starter Phil Hughes to account for all of Tampa Bay's runs.
2012-In his return start from the DL, Yankees Starter Ivan Nova is a winner with a 5-3 victory over the Rays. Yankee hitters Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez hit back-to-back HRs in the 2nd inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead and they never look back. Out 3 weeks with a shoulder inflammation, Nova picks up his 12th win of the 2012 AL season as he puts the Bronx Bombers 1 game ahead of their main AL East Division rivals, the Orioles, who lose to the A's by the score of 5-2.
2021-Former Yankees DH/1B Bill “Suds” Sudakis (1974) had passed away. (1946-2021)
On December 9,1973, the Yankees had purchased veteran INF Bill Sudakis from the Rangers. He had hit .255 along with an MLB career high of 15 HRs for Texas. He had originally come up to the MLB with the Dodgers in 1969 as their starting 3B, hitting .234. He had played for the Dodgers. On December 3,1974, the Yankees will trade him to the Angels for Reliever Skip Lockwood.
2023-The Yankees endured one very painful bounce that cost them the lead and, more importantly, Reliever Anthony Misiewicz. A more fortunate one helped them rally past the Pirates in the 9th inning on Friday night. Yankee baserunners Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres scored when a potential game-ending double play morphed into a game-turning error in the top of the 9th inning as the Yankees would slip by the Pirates by the score of 7-5 on “Roberto Clemente Day.” The Bronx Bombers 9th inning comeback came while Misiewicz undergoing testing in a nearby Pittsburgh hospital, after taking a 100-mph line drive off the side of his head in the 6th inning. Aaron Judge had 3 hits and an RBI for the Yankees. D.J. LeMahieu had 2 hits, including a leadoff single in the 9th inning to start the Bombers rally. Cole labored through 5 innings in his return to PNC Park. The Yankees bullpen would hold off the Pirates with Clay Holmes closing out the game for the win.
September 16th
1877-Former Yankees Pitcher George McConnell (1909,1912-1913) was born. (1877-1964)
For the Yankees, George McConnell would post a 12-28 record with 2.97 ERA in 61 games. In September of 1913, the Yankees would send him to the Cubs for Cash. With the Cubs, he went 0-1 with 1.29 ERA. He would leave the Cubs to pitched for the 1915 Chicago Chi-Feds (Federal League), while posting a 25-10 record with 2.22 ERA in 44 games. In 1916, he would return to the Cubs, finishing up his MLB Pitching career with a 41-51 record with a 2.60 ERA in 133 games with the Yankees, Cubs and the Chi-Feds.
1905-The Yankees find themselves a little short on infielders, so RF Willie Keeler, who is left-handed, plays 2B in both games of a twin bill. The talented Keeler had played 2 games at Shortstop for the Yankees in 1903.
1905-Former Yankees Pitcher Joseph “Sandy” Vance (1937-1938) was born. (1905-1978)
For the 1937-1938 Yankees, Joseph “Sandy” Vance went 1-0 with a 4.78 ERA in 5 games. Before joining the Yankees, he had pitched for the 1936 Cubs, while posting a 2-2 record with a 6.68 ERA in 10 games. In August of 1938, Vance had pitched for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), when he was called up to the Bronx. Joe had to have a season-ending appendectomy.
1908-Former Yankees Reserve OF Colonel “Buster” Mills (1940) was born. (1908-1991)
On December 26,1938, the Yankees had obtained OF Buster Mills and hurler Oral Hildebrand in a trade with the Browns for veteran OF Myril Hoag and Reserve Catcher Joe Glenn. He had played in 34 games with the 1940 Yankees, while hitting .397 (25 for 63). On April 3,1942, Buster was traded by the Yankees to the Indians for OF Larry Rosenthal. He would later become an MLB Coach with 4 teams. In 1951, he would manage in the Minor Leagues for the White Sox organization.
1909-Former Yankees INF Herman Long (1903) had passed away. (1866-1909)
Veteran MLB Shortstop Herman Long joined the Yankees in 1903. At the age of 37, his best seasons were behind him. He would appear in only 22 games for the team, hitting just .188 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. On June 10,1903, he was traded to the Tigers in the team’s 1st MLB Trade, which included Shortstop Ernie Courtney for Tigers Starting Shortstop “Kid” Elberfeld. Long had played in the MLB from 1889 to 1904. He would finish his MLB playing career by hitting .277 with 9 HRs and 1,055 RBIs, while playing in 1,875 games.
1914-At the age of 23, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) is hired as the Manager of the Yankees to finish out the 1914 AL season. He would go 10-10 in the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. The Yankees would finish in 6th place. Roger would return to playing Shortstop, as William “Wild Bill” Donovan would be named Yankees Manager for the 1915 AL season. In December of 1921, Roger was traded to the Red Sox, as part of the Joe Bush-Sam Jones Trade. Everett “Deacon” Scott, who was obtained in the trade, would replace him at Shortstop. Then the Red Sox would trade Roger to the Senators before the 1922 AL Season had started.
1920-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, a crowd of 25,000 fans watch White Sox Starter Richard Kerr top the Yankees by the score of 8-3. Yankees Starter Jack Quinn takes the loss dropping his pitching record to 18-9 for the 1920 AL season. This loss drops Yankees to 2nd place behind the Indians in the 1920 AL Pennant race.
1922-AL Pennant fever rages in St. Louis, as the Yankees come to town with a half-game lead over the Browns. Veteran Bronx Starter Bob Shawkey beats former Yankees Starter Urban Shocker by the score of 2-1. The Browns’ George Sisler ties Ty Cobb's 1911 AL hitting record by hitting in his 40th straight game. While chasing a fly ball in the 9th inning, Yankees OF Whitey Witt is hit in the head and knocked cold by a soda bottle thrown from the bleachers. AL League President Ban Johnson will initially offer a $1,000 reward for the name of the bottle-thrower. Then, to calm the crowds, the AL offers the theory that Witt stepped on the bottle and it flew up and hit him. The incident leads to a ban on the sale of bottled drinks in all AL ballparks.
1939-The Yankees would clinch their 4th successive AL pennant with an 8-5 victory over the Tigers. Yankees Starter Marius Russo picks up the complete game victory, he is now 7-3 for the 1939 AL season. Tigers Starter Cotton Pippen takes the loss, allowing 8 Yankee runs in the game; dropping to his season record to a 4-12 mark. AL Sluggers Hank Greenberg and Joe DiMaggio, each hit HRs in the game for their teams. A crowd of 10,626 fans had watched this Saturday game played at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will finish the 1939 AL season with a 106-45 record, 17 games ahead of the 2nd place Red Sox (89-62).
1940-St. Louis Rookie Johnny Lucadello hits HRs from each side of the plate against the Yankees in a 16-4 Browns win. Only Catcher Wally Schang of the 1916 Philadelphia A’s, had accomplished the same feat in the AL. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle in 1955, will be the next AL player to do it. These are the only HRs that Lucadello will hit all season for the 1940 Browns.
1944-Former Yankees Minor League C George Pena was born. (1944-2021)
Catcher George Pena would play in 13 seasons in the Minor Leagues, reaching the AAA level for most of those years. After graduating from Montebello HS, Pena was signed by the Angels and began his pro career with the 1963 Quad Cities Angels, hitting .204 in 40 games with the club. After a stint in the Cubs farm system, he would move on to play for the Yankees organization in 1970. That summer, he would hit .246 with 15 HRs for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL). Pena drove in the winning run in Game 6 of the 1970 Junior World Series. He had his best season in 1971, hitting .284 with 22 HRs for AAA Syracuse Chiefs and earning a spot on the International League All-Star team, joining Johnny Oates as the team catchers. On October 24,1972, the Yankees had traded George to the Padres INF Fred Stanley. The trade was done at the AAA level with the Syracuse Chiefs getting Stanley for the 1973 IL season. He would later played in the Tigers, Indians, Twins and the Astros organizations, never reaching the MLB level. Away from the diamond, Pena had served in the U.S. Marine Reserves. On January 9, 2021, he would pass away from COVID-19 at age 76.
1948-Joe DiMaggio hits his 300th MLB Career HR joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein and Hank Greenberg, as the only MLB players to reach this MLB career hitting milestone. The Yankees lost the 1st game of a double header by the score of 2-1 with DiMaggio’s 36th HR of the season being the Yankees only run. Yankees Starter Vic Raschi (18-7) and Tigers Fred Hutchinson (12-9), both throw complete games. In the 2nd game, the Yankees bounce back with an 8-4 victory behind the pitching of Starter Allie Reynolds and Closer Joe Page, who picks up his 5th win; meanwhile the Tigers Starter Dizzy Trout takes the loss.
1950-Rookie Bronx Starter Whitey Ford tosses a 6-hitter to give the Yankees the rubber game in Detroit, winning by the score of 8-1 and move them back into 1st place. Joe DiMaggio hits his 30th HR of the 1950 AL season as the Yankees score 7 runs in the 9th inning as Ford drives to his 7th win without a loss. The Red Sox will follow the Yankees into Detroit and sweep 3 games from the Tigers.
1951-At Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio's long triple off of veteran Tribe Starter Bob Feller scores 2 runs in the 5th inning, meanwhile Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds holds on for a 5-1 Yankees victory. The Yankees will take over 1st place in the AL for good by a margin of .003 points over the Indians.
1955-The Yankees open a key series with the Red Sox. The day starts with the Yankees trailing 1st place Indians by 1/2 game with 11 games remaining in the 1955 AL season. The Indians supposedly had the easier schedule because they did not have to play the Red Sox. In Game #1 of the series, Yankees open with an early 3-0 lead. Only to fall behind by the score of 4-3 to the Sox in the 8th inning. Addition to losing their lead, the Yankees lose 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron, after he breaks a toe kicking a water cooler in the dugout, after a close call out. Mickey Mantle gets hurt after running out a bunt. In the bottom of the 9th inning with 1 out, RF Hank Bauer hits a HR off of Red Sox Reliever Ellis Kinder to tie the score at 4-4. One out later, Yankees Yogi Berra hits a game winning HR. Meanwhile the Indians would lose to the Tigers and the Yankees would be in 1st place for the rest of the 1955 AL season.
1955-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle pulls a hamstring muscle, while running out a bunt in a game against the Red Sox. He will make just 2 Pinch-Hit appearances for the Yankees in September of 1955. Mickey will go to bat in the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers, just 10 times including hitting a HR in Game 3.
1958-Former 1945 AL Batting Champion and Yankees INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss (1943-1950) is killed in a train wreck in New Jersey. (1918-1958)
Former Yankees INF George Stirnweiss was killed at age 39 when the passenger train that he was on plunged off the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge between Elizabethport and Bayonne, New Jersey. He was a college football and baseball star at the Univ. of No. Carolina. The Chicago Cardinals of the NFL drafted him, but George chose to pursue baseball instead, signing with the Yankees in 1940. In the Yankees farm system, he would play with the Norfolk Tars (PL) in 1940 and then the Newark Bears (IL) from 1940 to 1942. Gastric ulcers and hay fever prevented him from serving in the military during World War II. He had played in the infield for the Yankees from 1943-1950. He did appear in the 1947 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .259 with 8 walks while playing in all 7 games. In 1949, he was also in the World Series, but he only appeared in 1 game with no at-bats. George had led the AL 2B in fielding in 1944 and 1948. He led the AL in hitting in 1945 with a .309 BA. As a Yankees player, George would hit .274 in 884 games with 27 HRs and 253 RBIs. On June 15,1950, he was traded to St. Louis Browns, along with OF Jim Delsing, Pitchers Don Johnson, Duane Pillette and $50,000 cash for 3 Browns’ Pitchers Tom Ferrick, Joe Ostrowski, Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas. He would finish his MLB active playing career with the 1951-1952 Indians. As an MLB player, George would hit .268 with 29 HRs and 281 RBIs in 1,028 MLB games. After his playing days, he was a Manager for the 1954 Schenectady Blue Jays in the Phillies organization. In 1955, he would manage the Binghamton Triplets (EL) in the Yankees organization. At the 1956 Old Timer’s Day game, he took his close friend and Yankees teammate Phil Rizzuto home after his unconditional players release by the Yankees front office. He had told Phil, who was deeply trouble by his player release actions by Yankees GM George Weiss and Yankees Manager Casey Stengel to keep quiet about it to the NYC Sports Media. He then went into banking, but George had to temporarily retire when he had a heart attack in 1957. In 1958, he had begun to be involved in youth baseball. At the time of his death in 1958, George left a wife and 6 children. Two explanations are given for the nickname "Snuffy". First, it is said he had a football injury that affected his breathing. Second, he had sinus problems that he treated with snuff.
1958-Yankee-Killer Frank Lary is the 3rd AL Pitcher to beat them 7 times in the same AL season, as the Tiger star defeats them by the score of 4-2. Ed Walsh (9-1 in 1908) and Ed Cicotte (7-1 in 1916) were the other AL Pitchers to do this feat. Frank Lary would finish with an MLB lifetime pitching record of 28-13 (.683) against the Yankees, which would allow him to have an overall .500 MLB Pitching career winning percentage.
1959-Former Hall of Fame Yankees and MLB OF/DH Tim “Rock” Raines (1996-1998) was born.
On December 28,1995, OF Tim Raines was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later. On February 6,1996, the Yankees would send Minor League P/3B Blaise Kozeniewski to the White Sox to complete the deal. For the 1996-1998 Yankees, Tim would hit .299 with 18 HRs and 118 RBIs in 242 games, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency. He would appear in the 1996 World Series against the Braves, hitting just .214.
1960-With Hall of Fame Ty Cobb among the 49,055 fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium, All-Star OF Mickey Mantle cracks a 2-run HR, his 35th of the 1960 AL season off of Orioles’ Starter Chuck Estrada to give the Yankees, a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Bronx Catcher Yogi Berra adds a HR. In the last of the 8th inning, 2B Bobby Richardson's hit off of Orioles hurler Chuck Estrada's glove drives in 2 runs for a 5-3 Yankees win.
1960-Former Yankees DH/OF Mel Hall (1989-1992) was born.
On March 19,1989, OF Mel Hall was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for Catcher Joel Skinner and OF/INF Turner Ward. He would hit .273 with 63 HRs and 265 RBIs in 519 games for the Yankees. In his best season with the Yankees was in 1991, when he hit .285 with 19 HRs. In 1992, he drove in an MLB career-high 81 runs. He would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. Mel would go to Japan to play pro baseball for several seasons.
1961-At Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Yankees Roger Maris connects for HR #57 off of Yankee-Killer Tiger Starter Frank Lary to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 HR pace. Frank Lary wins his 21st game of the 1961 AL season, a 10-4 victory over the Yankees Starting Pitcher Ralph Terry.
1964-The White Sox move into a 1st-place tie (88-61) with the Orioles by besting the Tigers by the score of 4-1, while the Orioles lose to the Twins by the score of 2-1. The Yankees are 1 percentage point behind in the AL standings.
1966-Former Yankees Minor League P Mike Draper was born.
On June 1,1988, Pitcher Mike Draper was selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Mike never appeared in an MLB game with the team. On December 7,1992, Mike was drafted by the Mets from the Yankees organization in the 1992 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.
1967-Veteran Tigers 1B Norm Cash drives in 5 runs, while Bengals Starter John Hiller goes the distance, enabling Detroit to take the AL lead with a 9-1 win over the Yankees.
1972-The Yankees had purchased Reliever Steve Blateric from the Reds for waiver price. Steve would appear in 1 game with the 1972 Yankees with no record. In March of 1973, he was returned by the Yankees to the Reds.
1975-Former Yankees Baseball Executive Billy Eppler (2011-2015) was born.
Billy Eppler worked in the Rockies Scouting Dept. from 2000-2004, signing Ryan Spilborghs. In November 2004, he would move to the Yankees as their Assistant Director of Baseball Operations. From 2006-2009, he was the Yankees' Director of Professional Scouting and then he was Senior Director of Professional Personnel from 2010-2011 before becoming an Assistant GM under Brian Cashman. On October 4, 2015, Eppler was named General Manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, replacing Bill Stoneman who had occupied the position on an interim basis since July. He had been a finalist for the same job in 2011, when the Angels had instead hired Jerry Dipoto. He was joining an organization with high expectations, after the team had missed the postseason by a single game in spite of Team Owner Arte Moreno's profligate spending. He also knew he had little margin of maneuver concerning Manager Mike Scioscia, whose return for a 17th season in 2016 had just been confirmed: Dipoto's early departure came about because he had lost a power struggle with the long-time Manager. Having worked for the Yankees all those, years, he explained that he was used to pressure and high expectations. Eppler was particularly active in the off-season following the 2017 AL season. He signed the most-prized Free Agent of the off-season, Japanese P/DH Shohei Ohtani, then followed that by orchestrating a trade to acquire 2B Ian Kinsler and signed Zack Cozart to play 3B, all in an 8-day span. He was the GM for the Mets, before being released by the team.
1977-The Yankees would rally for 4 runs in the 8th inning to come-from-behind win over the Tigers by the score of 5-4. Bronx Reserve OF Paul Blair’s 2-run HR provided the margin of victory. Yankees Starter Don Gullett went the distance for his 12th win of the 1977 AL season.
1977-The Yankees had sold OF/DH Carlos May to the Angels. He was hitting a disappointing .227 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs for the 1977 Yankees. He had hit .278 in 87 games for the 1976 Yankees. May would finish his Yankees playing career with a .258 BA with 5 HRs and 62 RBIs in 152 games for the team.
1978-With 55,091 fans looking on, the Yankees would snap a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning triple by Willie Randolph and a sacrifice fly by Thurman Munson to beat the Red Sox by the score of 3-2. The Yankees, now lead the Red Sox by 3 1/2 games in the AL Eastern Division race. The Yankees 1st score on a Reggie Jackson 2-run HR blast in the 5th inning. Both teams’ Starters, Catfish Hunter and former Yankees Pitcher Mike Torrez go the distance for their teams.
1979-At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold “Catfish Hunter Day” to honor their future HOF Pitcher, who will be retiring from baseball at the end of the 1979 AL season at the age of 33. A 20-year-old left-hander Rookie Pitcher named Dave Righetti makes his MLB Pitching Debut for the Yankees.
1980-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees behind the pitching of Starter Ron Guidry and Closer Goose Gossage beat the Blue Jays by a score of 5-4. The Gator picks up his 14th win of the 1980 AL season, while going 6-innings, allowing 8-Blue Jay hits, 4-runs and 4 strikeouts. Yankees Closer Rich Gossage gets his 28th save of the 1980 AL season, pitching 2 innings allowing only 1-hit with 5 Toronto strikeouts.
1987-Former Yankees Minor League INF Kermit Wahl had passed away. (1922-1987)
On July 31,1951, INF Kermit Wahl was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with Pitchers Bobby Hogue, Lou Sleater, INF Tom Upton and $10,000 Cash to the Yankees for OF Cliff Mapes. Kermit had played for 1944-1947 Reds, he had briefly played in the Dodgers organization with the AA Montreal Royals (IL) then with the 1950-1951 Philadelphia A’s, before joining the Browns in 1951. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to wear the Yankees pinstripes. He was sent to their American Association affiliate, the AAA Kansas City Blues. For the Blues, he would hit .275 with No HRs, 9 RBIs in 28 games. The for next 2 seasons, he was stuck at Kansas City. In 1952, he hit for his highest career batting average at .302 with 5 HRs and 43 RBIs. Had he been in another MLB organization, he would have had a much better chance at playing for the big club. In 1953, he spent another year on the "farm" hitting only .240 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs. His pro career was obviously fading. In 1954, he would finally escape the Yankees farm system; he would play for the Braves' AAA team Toledo Sox. Kermit would hit well for a .305 BA, he had 5 HRs with 20 RBIs, ending his pro baseball career at age 31. As MLB player, Kermit had appeared in 226 games, while hitting .231 with 3 HRs and 50 RBIs.
1992-White Sox 1B Frank Thomas gets 5 hits, all singles in Chicago's 9-6 win over the Yankees. The Yankees Rookie Starter Sterling Hitchcock loses his 1st MLB pitching decision.
1996-Backed by 2, 3-run HRs from Tim Raines, who is celebrating his 37th birthday, Yankees Starter Jimmy Key stops the Blue Jays by the score of 10-0. Raines 2nd HR is a 457 FT blast to the Stadium CF, is the longest hit by a Yankee player this season. The Yankees are now 3 games up in the AL East Division.
1997-The Yankees would sweep a doubleheader from the Red Sox, winning by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte pitches 8 innings in the Opener, while striking out career-high of 12 Red Sox batters. Willie Banks is the winner for the Yankees in the nightcap with 6 2/3 innings pitching performance.
2000-Before a crowd of 55,097 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would defeat the Indians by a score of 6-3. Yankees Starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez goes the distance to pick up his 12th victory of the 2000 AL season, giving up only 4-Tribe hits, while allowing 3-runs and 6-strikeouts. The Bronx Bombers hitting attack was led by solo HRs by Glenallen Hill and Jorge Posada.
2008-In the last home stand at Yankee Stadium II, Derek Jeter passes HOF Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at the storied stadium. He collects his 1,270th hit in the ballpark, a single past INF Juan Uribe, while facing Chicago hurler Gavin Floyd. The Yankees would still lose the game by the score of 6-2 to the White Sox.
2012-In the AL East race, 1st-place Yankees would beat the Rays by the score of 6-4 behind Starter Hiroki Kuroda and Closer Rafael Soriano's 40th save of the 2012 AL season. At the end of the day, the Bombers would lead the Orioles by 1 game and 5 games over the falling Rays in the AL East race.
2020-Trailing the Blue Jays by half a game at the start of a 3-game series at New Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would leapfrog over their rivals with a pair of drubbings, 20-6 yesterday and 13-2 today, hitting a team-record 13 HRs over the 2 games. Today, D.J. LeMahieu propels Tanner Roark's 1st pitch of the game over the fence and the Yankees will hit 6 more before the game ends, with LeMahieu hitting a 2nd one, Kyle Higashioka having the 1st 3-HR game of his MLB playing career and Luke Voit hitting his MLB-leading 19th long ball. Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole does not allow a hit over the 1st 5 innings before lifting his foot off the gas pedal and cruising to his 6th win of the year and the 100th of his MLB pitching career.
2023-The Yankees have placed Reliever Anthony Misiewicz on the 7-day concussion IL today, while reinstating veteran Reliever Ian Hamilton from the 15-day IL. Misiewicz was carted off the field yesterday evening in Pittsburgh, after being struck in the head with a Ji Hwan Bae line drive, but Bronx Manager Aaron Boone told the YES Network today that Misiewicz was released from hospital and “all things considered, I think he’s doing pretty well.” More will be known once Misiewicz undergoes further testing, and while there is no timetable for concussion-related symptoms, it would seem like Misiewicz’s 2023 season might be over. The southpaw has a 9.00 ERA over 11 total innings of work with the Diamondbacks, Tigers and Yankees this season, and Friday’s game marked Misiewicz’s 3rd game in the pinstripes since being claimed off waivers from the Tigers back in July. The veteran Reliever Ian Hamilton returns to the Bronx bullpen after a minimal 15-day absence due to a groin strain.
September 17th
1887-Former Yankees Pitcher Nick Cullop (1916-1917) was born. (1887-1961)
On January 21,1916, Pitcher Nick Cullop was purchased by the Yankees from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League). For the Yankees, Nick would post a 18-15 record with 2.64 ERA and 2 saves in 58 games. On January 22,1918, Nick was traded by the Yankees along with INF Joe Gedeon, Rookie Pitcher Urban Shocker, 2B Fritz Maisel, Catcher Les Nunamaker and $15,000 Cash to the St. Louis Browns for veteran MLB Starter Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.
1904-More than 23,000 fans, reputedly the largest crowd in Red Sox history, show up for the showdown twin bill with the Yankees. New York scores 3 runs in each of the 1st 2 innings against Red Sox Starter Bill Dineen. Bronx Starter Jack Chesbro (35-8) holds on for a 6-4 win, his 7th victory in a row. The Yankees briefly take over 1st place in the AL. Veteran Starter Cy Young tops the Yankees by the score of 4-2 in the nightcap, beating veteran MLB Starter Ned Garvin, who was recently acquired from the Dodgers. The 2 teams complete their 3 doubleheaders with a 2-2-2 mark.
1917-Former Yankees Pitcher Allen “Two Gun” Gettel (1945-1946) was born. (1917-2005)
In 1936, the Yankees had signed hurler Al Gettel as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the Yankees, Al would post a 15-15 record with a 3.53 ERA and 3 saves in 53 games. On January 22,1943, Al was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Ed Levy and $10,000 Cash to the Blue Jays (aka Phillies) for 1B Nick Etten. On March 26,1943, P Al Gettel and 1B Ed Levy were returned to the Yankees. Then the Yankees would send Catcher Tom Padden and hurler Al Gerheauser on March 26,1943 to the Blue Jays to complete the trade. On December 6,1946, Al was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Gene Bearden and Reserve OF Hal Peck to the Indians for Catcher Sherman Lollar and Reserve 2B Ray Mack. Al had appeared in several Grade B Western movies, while he was playing baseball in the PCL. He was given the nickname of “Two Gun.”
1917-The Yankees Fritz Maisel’s 7th inning single breaks up Indians Starter Stan Coveleski’s no-hit bid during a 2-0 loss to the Tribe.
1920-The 1st-place Indians top the A's by the score of 9-3, while the White Sox behind Red Faber are again beating the Yankees by the score of 6-4. Faber gets 1st-inning help from White Sox hitters Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch, who all hit 2-out triples: Collins and Jackson triple later as Chicago totals an AL record 6 triples in the game.
1922-St. Louis Browns Southpaw Hub Pruett, who has fanned Babe Ruth 9 of 10 times over the 1922 AL season, is reached for a HR by the Bambino, but he still beats the Yankees by the score of 5-1. Whitey Witt receives an ovation, but the partisan crowd in CF is quick to wave white hankies in the 8th inning for Yankees Pinch-Hitter Norm McMillan. Police make them stop. Browns hitter George Sisler has a single to extend his AL hitting streak to 41 games, breaking his tie with Ty Cobb’s 40 game streak.
1928-Wilcy Moore, the Yankees pitching hero of 1927 World Championship season, goes home with an ailing arm, after working just 60 innings in 35 games for the 1928 Yankees. He had posted a 4-4 record with a 4.18 ERA and 3 saves. In 1929, he will return to the Yankees healthy, posting a 6-4 record with a 4.06 ERA and 8 saves in 41 games.
1928-The Yankees had purchased veteran 1B George “Tigoa” Burns from the Indians. He was a 35-yearold AL player, who had been a lifetime .300 hitter with the A’s and Indians. At first, he didn’t want to report to the Yankees without any assurance of plans for him for 1929 AL season, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, announce that he would be a Reserve 1B for Lou Gehrig in 1929. Then Burns would report to the team, appearing in 4 games, while going 2 for 4 at the plate. In 1918, the Yankees had acquired Burns from the Tigers, but then they had traded him to the Athletics for veteran OF Ping Bodie, since they already had Wally Pipp starting at 1B for the team.
1929-The Yankees had sold veteran AL 3B Gene Robertson to the Braves for the waiver price of $7,500 Cash. He had played 3rd base for the team in 1928, when veteran 3B Joe Duggan went down with a leg injury. He had appeared in 83 games, while hitting .291 with 1 HR and 36 RBIs. In 1929, he had played in 90 games, while hitting .298 with No HRs and 35 RBIs. Once the Yankees were out of the 1929 AL Pennant race, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, started using Rookie Lyn Larry at 3B, making the veteran Robertson expendable.
1931-In the 1st of 2 games, the Yankees and Red Ruffing rough up the St. Louis Browns and their Starter George Blaeholder by the score of 17-0. Bill Dickey's Grand Slam HR is the big blow in the game. The Yankees would take the nightcap by the score of 6-1 behind Lefty Gomez's 3-hitter, along with Babe Ruth's 41st and 42nd HRs of the 1931 AL season.
1934-The Yankees would reach Detroit for a last-chance series with the Tigers. They lose the opening game, as veteran Detroit Starter Al Crowder beats Bronx Starter Lefty Gomez with a 3-0 shutout.
