This Week in Yankees History November 3rd-9th

This Week in Yankees History November 3rd-9th Nov 2, 2024 14:17:26 GMT -5 kaybli and chiyankee like this

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Post by fwclipper51 on Nov 2, 2024 14:17:26 GMT -5

This Week in Yankees History November 3rd-9th

November 3rd

1878-Former Yankees Pitcher Walter Clarkson (1904-1907) was born. (1878-1946)
During the month of August 1905, Pitcher Walt Clarkson was purchased by the Highlanders from the Class AA Jersey City Skeeters (EL). Clarkson had pitched college baseball with Harvard before turning pro. Walt would post a 14-10 record with a 3.46 ERA and 2 saves in 59 games with the Yankees. On May 16,1907, he was traded by the Yankees along with OF Frank Delahanty to the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians) for Pitcher Earl Moore. Clarkson would finish his MLB Pitching career with an 18-16 record with a 3.17 ERA in 78 games. He would make his MLB Pitching debut in 1904 with the Highlanders, pitching in 78 games exclusively in the American League. His finest season would be in 1906, when he was 9-4 along with 3 shutouts and a 2.32 ERA in 32 games. Walter had blanked the Cleveland Naps twice that season, finishing his MLB pitching career with parts of 2 seasons as a spare arm on their staff. Walter's 3.17 ERA places him 1st among pitchers from Harvard (through 2019), while his 18 victories place him 2nd behind Pitcher Jeff Musselman. During his MLB pitching career, he was the 1905 Head Baseball Coach of the U.S. Military Academy (West Point, NY).

1911-Former Yankees and Cardinals Manager John Keane (1965-1966) was born. (1911-1967)
After he had left the St. Louis Cardinals in October of 1964, Johnny Keane would replace Yankees Manager Yogi Berra. From 1938 to 1958, Keane had managed in the Cardinals Minor League organization, before joining the team as an MLB Coach in 1959. On July 6,1961, he would take over the Manager’s job in St. Louis, replacing Manager Solly Hemus. In 1965, the Yankees were plagued by injuries to their starting line-up ended with a 77-85 record finishing in 6th place in the AL. Overall, Johnny Keane had an 81-101 record with the Yankees before being replaced in May, after a 4-16 start of the 1966 AL season by former Manager Ralph Houk. He was disliked by many of the veteran Yankees players. Keane was the wrong man to manage a veteran Yankee team. In the spring of 1967, while he was working as an MLB Scout for the Angels, Johnny had suffered a fatal heart attack.

1934-After hitting .363 BA with 49 HRs and 165 RBIs, Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig wins the 1934 AL Triple Crown; but Lou will not win the 1934 AL MVP Award. Philadelphia A’s Catcher Mickey Cochrane, who had hit .320 with 2 HRs and 76 RBIs is named 1934 AL Most Valuable Player.

1942-The BWAA had selected Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon as the 1942 AL MVP Award winner over Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams, who had won the 1942 AL Triple Crown. Williams had finished the 1942 AL season with a .356 BA, while hitting 36 HRs and 137 RBIs. Joe Gordon had hit .322 with 18 HRs and 103 RBIs. Gordon leads the AL in strikeouts (95), most ground balls hit into double plays (22) and the most errors at 2B base with 28.

1945-Former Yankees, Cubs and A’s All-Star Pitcher Ken Holtzman (1976-1978) was born. (1945-2024)
On June 15,1976, MLB All-Star Starter Ken Holtzman was traded by the Orioles along with Starter Doyle Alexander, OF Jimmy Freeman, Reserve Catcher Ellie Hendricks and Reliever Grant Jackson to the Yankees for 4 Pitchers; Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Minor League Prospect Scott McGregor and Reserve Catcher Rick Dempsey. In the fall of 1976, he would sign a 5-year deal with the Yankees. Ken had a 12-10 record with a 4.64 ERA in 44 games with the Yankees; he was a major disappointment for the team, being pulled out of the starting rotation several times and put in the bullpen. He didn’t appear in any AL Postseason or World Series games, while pitching for the team. He had appeared with the Oakland A’s in 3 World Series, posting a 4-1 record with a 2.55 ERA in 8 games. Yankees Manager Billy Martin didn’t get along with Ken Holtzman, so he had buried him in the Yankees bullpen. He didn’t appear in the post season for the team, despite his successful track record with the Oakland. On June 10,1978, Ken was traded by the Yankees back to his original MLB team, the Cubs for a Player to be Named Later. On June 12,1978, the Cubs would later send Minor League Pitcher Ron Davis to the Yankees to complete the trade. Ken Holtzman would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 174-150 record along with a 3.49 ERA and 3 saves in 451 games. On April 14, 2024, Ken Holtzman would pass away at the age of 78. He was battling heart issues and was hospitalized for 3-weeks before his death, his brother, Bob had told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