1936-Former Yankees Reserve INF Tommy Carroll (1955-1956) was born. (1936-2021)
In 1955, Tommy Carroll was a Yankees Bonus Baby signing. Tom had played college baseball at Notre Dame. Like many of his fellow bonus earners, Carroll spent most of his time sitting on the bench and watching, while occasionally being used as a Pinch-Runner (33 times over the 2 seasons), he was forced to spend in the MLB (2-seasons). He was used twice as a Pinch-Runner in the 1955 World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Dodgers. He would later call this the greatest thrill of his short MLB playing career. He didn’t appear in the 1956 World Series against the Dodgers. He had played Shortstop and 3B for the 1955-1956 Yankees, while appearing in 50 games, hitting .287. Then he spent the next couple of seasons playing in the Minor Leagues. Originally signed as a Shortstop, he was judged too tall for the position at 6' 3"; Tom was moved to 3B. In 1957, while playing for the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL), he hit only .213, although with some power. It is not surprising that Carroll was somewhat overmatched; as the league's caliber was quite high with his pro experience up to that point had been minimal. Seeing this, the Yankees would send him down to their AA team, the New Orleans Pelicans (SA) at the start of the 1958 season, after which he was promoted to the AAA Denver Bears (AA); overall, he hit .283 that season. However, his pro baseball career was derailed once again, when he had to spent 6 months in military service for the Army after the 1958 AL season, slowing any momentum, he was starting to build up. On April 12,1959, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with Minor League OF Russ Snyder for OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes. He played little for his new team, however by early June, he was back in the Minor Leagues. He also played in the winter leagues in Venezuela during those years, but he failed to develop any more as a prospect. After spending the entire 1960 season in the Minor Leagues, Tom would retire from baseball. Overall, Carroll was a poor fielder- he had a career fielding percentage of .905, but he finished his brief MLB playing career with a .300 BA in his limited playing opportunities. Later, Tom became a member of the U.S. Diplomat Services for the State Department
1937-Former Yankees MLB Coach (1992-1993) and Minor League Manager (1976-1977) Ed Napoleon was born. (1937-2020)
Ed Napoleon had played in the Minor Leagues from 1956 to 1970. Napoleon was a Yankees MLB Coach (1992-1993) and a Minor League Manager and Coach. Before joining the Yankees organization, he had been working with the Pirates Minor League system. In 1976, he was the Class A Oneonta Yankees (EL) Manager; then he was moved to the 1977 Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL) Manager. In 1978, he was a AAA Tacoma Yankees Coach. In 1979, he was a AA West Haven Yankees (EL) Coach and the 1980-1982 AA Nashville Sounds (SL) Coach. Then Ed would work for other MLB organizations. He would return to the Yankees as one of their MLB Coaches for the 1992-1993 seasons. He would leave the organization again, working for other MLB teams before retiring in 2002. Ed would return to work for the Reds in 2002-2004, as a Special Instructor.
1939-AL President Will Harridge overturns the Umpires' decision to call the September 2nd, Yankees-Red Sox game and a forfeit. He orders the contest to be replayed from the 7th inning, as a 5-5 tie. After the Red Sox fans had thrown a barrage of garbage onto playing field at Fenway Park due to the Yankees making deliberate outs to take advantage of the 6:30 PM Sunday curfew. Umpire Cal Hubbard had ruled that the Boston crowd's action made it impossible to continue the game. He awarded the game to the Yankees by the forfeit score of 9-0.
1950-Newly acquired from the Pirates, veteran NL hitter Johnny Hopp Pinch-Hits a Grand Slam HR off of St. Louis Browns hurler Al Widmar during a 5-run, 9th inning Yankees rally that carried the team to a 6-1 win.
1950-The Yankees announce that “The highly touted Mickey Mantle, brilliant 18-yearold shortstop prospect, also will join the Yankees on this road trip.” “Nothing like giving these kids a first-hand demonstration of what it’s like on a ball club shooting for a pennant.” Yankees Manager Casey Stengel tells the Baseball writers covering the team.
1951-The Yankees would break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 9th inning when, with the bases loaded, when Phil Rizzuto squeezes home Yankees baserunner Joe DiMaggio with the winning run. The run scored off of Indian's Bob Lemon, gives Yankees Starter Eddie Lopat his 20th win of the 1951 AL season. The Yankees, now lead the Indians by 1 game and the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games in the 1951 AL Pennant race.
1955-Former Yankees Reserve 1B/DH Marshall Brant (1980) was born.
On April 1,1980, 1B/DH Marshall Brant was purchased by the Yankees from the Mets. He had won the 1980 International League MVP Award, while playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers, hitting .298 with 23 HRs with 93 RBIs. Marshal had appeared in 3 games for the 1980 Yankees with no hits. On November 4,1980, he was released by the team. On February 3,1981, Brant was resigned as a Minor league Free Agent with the Yankees; he would play for the AAA Columbus (IL). On June 15,1983, Marshall was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Ben Callahan and Cash to Oakland for MLB veteran P Matt Keough. He would later play pro baseball in Japan.
1958-Despite with a wind blowing in at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle poles a Jim Bunning pitch down the RF line over the roof onto Trumbull Avenue, some 500 feet away. The Mantle 2-run HR is all that Detroit Starter Jim Bunning allows the Yankee hitters as the Tigers win the game by a score of 5-2.
1961-At Detroit, Roger Maris triples off of Reliever Terry Fox in the 7th inning to put the Yankees ahead, the Tigers ties it and, then in the 12th inning, Roger Maris faces Terry Fox again with Tony Kubek on 2B. Roger Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then he steps back in the batter’s box, Roger belts the 1st pitch from Fox for his 58th HR of the 1961 AL season.
1964-The Yankees would whip the Angels by the score of 6-2 to lock on to 1st place in the AL for good with a 2-percentage-point lead over the idle White Sox and the Orioles. Bronx Bomber Sluggers Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, each have 3 hits. Mickey Mantle's hits include his 2,000th MLB career hit and his 450th MLB career HR, his 31st HR of the 1964 AL season. Yogi Berra’s Yankees have won 2 in a row and will run their winning streak to 11 games.
1966-“Bobby Richardson Day” is held at Yankee Stadium to honor the retiring Yankees All-Star 2B.
1968-The Tigers would clinch the 1968 AL pennant with a 2-1 victory over the Yankees.
1970-With the Yankees losing to the Red Sox, the Orioles clinch the AL East Division despite losing to the Senators by the score of 2-0. Dick Bosman is the winner, allowing only 5 Orioles hits.
1976-At Milwaukee's County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate "Hank Aaron Day." Among those gathered are MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father, President Gerald Ford. Hank goes hitless in 5 at-bats. The 1st-place Yankees spoil the night by winning the game by a score of 5-3 in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo HR in the 11th inning for the game winner, an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Yankees Starter Ed Figueroa tallies for his 19th win of the 1976 AL season, as the Yankees increase their AL East led to 11 games.
1977-The Yankees would slam 5 HR’s, including 2 HRs by Reggie Jackson and 1 by newly acquired Slugger Dave Kingman, as they collect 17 hits in route to a 9-4 win against the Tigers.
1978-The Red Sox finally win a game against the Yankees, taking a 7-3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Dennis Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees hitters on 4 hits. The Yankees will score 2 unearned runs in 8th inning on Butch Hobson’s 2nd error of the game (and his 42nd of the 1978 AL season). The veteran Yaz is playing CF in place of the injured Fred Lynn, would collect his 14th HR of the season in the 9th inning.
1985-Former Yankees Reserve OF Greg Golson (2010-2011) was born.
On January 26, 2010, OF Greg Golson was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for Minor League P Mitch Hilligoss and Cash. He would appear in 33 games for the Yankees as a Reserve OF, while hitting .235. On December 8, 2011, Greg was released by the Yankees. In 2004, Golson was a former #1 MLB Amateur Player Draft selection of the Phillies.
1989-Former Yankees Minor League OF Leon Culberson (1948-1949) had passed away. (1919-1989)
On May 13,1948, OF Leon Culberson traded by the Senators along with $15,000 Cash to the Yankees for OF Bud Stewart. He did not appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), where he would hit .259. In 1949, the Yankees would send him to their other AAA team, the Newark Bears (IL). During mid-season of 1949, Leon was traded by the Yankees to the Giants, who will assign him to their AAA Jersey City Giants team (IL). Leon would play in the Minor Leagues until 1952. He had originally come up with the 1943 Red Sox. He had played for Boston from 1943-1947. He had appeared in the 1946 World Series with the Red Sox, appearing 6 games, while hitting just .222. On December 10,1947, Leon was traded by Bosto to the Senators for OF Stan Spence. Leon would finish his MLB career playing in 370 games, while hitting .266 with 14 HRs and 131 RBIs.
1990-At the Sky Dome in Toronto, the Blue Jays 6-4 win over the Yankees with 49,902 fans watching giving Toronto a MLB season attendance record. The Blue Jays will finish the 1990 AL season with 58 consecutive sellouts with a total attendance of 3,885,284 fans.
1993-In a last try for the 1993 AL Pennant, the Yankees had obtained 40-year-old veteran Starter Frank Tanana from the Mets for Minor League P Kenny Greer. Tanana will go 0-2 with the Yankees to finish out his MLB Pitching career with a 240-236 record and setting an MLB record for most wins without racking up a single 20-win MLB season in his pitching career.
1998-Red Huff, the oldest ex-MLB player, dies at the age of 107. Chet Hoff is the longest-lived ex-Major Leaguer ever. He was the last person alive to have played in the 1910’s. Huff had pitched for the 1911-1913 Yankees and the 1915 St. Louis Browns. Red had struck out the 1st MLB batter, he ever faced, the Tigers future HOF Ty Cobb. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a 2-4 record with a 2.49 ERA in 23 games.
2002-Yankees 2B Alfonso Soriano gets 5 hits, including a double and HR, as the Yankees fall to the Devil Rays by a score of 9-7. Bernie Williams scores his 100th run in the loss to reach that mark for the 7th straight season. He is the 4th Yankee to score 100 runs this season, the 1st Yankee team to do so since the 1941 AL season. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter combine to tie the MLB record for consecutive years for teammates both having 100+ runs.
2011-Yankees Closer Marino Rivera ties Trevor Hoffman's MLB record with his 602nd MLB career save in the Yankees 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. Rivera is backed by HRs from Alex Rodriguez, playing in his 1st game since aggravating a wrist injury on September 9th. Curtis Granderson, who becomes the 1st Yankees CF since Mickey Mantle in 1961 to hit 40 HRs in a season.
2020-The Yankees continue to be nearly unstoppable winning their 8th straight in completing a 3-game sweep of the Blue Jays, while setting a bunch of records in the process. In today's 10-7 win; they tie the MLB mark with 5 HRs off of Chase Anderson in the 4th inning. With another HR later in the game, they become the 1st team to hit at least 6 long balls in 3 consecutive games and their 3-game total of 19 is another record. With 1 of the 5 4th-inning HR - 3 of which come on consecutive pitches - Luke Voit is the 1st player to reach the total of 20 HRs this season.
2023-The Yankees have announced this morning that Starter Frankie Montas will begin a rehab assignment at the AAA Scranton this evening. Montas has not yet appeared in a professional game this season, after undergoing shoulder surgery back in February. Montas had joined the Yankees at the trade deadline last season in a deal that sent a package of young prospects headlined by left-hander Ken Waldichuk. The deal proved to be an ill-fated one for the Yankees, as Montas made just 8 starts to the tune of a 6.35 ERA with a strikeout rate of just 17.8%. With just 12 games left on the 2023 season calendar with the Yankees, all but eliminated from postseason contention, the window is tight for Montas to return to the MLB this year at all, much less for a full-length start. Nonetheless, with the 30-year-old righty poised to hit the open market this November, even a brief return to the MLB, where Montas can prove his health to clubs ahead of the offseason could be valuable as he looks to join a crowded MLB free agent class for starting pitchers.
September 18th
1898-Former Yankees Pitcher George “The Bull” Uhle (1933-1934) was born. (1898-1985)
During the 1933-1934 AL seasons, hurler George Uhle would post an 8-5 record along with a 6.17 ERA in 22 games for the Yankees; before finishing his MLB Pitching career with the 1936 Indians. During the 1920’s, George was the leading Starter for the Tribe. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with an overall 200-166 record with a 3.99 ERA in 513 games.
1909-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Robert “Bob” Collins (1944) was born. (1909-1969)
For the 1944 Yankees, Bob Collins had appeared in 3 games as a Reserve Catcher, while batting .333 (1-3). He had previously played in the MLB for the 1940 Cubs, appearing in 47 games, while hitting .258.
1911-At Detroit, with a triple steal on, the Yankees hitter Cozy Dolan singles in 3 runs in a 9-4 loss. The 3 RBIs are half of Cozy's 1911 AL season total
1920-NL Directors meet in New York City joined by AL Team Owners Jacob Ruppert and Capt. Huston (Yankees), Charles Comiskey (White Sox) and Harry Frazee (Red Sox). They name a committee to draw up an agreement along the lines of Albert Lasker’s proposal and give the 5 AL clubs still backing Ban Johnson an ultimatum: come in by November 1st or the Yankees, White Sox, and Red Sox will pull out of the AL and join a 12-team NL (with a team in Detroit to complete the roster). The other AL 5 Team Owners turns it down and bluff and counterbluff blow through the autumn air.
1922-Yankees OF Whitey Witt, his head bandaged from being hit by a bottle thrown by a St. Louis fan, drives in 2 runs in the 9th inning for a 3-2 Yankees win. The Yankees would leave St. Louis with 1 1/2 games in front of the Browns. They will finish 1 game on top, clinching the 1922 AL pennant on September 30th with a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. The St. Louis Brown’s George Sisler’s 41-game hitting streak is stopped by Yankees Starter Joe Bush, the same pitcher that he had started his hitting streak against on July 27th.
1922-Former Yankees OF/1B (1908) and MLB Manager (1905-1906 Senators,1912-1913 Red Sox) Garland “Jake” Stahl (1908) had passed away. (1879-1922)
On October 13,1907, 1B Jake Stahl was traded as part of a 3-team trade by White Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees would send 2B Frank LaPorte to the Boston Americans (Aka Red Sox). They would in return send INF Freddy Parent to the White Sox. The Yankees had switched Jake from 1B to Outfield, because they already had Hal Chase starting at 1B. For the 1908 Yankees, he would appear in 75 games, while hitting .225 with 4 HRs and 45 RBIs. On July 10,1908, Jake was purchased by the Red Sox from the Yankees. In his last game as a Yankee, Jake had 3 hits including a HR. He would finish his active playing career in 1913 as a Player-Manager with the Red Sox. His Boston team had won the 1912 World Series. With the 1905-1906 Senators, he was a Player-Manager. His final MLB player career totals were a .261 BA with 31 HRs with 431 RBIs in 981 games.
1926-At Cleveland’s Dunn Field, the Indians win their 4th game in a row by defeating the Yankees by a score of 3-1 behind veteran Starter George Uhle. This Indians victory cuts the Yankees AL lead to 2 1/2 games over the Tribe.
1927-Former Yankees Closer Luis “Yo-Yo” Arroyo (1960-1963) was born. (1927-2015)
On July 20,1960, the Reds would send veteran Pitcher Luis Arroyo to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on March,1960. He had been pitching for the Reds AAA club, the Jersey City Jerseys (IL). In the March 1960 trade, the Reds would sent Players to be Named Later and Catcher Jesse Gonder to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later (P Zack Monroe). Luis would be helping out in the Bronx bullpen, eventually he would later replace veteran Closer Ryne Duren as the 1961 Yankees Bullpen Closer. For the 1960 Yankees, he had posted a 5-1 record with a 2.88 ERA and 7 saves in 29 games. He would make 1 appearance for the team in the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. The 1961 AL season was his best MLB and Yankees career season, when he posted a 15-5 record with a 2.19 ERA and 29 saves in 65 games. He was selected for the AL All-Star team. He won 1 game in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. In the winter of 1961, Luis did not pitch in winter baseball for the 1st time in his MLB Pitching career, which resulted in him having pitching arm problems during the 1962 and 1963 AL seasons. He would finish his Yankees pitching career with an overall 22-10 record along with a 3.12 ERA and 43 saves in 127 games. He originally came up to the MLB with 1955 Cardinals. He would make the 1955 NL All-Star team. Later, he would pitch for the Pirates and Reds before joining the Yankees in July of 1960. On September 27,1963, he was released by the Yankees. He had never fully recovered from his pitching arm injuries. After retiring as an active player, Louie would later become a long-time Yankees MLB Scout in Latin America. Also, he would manage in the Mexico League for 3 seasons (1967-1968 and 1978.)
1930-At Sportsman Park in St. Louis, the Yankees would edge the Browns by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings as Yankees Starter Red Ruffing hits 2 HRs in the game, also CF Earl Combs hits a HR in game. Veteran Yankees hurler Herb Pennock picks-up the win in relief of Ruffing, he is now 11-7 for the season, while Bronx Reliever Lou McEvoy gets his 4th save. Reliever Richard Coffman is the loser for the Browns, he is now 8-18.
1933-The 2nd-place Yankees would split a doubleheader with the White Sox, winning the opener by the score of 6-1 on Johnny Allen's 2-hitter, before falling in the nightcap by the score of 4-3. Rookie Starter Les Tietje, in his MLB Pitching debut stops the Bombers in the nightcap. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig clubs HRs #28 and #29; meanwhile Philadelphia A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx, who leads the AL HR race with 45 HRs.
1938-Although they had dropped a doubleheader to the St. Louis Browns, the Yankees would clinch the 1938 AL Pennant. The Red Sox are rained out in Chicago, their doubleheader with the White Sox will not be played, because rain-outs were not made up at that time.
1948-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Brett (1976) was born. (1948-2003)
Pitcher Ken Brett came to the Yankees from the Pirates in the Doc Medich trade. He would only appear in 2 games for the 1976 Yankees going 0-0, before being traded to the White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May. He was the older brother of Royals All-Star 3B George Brett.
1951-The Indians would beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4, as Starter Mike Garcia wins his 20th game of the 1951 season. With the Yankees losing to White Sox Starter Billy Pierce by the score of 7-1, the Indians and Yankees now are tied for 1st place in the AL. This is the 10th time the 2 teams have been in a tie for 1st place in AL, surpassing the MLB record of 9 set in the NL race of 1889 and the 1914 Federal League race.
1956-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, before a crowd of 31,694 fans watch Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hit his 50th HR of the 1956 AL season, only the 8th MLB player to do so, in the 11th inning off of White Sox veteran hurler Billy Pierce, as Yankees win the game by a score of 3-2 to clinch another AL Pennant for Manager Casey Stengel. Yankees Starter Whitey Ford along with relief help from Bob Grimm picks up his 19th win of the season. Billy Pierce’s complete game loss, drops his pitching record to a 20-8 mark for the 1956 AL season.
1960-Before a crowd of 53,876 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would sweep their doubleheader with the Orioles, winning by the scores of 7-3 and 2-0. The Bronx Bombers will sweep their 4-game series with the Birds. The faltering Orioles, who are now 4 games back will end up in 2nd place in the AL, 8 games back of the 1960 Yankees, their best AL season since moving to from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954. Bronx Starter Ralph Terry's 2-hitter in the nightcap beats O’s Starter Milt Pappas.
1962-At Washington’s new ballpark “D.C. Stadium,” Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle clouts the 1st HR there, then he adds another HR, both are hit off of Senators Starter Tom Cheney to pace Yankees to a 7-1 win. Mickey has a total of 5 RBIs in the game. Yankees Starter Ralph Terry picks up his 22nd win of the 1962 AL season, the most by a Yankee Right-Hander since Waite Hoyt (23-7) and George Pipgras (24-13) during the 1928 AL season. The Yankees victory, combined with a Twins loss, leaves the Yankees (90-63) in 1st place by 4 games.
1965-On “Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium, 50,180 fans would see Mantle play his 2,000th MLB game. HOF Joe DiMaggio and Senator Bobby Kennedy are on hand as Mickey Mantle is given a barbecue grill in the shape of a prairie schooner and a 6-FT kosher salami weighing 100 Lbs. In Mantle's 1st at bat, Tiger hurler Joe Sparma comes off the mound to shake his hand. Mickey then flies out. Tigers would win the game by score of 4-3 with Reliever Denny McLain getting the win.
1966-The Twins would beat the Yankees by the score of 5-3 in 10 innings on Bob Allison's Pinch-Hit 3-run HR, sending the Yankees to the cellar (10th place) in the AL. In his last plate appearance of the 1966 AL season, Mickey Mantle would strikeout. He becomes the 1st MLB player to strike out 1,500 times in his MLB playing career.
1967-The Yankees and the Reds would swap players, the Yankees would send Rookie hurler Bill Henry (1966) to the Reds for Reserve INF/1B Len Boehmer (1969,1971). For the 1966 Yankees, Bill Henry had posted a 0-0 record in 2 games. Len Boehmer would hit .168 with No HRs and 7 RBIs in 48 games for the Bombers. From 1968-1971, he would play in the Yankee Minor League system at the AAA level, with the Syracuse Chiefs (IL).
1977-The Yankees survive a 5-run Tiger 9th inning rally to edge Detroit by the score of 6-5. The Tigers proven to be a stubborn opponent down the stretch: perhaps egged on by former Yankees Skipper Ralph Houk, who never really forgave the Yankees for what most observers called a “forced” resignation. Actually, Ralph Houk had resigned at the end of the 1973 AL season. Rather than be fired as Yankees Manager by new Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner. He had spent over 30 years in the Yankee organization as an MLB player, MLB Coach, Minor League Manager (1955-1957 AAA Denver Bears), MLB Manager and General Manager. He did not trust George, despite his promises to spend money on MLB player talent to build a contending team.
1979-Yankees Manager Billy Martin reportedly pays Bronx Rookie Pitcher Bob Kammeyer $100 to hit former Yankees player Cliff Johnson with a pitch in the Tribe’s 16-3 rout of the Yankees. Johnson belts 2 HRs as does his teammate Toby Harrah as the 2 players combine for 9 RBIs in the game. The loss would go to Yankees Starter Paul Mirabella, but Reliever Bob Kammeyer gives up all 8 Tribe runs in the 4th inning without recording an out.
1979-Former Yankees Reliever Billy Traber (2008) was born.
On January 4, 2008, veteran Reliever Billy Traber was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. For the 2008 Yankees, Billy would appear in 19 games with no record. After the 2008 AL season had ended, Traber was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1979-Former Yankees Reserve OF Kevin Thompson (2006-2007) was born.
In 2006, OF Kevin Thompson would make his MLB player debut. Thompson had helped Grayson County College win the 1999 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series. He was selected by the Yankees in the 31st round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Player Draft as a draft-and-follow pick. In 2000, Kevin helped Grayson to another NJCAA Division I title. He would make his pro debut that summer. Thompson debuted as a pro with the GCL Yankees, hitting .267 in 20 games. In 2001, he was converted from a 2B to an OF as he batted .262 for the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). On 2002, Thompson would start off with the Class A Greensboro Bats (SA) by hitting .283, 14 SB in 17 tries in 62 games; then he was promoted to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) hitting .184, 11 SB in 12 tries in 25 games; then he was dropped back to Class A short-season Staten Island (.302). His 31 stolen bases overall led the Yankees chain. Thompson showed off his speed in 2003. He would hit .331 for Tampa with 16 steals in 21 tries and 42 runs in 44 games, earning a promotion to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). With Trenton, Kevin set franchise records for steals in a game (4), a month (20 in August) and a season (47 despite playing only 86 games; he was caught stealing just 8 times with Trenton). Unfortunately, Thompson only hit .226 for the AA Thunder. His 63 steals would lead Yankees Minor Leaguers. After off-season elbow surgery, Thompson had a rehab stint with Tampa (.356, 9 SB in 11 tries in 11 games) before finishing back with AA Trenton (.281, 29 SB in 39 tries). In 2005, Kevin had an excellent campaign. He would hit .329 in 81 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (.355 against righties) and .249 in 58 outings for the AAA Columbus Clippers, leading both teams in steals (25 for Trenton, 18 for Columbus). He led Yankee farmhands in hits (155), doubles (45), walks (76) and OBP (.394). Thompson was 0 for 2 as the leadoff man for the USA in the 2005 Futures Game. He would split the 2006 season between AAA Columbus (.265,17 SB in 24 tries) and the Bronx Bombers. In his 3 stints with the Yankees, he would hit .300 in 19 games and stole 2 bases in 2 tries. He was 1st was called up to replace the injured Gary Sheffield. Playing RF in his MLB Player debut, he struck out against Pitcher Adam Loewen in his 1st MLB at-bat. Thompson's 2007 season was similar to 2006 - mostly in AAA (.281, 24 SB in 32 tries in 77 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) will 3 MLB call-ups, in which he hit .190 in 13 games. The Yankees would waive him; Oakland would pick him up, batting just .071 for them. Let go by the A’s, he was claimed off of waivers by the Pirates. In 63 games for the AAA Indianapolis Indians (IL), he would hit .282 with 16 steals in 19 tries. A day after surgery on a torn tendon and broken hamate in his left hand in June, the Pirates would unconditionally release him to free a 40-Man Roster spot for Denny Bautista. Kevin would play in the Minor Leagues for the Rangers organization until 2011.
1981-At Fenway Park, the Yankees would defeat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4 behind the pitching of veteran MLB Starter Rick Reuschel and Reliever Ron Davis. Bronx Bombers hitting attack is led by HRs by Bomber Sluggers Dave Winfield, Lou Piniella and Bob Watson.
1983-Former Yankees Reserve INF Brent Lillibridge (2013) was born.
On June 21,2013, INF Brent Lillibridge was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for Player to be Named or Cash. He would appear in only 11 games as Reserve INF for the Yankees, while hitting just .171. The team would release him.
1982-Former Yankees Minor League C Clyde McCullough had passed away. (1917-1982)
Before the start of the 1936 AL season, Catcher Clyde McCullough was sent from Lafayette (EL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On September 8,1939, Clyde was purchased by the Cubs from the Yankees. He would play in the MLB from 1940-1956 with the Cubs and the Pirates.
1993-The Yankees would defeat the Red Sox by the score of 4-3, because of a fan who runs out on the playing field. With the Yankees trailing by the score of 3-1 with 2 outs and a man on 1st in the 9th inning, Mike Stanley hits a fly ball to LF that apparently ends the game. Umpire Tim Welke, however, had called time, when the fan bolted onto the field, giving Mike Stanley, a 2nd chance to bat. He would single on the next pitch. That hit was followed by a hit by Wade Boggs, then a walk to Dion James followed a single by Don Mattingly, which drove home the tying and winning runs for the Yankees.
2000-Pitching a 1-hitter against the Yankees, Indians hurler Bartolo Colon nearly ends the longest streak in MLB history of a team being held hitless by its opponents. Luis Polonia's 8th inning single is the only Yankees hit. The Bronx Bombers have not been denied a hit in a game since Orioles Starter Hoyt Wilhelm did it with a No-Hitter on September 9,1958, spanning total of 6,637 MLB contests.
2009-Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki hits a 2-out, 2-run HR off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera to give the Mariners a 3-2 victory.
2010-New York starter CC Sabathia becomes the MLB’s 1st 20-game winner this 2010 season in the Yankees' 11-3 pasting of the Orioles. Sabathia has twice before finished an MLB season with 19 wins, but it is the 1st time he reaches the magic number. However, the Yankees fail to put some distance between themselves and Tampa Bay, as the Rays rally in the 9th inning to tie the game, then score the winning run on a throwing error as they defeat the Angels by the score of 4-3 to remain a half-game behind.
2019-With a 9-1 victory over the Angels, the Yankees would clinch their 1st Eastern Division since 2012 AL season. However, the news is not all good as they also learn that Starter Domingo German, their leading winner with a record of 18-4, has been placed on an administrative leave by the MLB Commissioner's office as a result of domestic violence allegations and may well miss the 2019 MLB postseason as a result.
2024-The 1st t2 teams to clinch a spot in this year's postseason do so today. The Brewers would secure the NL Central title, their 3rd in 4 years, with a 2-1 win over the Phillies combined with a loss by the Cubs earlier in the day. For their part, the Yankees are assured of at least a wild card spot after a 10-inning, 2-1 victory over Seattle, although they are looking for more given they now hold a 5-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East and have the best record in the circuit at 89-63.
September 19th
1890-Former Yankees INF Ralph Young (1913) was born. (1890-1965)
Infielder Ralph Young played 9 years in the MLB, getting over 3,600 at-bats. Although he was only 5 ' 5 " tall, he was a regular player every season except his 1st year, when he appeared in only 7 games. In 1913, Ralph Young had appeared in 7 games for the Yankees, while hitting .067. Young was only managed by future HOF Managers in the MLB. With the Yankees, it was Frank Chance, with the Tigers, it was Hughie Jennings and Ty Cobb and with the A's, it was Connie Mack. He had played in the PCL for most of 1913-1914 seasons. The book Ty Cobb by Dan Holmes indicates that in 1917 baseball was in a patriotic mood and the Tigers did drills with their bats as if they were soldiers. Young, who was said to be a graduate of a military academy, became the drill instructor, when the Sergeant who had been the instructor was called away to active duty. Following his playing days, Young was a Baseball Coach at Temple Univ. (1932-1942), later at St. Joseph's Univ. (1948-1955).
1909-Former Yankees OF Hersh Martin (1944-1945) was born. (1909-1980)
From 1937-1940, OF Hersh Martin had played for the Phillies. In 1938, he was named to the NL All-Star team. On June 15,1940, he was purchased along with Del Young by the Giants from the Phillies. From 1940-1941, Hersch had played for the Giants organization; then he moved to the Cubs organization in 1942. On June 20,1944, Hersh was traded by the AA Milwaukee Brewers (AA) to the Yankees for 1B/OF Ed Levy and Cash. For the 1944-1945 Yankees, Martin would hit .284 with 16 HRs and 100 RBIs in 202 games. In 1946, he would return to the Minor Leagues, playing for the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) under Manager Casey Stengel until 1947. Martin was a Minor League Manager from 1948-1958 for the Browns, Pirates and the Cubs organizations.
1913-Former Yankees 1B Nick Etten (1943-1946) was born. (1913-1990)
On January 22,1943, 1B Nick Etten was obtained by the Yankees from the Phillies for 3 Minor League players and Cash. In 1943, the miracle happened. The Yankees had traded for Etten as part a player salary dump by Phillies Team Owner Gerry Nugent. Etten went from a last-place team in the NL to a Yankee team that had finished 1st in the AL from 1941 to 1942. Nick said, "Imagine a man in that environment hearing that he had been sold to the Yankees!" Etten would hit .271 in his 1st season in the Bronx, on a team that hit .256. His BA was good enough to be 3rd-best on the team, distantly behind Bill Dickey's .351. Etten would lead the team with 107 RBIs (which was also good for 2nd in the AL behind Rudy York) and was 3rd on the team in HRs. with 14 behind "King Kong" Charlie Keller and Joe Gordon. Nick’s .420 slugging average was good enough for 6th in the AL. His 35 doubles were 3rd in the AL. He was 9th in walks, 8th in HRs and 6th in total bases. From July 30th to August 15th, Etten hit exactly 0 singles: he hit 5 HRs and 9 doubles with 16 RBIs, but no singles. In spite of his successful slugging during the 1943 AL season, in the 1943 World Series Etten hit mostly 7th (sometimes 6th) in the Yankees batting order. INF Frankie Crosetti usually batted 2nd, followed in the 3d spot by 3B Billy Johnson, then followed by OF Charlie Keller and 2B Joe Gordon, Catcher Bill Dickey and Etten. Etten hit only .105 in the 1943 Series, but the Yankees won handily in 5 games over Stan Musial's 1943 Cardinals; which had won 105 games in the regular NL season.In 1944, the Yankees had slipped to 3rd in the AL, but Etten had a substantial season, hitting .293 with 97 walks, he led the AL with 22 HRs. His on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.466) were both in the top 5 in the AL. The 1945 Yankees had slipped further to 4th place in the AL, but Etten continued to hit well at age 31, by hitting .285; his 18 HRs were 2nd in the AL (behind Vern Stephens) and his 111 RBIs were 1st. Both his on-base percentage and slugging percentage were again in the top 5 in the AL. Etten was named to the AL All-Star team for the 1st and only time in his MLB playing career. With the regular MLB players returning from World War II service with the talent levels reverting to norms, he had a sharp drop-off in 1946, hitting only .232 with 9 HRs. The winter of 1946, he became expendable, when the Yankees had signed veteran MLB Player George McQuinn to play 1B. The Phillies would re-acquire him. Nick would finish out his MLB playing career playing 14 games with the 1947 Phillies, hitting .244. He had hit only .214 for the AA Newark Bears (IL) as well. His pro baseball career wasn't over, though, because he was to join the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). He hit .300 with them in 46 games in 1947; then in 1948, he became part of a great Minor League season. The team, managed by Casey Stengel in the years immediately before his Yankees days, that was called the "Nine Old Men" due to the number of ex-MLB Players (substantial even by grey-bearded PCL standards), including Etten, Ernie Lombardi, Les Scarsella, Maurice Van Robays, Cookie Lavagetto and others.
The young players on the team included Billy Martin and Catfish Metkovich. Etten had 43 HRs, far more than anyone else on the team. The team contended with the San Francisco Seals to win the PCL title; Oakland won the Governors’ Cup defeating Seattle 4 games to 1. Overall, Nick hit .313 and drove in 155 runners. He was 2nd in the PCL in slugging (behind Gene Woodling), 2nd in RBIs (1 behind Gus Zernial) and 2nd in HRs (5 behind Jack Graham). In 1949, Etten played for the AA Milwaukee Brewers (AA), while hitting .280 with 20 HRs and 82 RBIs, 2nd on the club in HR behind Howie Moss. He finished his pro playing career with the 1950 Memphis Chickashaws, batting .313 with 17 HRs, 93 RBIs and 76 walks. Lifetime, he had 89 HRs in the MLB, while hitting .277 (125 OPS+), but those stats conceal the facts that much of his career was during the war, when batting numbers were lower (lowering his numbers) and the fact that the talent level was reduced due to top players serving in the military. The similarity scores method show Sid Bream as the 2nd most similar player to Etten, but clearly Etten was much more prominent in his career. It also ignores Bream's significant defensive edge. It is true, though, that Etten didn't have a great impact on MVP voters. He wasn't in the top 10 in the MVP voting in either of 1944 or 1945, although he was in the top 2 in the league in HRs each season. In 1943, when the Yankees won the World Series, Etten was 2nd in the AL in RBIs, he finished only 7th in the voting. A large element missing when looking merely at his offensive numbers is how deplorable Nick's defense was. Bill James gives Etten an "F" at 1B, 1 of just 3 MLB regulars to earn that mark - the others are Frank Thomas and Dick Stuart. Etten almost never tried to reach grounders to the 1st base side. Teammate Danny Murtaugh said, "There were a few balls hit between 1st and 2nd base that I felt Nick should have tried for, but he'd just run to the bag and let me attempt to get them. So, one day I said to him, 'Nick, I think there are a few balls being hit down there that you should make an effort to reach.' He looked at me and replied, 'Son, they pay Ol' Nick to hit. You can't hit, so you catch all those balls and I'll knock in the runs for both of us."
1920-In New York City, Babe Ruth's movie opens at Madison Square Garden. It has been re-titled “Heading Home.” At Sportmans Park in St. Louis, the Browns would beat the Yankees by the score of 6-1.
1924-Former Yankees MLB Coach Vern Benson (1965-1966) was born. (1924-2014)
Veron Benson was a Yankees MLB Coach for the 1965-1966 AL seasons under Manager Johnny Keane. He had previously worked with Keane with the Cardinals, before joining the Yankees in October of 1964, when Keane replaced Yogi Berra as Manager. Benson had played in the MLB for the Philadelphia A’s and the Cardinals, appearing in 55 games; while hitting .202 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs. Then he would work for the Cardinals in their Minor League system before joining the club as an MLB Coach in 1961. Later, he would work for the Reds, Braves and the Blue Jays organizations before retiring from baseball in 1980.
1926-At Cleveland's League Park, a crowd of 31,000 fans watch the Yankees hold back the Indians by the score of 8-3 in the final game of a 6-game series. In the 7th inning, Babe Ruth parks his 43rd HR of the 1926 AL season; then his teammate Lou Gehrig follows with another HR, both are off of Tribe hurler Emil Levsen. Bronx 1B Lou Gehrig would add 3 doubles and 5 RBIs to lead the Yankees batting attack. Yankees veteran Starter Dutch Ruether picks up the win.
1930-Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Bullet Bob” Turley (1955-1962) was born. (1930-2013)
In November of 1954, the Yankees had obtained Starter Robert “Bullet Bob” Turley from the Orioles along with hurler Don Larsen in the huge 17-player trade. In his 1st Yankee season in 1955, he went 17-13 with 210 strikeouts, plus making the AL All-Star team. His best Yankees season was in 1958, with Bob posting a 21-7 record, winning the MLB Cy Young Award. He was named to the AL All-Star team. Bob had appeared in 5 World Series for the Yankees, while recording a 4-3 mark with a 3.19 ERA. After the great 1958 AL season, he would battle with pitching arm troubles (1959-1962) with the 1960 season being his best, posting a 9-3 mark. He would finish his Yankees pitching career with an 82-52 career mark (WP .612) with a 3.82 ERA and 909 strikeouts. After the 1962 AL season had ended, the Yankees would sell Bob to the Angels. He will finish MLB Pitching career with the 1963 Red Sox. As an MLB Pitcher, Bob had posted a 101-83 record with a 3.64 ERA in 310 games. Later, he was an MLB Pitching Coach for the Red Sox for 1 season.
1933-The Yankees would pile up 34 hits and drub the White Sox twice by scores of 10-1 and 10-3. Yankee Starters George Uhle and Charley Devens are the recipients of the huge Yankees offensive attack. Bronx 3B Joe Sewell has 6 hits for the afternoon, while Lou Gehrig has 6 RBIs. Lou hits HR #30 in Game 1, following immediately after OF Dixie Walker hits a HR. Lou is now even with his Yankees teammate Babe Ruth, who had sat out the afternoon game.
1937-Tigers Slugger Hank Greenberg's HR in Detroit's 8-1 win over the Yankees is the 1st HR ever hit into the CF stands at Yankee Stadium.
1951-The Yankees are victorious, when Rookie Slugger Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run HR off of White Sox hurler Lou Kretlow to win the game by a score of 5-3. A small crowd of only 12,127 fans watched the game played at Yankee Stadium. The 2 teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yankees now have 9 games left in the 1951 AL season with 8 games against the Red Sox.
1951 Former Yankees MLB Coach Nardi Contreras (1995) was born.
Former MLB Pitcher Nardi Contreras appeared in 8 games for the 1980 White Sox. He began his Coaching Career as the Pitching Coach of the AA Glens Falls White Sox in 1982. After 3 seasons in Glens Falls, he would move up to the AAA Buffalo Bisons (IL) for the 1985 season. In 1986, he began a 2-year stint with the GCL Braves. Then he would move on to the Montreal Expos organization becoming the Pitching Coach for AA Jacksonville Expos from 1988-1990. In 1989, Contreras played for the St. Petersburg Pelicans (Senior Professional Baseball Association). Contreras was later an MLB Coach with the Yankees in 1995. He was then a member of the Mariners MLB Coaching Staff in 1997 and 1998, then from 1998 to 2002, he was a White Sox MLB Coach.
1964-The Yankees would move a half game ahead of the rained-out Orioles by defeating the Kansas City A’s, Ralph Terry pitches effectively in relief of Yankees Starter Al Downing.
1966-Former Yankees Co-Owner Dan Topping Sr. sells his remaining 10% stock interest in the Yankees to CBS, Inc. Also, he resigns as the Yankees Club President. CBS Executive Mike Burke succeeds him as the team’s Club President. His son, Dan Topping Jr. the Yankees GM also will leave the Yankees organization at the end of the 1966 AL season.
1967-Former Yankees Pitcher Jim Abbott (1993-1994) was born.
Despite being born with no right hand, Jim Abbott went on to a successful MLB Pitching career, winning 87 games in a decade in the MLB. Jim Abbot went 20-22 with a 4.45 ERA in 56 games for the Yankees. As an MLB Pitcher, Jim went 87-108 with a 4.25 ERA in 263 games. The Yankees had obtained him from the Angels for 3 Minor League players, 1B J. T. Snow, Pitchers Jerry Nielsen and Russ Springer. On September 4,1993, he threw a No-Hitter for the Yankees against the Indians. In the fall of 1994, he would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. Jim currently has published a book about his playing career in baseball.
1968-Denny McLain's 31st win of the 1968 AL season is overshadowed by Mickey Mantle's 535th MLB career HR. McLain allegedly calls Catcher Jim Price out to the mound, tells him to inform Mickey Mantle, that he's throwing the slugger nothing but fastballs. The HR gives Mantle undisputed hold of 3rd place on the all-time MLB HR leaders list. Mickey Mantle tips his cap to Denny as he rounds 3B. Joe Pepitone, the next Yankees batter, signals where he would like the ball thrown to him, Danny McLain immediately dusts him. The Tigers would win the game by the score of 6-2 for their 12th straight complete game for the 1968 Tigers pitching staff.
1976-Veteran AL All-Star Starter Catfish Hunter notches his 200th MLB Career victory as the Yankees stop the Brewers by the score of 2-1. Since 1901, only Christy Mathewson and Pete Alexander have hit the 200-win mark before their 31st birthday, but arm trouble will limit Catfish to a total of 224 MLB career wins. He'll win 17 games for the Yankees this season, after 5 straight 20-win seasons.
1978-Former Yankees DH/1B Nick Johnson (2001-2003,2010) was born.
In 1996, Nick Johnson was a 3rd round MLB Amateur Player Draft pick by the Yankees. He played for the Yankees from 2001-2003, but Nick had trouble staying healthy. He was named to the 2002 Topps All-Star Rookie team. As a Yankee, Nick had appeared in 272 games, while hitting .249 with 33 HRs and 121 RBIs. In the winter of 2003, Nick was traded to the Expos along with OF Juan Rivera, P Randy Choate for Expos Starter Javier Vazquez. The Yankees repatriated Nick in 2010, installing him as their DH at the start of the 2010 AL season. but injuries caught up with him quickly, however, he was limited to just 24 games, during which he hit only .167. He was placed on the DL on May 8th with an inflamed tendon in his right wrist and never played again that season. The Yankees granted him MLB Free Agency, he signed with the Indians organization for 2011 season, but he played at their AAA team at Columbus (IL). In 2012, the Orioles signed Nick as an MLB Free Agent. He made their team as a DH. He started off stone cold though, going hitless in his 1st 28 at-bats. He was still only hitting .143 on May 11th, when he hit his 1st HR in over 2 years, connecting off the Rays' Joel Peralta in the 7th inning to give Orioles a 4-3 win and sole possession of 1st place in the AL East. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury in June, at which point, he was hitting .207 with 4 HRs and 11 RBIs. After the 2012 AL season, he decided to throw in the towel as a result of the endless string of injuries, announcing his MLB player retirement on January 28, 2013. In 10 MLB seasons with 832 games played, Nick Johnson had hit .268 with 95 HRs and 398 RBIs, his biggest asset having always been his ability to get on base combined with decent power. He is the nephew of former MLB Player and Manager Larry Bowa and the Grandson of Paul Bowa.
1970-Down on the Farm, the Yankees AAA Team, Syracuse Chiefs (IL) win the 1970 Junior World Series by beating the Omaha Royals (AA). In the 5th game of the Series, Omaha scored twice in the 1st against wild Chiefs Starter Gary Jones (2 wild pitches, hit batsmen). Jones recovered to blank Omaha for the next 6 frames. In the meantime, Syracuse rallied on solo HR by OF Bobby Mitchell in the 3rd, 3B Bobby Cox in the 5th and OF Bill Robinson in the 8th for a 3-2 edge. Omaha rallied in the bottom of the 9th, when Alcaraz doubled in the game-tying score. In the top of the 11th, Cox drew a walk from Royals P Paul Splittorff, then he scored on Catcher George Pena’s triple. The winning pitcher for the Chiefs was veteran Reliever Hal Reniff, who had hit a sacrifice fly for insurance as Syracuse won the game by the score 5-3 to lock up the 1970 Junior Series. Chiefs OF Bill Robinson was 8 for 17 with 16 total bases in the Junior Series.
1980-At Fenway Park, the Yankees would edge the Red Sox by the score of 2-1 on Bobby Brown’s 7th inning HR. Yankees Starter Louis Tiant picks up his 7th win of the season by pitching 7 innings, while only giving up 5 Boston hits, he had allowed only 1 run. Also, the Yankees Closer Goose Gossage gets his 29th save of the 1980 AL season.
1982-The Brewers would score 9 runs in the 8th inning to roll over the Yankees by the score of 14-1. Veteran MLB Starter Don Sutton is the winning hurler for the Brewers. Slugger Gorman Thomas has a double and HR in the big inning, while Paul Molitor adds an HR as well.
2000-After a 16-3 loss to the Blue Jays, Yankees Manager Joe Torre has a team meeting, and blisters the Yankees players for their poor play. It won't help as they lose their next 7 games by scores of 15-4, 2-1, 11-1, 11-3, 13-2, 9-1 and 7-3.
2001-In defeating the White Sox by the score of 6-3, Yankees Starter Roger Clemens becomes the 1st MLB pitcher to have season won-loss record of 20-1. The 5-time Cy Young Award winner has won his last 16 decisions.
2001-Former Yankees Pitcher Bill Stafford (1960-1965) passes away at age of 62 due to heart problems. (1939-2001).
In 1957, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Bill Stafford as an MLB Free Agent. He would come up to the Yankees in 1960, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 11 games. He would appear in relief in 2 games for the team in the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. In 1961, he would post a 14-9 record with 2.68 ERA in 36 games as a regular starter under new Yankees Manager Ralph Houk. He was the winning pitcher of the Roger Maris #61 HR Game, shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0. He had started Game # 3 of the 1961 World Series against the Reds, but he did not get the win. In 1962, he went 14-9 again with a 3.67 ERA in 35 games as a Yankees regular starter. Bill would win Game #3 of the 1962 World Series by throwing a 4-hitter against the Giants. On 1963 Opening Day in Kansas City, he hurt his pitching arm while pitching in cold weather, finishing the 1963 AL season with a 4-8 mark with 6.02 ERA in just 28 games. In 1964, he would bounce back to a 5-0 record with a 2.67 ERA in 31 games. In 1965, he went only 3-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 22 games. In 1966, Bill was 5-0 at AAA Richmond (IL), when he was traded by the Yankees along with Rookie P Gil Blanco, OF Roger Repoz to Kansas City for P Fred Talbot and Reserve Catcher Bill Bryan. He would finish up his MLB Pitching career with a 0-5 mark with the 1965-1967 A’s, before retiring as an MLB player. In 1967, he had led the A’s pitching staff in ERA with a 1.69 ERA. As an MLB Pitcher, Bill would finish his pitching career with a 43-40 record with a 3.52 ERA in 186 games.
2008-Yankees Starter Roger Clemens becomes the 1st MLB hurler to post a 20-1 pitching record.
2011-Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera throws a perfect 9th inning in the Yankees 6-4 win over the Twins, striking out Rookie Chris Parmelee for the final out, to record the 602nd save of his MLB pitching career. He with his 602 career save, he would pass Padres Closer Trevor Hoffman for the All-Time MLB lead in the category.
2012-Yankees veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki goes 7 for 8 as the Yankees sweep a doubleheader with the Blue Jays, winning by scores of 4-2 and 2-1. Veteran Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte makes his return to the mound from a broken fibula in winning the opener, while Shortstop Derek Jeter collects his 200th hit of the 2012 AL season in the nightcap, tying HOF 1B Lou Gehrig who also recorded 200 hits 8 times for the Yankees during his playing career.
2018-The Red Sox's magic number to clinch a 3rd straight AL East title remains at 2 as they lose to their AL East rivals the Yankees by the score of 10-1, their 2nd straight loss against their nearest pursuers. Yankees Starter Luis Severino pitches 7 strong innings for his 18th win of the 2018 AL season, while 1B Luke Voit adds to his Cinderella story as he goes 4-for-4, homers twice and scores 4 runs to lead New York's hitting attack.
2019-With a 9-1 win over the Angels, the Yankees clinch their 1st AL East Division title since 2012. However, the news is not all good as they also learn that Pitcher Domingo German, their leading winner with a record of 18-4, has been placed on an administrative leave by the Commissioner's office as a result of domestic violence allegations and he may well miss the 2019 MLB postseason as a result.
2020-Former Yankees MLB Executive and MLB Scout Gary Hughes (1978-1985) had passed away. (1941-2020)
Gary Hughes spent over 45 years in baseball. His son, Sam Hughes has been a scout, while another son, Michael Rock, had worked for the Marlins as their clubhouse manager starting with the team's foundation in 1992; as of 2020, he was the team's longest-tenured employee. He was a HS teammate of Jim Fregosi and Tim Cullen, but he never played pro baseball. His 1st job in baseball was serving as Baseball Coach at Marin Catholic HS in Kentfield, CA from 1964 to 1972; while starting to work as an MLB Scout on the side. Hughes worked, as a Scout or Executive for the1967-1972 Giants, 1973-1976 Mets, 1977 Mariners, 1978-1985 Yankees, 1986-1991 Expos, 1992-1998 Marlins, 1999 Rockies and the 2000-2002 Reds. He was a Special Assistant to the GM of the Cubs from 2002-2011, then he moved to the Red Sox and finally to the 2019 Diamondbacks, after long-time friend David Dombrowski's departure in 2019. He was Scouting Director for the Yankees, Expos and Marlins and Assistant GM for the Marlins, Rockies and Reds. Baseball America named him 1 of the top 10 scouts of the 20th Century. He had signed Brad Arnsberg, Delino DeShields, John Elway, Kevin Millar, Mike Redmond, Greg Colbrunn, Cliff Floyd, Marquis Grissom, Rex Hudler and Rondell White among many others. Also, he had scouted Tom Brady as a baseball player, getting the Expos to draft him before Brady turned his attention full-time to football, and completed the trifecta of future NFL stars by signing future Pro Bowler John Lynch as a pitcher, when he worked for the Marlins. He has been called "the greatest scout of all time" and was a founder of the Professional Baseball Scouting Foundation, helping those in the profession who had lost their jobs when many teams began to lay off scouts in the early 21st Century in order to devote more resources to analytics. He had long advocated for the Hall of Fame to dedicate a special wing to honor scouts. In 2007, Gary had received the Baseball America lifetime achievement award. In 2009, he was inducted in the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame. He received the Baseball America lifetime achievement award in 2007. In June of 2020, Gary was diagnosed with liver cancer. On September 19, 2020, he would pass away at his home at the age of 79.
September 20th
1894-Former Yankees MLB Coach (1947-1948) and Long-Time MLB Manager Charlie Dressen was born. (1894-1966)
Charlie Dressen was a former MLB 3B (1925-1933). He had hit .272 with 11 HRs and 221 RBIs in 646 games. He was the Manager for the 1934-1937 Reds. He would join the Dodgers as an MLB Coach from 1939-1946, then joining the Yankees MLB Coaching staff for 1947-1948 seasons under Manager Bucky Harris. In 1949, Charley would leave the Yankees MLB Coaching staff to manage the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL), replacing Manager Casey Stengel, who had become the Yankees new Manager for 1949 AL season. He would win the 1949 PCL Championship with the Oaks. In 1951, Dressen would take over as the new Dodgers Skipper, finishing in a tie for 1st with the Giants that NL season. He was the one, who chose to use Ralph Branca in relief of Starter Carl Erskine in the 3d game of the 1951 NL playoffs, with the result being Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard 'Round the World HR’. After leading the Dodgers to the 1952-1953 World Series- but losing both times to the Yankees, he demanded a 3-year contract from Dodgers Team Owner Walter O'Malley. Instead, O'Malley fired him. He would replace him with Walter Alston, a man who would go on to manage the club for more than 2 decades, always on a 1-year contract. Later, Dressen moved on 1st to manage the AAA Oakland Oaks (PCL) for 1 season, then moving to the 1955-1957 Senators in the AL for a little more than 2 seasons. He would reconciled with the Dodgers management, serving on Walter Alston's MLB Coaching staff for the 1958-1959 NL seasons. In 1960, Dressen took over as Manager of the Braves. He led the club to a 2nd-place finish in 1960 NL season, but he was replaced during the 1961 NL season by Birdie Tebbetts, despite posting an 83-71 record. In 1963, Charlie became the Tigers Manager. He missed the beginning of the 1965 AL season after having a heart attack, but he was back in the Tigers dugout by May. On May 16,1966, he suffered another heart attack, resigning as the team manager due to his health reasons. Charlie was replaced by the Tigers MLB Coach Bob Swift for the rest of the 1966 AL season. His final MLB Manager record was 1,008-973 (.509 WP) in 1,990 games
1911-The Yankees would commit 7 errors in the 1st game of a double header with the Indians (a 12-9 loss) and then commit 5 more in the nightcap (a 5-4 win). The 12 errors in 1 day is still the Yankees club record for errors.
1921-The Yankees had obtained P/1B/PH Oscar Roettger from Joplin (WL) in return for an extension of the agreement whereby the Yankees loaned Joplin 2 players: 1B Jack Doyle and Larry Christianson. For the 1923-1924 Yankees, Oscar had appeared in 6 games with no decisions along with an 8.69 ERA. As batter, he went 0 for 6 for the team. On May 25,1925, Oscar was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, Catcher Fred Hofmann and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for Shortstop Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees would send Reserve INF Ernie Johnson to St. Paul to complete the trade. His younger brother OF Wally played in the NL from 1929-1934.
1931-Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs to break his old AL RBI mark of 175 set in 1927. By the end of 1931 AL season's end, Lou will have a total of 184 RBI’s along with a .341 BA and 46 HRs for the team.
1938-Former Yankees INF/OF Tom Tresh (1961-1969) was born. (1938-2008)
In 1958, the Yankees had signed INF Tom Tresh as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He was the son of former White Sox Catcher Mike Tresh, who is now a Yankees MLB Scout. Tom was the only rookie player called up to the Yankees in 1961. In 1962, he won the AL Rookie of Year Award. Tom took over the starting Shortstop position, while Tony Kubek was serving on active duty in the Army Reserves. Tresh had beaten out rookie teammate Phil Linz for the starting position. He was an AL All-Star team member in 1962-1963. Tommy would play in 3 World Series for the Yankees, hitting .277. He hit a key HR in the 1962 Series against the Giants. He won an AL Golden Glove in 1965, while hitting .275 with 26 HRs. After the 1965 AL season ended, the Red Sox offered Yaz for Tresh in a trade, but then the Boston Front office changed their minds. During his Yankees playing career, Tom would hit 20 HR’s or more for 4 seasons. During the 1966 AL season, Tom had seriously injured his knees, when newly acquired Yankees Shortstop Ruben Amaro Sr. ran into him during a play in the outfield. The injury would ruin Tom’s knees and his MLB playing career. He would return to Shortstop position in 1968, but his batting production had dropped greatly. On June 14, 1969, Tom was traded to the Tigers for OF Ron Woods. Tom’s son Mickey Tresh would play in the Yankees and Tigers Minor League systems.
1945-Former Yankees Pitcher Mike Jurewicz (1965) was born.
Before the start of 1963 AL Season, Pitcher Mike Jurewicz was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the 1965 Yankees, Mike had appeared in 2 games with no decisions. An arm injury had cut his MLB Pitching career short.
1954-Former Yankees Reserve INF Mickey Klutts (1976-1978) was born.
In 1972, INF Mickey Klutts was a 4th round draft choice in the MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees. He was the Co-MVP of the International League in 1976 with the Syracuse Chiefs (shared with Rich Dauer and Joe Lis). He would play for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1976-1977 and again in 1983. He ranks 4th in Chiefs’ history for his .308 BA with them. He was named in 2004 to the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame. In 1976, Mickey had hit .319 with 24 HRs and 80 RBIs for the AAA Chiefs. He would appear in 8 games for the 1976-1976 Yankees, while hitting .300, before being traded to the A’s along with Reserve OF Dell Alston for OF Gary Thomasson on June 15,1978. A broken finger injury in 1977 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, had costed him a chance to win the starting Yankees Shortstop job. Soon after his hand injury, the Yankees had acquired Shortstop Bucky Dent from the White Sox. In 1983, Mickey would finish his MLB playing career with the Blue Jays. He had appeared in 199 MLB games, while hitting .241 with 14 HRs and 59 RBIs
1958-Thanks to a Gus Triandos HR, recently acquired by the Orioles veteran knuckleball hurler Hoyt Wilhelm No-Hits the Yankees by the score of 1-0. It will be the last time in this century, that the Yankees will fail to get a hit in a game. The veteran MLB hurler had been recently acquired on waivers by the Orioles from the Indians.
1961-The 155th Yankees game of the 1961 AL season (including a tie) is Roger Maris' last chance to beat the 60 HR mark set by Babe Ruth. In compliance with MLB Commissioner Ford Frick's statement, for the record to be broken Maris must do it in the same number of games as Ruth. Maris' 59th HR of the season, off of Orioles hurler Jack Fisher, is short of the HR record, but helps the Yankees beat the Birds by a score of 4-2 to clinch their 26th AL pennant. The MLB Commissioner Frick ignores the fact the Babe Ruth played under different rules for recording batting stats than Roger Maris.
1968-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hit his 536th HR, the final HR of his 18-year MLB playing career. His last MLB Career HR is given up by Boston hurler Jim Lonborg in a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox at the Yankee Stadium.
1978-The Yankees would split a doubleheader with the Blue Jays, losing the Opener by the score of 8-1 as Ron Guidry lost his 3rd game of the 1978 AL season. In the nightcap, the Yankees would bounce back with a 3-2 win with bullpen help from Closer Goose Gossage and 3-run rally in the 9th inning. The big hits were run-scoring singles by Lou Piniella, Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles. Their lead is at 1 1/2 games, until news comes in from Detroit, that the Red Sox are mauled by the Tigers by the score of 12-2, the Yankees lead in the AL East goes back to 2 games.