1955-The 1955 Yankees would start their tour Japan and draw a record crowd of 64,000 fans, when they play the 1st game against the All-Japan Stars in Osaka. While Yankees veteran starting Shortstop Phil Rizzuto stays home for the birth of his child, giving young Yankees Infielders like Rookie Jerry Lumpe a chance to play. Yankees 3B Andy Carey slugs 13 HR’s during the tour. Meanwhile Yankees C/OF Elston Howard bats .468 on the 25-game tour. According to "Elston and Me" by Arlene Howard (Univ. of Missouri Press, 2001), the goodwill baseball tour of Japan took place in 1955, immediately following the Yankees loss to the Dodgers in the 1955 World Series. The amount of the HRs hit in Japan by Andy Carey affects his MLB batting swing, he tries to be a HR hitter in AL, but he fails and later, it causes him back problems.

1963-Former Yankees Minor League P Mike Christopher was born.
The Yankees in the 7th round of the 1985 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Mike Christopher. He would never pitch for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 5,1989, Mike was drafted by the Dodgers from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB Rule 5 Minor League Player Draft.

1963-Former Yankees Reserve OF Marcus Lawton (2005) was born.
On August 27, 2005, OF Marcus Lawton was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for Minor League hurler Justin Berg. He had appeared in 21 games for the team, hitting just .125 before being released by the club. He is the older brother of former Yankees Reserve OF Matt Lawton.

1968-Former Yankees Reliever Paul Quantrill (2004-2005) was born.
Pitcher Paul Quantrill had pitched in the MLB from 1992 until 2005 as a reliever with Red Sox, Phillies, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Yankees, Padres and finishing his MLB pitching career with the Marlins. Quantrill was 1st drafted in 1986 in the 26th round of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Dodgers; he went again in the 6th round of the 1989 draft by the Red Sox. His 1st MLB appearance with the Red Sox was on July 20,1992. He was the Blue Jays Pitcher of the Year in 2001. Also, Paul was named to the AL All-Star team that season. Between 2001 and 2004, no pitcher appeared in more MLB games than Paul. On December 17, 2003, the Yankees had signed veteran Reliever Paul Quantrill as an MLB Free Agent. For the Yankees, he will post an 8-3 record with a 5.23 ERA with 1 save in 108 games. On July 2, 2005, Paul was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for 2 hurlers: Darrell May and Tim Redding along with Cash.

1973-Former Yankees Reliever Armando Benitez (2003) was born.
On July 16, 2003, Closer Armando Benitez was traded by the Mets to the Yankees for 3 Pitchers; Ryan Bicondoa (Minors), Jason Anderson and Anderson Garcia. With the 2003 Mets, Beneitez had a 3-3 record with a 3.10 ERA with 21 saves in 45 games. For the 2003 Yankees, he had posted a 1-1 record with a 1.93 ERA in 9 games. On August 6, 2003, he was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for veteran Reliever Jeff Nelson.

1976-The 1st mass-market MLB Free Agent re-entry draft is held at the New York City’s Plaza Hotel. Among those MLB players available are OF/1B Reggie Jackson,1B Willie McCovey, OF Joe Rudi, P Don Gullett, OF Nate Colbert, P Rollie Fingers,1B Don Baylor and INF Bobby Grich. The Yankees will sign starter Don Gullet on November 18th, then on November 29th, they will sign Slugger Reggie Jackson. McCovey and Colbert are the only 2 players not selected, but Willie McCovey will catch on with his old team, the Giants in their MLB Spring Training Camp. He will have a banner year for the Giants at his old 1st base position.

1977-The 2nd MLB Free Agent re-entry draft is held at the New York City’s Plaza Hotel. Big name MLB players include OF Lyman Bostock, P Goose Gossage, OF Larry Hisle, P Mike Torrez and OF Oscar Gamble. The Yankees will sign Reliever Goose Gossage on November 22,1977.

1978-In the 3rd annual MLB Free Agent re-entry draft held at the New York Plaza Hotel in New York City; INF Pete Rose, Pitchers Tommy John, Mike Torrez and INF Darrell Evans are the biggest names among the eligible MLB players. The Yankees will sign former Dodgers Starter Tommy John on November 21,1978. They had already signed veteran AL Starter Luis Tiant on November 13,1978 to replace Mike Torrez, who had signed with the Red Sox; as the Yankees start to rebuild their 1978 Starting Pitching staff.

1982-Former Yankees Pitcher Ray Fisher (1911-1918) had passed away at the age of 95. (1887-1982)
In August of 1909, Ray Fisher was purchased by the Yankees from Hartford (CSL). For the 1911-1918 Yankees, Ray had posted a 76-78 record with a 2.91 ERA and 5 saves in 219 games. On March 15,1919, Fisher was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Yankees. He would appear in the 1919 World Series with the Reds. In 1921, the Reds try to cut Ray Fisher's player salary by $1,000. Rather than take the pay cut, Fisher asked for his player release, then he would quit the MLB to coach the College Baseball team at the Univ. of Michigan; when the Reds wouldn't release him. For this offense, MLB Commissioner Judge Landis would ban Ray Fisher from organized baseball. Ray Fisher would finish his MLB Pitching career posting a 100-94 record with a 2.82 ERA and 7 saves in 278 games. In 1980, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn would reinstate him back into baseball. In 1951, Fisher was one of a number of baseball figures, who had testified before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Study of Monopoly Power in its investigation of baseball's business practices. His House testimony would focused primarily on the circumstances surrounding his leaving the Reds to take the college baseball coaching position at Univ. of Michigan and his subsequent blacklisting by the Commissioner Judge Landis. Ray Fisher will coach college baseball team at Michigan for 38 seasons (1921-1958); while winning 9 Big 10 Conference titles outright, while sharing 4 more. His 1953 Michigan baseball team had won the College World Series. Shortly before his death, he was honored at Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium. Prior to his death in 1982, he was the oldest-living former MLB player of the Yankees and Reds franchises.

1992-The Yankees make one of their best modern era trades ever by acquiring OF Paul O'Neill from the Reds for AL All-Star OF Roberto Kelly. Paul O'Neill will help the Yankees win World Championships in 1996,1998,1999 and the 2000 MLB seasons. The Yankees front office had asked Roberto Kelly to move to RF to make room for Rookie OF Bernie Williams in centerfield, he refused to do so resulting that the team was able to trade Kelly to the Reds for OF Paul O’Neill.

1998-Former Yankees Pitcher Randy Vasquez (2023) was born.
In 2018, Pitcher Randy Vásquez, 24, was an international amateur out of the Dominican Republic, signing with the Yankees. He would start his pro career in rookie ball in 2018 and 2019, before the minor league season was canceled by the 2020 COVID pandemic. He would follow that up with a strong 2021 season, wherein he shot from Single-A to High-A and then to AA. He would toss 107 1/3 innings across those 3 levels with a 2.52 ERA, while striking out 28.6% of opponents, while walking 8.4%. That showing caused Baseball America to rank him the #12 Yankee prospect going into 2022 season. Last year, he spent the entire season at AA Somerset, while making 25 starts and tallying 115 1/3 innings. He had a 3.90 ERA, along with a 24.2% strikeout rate, 8.3% walk rate and 48.3% ground ball rate. In November, the club give him a spot on their 40-man MLB roster to prevent him from being selected in the Rule 5 Player Draft. That solid showing got him bumped to #9 on the BA list of top 30 farmhands in the system. This season, he has been pitching at AAA Scranton, making 9 starts on the season, so far with a 4.85 ERA in 42 2/3 innings. He has a healthy 25.5% strikeout rate and 46% ground ball rate but is walking 11.7% of batters faced on the year. On May 25, 2023, he would make his MLB Pitching debut against the Padres. He would allow the Padres only 4 hits and 2 runs in 4.2 IP of work in his 1st Yankees MLB start. The Yankees would lose the game. After the game, Randy was sent back down to AAA Scranton. He would finish the 2023 AL season for the Yankees with a 2-2 record with a 2.87 ERA in 11 games. On December 7, 2023, Randy was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Pitching Prospect Drew Thorpe, P Jhony Brito, MLB Catcher Kyle Higashioka and MLB Starter Michael King to the Padres for 2 MLB Outfielders: Juan Soto and Trent Grisham.