1980-In memory of their former Team Captain and AL All-Star Catcher Thurman Munson, a bronze plaque in Memorial Park is dedicated to the deceased Yankee Catcher, who had died in a jet crash at Canton, Ohio in August of 1979.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Steve Peek (1941) had passed away. (1914-1991)
Before the start of the 1937 AL season, the Yankees had signed Steve Peek as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend 4 seasons in the Minors (1937-1940), having his best season in 1940 with the AA Newark Bears (IL), while posting a 14-4 record with a 2.69 ERA in 144 innings; helping his team to the International League Play-Off Championship. Steve looked strong in the 1941 MLB spring training workouts. He made his MLB Pitching debut with the Yankees on April 16th. He would appear in 17 games, while pitching 80 innings, posting a 4-2 record before being sent back to the AA Newark Bears for the balance of the 1941 season. Steve went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA for the Bears, missing his chance to play in a World Series. The Yankees would beat the Dodgers 4 games to 1 in the 1941 World Series. Peek did not play in the World Series. He never returned to the MLB. Steve would spend the next 4 years (1942-1945) in the Army during World War II. He returned from the service in time for the 1946 AL season, but at the age of 31, he spent the rest of his pro baseball career pitching in the Minor Leagues, playing with the AA Newark Bears again before he finished out in 1948 with the AA Seattle Rainiers (PCL). Steve's 8 seasons in the Minor Leagues saw him post a 73-44 record, while appearing in 186 games and pitching 974 innings.
1998-At Camden Yards in Baltimore, the Yankees hang on to beat the Orioles by the score of 5-4. Yankees Closer Mo Rivera gives up a HR to Robby Alomar in 9th inning, but he still gets his 36th save of the 1998 AL season as Yankees Starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez picks-up his 11th victory.
1998-Orioles Cal Ripken, Jr. takes himself out of the Baltimore starting lineup. He does not play in the Orioles' 5-4 loss to the Yankees, ending his MLB consecutive games played streak at 2,632 games. After nearly 16 MLB seasons, Ripken says he decided the time was right to end the streak, which began on May 30,1982.
2005-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hits his 42nd HR of the 2005 AL season, meanwhile 2B Robinson Cano erases a 4-run deficit with a Grand Slam HR, helping Yankees Starter Aaron Small and the 7-time defending Eastern division winners rally to beat the Devil Rays by the score of 9-5. Yankees Aaron Small pitching record goes to 8-0, becoming the 1st pitcher to win his 1st 8 decisions with the Yankees since Doug Bird in 1980 and 1981; the Yankees 4th straight win continues its strong push in the 2005 AL East and Wild-Card races.
2010-Former Yankees Minor League OF Al Pilarcik had passed away. (1930-2010)
Before the start of the 1948 AL season, OF Al Pilarcik began his pro career in the Yankees organization, when he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The lefty-hitting outfielder had great speed and a strong throwing arm. Al once raced Mickey Mantle. "We had a match race in training camp which he said he beat me by 10 feet, but it was more like 10 inches," recalled Pilarcik. Al would spend 7 active seasons in the Minor Leagues (1948-1956) and sandwiched in between these years he would spend 1953-1954 seasons in Military during the Korean War. Pilarcik had 3 good seasons out of the 7; his 1st was in 1949 with the Class C Joplin Miners (WA), when he hit .304 in 107 games. The 1952 season before he served in the military, he had hit .305 in 137 games for the AA Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL). In October of 1955, the Yankees sent Al to the Kansas City A’s as part of a conditional agreement, playing with the 1956 AAA Columbus Jets (IL). In the 1st half of the season, he was on fire, hitting .375 with 18 HRs and 75 RBIs. "Luke Easter and I were challenging each other," said Pilarcik. "Luke was about 6' 5" and 240 lbs. I was 5' 10". They called him 'Big Poison' and me 'Little Poison'." Unknown at the time this would be Al's last run in the Minors, he finished up his 7-season stint by hitting .285 along with 43 HRs. His strong showing with the AAA Jets, got Al called up for his 1st crack at the MLB; on July 13,1956, he would debut with the Kansas City A’s. He would finish out the 1956 season with them, by hitting .251 in 69 games. The following season, Al was traded by Athletics to the Orioles in a multi-player deal. In 1957, Al had 15 assists in the outfield, meanwhile hitting a MLB career high BA of .282 in 1959. In 1961, he would finish his MLB playing career with the White Sox and the A’s finishing his pro career with an overall .256 BA with 22 HRs and 143 RBIs in 668 games.
2012-Yankees veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki continues his hot hitting as he homers off of Blue Jays Starter Aaron Laffey in the 3rd inning to open the Yankees' account, then he hits a 2-run double in a 7-run 4th inning, leading the Yankees to a 10-7 win over the Blue Jays. Nick Swisher adds a Grand Slam HR during the big run outburst, as the Bronx Bombers move to 1 full game ahead of the idle Orioles in the AL East.
2013-Breaking a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning, the Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez hits a Grand Slam HR off of Giants Reliever George Kontos for a 5-1 win. It is the 24th Grand Slam HR of A-Rod's MLB playing career, breaking a tie with Yankees HOF Lou Gehrig for most ever in the MLB.
2018-With an 11-6 win over the Yankees, the Red Sox would clinch their 3rd straight AL Eastern Division title. But the Yankees still set a couple of records on Luke Voit's HR in the 2nd inning. It is his 10th HR since joining the Yankees from the Cardinals in a trade, giving them an MLB record 12 players with 10 or more HRs this season, it is also the team's 246th HR, breaking their team record set in 2012.
2019-Former Yankees Minor League Coach and MLB Scout Howard “Hopalong” Cassady had passed away. (1934-2019)
Howard “Hopalong” Cassady was the 1955 Heisman Trophy winner. He would set Ohio State Football records (since broken) for career rushing yards (2,466), points (222) and all-purpose yards (4,403). He had led Ohio State's Baseball team in HRs in 1955 and steals in 1956. He turned a $10,000 player contract to play pro baseball for the Yankees, choosing to play in the NFL instead. Cassidy was the 3rd pick overall in the 1956 NFL Player Draft, he was not as impressive in the pro ranks; but he did have over 4,000 all-purpose yards in 8 seasons, mostly with the Detroit Lions. Later, Cassady would be an MLB Scout for the Yankees. He had coached for their 1991-2003 AAA Columbus Clippers team (IL).
2020-Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) had passed away. (1945-2020)
On June 14,1978, OF Jay Johnstone was traded by the Phillies along with Minor League OF Bobby Brown to the Yankees for MLB Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 in 32 games. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for P Dave Wehrmeister. He had only played in 23 games for the team in 1979, while just hitting .208. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
2021-Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach (1977) and Minor League Manager, MLB Pitcher Cloyd Boyer had passed away. (1927-2021)
Cloyd Boyer was the oldest of the 3-Boyer brothers, who had played in the MLB. He had pitched for the Cardinals and Athletics in the MLB. From 1949 to 1955, he had posted a 20-23 record with a 4.73 ERA in 111 MLB games. Boyer was a Yankees Minor League Pitching Coach for the 1962 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). He was a Yankees Minor League Pitching Coach during the 1963-1964 and 1974-1976 seasons. Boyer was an MLB Scout for the 1964-1974 Yankees. He had replaced Minor League Managers in mid-season in 1962,1963 and 1968. He was an MLB Pitching Coach for the Yankees in 1977. Also, he had worked for the Blue Jays organization.
2022-Yankees Slugger Aaron Judge becomes just the 6th player in MLB history to have a 60-HR season as he belts one in the 9th inning of a 9-8 Yankees win over the Pirates, the victory coming on a walk-off Grand Slam HR by Giancarlo Stanton later that inning. Judge's next HR will put him in a tie for the AL and Yankees single-season record, both set by Roger Maris, when he hit 61 long balls in 1961. He is also a candidate to record the 1st Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera in 2012, as he leads the AL comfortably in both HRs and RBIs, and his night's work also puts him on top for batting average in a close 3-player race with Luis Arraez and Xander Bogaerts.
September 21st
1875-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Frank McManus (1903) was born. (1875-1923)
For the 1903 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Frank McManus had appeared in only 4 games with no BA.
1892-Former Yankees OF Elmer Smith (1922-1923) was born. (1892-1984)
On July 23, 1922, Veteran OF Elmer Smith was obtained from the Red Sox along with veteran INF Joe Dugan. Elmer had hit .185 in 21 games in 1922. The next season, he would appear in 70 games for the Yankees, while hitting .306 with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs. Smith had played in 2 games of the 1922 World Series with the Yankees with no hits. He had played in the 1920 World Series with the Indians, while hitting .308 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs in 5 games. The Yankees would trade him in 1924 to AA Louisville (AA) for future HOF CF Earl Combs. Elmer would return to the MLB in 1925, playing for the Reds; while hitting .270 with 8 HRs and 46 RBIs in 96 games. As an MLB player, OF Elmer Smith had appeared in 1,012 MLB games, while hitting .276 with 70 HRs and 540 RBIs.
1906-At Comiskey Park in Chicago, the White Sox would lose a pair to the Yankees before a crowd of 20,000 fans, their largest Friday afternoon crowd. Yankees 1B Hal Chase has 22 putouts at 1B in the 1st game, tying the MLB fielding record.
1908-The Indians take the AL lead by beating the Yankees, meanwhile the Tigers take 2 from the Browns. With 2 weeks to go, 3 1/2 games separate 4 teams in the 1908 AL Pennant race.
1923-Yankees OF Babe Ruth is the unanimous choice of the AL committee of Baseball Writers for the 1923 AL MVP Award. Due to current baseball MVP rules, Babe Ruth will not be able to win the AL MVP Award again. The AL MVP Award rules will later be changed during the 1930’s taking this ban away from players; who had won the MVP previously. This is why both Ruth (1) and Gehrig (2) did not have many AL MVP Awards during their playing MLB playing careers, with the Yankees.
1932-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx hits his HR #54 of the 1932 AL season to lead the Mackmen to an 8-4 win over the visiting Yankees. His A’s teammates, Al Simmons and Eric McNair also hit HRs off of Yankees Starter Red Ruffing as A’s Starter Sugar Cain is able to win.
1933-With lefty Ace Walter Stewart pitching, the Senators eliminates the Yankees from the 1933 AL Pennant race by clinching the AL flag in a 2-1 home win over the Browns.
1935-The Tigers would clinch the 1935 AL Pennant with a doubleheader win over the St. Louis Browns, winning the games by the scores of 6-2 and 2-0. The Tigers will finish the rest of the way of the 1935 AL season, going just 1-6, meanwhile the 1935 Yankees will go 6-1, finishing in 2nd place in the AL with an 89-60 record.
1935-Former Yankees OF Herman McFarland (1903) had passed away. (1870-1935)
In 1902, veteran MLB OF Herman McFarland came to the Yankees from the White Sox, when they were the Baltimore Orioles. He would appear in 103 games for the 1903 Yankees, while hitting .243 with 5 HRs and 45 RBIs in his last active MLB playing career season (1896-1903).
1942-Former Yankees Pitcher “Sudden” Sam McDowell (1973-1974) was born.
After coming over from the Giants in 1973 in a Cash transaction, veteran starter “Sudden” Sam McDowell was a major disappointment for the Yankees. He would post 5-8 and 1-6 records, before being released by the Yankees during the 1974 AL season. The Pirates would sign Sam McDowell for the 1975 NL season. His serious drinking problems affected his 15 MLB season Pitching career, which had begun with the Indians.
1951-Former Yankees long-time MLB Scout Joe Devine (1935-1951) had passed away at the age of 56. (1895-1951)
Joe Devine was an MLB Scout and Minor League Manager. As a Minor League player, Devine was 0 for 6 for the 1915 AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). By 1919, he was managing in the Northwest International League, only 24 years old. He would lead the Calgary Bronchos to a composite 143-72 record in 1920-1921, winning the Western Canada League titles both times. Then he would scout for the Pirates, signing future Hall of Fame Slugger Paul Waner most notably for the team. Then he would manage the Mission Reds (PCL) for parts of 1931 and 1932 seasons. Starting in 1935, Joe Devine became a was a Yankees MLB scout, covering the West Coast especially the San Francisco area. He was noted for signing Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, Frank Crosetti, Johnny Lindell, Bill Wight, Rugger Ardizoia, Fenton Mole, Bobby Brown, Andy Carey, Jerry Coleman and Charlie Silvera and other Yankee players of the 1935-1951 Yankees playing era. In 1937, he had misjudged the talent skills of a young outfielder named Ted Williams, who was playing for the AA San Diego Padres (PCL), so the Yankees didn’t sign him. He would be signed by their rivals the Red Sox. He would continue working for the Yankees organization until his death on September 21,1951.
1954-Yankees Rookie Starter Bob Grim wins his 20th game of the 1954 AL season as the Yankees defeat the Senators by the score of 3-1. Bob had previously spent the last 2 years in the Army before making the Yankees MLB Pitching staff in the 1954 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp. He will win the 1954 AL Rookie of the Year Award for his season performance. Bob will be the only 20 game winner on the 1954 Yankees pitching staff.
1956-At Fenway Park, Bronx Bombers 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron has 5 hits, but the Yankees strand a record 20 base runners in losing to the Red Sox by the score of 13-9. Mickey Mantle sends a 480-FT HR into the CF bleachers that lands a foot from the top. His 3 hits raise his 1956 AL season BA to .352, 4 points behind rival Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams.
1961-At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris is held hitless in 4 at bats, as the Kansas City A’s win by the score of 5-3 behind A’s starter Bill Fischer's 3-hitter. All the Yankee runs off him are unearned. Roger Maris is the only Yankees regular to play the entire game.
1963-The Kansas City Athletics would beat the Yankees by a score of 5-3 despite HRs by Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. For veteran Catcher Yogi Berra, it is his 358th MLB career and last HR hit as a Yankees player.
1963-Former Yankee DH/1B Cecil “Big Daddy” Fielder (1996-1997) was born.
On July 31,1996, DH/1B Cecil Fielder was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for OF/DH Ruben Sierra and Minor League P Matt Drews. Cecil would hit .260 with 28 HRs and 96 RBIs in his 2 seasons with the 1996-1997 Yankees, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency in the fall of 1997. The Angels would sign him.
1964-The Yankees front office informs long-time Yankees announcer Mel Allen that his broadcast announcer contract with the Yankees will not be renewed for the 1965 AL season by the new team owners CBS, Inc. His official firing announcement will be made public to the press on December 17,1964. He will be replaced by NBC’s Joe Garagiola, who will last for 3 years, before leaving and being replaced by Frank Messer, who comes up from Baltimore in 1969. Allen’s longtime broadcasting partner Red Barber will be let go by the team after the 1966 AL season is over.
1968-At Yankee Stadium, Red Sox Starter Ray Culp fires his 3rd successive shutout, stopping the Yankees on 1-hit shutout, winning the game by the score of 2-0. Roy White's single in the 7th inning is the only Yankees hit. It's Culp's 15th win of the 1968 AL season for the Red Sox.
1971-For the 4th consecutive AL season, Orioles Starter Dave McNally wins his 20th game, as he shuts out the Yankees by the score of 5-0.
1984-Former Yankees Minor League INF Joaquin Arias was born.
In July 2001, Joaquin Arias was signed out of the Dominican Republic by Yankee Scouts Victor Mata, Carlos Rios, and Freddy Tiburcio. He would make his pro debut with the GCL Yankees, the next summer. The main claim to fame of Arias is that he was the Player to be Named Later in the 2004 deal that sent mega-star Alex Rodriguez from the Rangers to the Yankees in return for INF Alfonso Soriano. On August 22, 2012, he had a MLB career game, when he led the Giants to an 8-4 win over the Dodgers, completing a 3-game sweep at Dodger Stadium; he drove in 5 runs that day with a 1st-inning HR off of Starter Chris Capuano and a pair of run-scoring doubles later in the game. He would appear in 1,052 games, while hitting .265 with 7 HRs and 95 RBIs.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Murry Dickinson (1958) had passed away. (1916-1989).
On August 22,1958, veteran hurler Murry Dickinson was traded by Kansas City to the Yankees for Reserve OF John “Zeke” Bella and Cash. He would post a 1-2 record with 1 save in 6 games before being returned to the Athletics on May 9,1959. He had appeared in 2 games as a Reliever with the Yankees of the 1958 World Series against the Braves with no record. He had previous appeared in 2 World Series with the Cardinals in 1942 and 1946. His MLB Pitching career had started in 1939 with the Cardinals and ended with the 1959 A’s posting 2-1 record in 38 games; finishing with an overall MLB pitching career record of 172-181 with a 3.66 ERA in 625 games.
2000-The Blue Jays would defeat the Yankees by the score of 3-1, as former Yankees Starter David Wells becomes the MLB's 1st 20-game winner for the 2000 AL season.
2001-Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera blows a save giving up a 2-run single to Jerry Hairston as the Orioles prevail over the Yankees by the score of 7-6.
2002-The Yankees would beat the Tigers by the score 3-2 to clinch the AL East Division Title for the 5th straight season.
2008-In the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium II, the Yankees would defeat the Orioles by the score of 7-3. Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of Babe Ruth, throws out the ceremonial 1st pitch of the game. Veteran Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte earns his 14th win of the 2008 AL season, while Yankee hitters José Molina and Johnny Damon would hit HRs. Bronx Closer Mariano Rivera closes out the game with a perfect 9th inning, forcing Orioles batter Brian Roberts to ground out to 1B Cody Ransom for the last out. The Yankees thus avoids being eliminated from the 2008 AL Playoffs in their final game at the historic stadium.
2009-For the 2nd straight night, the Yankees fail to become the 1st MLB team to clinch a playoff spot. After the Mariners yesterday, it's the Angels' turn to spoil the Yankees celebration, with a 5-2 win over the Bombers; thanks to a strong performance by Starter Joe Saunders.
2012-The Yankees win their 6th straight game by the score of 2-1 on Russell Martin's walk-off HR off of A’s Reliever Sean Doolittle in the 10th inning.
2012-Former Yankees Minor League OF Tom Umphlett had passed away. (1930-2012)
On June 12,1962, OF Tom Umphlett was traded by the Red Sox along with Cash to the Yankees for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Tom would never play with the Yankees at MLB level. He would spend the 1962-1963 seasons with their AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). He would hit .228 with 15 HRs and 77 RBIs. He would play in the Minor Leagues for the Twins organization until 1966. He was a Twins Minor League Manager from 1967-1970.
2014-Yankees LF Brett Gardner hits the 15,000th HR in Yankees franchise history off Toronto's Drew Hutchison in the 5th inning of a 5-2 Bronx win. The total dates back to the team's 1st season in the Big Apple in 1903; it is the most of any MLB franchise. Yankees veteran Starter Masahiro Tanaka is the winner in his return to the mound after a 10-week layoff.
2016-The Yankees AAA club, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders become the 1st International League team to win the Triple-A National Championship in 5 years. Chris Parmelee's 3-run HR off of El Paso Diablos Starter Walker Lockett in the 1st gives them all their runs for the day and wins Parmelee the game’s MVP Award. Scranton Starter Jordan Montgomery and 3 Relievers hold the Diablos to just 1 run with RailRiders Reliever Giovanny Gallegos getting the save.
2022-The Yankees would rout the Pirates by the score of 14-2. Aaron Judge doesn’t hit any HRs in the game, instead settling for 2 doubles. the Yankees HR power is supplied by Oswaldo Cabrera’s 1st inning Grand Slam HR and 2B Gleyber Torres 2 HRs in the 8th inning. The Yankees have hit Grand Slam HRs in today’s game (1st inning) and last night’s 9th inning. While the Bombers hitters were hot with their bats, on the mound Starter Luis Severino would throw 5 strong innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 Bucs run, in his 1st start since coming off of rehab work. His performance gives the Yankees starting rotation a big boost for the AL Play-offs.
2023-Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole retired the 1st 16 hitters and pitched 8 outstanding innings to strengthen his Cy Young Award credentials as the Yankees moved back over .500 with a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays. Cole (14-4) allowed a run and 2 hits in his longest outing since pitching a 2-hit shutout against the Twins on April 16th. He had struck out 9 hitters, walked none and permitted 2 baserunners; while lowering his AL-best ERA to 2.75. Cole won his 4th straight decision since getting tagged for 6 runs in an 8-1 loss to Boston on Aug. 19th. Also, he had allowed 2 runs or fewer for the MLB-best 25th time this year, improving to 8-2 following a New York loss. The Yankees are 22-10 in his starts. Cole has reached 200 innings for the 2nd straight season and 6th time overall. He also is the only pitcher to reach the mark in 5 seasons since 2017 and the only Yankee pitcher to reach the mark in the past decade. “It’s a nice, round numbers that a lot of pitchers shoot for,” Cole said. “It’s a testament to everybody’s preparation behind the scenes and obviously my teammates on the field making plays for me, getting the opportunity to get deep (in games) and pitch with a lead. ”It was the 5th time Cole pitched at least 7 innings and allowed 3 or fewer baserunners, the most in team history. “He had his good stuff, fastball, slider, cutter,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He was tough tonight, he really was.” Jake Bauers hit a 3-run HR 4 batters in against Jose Berríos (11-11); then Aaron Judge and Estevan Florial added RBI doubles as the Yankees avoided a 3-game sweep. The Blue Jays had their 5-game winning streak stopped and is a half-game ahead of the Rangers and Mariners for the 2nd of 3 AL wild-card spots. Cole lost his perfect game bid on his 69th pitch when Alejandro Kirk doubled to right-center. After allowing the hit, Cole would strike out Kevin Kiermaier and retired his former Astros teammate George Springer. “I knew he hadn’t given up anything yet, so I guess it’s at least on your mind, but I don’t think you get caught up in it yet,” Boone said. “You just realize how efficient he’s being. "Kirk is 8-for-18 off Cole. Kirk just finds a way to get to the center of the ball off me like a lot,” Cole said. “I was convinced the cutter was going to get underneath the bat but I think it was just a little bit too up in the strike zone.” Then Cole got 2 more strikeouts in the 7th by fanning Jays hitters Bo Bichette and Davis Schneider to end the inning at 88 pitches. Cole allowed his 2nd hit when Matt Chapman started the 8th with a double. Chapman ended the shutout bid by scoring on a wild pitch, but Cole retired Whit Merrifield and Kirk as Bronx Closer Clay Holmes warmed up and exited to a nice ovation from the crowd. Holmes allowed 2 runs in the 9th on an RBI fielder’s choice by Jays pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr and a fielding error by 2B Gleyber Torres. Trying to avoid their 1st losing season since 1992, as the Yankees moved to 78-77 with 9 games remaining and avoided getting swept at home by Toronto for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. Jays starter Jose Berrios allowed 4 runs and 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.
September 15th
1881-Former Yankees Pitcher Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle (1906-1911) was born. (1881-1947)
In August of 1906, Pitcher Joe Doyle was purchased by the Highlanders from Wheeling (CL). Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle went 22-21 with a 2.70 ERA and 1 save in 77 games during his Yankees Pitching career. He was nicked–named “Slow Joe” because of long time that he took between his pitches. On May 31,1910, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Reds for $2,000 Cash. He was 0-2 in 3 games for the 1910 Yankees. For the 1910 Reds, Joe would pitch in 5 games with no decisions, ending his MLB Pitching career. Doyle would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 22-21 record with 2.86 ERA in 82 games.
1904-The Red Sox would edge the Yankees by the score of 3-2 to move back into 1st place in the AL. Red Sox Starter Jesse Tannehill only allows 9 Bronx hits in besting the Yankees Starter Al Orth. The nightcap is called after 9 innings with the score tied at 1-1.
1908-The Yankees Rookie Starter Pete Wilson makes his MLB Pitching debut by shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0.
1917-At the Polo Grounds, Red Sox Starter Babe Ruth takes an 8-0 lead into the 9th inning before allowing 3 Yankees runs. He finishes with a complete game with 8-3 win and slugs his 2nd and last HR of the 1917 AL season.
1921-At the Polo Grounds, Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth hits his HR # 55 of the 1921 AL season during the Yankees 10-6 win over the St. Louis Browns. Yankees Starter Carl Mays picks up his 24th win of the AL season. Also, Outfielders Elmer Miller and Bob Meusel hit HRs for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees take the 2nd game of the doubleheader by a score of 13-5. Bronx Starter Bill Piercy picks-up his 4th win of the 1921 AL season. Yankees 1B Wally Pipp hits his 8th HR of the campaign. Browns Slugger Ken Williams hits a HR in each game, bringing his 1921 season total to 23 HRs.
1924-Former Yankees Player/Manager and HOF Frank Chance (1913-1914) had passed away. (1898-1924)
Frank Chance came to the Yankees at the end of his fine Hall of Fame MLB playing career. He was a Player/Manager during the 1913-1914 AL seasons. In 1913, Chance finished in 7th place with a 57-94 record. In 1914, he was in 6th place with a 60-74 record before being replaced by Yankees Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh for the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. Chance and the Team Owners had disagreements over player personnel matters. He was paid off for the remaining time left on his 3-year Managers contract. He appeared in 13 games for the Yankees as Player-Manager, hitting just .208. Playing for the Yankees, Frank Chance lost the chance of finishing with an MLB lifetime BA of .300; he finishes his MLB playing career with a .297 mark. Frank had spent most of his MLB active playing career with the Cubs in the NL. Chance was part of the Cubs famous “Evers to Tinker to Chance” DP trio. He was a Player/ Manager of the Cubs from 1905 to 1912. His Cubs teams won the NL Pennants in 1906-1908 and 1910. His Cubs teams never finished below 3rd place in the NL. Frank Chance was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1946.
1926-The Yankees would beat the Tribe by the score of 6-4. As veteran Yankees RF Bob Meusel drives home 3 runs with 3 sacrifice flies. This ties the MLB record set by Cubs Harry Steinfeldt in 1909. Veteran Bronx Starter Bob Shawkey is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.
1937-AL President Will Harridge would uphold Indian's protest of the August 6th Yankees win and the entire game is replayed as the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The protested game is called a tie with all game stats retained except those following the disputed call.
1937-Former Yankees 3B Charlie Smith (1967-1968) was born. (1937-1994)
On December 6,1966, INF Charlie Smith came to the Yankees from the Cardinals in a trade for AL All-Star OF Roger Maris. He was going to be the Yankees new 3B for 1967 AL season, since the team had recently traded veteran 3B Clete Boyer to the Braves. This trade is considered to be one of the worst modern trades made in Yankees team history. Charlie would appear in 181 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .224 with 10 HRs and 45 RBIs. He was traded to the Giants for Reserve INF Nate Oliver in December of 1968. Smith had played in the MLB from 1960-1969 starting with the Dodgers, Phillies, White Sox, Mets, Cardinals, Yankees and the Cubs. He never appears with the Giants, who had traded him to the Cubs before the 1969 NL season had started. As an MLB player, Charlie would hit .239 with 69 HRs and 281 RBIs in 771 games.
1938-Former Yankees Pitcher Gaylord Perry (1980) was born. (1938-2022)
Veteran MLB Starter Gaylord Perry was obtained by the Yankees from the Rangers for Pitcher Ken Clay and a Minor League Player to be Named Later. Minor League INF Marvin Thompson would be sent to the Rangers in October of 1980 to complete the trade. Perry would post a 4-4 record with a 4.44 ERA in 10 games before leaving the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent in the fall of 1980. Gaylord would pitch in the MLB from 1962 to 1983.He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 314-265 record with a 3.11 ERA and 10 saves in 777 games. He was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.
1947-The Yankees would clinch their 15th AL pennant, when the White Sox beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-3, while the Yankees are idled by rain.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Pagan (1973-1976) was born.
In 1970, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Dave Pagan as an MLB Free Agent. He had appeared in 40 games for the team, while posting a 2-4 record with 4.01 ERA and 1 save before being traded to the Orioles on June 15,1976, as part of the Doyle Alexander trade. He had been moving back and forth between the Yankees and their AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL) since 1973.
1949-Former Yankees Pitcher Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) passes away at the age of 36. (1913-1949)
Tiny Bonham would join the Yankees in 1940, as a 26-year-old Rookie going 9-3 with a 1.93 ERA in 12 games. His best season for the Yankees was in 1942, when he went 21-5 with 2.27 ERA with 6 shutouts and 22 complete games. He was 1942 AL All-Star team member. Tiny finished his Yankees pitching career record with a 79-50 mark (WP.612). He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, going 1-2 with a 3.21 ERA in 4 games. In 1946, Bonham was dealing with injuries, he posted a 5-8 record with a 3.70 ERA for the 1946 Yankees. On October 24,1946, the team traded Tiny to the Pirates for P Cookie Cuccurullo. He went 11-8 and 6-10 for the 1947-1948 Pirates. After a 1-4 start in 1949, Tiny Bonham won 6 straight games for a floundering Pirates club, including an 8–2 victory over the Phillies on August 28th in his final MLB appearance. Eighteen days later, Bonham died in a Pittsburgh hospital at the age of 36, following an appendectomy and stomach surgery. Mrs. Bonham will receive the 1st benefits under the MLB Players Pension Plan, $90 a month for 10 years.
1950-For an MLB-record 6th time, veteran MLB Slugger Johnny Mize hits 3-HRs in 1 game, but the Yankees still lose the game by the score of a 9-7 in Detroit. Johnny Mize matches Babe Ruth's mark of doing it in both leagues, but the Babe only had 2 3-HR games. With the victory, the Tigers recapture 1st place in the AL from the Yankees.
1956-Former Yankees Pitcher John Pacella (1982) was born.