2001-In Game #6 of 2001 World Series, played at Bank 1 Park in Phoenix, AZ, the Diamondbacks get 21 hits in the 1st 6-innings against the Yankees to set a record for hits in a World Series game. The 1921 Giants in Game #3 against the Yankees and the 1946 Cardinals in Game #4, against the Red Sox, established the previous WS record of 20 hits. The D-Backs win by a score of 15-2, forcing a decisive Game 7. D-backs Starter Randy Johnson is the winning pitcher, while veteran starter Andy Pettitte is the losing pitcher for the Yankees. Game #6 played at Bank 1 Field would draw a crowd of 49,707 fans.

2001-Former long-time Yankees and MLB Broadcaster Frank Messer (1968-1985) had passed away. (1925-2001)
Frank Messer was a baseball broadcaster who most famously was the play-by-play announcer for New York Yankees games for 18 years. A World War II veteran, he began his career working in the minor leagues, including as the broadcaster for the Richmond Virginians of the International League from 1954 to 1963. He would join the Baltimore Orioles broadcast team in 1964. In 1968, after Joe Garagiola had left to join the NBC-TV Network, he would become part of the Yankees' radio broadcast team alongside former Yankee players Jerry Coleman and Phil Rizzuto. His arrival filled a gap as the team did not include an actual sportscaster after the firing of long-time Broadcaster Red Barber following the 1966 AL season by Yankees President Michael Burke.
In addition to working games, Messer would serve as the emcee of various high-profile events held at Yankee Stadium, including Old Timers Games, the retirement of Mickey Mantle's Uniform number in 1969. When Jerry Coleman moved to the West Coast to work for the Angels and then newly-formed San Diego Padres after that season and was replaced for 1 year by Bob Gamere. However, in 1971, the Yankees would formed the 1st integrated broadcast crew in MLB history, when they had hired former MLB player Bill White to join Rizzuto and Messer. The team would stayed together until the end of the 1985 AL season, although various others such as Dom Valentino, Fran Healy and Bobby Murcer, who would joined them for short periods as they had to cover both radio and TV broadcasts. The group also regularly worked postseason games, as the Yankees were regular participants from 1976 to 1981. Among famous games which he worked was Game 5 of the 1976 ALCS, ended by Chris Chambliss' walk-off HR; the 1983 Pine Tar Game; and Dave Righetti 4th of July no-hitter that same year. He was abruptly dismissed following the 1985 season (his last game had been Phil Niekro's 300th win) and reassigned to a meaningless front office job. He was allowed to leave to join the Chicago White Sox broadcast team in 1986 and 1987; a then he would work for the CBS Radio network until retiring in 1991.

2005-The Yankees would hire Former Royals Manager Tony Peña as their 1B MLB Coach. Tony tells the NYC Sports media that he would withdraw as a candidate to manage the Dominican Republic team in next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic to focus on his new job with the Yankees.

2011-Former Yankees DH/OF/1B Matty Alou (1973) passes away from complications from diabetes at the age of 72. (1938-2011).
Matty Alou was the brother of Felipe and Jesus Alou; they came up together with the Giants. After his trade by the Giants to the Pirates, Manager Harry Walker and All Star OF Roberto Clemente worked on his batting swing by having him choke up on the bat. He would win the 1966 NL Batting Championship with a .342 BA. Although, he had little power, the middle Alou brother was a lifetime .307 hitter in 15 MLB seasons (1960-1974). On November 24,1972, Matty Alou was traded by the A’s to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later and P Rob Gardner. On December 1,1972, the Yankees would send reserve INF Rich McKinney (.215 BA, 1 HR in 37 games) to the Oakland A’s to complete the trade. As a Yankees player, Matty had hit .296, but he had showed very little power hitting only 2 HRs along with 28 RBIs in 123 games. His poor runs performance at the plate, would determine his fate with the team, he wouldn’t fit into the Yankees plans for 1974 batting line-up. So, on September 6,1973, Matty was sold by the Yankees to the Cardinals for Cash. Also, the Yankees had sold his older brother Felipe to the Expos that same day. Matty Alou would finish MLB playing career with the 1974 Padres. In 15 seasons in the MLB, he had played in 1,667 games, while hitting .307 with 31 HRs and 427 RBIs.