On March 31,1981, Pitcher John Pacella was traded by the Padres along with OF Jerry Mumphrey to the Yankees for OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre, 2 Minor League hurlers: Tim Lollar and Chris Welch. John had appeared in 3 games for the 1982 Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record with a 7.20 ERA. On May 12,1982, John was traded by the Yankees along with P Pete Filson, Reserve INF Larry Milbourne and Cash to the Twins for P Roger Erickson and Catcher Butch Wynegar.
1959-At Yankee Stadium, veteran Starter Whitey Ford makes a rare relief appearance against the White Sox, going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning as the White Sox score 2 in the 8th inning and 1 in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees by the score of 4-3. Mickey Mantle hits 2 HRs in the Bombers loss, a 2-run shot in 1st inning off of veteran Starter Billy Pierce and a solo HR shot in the 9th inning off of Reliever Bob Shaw, who gets his 3rd save of the 1959 AL season, while lefty Starter Billy Pierce picks up his 14th victory of the season. Ralph Terry had started for the Yankees, going 7 innings, while giving up 8-Chicago hits and allowing only 1-run.
1960-The Orioles (83-58) and Yankees (82-57) open a crucial 4 games series with the Bird’s just .002 in back of New York. Yankees hitters Hector Lopez and Roger Maris crack HRs to back veteran Starter Whitey Ford's 4-2 win over the Birds. The 2 runs off of Starter Whitey Ford were the 1st the Birds have scored off him at Yankee Stadium in 33.2 innings. Veteran Bronx Reliever Bobby Shantz rescues Whitey Ford in the 9th inning for his 10th save of the 1960 AL season.
1961-The Yankees would set a new AL record for most HRs in a season (222), as they split a doubleheader in Detroit, winning the opener by the score of 11-1 and then losing the nightcap by the score of 4-2. Yankees HR blows by Bill Skowron and Yogi Berra in the Opener, help Starter Whitey Ford win his 24th victory of the season and increase the 1961 Yankees HR total to 222. This breaks the old MLB HR mark set by the 1947 Giants and later tied by the 1956 Reds. Norm Cash and Steve Boros hit HRs in the nightcap to back Tigers Starter Ron Kline's 7-hitter.
1963-At Metropolitan Stadium, Yankees Ace Whitey Ford throws a 2-hitter defeating the Twins by the score of 2-1. Twins Starter Lee Stange takes the loss, giving up 8-Yankee hits, while allowing the 2 Yankee runs. Clete Boyer gets the key hit of the game, scoring both Yankees runs. The victory is the 23rd win of the 1963 AL season for Whitey Ford, who is now at 23-7 mark.
1969-At Yankees Stadium, Tigers Starter Denny McLain records his 9th shutout of the 1969 AL season, a Tiger club pitching record beating the Yankees by a score of 2-0. McLain picks-up his 23rd win of the AL season, meanwhile Yankees Starter Stan Bahnsen drops to a 9-15 record for the 1969 season.
1976-Former Yankees Reliever Matt Thornton (2014) was born.
On January 10, 2014, Reliever Matt Thornton was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He went 0-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 46 games for the 2014 Yankees. On August 5, 2014, Matt was selected off waivers by the Nationals from the Yankees.
1978-The Yankees are now 1 1/2 games in front of the Red Sox; they would open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Yankee Starter Ron Guidry again gives up only 2-Red Sox hits as he wins a 4-0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive HRs off of Boston Starter Luis Tiant in the Yankees 4-run 4th inning.
1985-Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner calls Yankees All-Star OF Dave Winfield, “Mr. May,” after the Yankees lose 3 key games to the Blue Jays.
1985-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Jim Deshaies along with 2 other Minor Leaguer Players to be Named Later to the Astros for 40-year-old veteran MLB Starter Joe Niekro, who was 9-12 in 32 games for the 1985 Astros. Jim Deshaies had appeared in 2 games with the 1985 Yankees with a 0-1 record. This move reuniting the Niekro brothers as teammates for the 1st time since the 1974 NL season, when they were both with the Braves. Niekro will go 2-1 with a 4.58 ERA in 3 games for the 1985 Yankees. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League Players; INF Neder Horta and P Dody Rather to the Braves, neither player reached the MLB with the Braves.
1999-At the Sky Dome in Toronto, the Yankees would defeat the Blue Jays as Starter Andy Pettitte picks up his 13th victory by going 8 innings, while Yankees Closer Mo Rivera gets his 41st save of the 1999 AL season. Jays Starter Pat Hentgen takes the loss. The Yankees offensive is led by HRs by 1B Tino Martinez and CF Bernie Williams.
2002-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees score 4 runs to break a 4-4 tie with the White Sox in the 6th inning. The Yankees win the game by the final score of 8-4 with Starter Andy Pettitte picking up his 11th victory of the 2002 AL season. The Bronx Bombers hitting attack is led by HRs by Jason Giambi with 1 on and solo HR shots by Bernie Williams and Alfonso Soriano.
2008-Yankees Closer Mo Rivera passes MLB Closer Lee Smith for 2nd place on the All-Time MLB Save List behind Trevor Hoffman as the Yankees top the White Sox by the score of 4-2 to try to keep their 2008 AL Playoff hopes alive; The White Sox lead in the AL Central falls to a game and a half.
2010-At Tropicana Field, the Rays will take back 1st place in their seesaw battle with the Yankees for top spot in the AL East with a 4-3 win. Rays hitter Dan Johnson hits a pair of 2-run HRs off of Yankees Starter Phil Hughes to account for all of Tampa Bay's runs.
2012-In his return start from the DL, Yankees Starter Ivan Nova is a winner with a 5-3 victory over the Rays. Yankee hitters Curtis Granderson and Eduardo Nunez hit back-to-back HRs in the 2nd inning to give the Yankees a 3-0 lead and they never look back. Out 3 weeks with a shoulder inflammation, Nova picks up his 12th win of the 2012 AL season as he puts the Bronx Bombers 1 game ahead of their main AL East Division rivals, the Orioles, who lose to the A's by the score of 5-2.
2021-Former Yankees DH/1B Bill “Suds” Sudakis (1974) had passed away. (1946-2021)
On December 9,1973, the Yankees had purchased veteran INF Bill Sudakis from the Rangers. He had hit .255 along with an MLB career high of 15 HRs for Texas. He had originally come up to the MLB with the Dodgers in 1969 as their starting 3B, hitting .234. He had played for the Dodgers. On December 3,1974, the Yankees will trade him to the Angels for Reliever Skip Lockwood.
2023-The Yankees endured one very painful bounce that cost them the lead and, more importantly, Reliever Anthony Misiewicz. A more fortunate one helped them rally past the Pirates in the 9th inning on Friday night. Yankee baserunners Aaron Judge and Gleyber Torres scored when a potential game-ending double play morphed into a game-turning error in the top of the 9th inning as the Yankees would slip by the Pirates by the score of 7-5 on “Roberto Clemente Day.” The Bronx Bombers 9th inning comeback came while Misiewicz undergoing testing in a nearby Pittsburgh hospital, after taking a 100-mph line drive off the side of his head in the 6th inning. Aaron Judge had 3 hits and an RBI for the Yankees. D.J. LeMahieu had 2 hits, including a leadoff single in the 9th inning to start the Bombers rally. Cole labored through 5 innings in his return to PNC Park. The Yankees bullpen would hold off the Pirates with Clay Holmes closing out the game for the win.
September 16th
1877-Former Yankees Pitcher George McConnell (1909,1912-1913) was born. (1877-1964)
For the Yankees, George McConnell would post a 12-28 record with 2.97 ERA in 61 games. In September of 1913, the Yankees would send him to the Cubs for Cash. With the Cubs, he went 0-1 with 1.29 ERA. He would leave the Cubs to pitched for the 1915 Chicago Chi-Feds (Federal League), while posting a 25-10 record with 2.22 ERA in 44 games. In 1916, he would return to the Cubs, finishing up his MLB Pitching career with a 41-51 record with a 2.60 ERA in 133 games with the Yankees, Cubs and the Chi-Feds.
1905-The Yankees find themselves a little short on infielders, so RF Willie Keeler, who is left-handed, plays 2B in both games of a twin bill. The talented Keeler had played 2 games at Shortstop for the Yankees in 1903.
1905-Former Yankees Pitcher Joseph “Sandy” Vance (1937-1938) was born. (1905-1978)
For the 1937-1938 Yankees, Joseph “Sandy” Vance went 1-0 with a 4.78 ERA in 5 games. Before joining the Yankees, he had pitched for the 1936 Cubs, while posting a 2-2 record with a 6.68 ERA in 10 games. In August of 1938, Vance had pitched for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), when he was called up to the Bronx. Joe had to have a season-ending appendectomy.
1908-Former Yankees Reserve OF Colonel “Buster” Mills (1940) was born. (1908-1991)
On December 26,1938, the Yankees had obtained OF Buster Mills and hurler Oral Hildebrand in a trade with the Browns for veteran OF Myril Hoag and Reserve Catcher Joe Glenn. He had played in 34 games with the 1940 Yankees, while hitting .397 (25 for 63). On April 3,1942, Buster was traded by the Yankees to the Indians for OF Larry Rosenthal. He would later become an MLB Coach with 4 teams. In 1951, he would manage in the Minor Leagues for the White Sox organization.
1909-Former Yankees INF Herman Long (1903) had passed away. (1866-1909)
Veteran MLB Shortstop Herman Long joined the Yankees in 1903. At the age of 37, his best seasons were behind him. He would appear in only 22 games for the team, hitting just .188 with 3 HRs and 8 RBIs. On June 10,1903, he was traded to the Tigers in the team’s 1st MLB Trade, which included Shortstop Ernie Courtney for Tigers Starting Shortstop “Kid” Elberfeld. Long had played in the MLB from 1889 to 1904. He would finish his MLB playing career by hitting .277 with 9 HRs and 1,055 RBIs, while playing in 1,875 games.
1914-At the age of 23, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) is hired as the Manager of the Yankees to finish out the 1914 AL season. He would go 10-10 in the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. The Yankees would finish in 6th place. Roger would return to playing Shortstop, as William “Wild Bill” Donovan would be named Yankees Manager for the 1915 AL season. In December of 1921, Roger was traded to the Red Sox, as part of the Joe Bush-Sam Jones Trade. Everett “Deacon” Scott, who was obtained in the trade, would replace him at Shortstop. Then the Red Sox would trade Roger to the Senators before the 1922 AL Season had started.
1920-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, a crowd of 25,000 fans watch White Sox Starter Richard Kerr top the Yankees by the score of 8-3. Yankees Starter Jack Quinn takes the loss dropping his pitching record to 18-9 for the 1920 AL season. This loss drops Yankees to 2nd place behind the Indians in the 1920 AL Pennant race.
1922-AL Pennant fever rages in St. Louis, as the Yankees come to town with a half-game lead over the Browns. Veteran Bronx Starter Bob Shawkey beats former Yankees Starter Urban Shocker by the score of 2-1. The Browns’ George Sisler ties Ty Cobb's 1911 AL hitting record by hitting in his 40th straight game. While chasing a fly ball in the 9th inning, Yankees OF Whitey Witt is hit in the head and knocked cold by a soda bottle thrown from the bleachers. AL League President Ban Johnson will initially offer a $1,000 reward for the name of the bottle-thrower. Then, to calm the crowds, the AL offers the theory that Witt stepped on the bottle and it flew up and hit him. The incident leads to a ban on the sale of bottled drinks in all AL ballparks.
1939-The Yankees would clinch their 4th successive AL pennant with an 8-5 victory over the Tigers. Yankees Starter Marius Russo picks up the complete game victory, he is now 7-3 for the 1939 AL season. Tigers Starter Cotton Pippen takes the loss, allowing 8 Yankee runs in the game; dropping to his season record to a 4-12 mark. AL Sluggers Hank Greenberg and Joe DiMaggio, each hit HRs in the game for their teams. A crowd of 10,626 fans had watched this Saturday game played at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees will finish the 1939 AL season with a 106-45 record, 17 games ahead of the 2nd place Red Sox (89-62).
1940-St. Louis Rookie Johnny Lucadello hits HRs from each side of the plate against the Yankees in a 16-4 Browns win. Only Catcher Wally Schang of the 1916 Philadelphia A’s, had accomplished the same feat in the AL. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle in 1955, will be the next AL player to do it. These are the only HRs that Lucadello will hit all season for the 1940 Browns.
1944-Former Yankees Minor League C George Pena was born. (1944-2021)
Catcher George Pena would play in 13 seasons in the Minor Leagues, reaching the AAA level for most of those years. After graduating from Montebello HS, Pena was signed by the Angels and began his pro career with the 1963 Quad Cities Angels, hitting .204 in 40 games with the club. After a stint in the Cubs farm system, he would move on to play for the Yankees organization in 1970. That summer, he would hit .246 with 15 HRs for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL). Pena drove in the winning run in Game 6 of the 1970 Junior World Series. He had his best season in 1971, hitting .284 with 22 HRs for AAA Syracuse Chiefs and earning a spot on the International League All-Star team, joining Johnny Oates as the team catchers. On October 24,1972, the Yankees had traded George to the Padres INF Fred Stanley. The trade was done at the AAA level with the Syracuse Chiefs getting Stanley for the 1973 IL season. He would later played in the Tigers, Indians, Twins and the Astros organizations, never reaching the MLB level. Away from the diamond, Pena had served in the U.S. Marine Reserves. On January 9, 2021, he would pass away from COVID-19 at age 76.
1948-Joe DiMaggio hits his 300th MLB Career HR joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein and Hank Greenberg, as the only MLB players to reach this MLB career hitting milestone. The Yankees lost the 1st game of a double header by the score of 2-1 with DiMaggio’s 36th HR of the season being the Yankees only run. Yankees Starter Vic Raschi (18-7) and Tigers Fred Hutchinson (12-9), both throw complete games. In the 2nd game, the Yankees bounce back with an 8-4 victory behind the pitching of Starter Allie Reynolds and Closer Joe Page, who picks up his 5th win; meanwhile the Tigers Starter Dizzy Trout takes the loss.
1950-Rookie Bronx Starter Whitey Ford tosses a 6-hitter to give the Yankees the rubber game in Detroit, winning by the score of 8-1 and move them back into 1st place. Joe DiMaggio hits his 30th HR of the 1950 AL season as the Yankees score 7 runs in the 9th inning as Ford drives to his 7th win without a loss. The Red Sox will follow the Yankees into Detroit and sweep 3 games from the Tigers.
1951-At Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio's long triple off of veteran Tribe Starter Bob Feller scores 2 runs in the 5th inning, meanwhile Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds holds on for a 5-1 Yankees victory. The Yankees will take over 1st place in the AL for good by a margin of .003 points over the Indians.
1955-The Yankees open a key series with the Red Sox. The day starts with the Yankees trailing 1st place Indians by 1/2 game with 11 games remaining in the 1955 AL season. The Indians supposedly had the easier schedule because they did not have to play the Red Sox. In Game #1 of the series, Yankees open with an early 3-0 lead. Only to fall behind by the score of 4-3 to the Sox in the 8th inning. Addition to losing their lead, the Yankees lose 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron, after he breaks a toe kicking a water cooler in the dugout, after a close call out. Mickey Mantle gets hurt after running out a bunt. In the bottom of the 9th inning with 1 out, RF Hank Bauer hits a HR off of Red Sox Reliever Ellis Kinder to tie the score at 4-4. One out later, Yankees Yogi Berra hits a game winning HR. Meanwhile the Indians would lose to the Tigers and the Yankees would be in 1st place for the rest of the 1955 AL season.
1955-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle pulls a hamstring muscle, while running out a bunt in a game against the Red Sox. He will make just 2 Pinch-Hit appearances for the Yankees in September of 1955. Mickey will go to bat in the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers, just 10 times including hitting a HR in Game 3.
1958-Former 1945 AL Batting Champion and Yankees INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss (1943-1950) is killed in a train wreck in New Jersey. (1918-1958)
Former Yankees INF George Stirnweiss was killed at age 39 when the passenger train that he was on plunged off the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge between Elizabethport and Bayonne, New Jersey. He was a college football and baseball star at the Univ. of No. Carolina. The Chicago Cardinals of the NFL drafted him, but George chose to pursue baseball instead, signing with the Yankees in 1940. In the Yankees farm system, he would play with the Norfolk Tars (PL) in 1940 and then the Newark Bears (IL) from 1940 to 1942. Gastric ulcers and hay fever prevented him from serving in the military during World War II. He had played in the infield for the Yankees from 1943-1950. He did appear in the 1947 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .259 with 8 walks while playing in all 7 games. In 1949, he was also in the World Series, but he only appeared in 1 game with no at-bats. George had led the AL 2B in fielding in 1944 and 1948. He led the AL in hitting in 1945 with a .309 BA. As a Yankees player, George would hit .274 in 884 games with 27 HRs and 253 RBIs. On June 15,1950, he was traded to St. Louis Browns, along with OF Jim Delsing, Pitchers Don Johnson, Duane Pillette and $50,000 cash for 3 Browns’ Pitchers Tom Ferrick, Joe Ostrowski, Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas. He would finish his MLB active playing career with the 1951-1952 Indians. As an MLB player, George would hit .268 with 29 HRs and 281 RBIs in 1,028 MLB games. After his playing days, he was a Manager for the 1954 Schenectady Blue Jays in the Phillies organization. In 1955, he would manage the Binghamton Triplets (EL) in the Yankees organization. At the 1956 Old Timer’s Day game, he took his close friend and Yankees teammate Phil Rizzuto home after his unconditional players release by the Yankees front office. He had told Phil, who was deeply trouble by his player release actions by Yankees GM George Weiss and Yankees Manager Casey Stengel to keep quiet about it to the NYC Sports Media. He then went into banking, but George had to temporarily retire when he had a heart attack in 1957. In 1958, he had begun to be involved in youth baseball. At the time of his death in 1958, George left a wife and 6 children. Two explanations are given for the nickname "Snuffy". First, it is said he had a football injury that affected his breathing. Second, he had sinus problems that he treated with snuff.
1958-Yankee-Killer Frank Lary is the 3rd AL Pitcher to beat them 7 times in the same AL season, as the Tiger star defeats them by the score of 4-2. Ed Walsh (9-1 in 1908) and Ed Cicotte (7-1 in 1916) were the other AL Pitchers to do this feat. Frank Lary would finish with an MLB lifetime pitching record of 28-13 (.683) against the Yankees, which would allow him to have an overall .500 MLB Pitching career winning percentage.
1959-Former Hall of Fame Yankees and MLB OF/DH Tim “Rock” Raines (1996-1998) was born.
On December 28,1995, OF Tim Raines was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later. On February 6,1996, the Yankees would send Minor League P/3B Blaise Kozeniewski to the White Sox to complete the deal. For the 1996-1998 Yankees, Tim would hit .299 with 18 HRs and 118 RBIs in 242 games, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency. He would appear in the 1996 World Series against the Braves, hitting just .214.
1960-With Hall of Fame Ty Cobb among the 49,055 fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium, All-Star OF Mickey Mantle cracks a 2-run HR, his 35th of the 1960 AL season off of Orioles’ Starter Chuck Estrada to give the Yankees, a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Bronx Catcher Yogi Berra adds a HR. In the last of the 8th inning, 2B Bobby Richardson's hit off of Orioles hurler Chuck Estrada's glove drives in 2 runs for a 5-3 Yankees win.
1960-Former Yankees DH/OF Mel Hall (1989-1992) was born.
On March 19,1989, OF Mel Hall was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for Catcher Joel Skinner and OF/INF Turner Ward. He would hit .273 with 63 HRs and 265 RBIs in 519 games for the Yankees. In his best season with the Yankees was in 1991, when he hit .285 with 19 HRs. In 1992, he drove in an MLB career-high 81 runs. He would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. Mel would go to Japan to play pro baseball for several seasons.
1961-At Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Yankees Roger Maris connects for HR #57 off of Yankee-Killer Tiger Starter Frank Lary to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 HR pace. Frank Lary wins his 21st game of the 1961 AL season, a 10-4 victory over the Yankees Starting Pitcher Ralph Terry.
1964-The White Sox move into a 1st-place tie (88-61) with the Orioles by besting the Tigers by the score of 4-1, while the Orioles lose to the Twins by the score of 2-1. The Yankees are 1 percentage point behind in the AL standings.
1966-Former Yankees Minor League P Mike Draper was born.
On June 1,1988, Pitcher Mike Draper was selected by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 1988 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Mike never appeared in an MLB game with the team. On December 7,1992, Mike was drafted by the Mets from the Yankees organization in the 1992 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.
1967-Veteran Tigers 1B Norm Cash drives in 5 runs, while Bengals Starter John Hiller goes the distance, enabling Detroit to take the AL lead with a 9-1 win over the Yankees.
1972-The Yankees had purchased Reliever Steve Blateric from the Reds for waiver price. Steve would appear in 1 game with the 1972 Yankees with no record. In March of 1973, he was returned by the Yankees to the Reds.
1975-Former Yankees Baseball Executive Billy Eppler (2011-2015) was born.
Billy Eppler worked in the Rockies Scouting Dept. from 2000-2004, signing Ryan Spilborghs. In November 2004, he would move to the Yankees as their Assistant Director of Baseball Operations. From 2006-2009, he was the Yankees' Director of Professional Scouting and then he was Senior Director of Professional Personnel from 2010-2011 before becoming an Assistant GM under Brian Cashman. On October 4, 2015, Eppler was named General Manager of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, replacing Bill Stoneman who had occupied the position on an interim basis since July. He had been a finalist for the same job in 2011, when the Angels had instead hired Jerry Dipoto. He was joining an organization with high expectations, after the team had missed the postseason by a single game in spite of Team Owner Arte Moreno's profligate spending. He also knew he had little margin of maneuver concerning Manager Mike Scioscia, whose return for a 17th season in 2016 had just been confirmed: Dipoto's early departure came about because he had lost a power struggle with the long-time Manager. Having worked for the Yankees all those, years, he explained that he was used to pressure and high expectations. Eppler was particularly active in the off-season following the 2017 AL season. He signed the most-prized Free Agent of the off-season, Japanese P/DH Shohei Ohtani, then followed that by orchestrating a trade to acquire 2B Ian Kinsler and signed Zack Cozart to play 3B, all in an 8-day span. He was the GM for the Mets, before being released by the team.
1977-The Yankees would rally for 4 runs in the 8th inning to come-from-behind win over the Tigers by the score of 5-4. Bronx Reserve OF Paul Blair’s 2-run HR provided the margin of victory. Yankees Starter Don Gullett went the distance for his 12th win of the 1977 AL season.
1977-The Yankees had sold OF/DH Carlos May to the Angels. He was hitting a disappointing .227 with 2 HRs and 16 RBIs for the 1977 Yankees. He had hit .278 in 87 games for the 1976 Yankees. May would finish his Yankees playing career with a .258 BA with 5 HRs and 62 RBIs in 152 games for the team.
1978-With 55,091 fans looking on, the Yankees would snap a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning triple by Willie Randolph and a sacrifice fly by Thurman Munson to beat the Red Sox by the score of 3-2. The Yankees, now lead the Red Sox by 3 1/2 games in the AL Eastern Division race. The Yankees 1st score on a Reggie Jackson 2-run HR blast in the 5th inning. Both teams’ Starters, Catfish Hunter and former Yankees Pitcher Mike Torrez go the distance for their teams.
1979-At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold “Catfish Hunter Day” to honor their future HOF Pitcher, who will be retiring from baseball at the end of the 1979 AL season at the age of 33. A 20-year-old left-hander Rookie Pitcher named Dave Righetti makes his MLB Pitching Debut for the Yankees.
1980-At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees behind the pitching of Starter Ron Guidry and Closer Goose Gossage beat the Blue Jays by a score of 5-4. The Gator picks up his 14th win of the 1980 AL season, while going 6-innings, allowing 8-Blue Jay hits, 4-runs and 4 strikeouts. Yankees Closer Rich Gossage gets his 28th save of the 1980 AL season, pitching 2 innings allowing only 1-hit with 5 Toronto strikeouts.
1987-Former Yankees Minor League INF Kermit Wahl had passed away. (1922-1987)
On July 31,1951, INF Kermit Wahl was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with Pitchers Bobby Hogue, Lou Sleater, INF Tom Upton and $10,000 Cash to the Yankees for OF Cliff Mapes. Kermit had played for 1944-1947 Reds, he had briefly played in the Dodgers organization with the AA Montreal Royals (IL) then with the 1950-1951 Philadelphia A’s, before joining the Browns in 1951. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to wear the Yankees pinstripes. He was sent to their American Association affiliate, the AAA Kansas City Blues. For the Blues, he would hit .275 with No HRs, 9 RBIs in 28 games. The for next 2 seasons, he was stuck at Kansas City. In 1952, he hit for his highest career batting average at .302 with 5 HRs and 43 RBIs. Had he been in another MLB organization, he would have had a much better chance at playing for the big club. In 1953, he spent another year on the "farm" hitting only .240 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs. His pro career was obviously fading. In 1954, he would finally escape the Yankees farm system; he would play for the Braves' AAA team Toledo Sox. Kermit would hit well for a .305 BA, he had 5 HRs with 20 RBIs, ending his pro baseball career at age 31. As MLB player, Kermit had appeared in 226 games, while hitting .231 with 3 HRs and 50 RBIs.
1992-White Sox 1B Frank Thomas gets 5 hits, all singles in Chicago's 9-6 win over the Yankees. The Yankees Rookie Starter Sterling Hitchcock loses his 1st MLB pitching decision.
1996-Backed by 2, 3-run HRs from Tim Raines, who is celebrating his 37th birthday, Yankees Starter Jimmy Key stops the Blue Jays by the score of 10-0. Raines 2nd HR is a 457 FT blast to the Stadium CF, is the longest hit by a Yankee player this season. The Yankees are now 3 games up in the AL East Division.
1997-The Yankees would sweep a doubleheader from the Red Sox, winning by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte pitches 8 innings in the Opener, while striking out career-high of 12 Red Sox batters. Willie Banks is the winner for the Yankees in the nightcap with 6 2/3 innings pitching performance.
2000-Before a crowd of 55,097 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would defeat the Indians by a score of 6-3. Yankees Starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez goes the distance to pick up his 12th victory of the 2000 AL season, giving up only 4-Tribe hits, while allowing 3-runs and 6-strikeouts. The Bronx Bombers hitting attack was led by solo HRs by Glenallen Hill and Jorge Posada.
2008-In the last home stand at Yankee Stadium II, Derek Jeter passes HOF Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at the storied stadium. He collects his 1,270th hit in the ballpark, a single past INF Juan Uribe, while facing Chicago hurler Gavin Floyd. The Yankees would still lose the game by the score of 6-2 to the White Sox.
2012-In the AL East race, 1st-place Yankees would beat the Rays by the score of 6-4 behind Starter Hiroki Kuroda and Closer Rafael Soriano's 40th save of the 2012 AL season. At the end of the day, the Bombers would lead the Orioles by 1 game and 5 games over the falling Rays in the AL East race.
2020-Trailing the Blue Jays by half a game at the start of a 3-game series at New Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would leapfrog over their rivals with a pair of drubbings, 20-6 yesterday and 13-2 today, hitting a team-record 13 HRs over the 2 games. Today, D.J. LeMahieu propels Tanner Roark's 1st pitch of the game over the fence and the Yankees will hit 6 more before the game ends, with LeMahieu hitting a 2nd one, Kyle Higashioka having the 1st 3-HR game of his MLB playing career and Luke Voit hitting his MLB-leading 19th long ball. Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole does not allow a hit over the 1st 5 innings before lifting his foot off the gas pedal and cruising to his 6th win of the year and the 100th of his MLB pitching career.
2023-The Yankees have placed Reliever Anthony Misiewicz on the 7-day concussion IL today, while reinstating veteran Reliever Ian Hamilton from the 15-day IL. Misiewicz was carted off the field yesterday evening in Pittsburgh, after being struck in the head with a Ji Hwan Bae line drive, but Bronx Manager Aaron Boone told the YES Network today that Misiewicz was released from hospital and “all things considered, I think he’s doing pretty well.” More will be known once Misiewicz undergoes further testing, and while there is no timetable for concussion-related symptoms, it would seem like Misiewicz’s 2023 season might be over. The southpaw has a 9.00 ERA over 11 total innings of work with the Diamondbacks, Tigers and Yankees this season, and Friday’s game marked Misiewicz’s 3rd game in the pinstripes since being claimed off waivers from the Tigers back in July. The veteran Reliever Ian Hamilton returns to the Bronx bullpen after a minimal 15-day absence due to a groin strain.
September 17th
1887-Former Yankees Pitcher Nick Cullop (1916-1917) was born. (1887-1961)
On January 21,1916, Pitcher Nick Cullop was purchased by the Yankees from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League). For the Yankees, Nick would post a 18-15 record with 2.64 ERA and 2 saves in 58 games. On January 22,1918, Nick was traded by the Yankees along with INF Joe Gedeon, Rookie Pitcher Urban Shocker, 2B Fritz Maisel, Catcher Les Nunamaker and $15,000 Cash to the St. Louis Browns for veteran MLB Starter Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.
1904-More than 23,000 fans, reputedly the largest crowd in Red Sox history, show up for the showdown twin bill with the Yankees. New York scores 3 runs in each of the 1st 2 innings against Red Sox Starter Bill Dineen. Bronx Starter Jack Chesbro (35-8) holds on for a 6-4 win, his 7th victory in a row. The Yankees briefly take over 1st place in the AL. Veteran Starter Cy Young tops the Yankees by the score of 4-2 in the nightcap, beating veteran MLB Starter Ned Garvin, who was recently acquired from the Dodgers. The 2 teams complete their 3 doubleheaders with a 2-2-2 mark.
1917-Former Yankees Pitcher Allen “Two Gun” Gettel (1945-1946) was born. (1917-2005)
In 1936, the Yankees had signed hurler Al Gettel as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the Yankees, Al would post a 15-15 record with a 3.53 ERA and 3 saves in 53 games. On January 22,1943, Al was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Ed Levy and $10,000 Cash to the Blue Jays (aka Phillies) for 1B Nick Etten. On March 26,1943, P Al Gettel and 1B Ed Levy were returned to the Yankees. Then the Yankees would send Catcher Tom Padden and hurler Al Gerheauser on March 26,1943 to the Blue Jays to complete the trade. On December 6,1946, Al was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Gene Bearden and Reserve OF Hal Peck to the Indians for Catcher Sherman Lollar and Reserve 2B Ray Mack. Al had appeared in several Grade B Western movies, while he was playing baseball in the PCL. He was given the nickname of “Two Gun.”
1917-The Yankees Fritz Maisel’s 7th inning single breaks up Indians Starter Stan Coveleski’s no-hit bid during a 2-0 loss to the Tribe.
1920-The 1st-place Indians top the A's by the score of 9-3, while the White Sox behind Red Faber are again beating the Yankees by the score of 6-4. Faber gets 1st-inning help from White Sox hitters Eddie Collins, Joe Jackson and Happy Felsch, who all hit 2-out triples: Collins and Jackson triple later as Chicago totals an AL record 6 triples in the game.
1922-St. Louis Browns Southpaw Hub Pruett, who has fanned Babe Ruth 9 of 10 times over the 1922 AL season, is reached for a HR by the Bambino, but he still beats the Yankees by the score of 5-1. Whitey Witt receives an ovation, but the partisan crowd in CF is quick to wave white hankies in the 8th inning for Yankees Pinch-Hitter Norm McMillan. Police make them stop. Browns hitter George Sisler has a single to extend his AL hitting streak to 41 games, breaking his tie with Ty Cobb’s 40 game streak.
1928-Wilcy Moore, the Yankees pitching hero of 1927 World Championship season, goes home with an ailing arm, after working just 60 innings in 35 games for the 1928 Yankees. He had posted a 4-4 record with a 4.18 ERA and 3 saves. In 1929, he will return to the Yankees healthy, posting a 6-4 record with a 4.06 ERA and 8 saves in 41 games.
1928-The Yankees had purchased veteran 1B George “Tigoa” Burns from the Indians. He was a 35-yearold AL player, who had been a lifetime .300 hitter with the A’s and Indians. At first, he didn’t want to report to the Yankees without any assurance of plans for him for 1929 AL season, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, announce that he would be a Reserve 1B for Lou Gehrig in 1929. Then Burns would report to the team, appearing in 4 games, while going 2 for 4 at the plate. In 1918, the Yankees had acquired Burns from the Tigers, but then they had traded him to the Athletics for veteran OF Ping Bodie, since they already had Wally Pipp starting at 1B for the team.
1929-The Yankees had sold veteran AL 3B Gene Robertson to the Braves for the waiver price of $7,500 Cash. He had played 3rd base for the team in 1928, when veteran 3B Joe Duggan went down with a leg injury. He had appeared in 83 games, while hitting .291 with 1 HR and 36 RBIs. In 1929, he had played in 90 games, while hitting .298 with No HRs and 35 RBIs. Once the Yankees were out of the 1929 AL Pennant race, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, started using Rookie Lyn Larry at 3B, making the veteran Robertson expendable.
1931-In the 1st of 2 games, the Yankees and Red Ruffing rough up the St. Louis Browns and their Starter George Blaeholder by the score of 17-0. Bill Dickey's Grand Slam HR is the big blow in the game. The Yankees would take the nightcap by the score of 6-1 behind Lefty Gomez's 3-hitter, along with Babe Ruth's 41st and 42nd HRs of the 1931 AL season.
1934-The Yankees would reach Detroit for a last-chance series with the Tigers. They lose the opening game, as veteran Detroit Starter Al Crowder beats Bronx Starter Lefty Gomez with a 3-0 shutout.
1936-Former Yankees Reserve INF Tommy Carroll (1955-1956) was born. (1936-2021)
In 1955, Tommy Carroll was a Yankees Bonus Baby signing. Tom had played college baseball at Notre Dame. Like many of his fellow bonus earners, Carroll spent most of his time sitting on the bench and watching, while occasionally being used as a Pinch-Runner (33 times over the 2 seasons), he was forced to spend in the MLB (2-seasons). He was used twice as a Pinch-Runner in the 1955 World Series, which the Yankees lost to the Dodgers. He would later call this the greatest thrill of his short MLB playing career. He didn’t appear in the 1956 World Series against the Dodgers. He had played Shortstop and 3B for the 1955-1956 Yankees, while appearing in 50 games, hitting .287. Then he spent the next couple of seasons playing in the Minor Leagues. Originally signed as a Shortstop, he was judged too tall for the position at 6' 3"; Tom was moved to 3B. In 1957, while playing for the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL), he hit only .213, although with some power. It is not surprising that Carroll was somewhat overmatched; as the league's caliber was quite high with his pro experience up to that point had been minimal. Seeing this, the Yankees would send him down to their AA team, the New Orleans Pelicans (SA) at the start of the 1958 season, after which he was promoted to the AAA Denver Bears (AA); overall, he hit .283 that season. However, his pro baseball career was derailed once again, when he had to spent 6 months in military service for the Army after the 1958 AL season, slowing any momentum, he was starting to build up. On April 12,1959, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with Minor League OF Russ Snyder for OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes. He played little for his new team, however by early June, he was back in the Minor Leagues. He also played in the winter leagues in Venezuela during those years, but he failed to develop any more as a prospect. After spending the entire 1960 season in the Minor Leagues, Tom would retire from baseball. Overall, Carroll was a poor fielder- he had a career fielding percentage of .905, but he finished his brief MLB playing career with a .300 BA in his limited playing opportunities. Later, Tom became a member of the U.S. Diplomat Services for the State Department
1937-Former Yankees MLB Coach (1992-1993) and Minor League Manager (1976-1977) Ed Napoleon was born. (1937-2020)
Ed Napoleon had played in the Minor Leagues from 1956 to 1970. Napoleon was a Yankees MLB Coach (1992-1993) and a Minor League Manager and Coach. Before joining the Yankees organization, he had been working with the Pirates Minor League system. In 1976, he was the Class A Oneonta Yankees (EL) Manager; then he was moved to the 1977 Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL) Manager. In 1978, he was a AAA Tacoma Yankees Coach. In 1979, he was a AA West Haven Yankees (EL) Coach and the 1980-1982 AA Nashville Sounds (SL) Coach. Then Ed would work for other MLB organizations. He would return to the Yankees as one of their MLB Coaches for the 1992-1993 seasons. He would leave the organization again, working for other MLB teams before retiring in 2002. Ed would return to work for the Reds in 2002-2004, as a Special Instructor.
1939-AL President Will Harridge overturns the Umpires' decision to call the September 2nd, Yankees-Red Sox game and a forfeit. He orders the contest to be replayed from the 7th inning, as a 5-5 tie. After the Red Sox fans had thrown a barrage of garbage onto playing field at Fenway Park due to the Yankees making deliberate outs to take advantage of the 6:30 PM Sunday curfew. Umpire Cal Hubbard had ruled that the Boston crowd's action made it impossible to continue the game. He awarded the game to the Yankees by the forfeit score of 9-0.
1950-Newly acquired from the Pirates, veteran NL hitter Johnny Hopp Pinch-Hits a Grand Slam HR off of St. Louis Browns hurler Al Widmar during a 5-run, 9th inning Yankees rally that carried the team to a 6-1 win.
1950-The Yankees announce that “The highly touted Mickey Mantle, brilliant 18-yearold shortstop prospect, also will join the Yankees on this road trip.” “Nothing like giving these kids a first-hand demonstration of what it’s like on a ball club shooting for a pennant.” Yankees Manager Casey Stengel tells the Baseball writers covering the team.
1951-The Yankees would break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 9th inning when, with the bases loaded, when Phil Rizzuto squeezes home Yankees baserunner Joe DiMaggio with the winning run. The run scored off of Indian's Bob Lemon, gives Yankees Starter Eddie Lopat his 20th win of the 1951 AL season. The Yankees, now lead the Indians by 1 game and the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games in the 1951 AL Pennant race.
1955-Former Yankees Reserve 1B/DH Marshall Brant (1980) was born.
On April 1,1980, 1B/DH Marshall Brant was purchased by the Yankees from the Mets. He had won the 1980 International League MVP Award, while playing for the AAA Columbus Clippers, hitting .298 with 23 HRs with 93 RBIs. Marshal had appeared in 3 games for the 1980 Yankees with no hits. On November 4,1980, he was released by the team. On February 3,1981, Brant was resigned as a Minor league Free Agent with the Yankees; he would play for the AAA Columbus (IL). On June 15,1983, Marshall was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Ben Callahan and Cash to Oakland for MLB veteran P Matt Keough. He would later play pro baseball in Japan.
1958-Despite with a wind blowing in at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle poles a Jim Bunning pitch down the RF line over the roof onto Trumbull Avenue, some 500 feet away. The Mantle 2-run HR is all that Detroit Starter Jim Bunning allows the Yankee hitters as the Tigers win the game by a score of 5-2.
1961-At Detroit, Roger Maris triples off of Reliever Terry Fox in the 7th inning to put the Yankees ahead, the Tigers ties it and, then in the 12th inning, Roger Maris faces Terry Fox again with Tony Kubek on 2B. Roger Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then he steps back in the batter’s box, Roger belts the 1st pitch from Fox for his 58th HR of the 1961 AL season.
1964-The Yankees would whip the Angels by the score of 6-2 to lock on to 1st place in the AL for good with a 2-percentage-point lead over the idle White Sox and the Orioles. Bronx Bomber Sluggers Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle, each have 3 hits. Mickey Mantle's hits include his 2,000th MLB career hit and his 450th MLB career HR, his 31st HR of the 1964 AL season. Yogi Berra’s Yankees have won 2 in a row and will run their winning streak to 11 games.
1966-“Bobby Richardson Day” is held at Yankee Stadium to honor the retiring Yankees All-Star 2B.
1968-The Tigers would clinch the 1968 AL pennant with a 2-1 victory over the Yankees.
1970-With the Yankees losing to the Red Sox, the Orioles clinch the AL East Division despite losing to the Senators by the score of 2-0. Dick Bosman is the winner, allowing only 5 Orioles hits.
1976-At Milwaukee's County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate "Hank Aaron Day." Among those gathered are MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father, President Gerald Ford. Hank goes hitless in 5 at-bats. The 1st-place Yankees spoil the night by winning the game by a score of 5-3 in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo HR in the 11th inning for the game winner, an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Yankees Starter Ed Figueroa tallies for his 19th win of the 1976 AL season, as the Yankees increase their AL East led to 11 games.
1977-The Yankees would slam 5 HR’s, including 2 HRs by Reggie Jackson and 1 by newly acquired Slugger Dave Kingman, as they collect 17 hits in route to a 9-4 win against the Tigers.
1978-The Red Sox finally win a game against the Yankees, taking a 7-3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Dennis Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees hitters on 4 hits. The Yankees will score 2 unearned runs in 8th inning on Butch Hobson’s 2nd error of the game (and his 42nd of the 1978 AL season). The veteran Yaz is playing CF in place of the injured Fred Lynn, would collect his 14th HR of the season in the 9th inning.
1985-Former Yankees Reserve OF Greg Golson (2010-2011) was born.
On January 26, 2010, OF Greg Golson was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for Minor League P Mitch Hilligoss and Cash. He would appear in 33 games for the Yankees as a Reserve OF, while hitting .235. On December 8, 2011, Greg was released by the Yankees. In 2004, Golson was a former #1 MLB Amateur Player Draft selection of the Phillies.
1989-Former Yankees Minor League OF Leon Culberson (1948-1949) had passed away. (1919-1989)
On May 13,1948, OF Leon Culberson traded by the Senators along with $15,000 Cash to the Yankees for OF Bud Stewart. He did not appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent the AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), where he would hit .259. In 1949, the Yankees would send him to their other AAA team, the Newark Bears (IL). During mid-season of 1949, Leon was traded by the Yankees to the Giants, who will assign him to their AAA Jersey City Giants team (IL). Leon would play in the Minor Leagues until 1952. He had originally come up with the 1943 Red Sox. He had played for Boston from 1943-1947. He had appeared in the 1946 World Series with the Red Sox, appearing 6 games, while hitting just .222. On December 10,1947, Leon was traded by Bosto to the Senators for OF Stan Spence. Leon would finish his MLB career playing in 370 games, while hitting .266 with 14 HRs and 131 RBIs.
1990-At the Sky Dome in Toronto, the Blue Jays 6-4 win over the Yankees with 49,902 fans watching giving Toronto a MLB season attendance record. The Blue Jays will finish the 1990 AL season with 58 consecutive sellouts with a total attendance of 3,885,284 fans.
1993-In a last try for the 1993 AL Pennant, the Yankees had obtained 40-year-old veteran Starter Frank Tanana from the Mets for Minor League P Kenny Greer. Tanana will go 0-2 with the Yankees to finish out his MLB Pitching career with a 240-236 record and setting an MLB record for most wins without racking up a single 20-win MLB season in his pitching career.
1998-Red Huff, the oldest ex-MLB player, dies at the age of 107. Chet Hoff is the longest-lived ex-Major Leaguer ever. He was the last person alive to have played in the 1910’s. Huff had pitched for the 1911-1913 Yankees and the 1915 St. Louis Browns. Red had struck out the 1st MLB batter, he ever faced, the Tigers future HOF Ty Cobb. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a 2-4 record with a 2.49 ERA in 23 games.
2002-Yankees 2B Alfonso Soriano gets 5 hits, including a double and HR, as the Yankees fall to the Devil Rays by a score of 9-7. Bernie Williams scores his 100th run in the loss to reach that mark for the 7th straight season. He is the 4th Yankee to score 100 runs this season, the 1st Yankee team to do so since the 1941 AL season. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter combine to tie the MLB record for consecutive years for teammates both having 100+ runs.
2011-Yankees Closer Marino Rivera ties Trevor Hoffman's MLB record with his 602nd MLB career save in the Yankees 7-6 victory over the Blue Jays. Rivera is backed by HRs from Alex Rodriguez, playing in his 1st game since aggravating a wrist injury on September 9th. Curtis Granderson, who becomes the 1st Yankees CF since Mickey Mantle in 1961 to hit 40 HRs in a season.
2020-The Yankees continue to be nearly unstoppable winning their 8th straight in completing a 3-game sweep of the Blue Jays, while setting a bunch of records in the process. In today's 10-7 win; they tie the MLB mark with 5 HRs off of Chase Anderson in the 4th inning. With another HR later in the game, they become the 1st team to hit at least 6 long balls in 3 consecutive games and their 3-game total of 19 is another record. With 1 of the 5 4th-inning HR - 3 of which come on consecutive pitches - Luke Voit is the 1st player to reach the total of 20 HRs this season.
2023-The Yankees have announced this morning that Starter Frankie Montas will begin a rehab assignment at the AAA Scranton this evening. Montas has not yet appeared in a professional game this season, after undergoing shoulder surgery back in February. Montas had joined the Yankees at the trade deadline last season in a deal that sent a package of young prospects headlined by left-hander Ken Waldichuk. The deal proved to be an ill-fated one for the Yankees, as Montas made just 8 starts to the tune of a 6.35 ERA with a strikeout rate of just 17.8%. With just 12 games left on the 2023 season calendar with the Yankees, all but eliminated from postseason contention, the window is tight for Montas to return to the MLB this year at all, much less for a full-length start. Nonetheless, with the 30-year-old righty poised to hit the open market this November, even a brief return to the MLB, where Montas can prove his health to clubs ahead of the offseason could be valuable as he looks to join a crowded MLB free agent class for starting pitchers.
September 18th
1898-Former Yankees Pitcher George “The Bull” Uhle (1933-1934) was born. (1898-1985)
During the 1933-1934 AL seasons, hurler George Uhle would post an 8-5 record along with a 6.17 ERA in 22 games for the Yankees; before finishing his MLB Pitching career with the 1936 Indians. During the 1920’s, George was the leading Starter for the Tribe. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with an overall 200-166 record with a 3.99 ERA in 513 games.
1909-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Robert “Bob” Collins (1944) was born. (1909-1969)
For the 1944 Yankees, Bob Collins had appeared in 3 games as a Reserve Catcher, while batting .333 (1-3). He had previously played in the MLB for the 1940 Cubs, appearing in 47 games, while hitting .258.
1911-At Detroit, with a triple steal on, the Yankees hitter Cozy Dolan singles in 3 runs in a 9-4 loss. The 3 RBIs are half of Cozy's 1911 AL season total
1920-NL Directors meet in New York City joined by AL Team Owners Jacob Ruppert and Capt. Huston (Yankees), Charles Comiskey (White Sox) and Harry Frazee (Red Sox). They name a committee to draw up an agreement along the lines of Albert Lasker’s proposal and give the 5 AL clubs still backing Ban Johnson an ultimatum: come in by November 1st or the Yankees, White Sox, and Red Sox will pull out of the AL and join a 12-team NL (with a team in Detroit to complete the roster). The other AL 5 Team Owners turns it down and bluff and counterbluff blow through the autumn air.
1922-Yankees OF Whitey Witt, his head bandaged from being hit by a bottle thrown by a St. Louis fan, drives in 2 runs in the 9th inning for a 3-2 Yankees win. The Yankees would leave St. Louis with 1 1/2 games in front of the Browns. They will finish 1 game on top, clinching the 1922 AL pennant on September 30th with a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. The St. Louis Brown’s George Sisler’s 41-game hitting streak is stopped by Yankees Starter Joe Bush, the same pitcher that he had started his hitting streak against on July 27th.
1922-Former Yankees OF/1B (1908) and MLB Manager (1905-1906 Senators,1912-1913 Red Sox) Garland “Jake” Stahl (1908) had passed away. (1879-1922)
On October 13,1907, 1B Jake Stahl was traded as part of a 3-team trade by White Sox to the Yankees. The Yankees would send 2B Frank LaPorte to the Boston Americans (Aka Red Sox). They would in return send INF Freddy Parent to the White Sox. The Yankees had switched Jake from 1B to Outfield, because they already had Hal Chase starting at 1B. For the 1908 Yankees, he would appear in 75 games, while hitting .225 with 4 HRs and 45 RBIs. On July 10,1908, Jake was purchased by the Red Sox from the Yankees. In his last game as a Yankee, Jake had 3 hits including a HR. He would finish his active playing career in 1913 as a Player-Manager with the Red Sox. His Boston team had won the 1912 World Series. With the 1905-1906 Senators, he was a Player-Manager. His final MLB player career totals were a .261 BA with 31 HRs with 431 RBIs in 981 games.
1926-At Cleveland’s Dunn Field, the Indians win their 4th game in a row by defeating the Yankees by a score of 3-1 behind veteran Starter George Uhle. This Indians victory cuts the Yankees AL lead to 2 1/2 games over the Tribe.
1927-Former Yankees Closer Luis “Yo-Yo” Arroyo (1960-1963) was born. (1927-2015)
On July 20,1960, the Reds would send veteran Pitcher Luis Arroyo to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on March,1960. He had been pitching for the Reds AAA club, the Jersey City Jerseys (IL). In the March 1960 trade, the Reds would sent Players to be Named Later and Catcher Jesse Gonder to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later (P Zack Monroe). Luis would be helping out in the Bronx bullpen, eventually he would later replace veteran Closer Ryne Duren as the 1961 Yankees Bullpen Closer. For the 1960 Yankees, he had posted a 5-1 record with a 2.88 ERA and 7 saves in 29 games. He would make 1 appearance for the team in the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. The 1961 AL season was his best MLB and Yankees career season, when he posted a 15-5 record with a 2.19 ERA and 29 saves in 65 games. He was selected for the AL All-Star team. He won 1 game in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. In the winter of 1961, Luis did not pitch in winter baseball for the 1st time in his MLB Pitching career, which resulted in him having pitching arm problems during the 1962 and 1963 AL seasons. He would finish his Yankees pitching career with an overall 22-10 record along with a 3.12 ERA and 43 saves in 127 games. He originally came up to the MLB with 1955 Cardinals. He would make the 1955 NL All-Star team. Later, he would pitch for the Pirates and Reds before joining the Yankees in July of 1960. On September 27,1963, he was released by the Yankees. He had never fully recovered from his pitching arm injuries. After retiring as an active player, Louie would later become a long-time Yankees MLB Scout in Latin America. Also, he would manage in the Mexico League for 3 seasons (1967-1968 and 1978.)
1930-At Sportsman Park in St. Louis, the Yankees would edge the Browns by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings as Yankees Starter Red Ruffing hits 2 HRs in the game, also CF Earl Combs hits a HR in game. Veteran Yankees hurler Herb Pennock picks-up the win in relief of Ruffing, he is now 11-7 for the season, while Bronx Reliever Lou McEvoy gets his 4th save. Reliever Richard Coffman is the loser for the Browns, he is now 8-18.
1933-The 2nd-place Yankees would split a doubleheader with the White Sox, winning the opener by the score of 6-1 on Johnny Allen's 2-hitter, before falling in the nightcap by the score of 4-3. Rookie Starter Les Tietje, in his MLB Pitching debut stops the Bombers in the nightcap. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig clubs HRs #28 and #29; meanwhile Philadelphia A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx, who leads the AL HR race with 45 HRs.
1938-Although they had dropped a doubleheader to the St. Louis Browns, the Yankees would clinch the 1938 AL Pennant. The Red Sox are rained out in Chicago, their doubleheader with the White Sox will not be played, because rain-outs were not made up at that time.
1948-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Brett (1976) was born. (1948-2003)
Pitcher Ken Brett came to the Yankees from the Pirates in the Doc Medich trade. He would only appear in 2 games for the 1976 Yankees going 0-0, before being traded to the White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May. He was the older brother of Royals All-Star 3B George Brett.
1951-The Indians would beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4, as Starter Mike Garcia wins his 20th game of the 1951 season. With the Yankees losing to White Sox Starter Billy Pierce by the score of 7-1, the Indians and Yankees now are tied for 1st place in the AL. This is the 10th time the 2 teams have been in a tie for 1st place in AL, surpassing the MLB record of 9 set in the NL race of 1889 and the 1914 Federal League race.
1956-At Chicago’s Comiskey Park, before a crowd of 31,694 fans watch Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hit his 50th HR of the 1956 AL season, only the 8th MLB player to do so, in the 11th inning off of White Sox veteran hurler Billy Pierce, as Yankees win the game by a score of 3-2 to clinch another AL Pennant for Manager Casey Stengel. Yankees Starter Whitey Ford along with relief help from Bob Grimm picks up his 19th win of the season. Billy Pierce’s complete game loss, drops his pitching record to a 20-8 mark for the 1956 AL season.
1960-Before a crowd of 53,876 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would sweep their doubleheader with the Orioles, winning by the scores of 7-3 and 2-0. The Bronx Bombers will sweep their 4-game series with the Birds. The faltering Orioles, who are now 4 games back will end up in 2nd place in the AL, 8 games back of the 1960 Yankees, their best AL season since moving to from St. Louis to Baltimore in 1954. Bronx Starter Ralph Terry's 2-hitter in the nightcap beats O’s Starter Milt Pappas.
1962-At Washington’s new ballpark “D.C. Stadium,” Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle clouts the 1st HR there, then he adds another HR, both are hit off of Senators Starter Tom Cheney to pace Yankees to a 7-1 win. Mickey has a total of 5 RBIs in the game. Yankees Starter Ralph Terry picks up his 22nd win of the 1962 AL season, the most by a Yankee Right-Hander since Waite Hoyt (23-7) and George Pipgras (24-13) during the 1928 AL season. The Yankees victory, combined with a Twins loss, leaves the Yankees (90-63) in 1st place by 4 games.
1965-On “Mickey Mantle Day” at Yankee Stadium, 50,180 fans would see Mantle play his 2,000th MLB game. HOF Joe DiMaggio and Senator Bobby Kennedy are on hand as Mickey Mantle is given a barbecue grill in the shape of a prairie schooner and a 6-FT kosher salami weighing 100 Lbs. In Mantle's 1st at bat, Tiger hurler Joe Sparma comes off the mound to shake his hand. Mickey then flies out. Tigers would win the game by score of 4-3 with Reliever Denny McLain getting the win.
1966-The Twins would beat the Yankees by the score of 5-3 in 10 innings on Bob Allison's Pinch-Hit 3-run HR, sending the Yankees to the cellar (10th place) in the AL. In his last plate appearance of the 1966 AL season, Mickey Mantle would strikeout. He becomes the 1st MLB player to strike out 1,500 times in his MLB playing career.
1967-The Yankees and the Reds would swap players, the Yankees would send Rookie hurler Bill Henry (1966) to the Reds for Reserve INF/1B Len Boehmer (1969,1971). For the 1966 Yankees, Bill Henry had posted a 0-0 record in 2 games. Len Boehmer would hit .168 with No HRs and 7 RBIs in 48 games for the Bombers. From 1968-1971, he would play in the Yankee Minor League system at the AAA level, with the Syracuse Chiefs (IL).
1977-The Yankees survive a 5-run Tiger 9th inning rally to edge Detroit by the score of 6-5. The Tigers proven to be a stubborn opponent down the stretch: perhaps egged on by former Yankees Skipper Ralph Houk, who never really forgave the Yankees for what most observers called a “forced” resignation. Actually, Ralph Houk had resigned at the end of the 1973 AL season. Rather than be fired as Yankees Manager by new Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner. He had spent over 30 years in the Yankee organization as an MLB player, MLB Coach, Minor League Manager (1955-1957 AAA Denver Bears), MLB Manager and General Manager. He did not trust George, despite his promises to spend money on MLB player talent to build a contending team.
1979-Yankees Manager Billy Martin reportedly pays Bronx Rookie Pitcher Bob Kammeyer $100 to hit former Yankees player Cliff Johnson with a pitch in the Tribe’s 16-3 rout of the Yankees. Johnson belts 2 HRs as does his teammate Toby Harrah as the 2 players combine for 9 RBIs in the game. The loss would go to Yankees Starter Paul Mirabella, but Reliever Bob Kammeyer gives up all 8 Tribe runs in the 4th inning without recording an out.
1979-Former Yankees Reliever Billy Traber (2008) was born.
On January 4, 2008, veteran Reliever Billy Traber was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. For the 2008 Yankees, Billy would appear in 19 games with no record. After the 2008 AL season had ended, Traber was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1979-Former Yankees Reserve OF Kevin Thompson (2006-2007) was born.
In 2006, OF Kevin Thompson would make his MLB player debut. Thompson had helped Grayson County College win the 1999 NJCAA Division I Baseball World Series. He was selected by the Yankees in the 31st round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Player Draft as a draft-and-follow pick. In 2000, Kevin helped Grayson to another NJCAA Division I title. He would make his pro debut that summer. Thompson debuted as a pro with the GCL Yankees, hitting .267 in 20 games. In 2001, he was converted from a 2B to an OF as he batted .262 for the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). On 2002, Thompson would start off with the Class A Greensboro Bats (SA) by hitting .283, 14 SB in 17 tries in 62 games; then he was promoted to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) hitting .184, 11 SB in 12 tries in 25 games; then he was dropped back to Class A short-season Staten Island (.302). His 31 stolen bases overall led the Yankees chain. Thompson showed off his speed in 2003. He would hit .331 for Tampa with 16 steals in 21 tries and 42 runs in 44 games, earning a promotion to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). With Trenton, Kevin set franchise records for steals in a game (4), a month (20 in August) and a season (47 despite playing only 86 games; he was caught stealing just 8 times with Trenton). Unfortunately, Thompson only hit .226 for the AA Thunder. His 63 steals would lead Yankees Minor Leaguers. After off-season elbow surgery, Thompson had a rehab stint with Tampa (.356, 9 SB in 11 tries in 11 games) before finishing back with AA Trenton (.281, 29 SB in 39 tries). In 2005, Kevin had an excellent campaign. He would hit .329 in 81 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (.355 against righties) and .249 in 58 outings for the AAA Columbus Clippers, leading both teams in steals (25 for Trenton, 18 for Columbus). He led Yankee farmhands in hits (155), doubles (45), walks (76) and OBP (.394). Thompson was 0 for 2 as the leadoff man for the USA in the 2005 Futures Game. He would split the 2006 season between AAA Columbus (.265,17 SB in 24 tries) and the Bronx Bombers. In his 3 stints with the Yankees, he would hit .300 in 19 games and stole 2 bases in 2 tries. He was 1st was called up to replace the injured Gary Sheffield. Playing RF in his MLB Player debut, he struck out against Pitcher Adam Loewen in his 1st MLB at-bat. Thompson's 2007 season was similar to 2006 - mostly in AAA (.281, 24 SB in 32 tries in 77 games for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees) will 3 MLB call-ups, in which he hit .190 in 13 games. The Yankees would waive him; Oakland would pick him up, batting just .071 for them. Let go by the A’s, he was claimed off of waivers by the Pirates. In 63 games for the AAA Indianapolis Indians (IL), he would hit .282 with 16 steals in 19 tries. A day after surgery on a torn tendon and broken hamate in his left hand in June, the Pirates would unconditionally release him to free a 40-Man Roster spot for Denny Bautista. Kevin would play in the Minor Leagues for the Rangers organization until 2011.
1981-At Fenway Park, the Yankees would defeat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4 behind the pitching of veteran MLB Starter Rick Reuschel and Reliever Ron Davis. Bronx Bombers hitting attack is led by HRs by Bomber Sluggers Dave Winfield, Lou Piniella and Bob Watson.
1983-Former Yankees Reserve INF Brent Lillibridge (2013) was born.
On June 21,2013, INF Brent Lillibridge was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for Player to be Named or Cash. He would appear in only 11 games as Reserve INF for the Yankees, while hitting just .171. The team would release him.
1982-Former Yankees Minor League C Clyde McCullough had passed away. (1917-1982)
Before the start of the 1936 AL season, Catcher Clyde McCullough was sent from Lafayette (EL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On September 8,1939, Clyde was purchased by the Cubs from the Yankees. He would play in the MLB from 1940-1956 with the Cubs and the Pirates.
1993-The Yankees would defeat the Red Sox by the score of 4-3, because of a fan who runs out on the playing field. With the Yankees trailing by the score of 3-1 with 2 outs and a man on 1st in the 9th inning, Mike Stanley hits a fly ball to LF that apparently ends the game. Umpire Tim Welke, however, had called time, when the fan bolted onto the field, giving Mike Stanley, a 2nd chance to bat. He would single on the next pitch. That hit was followed by a hit by Wade Boggs, then a walk to Dion James followed a single by Don Mattingly, which drove home the tying and winning runs for the Yankees.
2000-Pitching a 1-hitter against the Yankees, Indians hurler Bartolo Colon nearly ends the longest streak in MLB history of a team being held hitless by its opponents. Luis Polonia's 8th inning single is the only Yankees hit. The Bronx Bombers have not been denied a hit in a game since Orioles Starter Hoyt Wilhelm did it with a No-Hitter on September 9,1958, spanning total of 6,637 MLB contests.
2009-Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki hits a 2-out, 2-run HR off of Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera to give the Mariners a 3-2 victory.
2010-New York starter CC Sabathia becomes the MLB’s 1st 20-game winner this 2010 season in the Yankees' 11-3 pasting of the Orioles. Sabathia has twice before finished an MLB season with 19 wins, but it is the 1st time he reaches the magic number. However, the Yankees fail to put some distance between themselves and Tampa Bay, as the Rays rally in the 9th inning to tie the game, then score the winning run on a throwing error as they defeat the Angels by the score of 4-3 to remain a half-game behind.
2019-With a 9-1 victory over the Angels, the Yankees would clinch their 1st Eastern Division since 2012 AL season. However, the news is not all good as they also learn that Starter Domingo German, their leading winner with a record of 18-4, has been placed on an administrative leave by the MLB Commissioner's office as a result of domestic violence allegations and may well miss the 2019 MLB postseason as a result.
2024-The 1st t2 teams to clinch a spot in this year's postseason do so today. The Brewers would secure the NL Central title, their 3rd in 4 years, with a 2-1 win over the Phillies combined with a loss by the Cubs earlier in the day. For their part, the Yankees are assured of at least a wild card spot after a 10-inning, 2-1 victory over Seattle, although they are looking for more given they now hold a 5-game lead over the Orioles in the AL East and have the best record in the circuit at 89-63.
September 19th
1890-Former Yankees INF Ralph Young (1913) was born. (1890-1965)
Infielder Ralph Young played 9 years in the MLB, getting over 3,600 at-bats. Although he was only 5 ' 5 " tall, he was a regular player every season except his 1st year, when he appeared in only 7 games. In 1913, Ralph Young had appeared in 7 games for the Yankees, while hitting .067. Young was only managed by future HOF Managers in the MLB. With the Yankees, it was Frank Chance, with the Tigers, it was Hughie Jennings and Ty Cobb and with the A's, it was Connie Mack. He had played in the PCL for most of 1913-1914 seasons. The book Ty Cobb by Dan Holmes indicates that in 1917 baseball was in a patriotic mood and the Tigers did drills with their bats as if they were soldiers. Young, who was said to be a graduate of a military academy, became the drill instructor, when the Sergeant who had been the instructor was called away to active duty. Following his playing days, Young was a Baseball Coach at Temple Univ. (1932-1942), later at St. Joseph's Univ. (1948-1955).
1909-Former Yankees OF Hersh Martin (1944-1945) was born. (1909-1980)
From 1937-1940, OF Hersh Martin had played for the Phillies. In 1938, he was named to the NL All-Star team. On June 15,1940, he was purchased along with Del Young by the Giants from the Phillies. From 1940-1941, Hersch had played for the Giants organization; then he moved to the Cubs organization in 1942. On June 20,1944, Hersh was traded by the AA Milwaukee Brewers (AA) to the Yankees for 1B/OF Ed Levy and Cash. For the 1944-1945 Yankees, Martin would hit .284 with 16 HRs and 100 RBIs in 202 games. In 1946, he would return to the Minor Leagues, playing for the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) under Manager Casey Stengel until 1947. Martin was a Minor League Manager from 1948-1958 for the Browns, Pirates and the Cubs organizations.
1913-Former Yankees 1B Nick Etten (1943-1946) was born. (1913-1990)
On January 22,1943, 1B Nick Etten was obtained by the Yankees from the Phillies for 3 Minor League players and Cash. In 1943, the miracle happened. The Yankees had traded for Etten as part a player salary dump by Phillies Team Owner Gerry Nugent. Etten went from a last-place team in the NL to a Yankee team that had finished 1st in the AL from 1941 to 1942. Nick said, "Imagine a man in that environment hearing that he had been sold to the Yankees!" Etten would hit .271 in his 1st season in the Bronx, on a team that hit .256. His BA was good enough to be 3rd-best on the team, distantly behind Bill Dickey's .351. Etten would lead the team with 107 RBIs (which was also good for 2nd in the AL behind Rudy York) and was 3rd on the team in HRs. with 14 behind "King Kong" Charlie Keller and Joe Gordon. Nick’s .420 slugging average was good enough for 6th in the AL. His 35 doubles were 3rd in the AL. He was 9th in walks, 8th in HRs and 6th in total bases. From July 30th to August 15th, Etten hit exactly 0 singles: he hit 5 HRs and 9 doubles with 16 RBIs, but no singles. In spite of his successful slugging during the 1943 AL season, in the 1943 World Series Etten hit mostly 7th (sometimes 6th) in the Yankees batting order. INF Frankie Crosetti usually batted 2nd, followed in the 3d spot by 3B Billy Johnson, then followed by OF Charlie Keller and 2B Joe Gordon, Catcher Bill Dickey and Etten. Etten hit only .105 in the 1943 Series, but the Yankees won handily in 5 games over Stan Musial's 1943 Cardinals; which had won 105 games in the regular NL season.In 1944, the Yankees had slipped to 3rd in the AL, but Etten had a substantial season, hitting .293 with 97 walks, he led the AL with 22 HRs. His on-base percentage (.399) and slugging percentage (.466) were both in the top 5 in the AL. The 1945 Yankees had slipped further to 4th place in the AL, but Etten continued to hit well at age 31, by hitting .285; his 18 HRs were 2nd in the AL (behind Vern Stephens) and his 111 RBIs were 1st. Both his on-base percentage and slugging percentage were again in the top 5 in the AL. Etten was named to the AL All-Star team for the 1st and only time in his MLB playing career. With the regular MLB players returning from World War II service with the talent levels reverting to norms, he had a sharp drop-off in 1946, hitting only .232 with 9 HRs. The winter of 1946, he became expendable, when the Yankees had signed veteran MLB Player George McQuinn to play 1B. The Phillies would re-acquire him. Nick would finish out his MLB playing career playing 14 games with the 1947 Phillies, hitting .244. He had hit only .214 for the AA Newark Bears (IL) as well. His pro baseball career wasn't over, though, because he was to join the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). He hit .300 with them in 46 games in 1947; then in 1948, he became part of a great Minor League season. The team, managed by Casey Stengel in the years immediately before his Yankees days, that was called the "Nine Old Men" due to the number of ex-MLB Players (substantial even by grey-bearded PCL standards), including Etten, Ernie Lombardi, Les Scarsella, Maurice Van Robays, Cookie Lavagetto and others.
The young players on the team included Billy Martin and Catfish Metkovich. Etten had 43 HRs, far more than anyone else on the team. The team contended with the San Francisco Seals to win the PCL title; Oakland won the Governors’ Cup defeating Seattle 4 games to 1. Overall, Nick hit .313 and drove in 155 runners. He was 2nd in the PCL in slugging (behind Gene Woodling), 2nd in RBIs (1 behind Gus Zernial) and 2nd in HRs (5 behind Jack Graham). In 1949, Etten played for the AA Milwaukee Brewers (AA), while hitting .280 with 20 HRs and 82 RBIs, 2nd on the club in HR behind Howie Moss. He finished his pro playing career with the 1950 Memphis Chickashaws, batting .313 with 17 HRs, 93 RBIs and 76 walks. Lifetime, he had 89 HRs in the MLB, while hitting .277 (125 OPS+), but those stats conceal the facts that much of his career was during the war, when batting numbers were lower (lowering his numbers) and the fact that the talent level was reduced due to top players serving in the military. The similarity scores method show Sid Bream as the 2nd most similar player to Etten, but clearly Etten was much more prominent in his career. It also ignores Bream's significant defensive edge. It is true, though, that Etten didn't have a great impact on MVP voters. He wasn't in the top 10 in the MVP voting in either of 1944 or 1945, although he was in the top 2 in the league in HRs each season. In 1943, when the Yankees won the World Series, Etten was 2nd in the AL in RBIs, he finished only 7th in the voting. A large element missing when looking merely at his offensive numbers is how deplorable Nick's defense was. Bill James gives Etten an "F" at 1B, 1 of just 3 MLB regulars to earn that mark - the others are Frank Thomas and Dick Stuart. Etten almost never tried to reach grounders to the 1st base side. Teammate Danny Murtaugh said, "There were a few balls hit between 1st and 2nd base that I felt Nick should have tried for, but he'd just run to the bag and let me attempt to get them. So, one day I said to him, 'Nick, I think there are a few balls being hit down there that you should make an effort to reach.' He looked at me and replied, 'Son, they pay Ol' Nick to hit. You can't hit, so you catch all those balls and I'll knock in the runs for both of us."
1920-In New York City, Babe Ruth's movie opens at Madison Square Garden. It has been re-titled “Heading Home.” At Sportmans Park in St. Louis, the Browns would beat the Yankees by the score of 6-1.
1924-Former Yankees MLB Coach Vern Benson (1965-1966) was born. (1924-2014)
Veron Benson was a Yankees MLB Coach for the 1965-1966 AL seasons under Manager Johnny Keane. He had previously worked with Keane with the Cardinals, before joining the Yankees in October of 1964, when Keane replaced Yogi Berra as Manager. Benson had played in the MLB for the Philadelphia A’s and the Cardinals, appearing in 55 games; while hitting .202 with 3 HRs and 12 RBIs. Then he would work for the Cardinals in their Minor League system before joining the club as an MLB Coach in 1961. Later, he would work for the Reds, Braves and the Blue Jays organizations before retiring from baseball in 1980.
1926-At Cleveland's League Park, a crowd of 31,000 fans watch the Yankees hold back the Indians by the score of 8-3 in the final game of a 6-game series. In the 7th inning, Babe Ruth parks his 43rd HR of the 1926 AL season; then his teammate Lou Gehrig follows with another HR, both are off of Tribe hurler Emil Levsen. Bronx 1B Lou Gehrig would add 3 doubles and 5 RBIs to lead the Yankees batting attack. Yankees veteran Starter Dutch Ruether picks up the win.
1930-Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Bullet Bob” Turley (1955-1962) was born. (1930-2013)
In November of 1954, the Yankees had obtained Starter Robert “Bullet Bob” Turley from the Orioles along with hurler Don Larsen in the huge 17-player trade. In his 1st Yankee season in 1955, he went 17-13 with 210 strikeouts, plus making the AL All-Star team. His best Yankees season was in 1958, with Bob posting a 21-7 record, winning the MLB Cy Young Award. He was named to the AL All-Star team. Bob had appeared in 5 World Series for the Yankees, while recording a 4-3 mark with a 3.19 ERA. After the great 1958 AL season, he would battle with pitching arm troubles (1959-1962) with the 1960 season being his best, posting a 9-3 mark. He would finish his Yankees pitching career with an 82-52 career mark (WP .612) with a 3.82 ERA and 909 strikeouts. After the 1962 AL season had ended, the Yankees would sell Bob to the Angels. He will finish MLB Pitching career with the 1963 Red Sox. As an MLB Pitcher, Bob had posted a 101-83 record with a 3.64 ERA in 310 games. Later, he was an MLB Pitching Coach for the Red Sox for 1 season.
1933-The Yankees would pile up 34 hits and drub the White Sox twice by scores of 10-1 and 10-3. Yankee Starters George Uhle and Charley Devens are the recipients of the huge Yankees offensive attack. Bronx 3B Joe Sewell has 6 hits for the afternoon, while Lou Gehrig has 6 RBIs. Lou hits HR #30 in Game 1, following immediately after OF Dixie Walker hits a HR. Lou is now even with his Yankees teammate Babe Ruth, who had sat out the afternoon game.
1937-Tigers Slugger Hank Greenberg's HR in Detroit's 8-1 win over the Yankees is the 1st HR ever hit into the CF stands at Yankee Stadium.
1951-The Yankees are victorious, when Rookie Slugger Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run HR off of White Sox hurler Lou Kretlow to win the game by a score of 5-3. A small crowd of only 12,127 fans watched the game played at Yankee Stadium. The 2 teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yankees now have 9 games left in the 1951 AL season with 8 games against the Red Sox.
1951 Former Yankees MLB Coach Nardi Contreras (1995) was born.
Former MLB Pitcher Nardi Contreras appeared in 8 games for the 1980 White Sox. He began his Coaching Career as the Pitching Coach of the AA Glens Falls White Sox in 1982. After 3 seasons in Glens Falls, he would move up to the AAA Buffalo Bisons (IL) for the 1985 season. In 1986, he began a 2-year stint with the GCL Braves. Then he would move on to the Montreal Expos organization becoming the Pitching Coach for AA Jacksonville Expos from 1988-1990. In 1989, Contreras played for the St. Petersburg Pelicans (Senior Professional Baseball Association). Contreras was later an MLB Coach with the Yankees in 1995. He was then a member of the Mariners MLB Coaching Staff in 1997 and 1998, then from 1998 to 2002, he was a White Sox MLB Coach.
1964-The Yankees would move a half game ahead of the rained-out Orioles by defeating the Kansas City A’s, Ralph Terry pitches effectively in relief of Yankees Starter Al Downing.
1966-Former Yankees Co-Owner Dan Topping Sr. sells his remaining 10% stock interest in the Yankees to CBS, Inc. Also, he resigns as the Yankees Club President. CBS Executive Mike Burke succeeds him as the team’s Club President. His son, Dan Topping Jr. the Yankees GM also will leave the Yankees organization at the end of the 1966 AL season.
1967-Former Yankees Pitcher Jim Abbott (1993-1994) was born.
Despite being born with no right hand, Jim Abbott went on to a successful MLB Pitching career, winning 87 games in a decade in the MLB. Jim Abbot went 20-22 with a 4.45 ERA in 56 games for the Yankees. As an MLB Pitcher, Jim went 87-108 with a 4.25 ERA in 263 games. The Yankees had obtained him from the Angels for 3 Minor League players, 1B J. T. Snow, Pitchers Jerry Nielsen and Russ Springer. On September 4,1993, he threw a No-Hitter for the Yankees against the Indians. In the fall of 1994, he would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. Jim currently has published a book about his playing career in baseball.
1968-Denny McLain's 31st win of the 1968 AL season is overshadowed by Mickey Mantle's 535th MLB career HR. McLain allegedly calls Catcher Jim Price out to the mound, tells him to inform Mickey Mantle, that he's throwing the slugger nothing but fastballs. The HR gives Mantle undisputed hold of 3rd place on the all-time MLB HR leaders list. Mickey Mantle tips his cap to Denny as he rounds 3B. Joe Pepitone, the next Yankees batter, signals where he would like the ball thrown to him, Danny McLain immediately dusts him. The Tigers would win the game by the score of 6-2 for their 12th straight complete game for the 1968 Tigers pitching staff.
1976-Veteran AL All-Star Starter Catfish Hunter notches his 200th MLB Career victory as the Yankees stop the Brewers by the score of 2-1. Since 1901, only Christy Mathewson and Pete Alexander have hit the 200-win mark before their 31st birthday, but arm trouble will limit Catfish to a total of 224 MLB career wins. He'll win 17 games for the Yankees this season, after 5 straight 20-win seasons.
1978-Former Yankees DH/1B Nick Johnson (2001-2003,2010) was born.
In 1996, Nick Johnson was a 3rd round MLB Amateur Player Draft pick by the Yankees. He played for the Yankees from 2001-2003, but Nick had trouble staying healthy. He was named to the 2002 Topps All-Star Rookie team. As a Yankee, Nick had appeared in 272 games, while hitting .249 with 33 HRs and 121 RBIs. In the winter of 2003, Nick was traded to the Expos along with OF Juan Rivera, P Randy Choate for Expos Starter Javier Vazquez. The Yankees repatriated Nick in 2010, installing him as their DH at the start of the 2010 AL season. but injuries caught up with him quickly, however, he was limited to just 24 games, during which he hit only .167. He was placed on the DL on May 8th with an inflamed tendon in his right wrist and never played again that season. The Yankees granted him MLB Free Agency, he signed with the Indians organization for 2011 season, but he played at their AAA team at Columbus (IL). In 2012, the Orioles signed Nick as an MLB Free Agent. He made their team as a DH. He started off stone cold though, going hitless in his 1st 28 at-bats. He was still only hitting .143 on May 11th, when he hit his 1st HR in over 2 years, connecting off the Rays' Joel Peralta in the 7th inning to give Orioles a 4-3 win and sole possession of 1st place in the AL East. He suffered a season-ending wrist injury in June, at which point, he was hitting .207 with 4 HRs and 11 RBIs. After the 2012 AL season, he decided to throw in the towel as a result of the endless string of injuries, announcing his MLB player retirement on January 28, 2013. In 10 MLB seasons with 832 games played, Nick Johnson had hit .268 with 95 HRs and 398 RBIs, his biggest asset having always been his ability to get on base combined with decent power. He is the nephew of former MLB Player and Manager Larry Bowa and the Grandson of Paul Bowa.
1970-Down on the Farm, the Yankees AAA Team, Syracuse Chiefs (IL) win the 1970 Junior World Series by beating the Omaha Royals (AA). In the 5th game of the Series, Omaha scored twice in the 1st against wild Chiefs Starter Gary Jones (2 wild pitches, hit batsmen). Jones recovered to blank Omaha for the next 6 frames. In the meantime, Syracuse rallied on solo HR by OF Bobby Mitchell in the 3rd, 3B Bobby Cox in the 5th and OF Bill Robinson in the 8th for a 3-2 edge. Omaha rallied in the bottom of the 9th, when Alcaraz doubled in the game-tying score. In the top of the 11th, Cox drew a walk from Royals P Paul Splittorff, then he scored on Catcher George Pena’s triple. The winning pitcher for the Chiefs was veteran Reliever Hal Reniff, who had hit a sacrifice fly for insurance as Syracuse won the game by the score 5-3 to lock up the 1970 Junior Series. Chiefs OF Bill Robinson was 8 for 17 with 16 total bases in the Junior Series.
1980-At Fenway Park, the Yankees would edge the Red Sox by the score of 2-1 on Bobby Brown’s 7th inning HR. Yankees Starter Louis Tiant picks up his 7th win of the season by pitching 7 innings, while only giving up 5 Boston hits, he had allowed only 1 run. Also, the Yankees Closer Goose Gossage gets his 29th save of the 1980 AL season.
1982-The Brewers would score 9 runs in the 8th inning to roll over the Yankees by the score of 14-1. Veteran MLB Starter Don Sutton is the winning hurler for the Brewers. Slugger Gorman Thomas has a double and HR in the big inning, while Paul Molitor adds an HR as well.
2000-After a 16-3 loss to the Blue Jays, Yankees Manager Joe Torre has a team meeting, and blisters the Yankees players for their poor play. It won't help as they lose their next 7 games by scores of 15-4, 2-1, 11-1, 11-3, 13-2, 9-1 and 7-3.
2001-In defeating the White Sox by the score of 6-3, Yankees Starter Roger Clemens becomes the 1st MLB pitcher to have season won-loss record of 20-1. The 5-time Cy Young Award winner has won his last 16 decisions.
2001-Former Yankees Pitcher Bill Stafford (1960-1965) passes away at age of 62 due to heart problems. (1939-2001).
In 1957, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Bill Stafford as an MLB Free Agent. He would come up to the Yankees in 1960, posting a 3-1 record with a 2.25 ERA in 11 games. He would appear in relief in 2 games for the team in the 1960 World Series against the Pirates. In 1961, he would post a 14-9 record with 2.68 ERA in 36 games as a regular starter under new Yankees Manager Ralph Houk. He was the winning pitcher of the Roger Maris #61 HR Game, shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0. He had started Game # 3 of the 1961 World Series against the Reds, but he did not get the win. In 1962, he went 14-9 again with a 3.67 ERA in 35 games as a Yankees regular starter. Bill would win Game #3 of the 1962 World Series by throwing a 4-hitter against the Giants. On 1963 Opening Day in Kansas City, he hurt his pitching arm while pitching in cold weather, finishing the 1963 AL season with a 4-8 mark with 6.02 ERA in just 28 games. In 1964, he would bounce back to a 5-0 record with a 2.67 ERA in 31 games. In 1965, he went only 3-8 with a 3.56 ERA in 22 games. In 1966, Bill was 5-0 at AAA Richmond (IL), when he was traded by the Yankees along with Rookie P Gil Blanco, OF Roger Repoz to Kansas City for P Fred Talbot and Reserve Catcher Bill Bryan. He would finish up his MLB Pitching career with a 0-5 mark with the 1965-1967 A’s, before retiring as an MLB player. In 1967, he had led the A’s pitching staff in ERA with a 1.69 ERA. As an MLB Pitcher, Bill would finish his pitching career with a 43-40 record with a 3.52 ERA in 186 games.
2008-Yankees Starter Roger Clemens becomes the 1st MLB hurler to post a 20-1 pitching record.
2011-Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera throws a perfect 9th inning in the Yankees 6-4 win over the Twins, striking out Rookie Chris Parmelee for the final out, to record the 602nd save of his MLB pitching career. He with his 602 career save, he would pass Padres Closer Trevor Hoffman for the All-Time MLB lead in the category.
2012-Yankees veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki goes 7 for 8 as the Yankees sweep a doubleheader with the Blue Jays, winning by scores of 4-2 and 2-1. Veteran Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte makes his return to the mound from a broken fibula in winning the opener, while Shortstop Derek Jeter collects his 200th hit of the 2012 AL season in the nightcap, tying HOF 1B Lou Gehrig who also recorded 200 hits 8 times for the Yankees during his playing career.
2018-The Red Sox's magic number to clinch a 3rd straight AL East title remains at 2 as they lose to their AL East rivals the Yankees by the score of 10-1, their 2nd straight loss against their nearest pursuers. Yankees Starter Luis Severino pitches 7 strong innings for his 18th win of the 2018 AL season, while 1B Luke Voit adds to his Cinderella story as he goes 4-for-4, homers twice and scores 4 runs to lead New York's hitting attack.
2019-With a 9-1 win over the Angels, the Yankees clinch their 1st AL East Division title since 2012. However, the news is not all good as they also learn that Pitcher Domingo German, their leading winner with a record of 18-4, has been placed on an administrative leave by the Commissioner's office as a result of domestic violence allegations and he may well miss the 2019 MLB postseason as a result.
2020-Former Yankees MLB Executive and MLB Scout Gary Hughes (1978-1985) had passed away. (1941-2020)
Gary Hughes spent over 45 years in baseball. His son, Sam Hughes has been a scout, while another son, Michael Rock, had worked for the Marlins as their clubhouse manager starting with the team's foundation in 1992; as of 2020, he was the team's longest-tenured employee. He was a HS teammate of Jim Fregosi and Tim Cullen, but he never played pro baseball. His 1st job in baseball was serving as Baseball Coach at Marin Catholic HS in Kentfield, CA from 1964 to 1972; while starting to work as an MLB Scout on the side. Hughes worked, as a Scout or Executive for the1967-1972 Giants, 1973-1976 Mets, 1977 Mariners, 1978-1985 Yankees, 1986-1991 Expos, 1992-1998 Marlins, 1999 Rockies and the 2000-2002 Reds. He was a Special Assistant to the GM of the Cubs from 2002-2011, then he moved to the Red Sox and finally to the 2019 Diamondbacks, after long-time friend David Dombrowski's departure in 2019. He was Scouting Director for the Yankees, Expos and Marlins and Assistant GM for the Marlins, Rockies and Reds. Baseball America named him 1 of the top 10 scouts of the 20th Century. He had signed Brad Arnsberg, Delino DeShields, John Elway, Kevin Millar, Mike Redmond, Greg Colbrunn, Cliff Floyd, Marquis Grissom, Rex Hudler and Rondell White among many others. Also, he had scouted Tom Brady as a baseball player, getting the Expos to draft him before Brady turned his attention full-time to football, and completed the trifecta of future NFL stars by signing future Pro Bowler John Lynch as a pitcher, when he worked for the Marlins. He has been called "the greatest scout of all time" and was a founder of the Professional Baseball Scouting Foundation, helping those in the profession who had lost their jobs when many teams began to lay off scouts in the early 21st Century in order to devote more resources to analytics. He had long advocated for the Hall of Fame to dedicate a special wing to honor scouts. In 2007, Gary had received the Baseball America lifetime achievement award. In 2009, he was inducted in the Professional Baseball Scouts Hall of Fame. He received the Baseball America lifetime achievement award in 2007. In June of 2020, Gary was diagnosed with liver cancer. On September 19, 2020, he would pass away at his home at the age of 79.
September 20th
1894-Former Yankees MLB Coach (1947-1948) and Long-Time MLB Manager Charlie Dressen was born. (1894-1966)
Charlie Dressen was a former MLB 3B (1925-1933). He had hit .272 with 11 HRs and 221 RBIs in 646 games. He was the Manager for the 1934-1937 Reds. He would join the Dodgers as an MLB Coach from 1939-1946, then joining the Yankees MLB Coaching staff for 1947-1948 seasons under Manager Bucky Harris. In 1949, Charley would leave the Yankees MLB Coaching staff to manage the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL), replacing Manager Casey Stengel, who had become the Yankees new Manager for 1949 AL season. He would win the 1949 PCL Championship with the Oaks. In 1951, Dressen would take over as the new Dodgers Skipper, finishing in a tie for 1st with the Giants that NL season. He was the one, who chose to use Ralph Branca in relief of Starter Carl Erskine in the 3d game of the 1951 NL playoffs, with the result being Bobby Thomson's Shot Heard 'Round the World HR’. After leading the Dodgers to the 1952-1953 World Series- but losing both times to the Yankees, he demanded a 3-year contract from Dodgers Team Owner Walter O'Malley. Instead, O'Malley fired him. He would replace him with Walter Alston, a man who would go on to manage the club for more than 2 decades, always on a 1-year contract. Later, Dressen moved on 1st to manage the AAA Oakland Oaks (PCL) for 1 season, then moving to the 1955-1957 Senators in the AL for a little more than 2 seasons. He would reconciled with the Dodgers management, serving on Walter Alston's MLB Coaching staff for the 1958-1959 NL seasons. In 1960, Dressen took over as Manager of the Braves. He led the club to a 2nd-place finish in 1960 NL season, but he was replaced during the 1961 NL season by Birdie Tebbetts, despite posting an 83-71 record. In 1963, Charlie became the Tigers Manager. He missed the beginning of the 1965 AL season after having a heart attack, but he was back in the Tigers dugout by May. On May 16,1966, he suffered another heart attack, resigning as the team manager due to his health reasons. Charlie was replaced by the Tigers MLB Coach Bob Swift for the rest of the 1966 AL season. His final MLB Manager record was 1,008-973 (.509 WP) in 1,990 games
1911-The Yankees would commit 7 errors in the 1st game of a double header with the Indians (a 12-9 loss) and then commit 5 more in the nightcap (a 5-4 win). The 12 errors in 1 day is still the Yankees club record for errors.
1921-The Yankees had obtained P/1B/PH Oscar Roettger from Joplin (WL) in return for an extension of the agreement whereby the Yankees loaned Joplin 2 players: 1B Jack Doyle and Larry Christianson. For the 1923-1924 Yankees, Oscar had appeared in 6 games with no decisions along with an 8.69 ERA. As batter, he went 0 for 6 for the team. On May 25,1925, Oscar was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, Catcher Fred Hofmann and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for Shortstop Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees would send Reserve INF Ernie Johnson to St. Paul to complete the trade. His younger brother OF Wally played in the NL from 1929-1934.
1931-Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs to break his old AL RBI mark of 175 set in 1927. By the end of 1931 AL season's end, Lou will have a total of 184 RBI’s along with a .341 BA and 46 HRs for the team.
1938-Former Yankees INF/OF Tom Tresh (1961-1969) was born. (1938-2008)
In 1958, the Yankees had signed INF Tom Tresh as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He was the son of former White Sox Catcher Mike Tresh, who is now a Yankees MLB Scout. Tom was the only rookie player called up to the Yankees in 1961. In 1962, he won the AL Rookie of Year Award. Tom took over the starting Shortstop position, while Tony Kubek was serving on active duty in the Army Reserves. Tresh had beaten out rookie teammate Phil Linz for the starting position. He was an AL All-Star team member in 1962-1963. Tommy would play in 3 World Series for the Yankees, hitting .277. He hit a key HR in the 1962 Series against the Giants. He won an AL Golden Glove in 1965, while hitting .275 with 26 HRs. After the 1965 AL season ended, the Red Sox offered Yaz for Tresh in a trade, but then the Boston Front office changed their minds. During his Yankees playing career, Tom would hit 20 HR’s or more for 4 seasons. During the 1966 AL season, Tom had seriously injured his knees, when newly acquired Yankees Shortstop Ruben Amaro Sr. ran into him during a play in the outfield. The injury would ruin Tom’s knees and his MLB playing career. He would return to Shortstop position in 1968, but his batting production had dropped greatly. On June 14, 1969, Tom was traded to the Tigers for OF Ron Woods. Tom’s son Mickey Tresh would play in the Yankees and Tigers Minor League systems.
1945-Former Yankees Pitcher Mike Jurewicz (1965) was born.
Before the start of 1963 AL Season, Pitcher Mike Jurewicz was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the 1965 Yankees, Mike had appeared in 2 games with no decisions. An arm injury had cut his MLB Pitching career short.
1954-Former Yankees Reserve INF Mickey Klutts (1976-1978) was born.
In 1972, INF Mickey Klutts was a 4th round draft choice in the MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees. He was the Co-MVP of the International League in 1976 with the Syracuse Chiefs (shared with Rich Dauer and Joe Lis). He would play for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1976-1977 and again in 1983. He ranks 4th in Chiefs’ history for his .308 BA with them. He was named in 2004 to the Syracuse Baseball Wall of Fame. In 1976, Mickey had hit .319 with 24 HRs and 80 RBIs for the AAA Chiefs. He would appear in 8 games for the 1976-1976 Yankees, while hitting .300, before being traded to the A’s along with Reserve OF Dell Alston for OF Gary Thomasson on June 15,1978. A broken finger injury in 1977 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, had costed him a chance to win the starting Yankees Shortstop job. Soon after his hand injury, the Yankees had acquired Shortstop Bucky Dent from the White Sox. In 1983, Mickey would finish his MLB playing career with the Blue Jays. He had appeared in 199 MLB games, while hitting .241 with 14 HRs and 59 RBIs
1958-Thanks to a Gus Triandos HR, recently acquired by the Orioles veteran knuckleball hurler Hoyt Wilhelm No-Hits the Yankees by the score of 1-0. It will be the last time in this century, that the Yankees will fail to get a hit in a game. The veteran MLB hurler had been recently acquired on waivers by the Orioles from the Indians.
1961-The 155th Yankees game of the 1961 AL season (including a tie) is Roger Maris' last chance to beat the 60 HR mark set by Babe Ruth. In compliance with MLB Commissioner Ford Frick's statement, for the record to be broken Maris must do it in the same number of games as Ruth. Maris' 59th HR of the season, off of Orioles hurler Jack Fisher, is short of the HR record, but helps the Yankees beat the Birds by a score of 4-2 to clinch their 26th AL pennant. The MLB Commissioner Frick ignores the fact the Babe Ruth played under different rules for recording batting stats than Roger Maris.
1968-Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle hit his 536th HR, the final HR of his 18-year MLB playing career. His last MLB Career HR is given up by Boston hurler Jim Lonborg in a 4-3 loss to the Red Sox at the Yankee Stadium.
1978-The Yankees would split a doubleheader with the Blue Jays, losing the Opener by the score of 8-1 as Ron Guidry lost his 3rd game of the 1978 AL season. In the nightcap, the Yankees would bounce back with a 3-2 win with bullpen help from Closer Goose Gossage and 3-run rally in the 9th inning. The big hits were run-scoring singles by Lou Piniella, Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles. Their lead is at 1 1/2 games, until news comes in from Detroit, that the Red Sox are mauled by the Tigers by the score of 12-2, the Yankees lead in the AL East goes back to 2 games.
1980-In memory of their former Team Captain and AL All-Star Catcher Thurman Munson, a bronze plaque in Memorial Park is dedicated to the deceased Yankee Catcher, who had died in a jet crash at Canton, Ohio in August of 1979.
1991-Former Yankees Pitcher Steve Peek (1941) had passed away. (1914-1991)
Before the start of the 1937 AL season, the Yankees had signed Steve Peek as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend 4 seasons in the Minors (1937-1940), having his best season in 1940 with the AA Newark Bears (IL), while posting a 14-4 record with a 2.69 ERA in 144 innings; helping his team to the International League Play-Off Championship. Steve looked strong in the 1941 MLB spring training workouts. He made his MLB Pitching debut with the Yankees on April 16th. He would appear in 17 games, while pitching 80 innings, posting a 4-2 record before being sent back to the AA Newark Bears for the balance of the 1941 season. Steve went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA for the Bears, missing his chance to play in a World Series. The Yankees would beat the Dodgers 4 games to 1 in the 1941 World Series. Peek did not play in the World Series. He never returned to the MLB. Steve would spend the next 4 years (1942-1945) in the Army during World War II. He returned from the service in time for the 1946 AL season, but at the age of 31, he spent the rest of his pro baseball career pitching in the Minor Leagues, playing with the AA Newark Bears again before he finished out in 1948 with the AA Seattle Rainiers (PCL). Steve's 8 seasons in the Minor Leagues saw him post a 73-44 record, while appearing in 186 games and pitching 974 innings.
1998-At Camden Yards in Baltimore, the Yankees hang on to beat the Orioles by the score of 5-4. Yankees Closer Mo Rivera gives up a HR to Robby Alomar in 9th inning, but he still gets his 36th save of the 1998 AL season as Yankees Starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez picks-up his 11th victory.
1998-Orioles Cal Ripken, Jr. takes himself out of the Baltimore starting lineup. He does not play in the Orioles' 5-4 loss to the Yankees, ending his MLB consecutive games played streak at 2,632 games. After nearly 16 MLB seasons, Ripken says he decided the time was right to end the streak, which began on May 30,1982.
2005-Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez hits his 42nd HR of the 2005 AL season, meanwhile 2B Robinson Cano erases a 4-run deficit with a Grand Slam HR, helping Yankees Starter Aaron Small and the 7-time defending Eastern division winners rally to beat the Devil Rays by the score of 9-5. Yankees Aaron Small pitching record goes to 8-0, becoming the 1st pitcher to win his 1st 8 decisions with the Yankees since Doug Bird in 1980 and 1981; the Yankees 4th straight win continues its strong push in the 2005 AL East and Wild-Card races.
2010-Former Yankees Minor League OF Al Pilarcik had passed away. (1930-2010)
Before the start of the 1948 AL season, OF Al Pilarcik began his pro career in the Yankees organization, when he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The lefty-hitting outfielder had great speed and a strong throwing arm. Al once raced Mickey Mantle. "We had a match race in training camp which he said he beat me by 10 feet, but it was more like 10 inches," recalled Pilarcik. Al would spend 7 active seasons in the Minor Leagues (1948-1956) and sandwiched in between these years he would spend 1953-1954 seasons in Military during the Korean War. Pilarcik had 3 good seasons out of the 7; his 1st was in 1949 with the Class C Joplin Miners (WA), when he hit .304 in 107 games. The 1952 season before he served in the military, he had hit .305 in 137 games for the AA Beaumont Roughnecks (TXL). In October of 1955, the Yankees sent Al to the Kansas City A’s as part of a conditional agreement, playing with the 1956 AAA Columbus Jets (IL). In the 1st half of the season, he was on fire, hitting .375 with 18 HRs and 75 RBIs. "Luke Easter and I were challenging each other," said Pilarcik. "Luke was about 6' 5" and 240 lbs. I was 5' 10". They called him 'Big Poison' and me 'Little Poison'." Unknown at the time this would be Al's last run in the Minors, he finished up his 7-season stint by hitting .285 along with 43 HRs. His strong showing with the AAA Jets, got Al called up for his 1st crack at the MLB; on July 13,1956, he would debut with the Kansas City A’s. He would finish out the 1956 season with them, by hitting .251 in 69 games. The following season, Al was traded by Athletics to the Orioles in a multi-player deal. In 1957, Al had 15 assists in the outfield, meanwhile hitting a MLB career high BA of .282 in 1959. In 1961, he would finish his MLB playing career with the White Sox and the A’s finishing his pro career with an overall .256 BA with 22 HRs and 143 RBIs in 668 games.
2012-Yankees veteran OF Ichiro Suzuki continues his hot hitting as he homers off of Blue Jays Starter Aaron Laffey in the 3rd inning to open the Yankees' account, then he hits a 2-run double in a 7-run 4th inning, leading the Yankees to a 10-7 win over the Blue Jays. Nick Swisher adds a Grand Slam HR during the big run outburst, as the Bronx Bombers move to 1 full game ahead of the idle Orioles in the AL East.
2013-Breaking a 1-1 tie in the 7th inning, the Yankees' 3B Alex Rodriguez hits a Grand Slam HR off of Giants Reliever George Kontos for a 5-1 win. It is the 24th Grand Slam HR of A-Rod's MLB playing career, breaking a tie with Yankees HOF Lou Gehrig for most ever in the MLB.
2018-With an 11-6 win over the Yankees, the Red Sox would clinch their 3rd straight AL Eastern Division title. But the Yankees still set a couple of records on Luke Voit's HR in the 2nd inning. It is his 10th HR since joining the Yankees from the Cardinals in a trade, giving them an MLB record 12 players with 10 or more HRs this season, it is also the team's 246th HR, breaking their team record set in 2012.
2019-Former Yankees Minor League Coach and MLB Scout Howard “Hopalong” Cassady had passed away. (1934-2019)
Howard “Hopalong” Cassady was the 1955 Heisman Trophy winner. He would set Ohio State Football records (since broken) for career rushing yards (2,466), points (222) and all-purpose yards (4,403). He had led Ohio State's Baseball team in HRs in 1955 and steals in 1956. He turned a $10,000 player contract to play pro baseball for the Yankees, choosing to play in the NFL instead. Cassidy was the 3rd pick overall in the 1956 NFL Player Draft, he was not as impressive in the pro ranks; but he did have over 4,000 all-purpose yards in 8 seasons, mostly with the Detroit Lions. Later, Cassady would be an MLB Scout for the Yankees. He had coached for their 1991-2003 AAA Columbus Clippers team (IL).
2020-Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) had passed away. (1945-2020)
On June 14,1978, OF Jay Johnstone was traded by the Phillies along with Minor League OF Bobby Brown to the Yankees for MLB Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 in 32 games. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for P Dave Wehrmeister. He had only played in 23 games for the team in 1979, while just hitting .208. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
2021-Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach (1977) and Minor League Manager, MLB Pitcher Cloyd Boyer had passed away. (1927-2021)
Cloyd Boyer was the oldest of the 3-Boyer brothers, who had played in the MLB. He had pitched for the Cardinals and Athletics in the MLB. From 1949 to 1955, he had posted a 20-23 record with a 4.73 ERA in 111 MLB games. Boyer was a Yankees Minor League Pitching Coach for the 1962 AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). He was a Yankees Minor League Pitching Coach during the 1963-1964 and 1974-1976 seasons. Boyer was an MLB Scout for the 1964-1974 Yankees. He had replaced Minor League Managers in mid-season in 1962,1963 and 1968. He was an MLB Pitching Coach for the Yankees in 1977. Also, he had worked for the Blue Jays organization.
2022-Yankees Slugger Aaron Judge becomes just the 6th player in MLB history to have a 60-HR season as he belts one in the 9th inning of a 9-8 Yankees win over the Pirates, the victory coming on a walk-off Grand Slam HR by Giancarlo Stanton later that inning. Judge's next HR will put him in a tie for the AL and Yankees single-season record, both set by Roger Maris, when he hit 61 long balls in 1961. He is also a candidate to record the 1st Triple Crown since Miguel Cabrera in 2012, as he leads the AL comfortably in both HRs and RBIs, and his night's work also puts him on top for batting average in a close 3-player race with Luis Arraez and Xander Bogaerts.
September 21st
1875-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Frank McManus (1903) was born. (1875-1923)
For the 1903 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Frank McManus had appeared in only 4 games with no BA.
1892-Former Yankees OF Elmer Smith (1922-1923) was born. (1892-1984)
On July 23, 1922, Veteran OF Elmer Smith was obtained from the Red Sox along with veteran INF Joe Dugan. Elmer had hit .185 in 21 games in 1922. The next season, he would appear in 70 games for the Yankees, while hitting .306 with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs. Smith had played in 2 games of the 1922 World Series with the Yankees with no hits. He had played in the 1920 World Series with the Indians, while hitting .308 with 1 HR and 6 RBIs in 5 games. The Yankees would trade him in 1924 to AA Louisville (AA) for future HOF CF Earl Combs. Elmer would return to the MLB in 1925, playing for the Reds; while hitting .270 with 8 HRs and 46 RBIs in 96 games. As an MLB player, OF Elmer Smith had appeared in 1,012 MLB games, while hitting .276 with 70 HRs and 540 RBIs.
1906-At Comiskey Park in Chicago, the White Sox would lose a pair to the Yankees before a crowd of 20,000 fans, their largest Friday afternoon crowd. Yankees 1B Hal Chase has 22 putouts at 1B in the 1st game, tying the MLB fielding record.
1908-The Indians take the AL lead by beating the Yankees, meanwhile the Tigers take 2 from the Browns. With 2 weeks to go, 3 1/2 games separate 4 teams in the 1908 AL Pennant race.
1923-Yankees OF Babe Ruth is the unanimous choice of the AL committee of Baseball Writers for the 1923 AL MVP Award. Due to current baseball MVP rules, Babe Ruth will not be able to win the AL MVP Award again. The AL MVP Award rules will later be changed during the 1930’s taking this ban away from players; who had won the MVP previously. This is why both Ruth (1) and Gehrig (2) did not have many AL MVP Awards during their playing MLB playing careers, with the Yankees.
1932-At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, A’s Slugger Jimmie Foxx hits his HR #54 of the 1932 AL season to lead the Mackmen to an 8-4 win over the visiting Yankees. His A’s teammates, Al Simmons and Eric McNair also hit HRs off of Yankees Starter Red Ruffing as A’s Starter Sugar Cain is able to win.
1933-With lefty Ace Walter Stewart pitching, the Senators eliminates the Yankees from the 1933 AL Pennant race by clinching the AL flag in a 2-1 home win over the Browns.
1935-The Tigers would clinch the 1935 AL Pennant with a doubleheader win over the St. Louis Browns, winning the games by the scores of 6-2 and 2-0. The Tigers will finish the rest of the way of the 1935 AL season, going just 1-6, meanwhile the 1935 Yankees will go 6-1, finishing in 2nd place in the AL with an 89-60 record.
1935-Former Yankees OF Herman McFarland (1903) had passed away. (1870-1935)
In 1902, veteran MLB OF Herman McFarland came to the Yankees from the White Sox, when they were the Baltimore Orioles. He would appear in 103 games for the 1903 Yankees, while hitting .243 with 5 HRs and 45 RBIs in his last active MLB playing career season (1896-1903).
1942-Former Yankees Pitcher “Sudden” Sam McDowell (1973-1974) was born.
After coming over from the Giants in 1973 in a Cash transaction, veteran starter “Sudden” Sam McDowell was a major disappointment for the Yankees. He would post 5-8 and 1-6 records, before being released by the Yankees during the 1974 AL season. The Pirates would sign Sam McDowell for the 1975 NL season. His serious drinking problems affected his 15 MLB season Pitching career, which had begun with the Indians.
1951-Former Yankees long-time MLB Scout Joe Devine (1935-1951) had passed away at the age of 56. (1895-1951)
Joe Devine was an MLB Scout and Minor League Manager. As a Minor League player, Devine was 0 for 6 for the 1915 AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). By 1919, he was managing in the Northwest International League, only 24 years old. He would lead the Calgary Bronchos to a composite 143-72 record in 1920-1921, winning the Western Canada League titles both times. Then he would scout for the Pirates, signing future Hall of Fame Slugger Paul Waner most notably for the team. Then he would manage the Mission Reds (PCL) for parts of 1931 and 1932 seasons. Starting in 1935, Joe Devine became a was a Yankees MLB scout, covering the West Coast especially the San Francisco area. He was noted for signing Joe DiMaggio, Joe Gordon, Frank Crosetti, Johnny Lindell, Bill Wight, Rugger Ardizoia, Fenton Mole, Bobby Brown, Andy Carey, Jerry Coleman and Charlie Silvera and other Yankee players of the 1935-1951 Yankees playing era. In 1937, he had misjudged the talent skills of a young outfielder named Ted Williams, who was playing for the AA San Diego Padres (PCL), so the Yankees didn’t sign him. He would be signed by their rivals the Red Sox. He would continue working for the Yankees organization until his death on September 21,1951.
1954-Yankees Rookie Starter Bob Grim wins his 20th game of the 1954 AL season as the Yankees defeat the Senators by the score of 3-1. Bob had previously spent the last 2 years in the Army before making the Yankees MLB Pitching staff in the 1954 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp. He will win the 1954 AL Rookie of the Year Award for his season performance. Bob will be the only 20 game winner on the 1954 Yankees pitching staff.
1956-At Fenway Park, Bronx Bombers 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron has 5 hits, but the Yankees strand a record 20 base runners in losing to the Red Sox by the score of 13-9. Mickey Mantle sends a 480-FT HR into the CF bleachers that lands a foot from the top. His 3 hits raise his 1956 AL season BA to .352, 4 points behind rival Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams.
1961-At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris is held hitless in 4 at bats, as the Kansas City A’s win by the score of 5-3 behind A’s starter Bill Fischer's 3-hitter. All the Yankee runs off him are unearned. Roger Maris is the only Yankees regular to play the entire game.
1963-The Kansas City Athletics would beat the Yankees by a score of 5-3 despite HRs by Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. For veteran Catcher Yogi Berra, it is his 358th MLB career and last HR hit as a Yankees player.
1963-Former Yankee DH/1B Cecil “Big Daddy” Fielder (1996-1997) was born.
On July 31,1996, DH/1B Cecil Fielder was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for OF/DH Ruben Sierra and Minor League P Matt Drews. Cecil would hit .260 with 28 HRs and 96 RBIs in his 2 seasons with the 1996-1997 Yankees, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency in the fall of 1997. The Angels would sign him.
1964-The Yankees front office informs long-time Yankees announcer Mel Allen that his broadcast announcer contract with the Yankees will not be renewed for the 1965 AL season by the new team owners CBS, Inc. His official firing announcement will be made public to the press on December 17,1964. He will be replaced by NBC’s Joe Garagiola, who will last for 3 years, before leaving and being replaced by Frank Messer, who comes up from Baltimore in 1969. Allen’s longtime broadcasting partner Red Barber will be let go by the team after the 1966 AL season is over.
1968-At Yankee Stadium, Red Sox Starter Ray Culp fires his 3rd successive shutout, stopping the Yankees on 1-hit shutout, winning the game by the score of 2-0. Roy White's single in the 7th inning is the only Yankees hit. It's Culp's 15th win of the 1968 AL season for the Red Sox.
1971-For the 4th consecutive AL season, Orioles Starter Dave McNally wins his 20th game, as he shuts out the Yankees by the score of 5-0.
1984-Former Yankees Minor League INF Joaquin Arias was born.
In July 2001, Joaquin Arias was signed out of the Dominican Republic by Yankee Scouts Victor Mata, Carlos Rios, and Freddy Tiburcio. He would make his pro debut with the GCL Yankees, the next summer. The main claim to fame of Arias is that he was the Player to be Named Later in the 2004 deal that sent mega-star Alex Rodriguez from the Rangers to the Yankees in return for INF Alfonso Soriano. On August 22, 2012, he had a MLB career game, when he led the Giants to an 8-4 win over the Dodgers, completing a 3-game sweep at Dodger Stadium; he drove in 5 runs that day with a 1st-inning HR off of Starter Chris Capuano and a pair of run-scoring doubles later in the game. He would appear in 1,052 games, while hitting .265 with 7 HRs and 95 RBIs.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Murry Dickinson (1958) had passed away. (1916-1989).
On August 22,1958, veteran hurler Murry Dickinson was traded by Kansas City to the Yankees for Reserve OF John “Zeke” Bella and Cash. He would post a 1-2 record with 1 save in 6 games before being returned to the Athletics on May 9,1959. He had appeared in 2 games as a Reliever with the Yankees of the 1958 World Series against the Braves with no record. He had previous appeared in 2 World Series with the Cardinals in 1942 and 1946. His MLB Pitching career had started in 1939 with the Cardinals and ended with the 1959 A’s posting 2-1 record in 38 games; finishing with an overall MLB pitching career record of 172-181 with a 3.66 ERA in 625 games.
2000-The Blue Jays would defeat the Yankees by the score of 3-1, as former Yankees Starter David Wells becomes the MLB's 1st 20-game winner for the 2000 AL season.
2001-Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera blows a save giving up a 2-run single to Jerry Hairston as the Orioles prevail over the Yankees by the score of 7-6.
2002-The Yankees would beat the Tigers by the score 3-2 to clinch the AL East Division Title for the 5th straight season.
2008-In the last game ever played at Yankee Stadium II, the Yankees would defeat the Orioles by the score of 7-3. Julia Ruth Stevens, the daughter of Babe Ruth, throws out the ceremonial 1st pitch of the game. Veteran Bronx Starter Andy Pettitte earns his 14th win of the 2008 AL season, while Yankee hitters José Molina and Johnny Damon would hit HRs. Bronx Closer Mariano Rivera closes out the game with a perfect 9th inning, forcing Orioles batter Brian Roberts to ground out to 1B Cody Ransom for the last out. The Yankees thus avoids being eliminated from the 2008 AL Playoffs in their final game at the historic stadium.
2009-For the 2nd straight night, the Yankees fail to become the 1st MLB team to clinch a playoff spot. After the Mariners yesterday, it's the Angels' turn to spoil the Yankees celebration, with a 5-2 win over the Bombers; thanks to a strong performance by Starter Joe Saunders.
2012-The Yankees win their 6th straight game by the score of 2-1 on Russell Martin's walk-off HR off of A’s Reliever Sean Doolittle in the 10th inning.
2012-Former Yankees Minor League OF Tom Umphlett had passed away. (1930-2012)
On June 12,1962, OF Tom Umphlett was traded by the Red Sox along with Cash to the Yankees for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Tom would never play with the Yankees at MLB level. He would spend the 1962-1963 seasons with their AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (IL). He would hit .228 with 15 HRs and 77 RBIs. He would play in the Minor Leagues for the Twins organization until 1966. He was a Twins Minor League Manager from 1967-1970.
2014-Yankees LF Brett Gardner hits the 15,000th HR in Yankees franchise history off Toronto's Drew Hutchison in the 5th inning of a 5-2 Bronx win. The total dates back to the team's 1st season in the Big Apple in 1903; it is the most of any MLB franchise. Yankees veteran Starter Masahiro Tanaka is the winner in his return to the mound after a 10-week layoff.
2016-The Yankees AAA club, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders become the 1st International League team to win the Triple-A National Championship in 5 years. Chris Parmelee's 3-run HR off of El Paso Diablos Starter Walker Lockett in the 1st gives them all their runs for the day and wins Parmelee the game’s MVP Award. Scranton Starter Jordan Montgomery and 3 Relievers hold the Diablos to just 1 run with RailRiders Reliever Giovanny Gallegos getting the save.
2022-The Yankees would rout the Pirates by the score of 14-2. Aaron Judge doesn’t hit any HRs in the game, instead settling for 2 doubles. the Yankees HR power is supplied by Oswaldo Cabrera’s 1st inning Grand Slam HR and 2B Gleyber Torres 2 HRs in the 8th inning. The Yankees have hit Grand Slam HRs in today’s game (1st inning) and last night’s 9th inning. While the Bombers hitters were hot with their bats, on the mound Starter Luis Severino would throw 5 strong innings allowing just 2 hits and 1 Bucs run, in his 1st start since coming off of rehab work. His performance gives the Yankees starting rotation a big boost for the AL Play-offs.
2023-Yankees Ace Gerrit Cole retired the 1st 16 hitters and pitched 8 outstanding innings to strengthen his Cy Young Award credentials as the Yankees moved back over .500 with a 5-3 victory over the Blue Jays. Cole (14-4) allowed a run and 2 hits in his longest outing since pitching a 2-hit shutout against the Twins on April 16th. He had struck out 9 hitters, walked none and permitted 2 baserunners; while lowering his AL-best ERA to 2.75. Cole won his 4th straight decision since getting tagged for 6 runs in an 8-1 loss to Boston on Aug. 19th. Also, he had allowed 2 runs or fewer for the MLB-best 25th time this year, improving to 8-2 following a New York loss. The Yankees are 22-10 in his starts. Cole has reached 200 innings for the 2nd straight season and 6th time overall. He also is the only pitcher to reach the mark in 5 seasons since 2017 and the only Yankee pitcher to reach the mark in the past decade. “It’s a nice, round numbers that a lot of pitchers shoot for,” Cole said. “It’s a testament to everybody’s preparation behind the scenes and obviously my teammates on the field making plays for me, getting the opportunity to get deep (in games) and pitch with a lead. ”It was the 5th time Cole pitched at least 7 innings and allowed 3 or fewer baserunners, the most in team history. “He had his good stuff, fastball, slider, cutter,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said. “He was tough tonight, he really was.” Jake Bauers hit a 3-run HR 4 batters in against Jose Berríos (11-11); then Aaron Judge and Estevan Florial added RBI doubles as the Yankees avoided a 3-game sweep. The Blue Jays had their 5-game winning streak stopped and is a half-game ahead of the Rangers and Mariners for the 2nd of 3 AL wild-card spots. Cole lost his perfect game bid on his 69th pitch when Alejandro Kirk doubled to right-center. After allowing the hit, Cole would strike out Kevin Kiermaier and retired his former Astros teammate George Springer. “I knew he hadn’t given up anything yet, so I guess it’s at least on your mind, but I don’t think you get caught up in it yet,” Boone said. “You just realize how efficient he’s being. "Kirk is 8-for-18 off Cole. Kirk just finds a way to get to the center of the ball off me like a lot,” Cole said. “I was convinced the cutter was going to get underneath the bat but I think it was just a little bit too up in the strike zone.” Then Cole got 2 more strikeouts in the 7th by fanning Jays hitters Bo Bichette and Davis Schneider to end the inning at 88 pitches. Cole allowed his 2nd hit when Matt Chapman started the 8th with a double. Chapman ended the shutout bid by scoring on a wild pitch, but Cole retired Whit Merrifield and Kirk as Bronx Closer Clay Holmes warmed up and exited to a nice ovation from the crowd. Holmes allowed 2 runs in the 9th on an RBI fielder’s choice by Jays pinch-hitter Vladimir Guerrero Jr and a fielding error by 2B Gleyber Torres. Trying to avoid their 1st losing season since 1992, as the Yankees moved to 78-77 with 9 games remaining and avoided getting swept at home by Toronto for the 2nd time in 3 seasons. Jays starter Jose Berrios allowed 4 runs and 7 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.