2021-The Yankees have announced that MLB Players: 1B Anthony Rizzo and Starter Corey Kluber have elected MLB Free Agency. Later in the month, Corey Kluber will sign an MLB Free Agent deal with the Rays. Meanwhile, Anthony Rizzo will resign with the Yankees for the 2022 AL season. For the 2022 Yankees, he will hit .224 with 32 HRs.

November 4th

1910-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Beggs (1938) was born. (1910-1983)
In 1936, Pitcher Joe Beggs had won 20 games for the Class B Norfolk Tars (PL). In 1937, Joe would post a 21-4 record for the Yankees AA farm team, the Newark Bears (IL). In 1938, Joe would record a 3-2 mark with a 5.40 ERA in 14 games for the Yankees. In 1939, he would spend the season back in the Minor Leagues with the AA Newark Bears (IL), while posting a 12-10 record with a 3.80 ERA in 33 games. On January 4,1940, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Reds for veteran lefty hurler Lee Grissom. For the 1940 Reds, he will have a 12-3 record with a 2.23 ERA in 37 games. Joe will appear in 1 game in relief in the 1940 World Series with the Reds. He would continue to pitch in the MLB until the 1948 season, finishing his pitching career with the Giants. He would end his MLB pitching career with an 48-35 record along with a 2.96 ERA and 29 saves in 238 games.

1931-The Yankees had purchased OF George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk from the AA Jersey City Skeeters (IL). He would join the Yankees in 1934, spending 9-seasons (1934-1942) with the team, while hitting .290 with 108 HRs and 576 RBIs for team. After Babe Ruth leaves the team in 1934, he will wear the Yankees player Uniform No. 3. George Selkirk had hit over .300 5-times, twice drove home more than 100 RBIs. He had played on 5 World Championship teams (1936-1939 and 1941). He had appeared in 21 World Series games, while hitting .265 with 2 HRs and 10 RBIs. He would make the AL All-Star team in 1936 and 1939. In 1942, he would join the Navy, served during World War II. On February 11,1946, he was released by the Yankees. He would play in 31 games with their AAA Newark Bears team (IL), while hitting .300 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. During the 1946 IL season, he would become the AAA Bears Manager. George would be a Minor League Manager for the Yankees (1946-1952) and the Boston Braves (1953-1956) organizations. In 1951, he would manage the AAA Kansas City Blues, he would work with Rookie OF Mickey Mantle, when he was sent down to work on his hitting and outfield play. In 1957-1958, he was the General Manager for the Kansas City A’s. He would later work as General Manager for the 1963-1968 Washington Senators. After leaving the Senators in 1968, when they moved to Texas; he would rejoin the Yankees organization as an MLB Scout.

1947-Former Yankees Pitcher Lloyd Colson (1970) was born.
On June 6,1967, the Yankees in the 28th round of the 1967 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Lloyd Colson. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees on September 25, 1970 with no record. He would return to pitch in the Minor Leagues, pitching in the Yankees organization until 1973 before leaving baseball.

1948-Former Senators and Yankees OF Jake Powell (1936-1940) shoots and kills himself in a Washington, D.C. police station, he was only 40 years old. (1908-1948) Outfielder Jake Powell had played for the Senators (1930,1934-1936 and 1943-1945), 1936-1940 Yankees and finishing with the 1945 Phillies. On June 14,1936, Jake Powell was traded by the Senators to the Yankees for OF Ben Chapman. He helped the Yankees win the World Series every season from 1936-1939. His final Yankees player career totals was a .271 BA with 13 HRs and 124 RBIs in 272 games. He had appeared 8 games in 3 World Series with the Yankees, while hitting .435. In 11 MLB seasons, he appeared in 688 games, hitting .271, 116 doubles, 26 triples, 22 HRs and 327 RBIs. On July 29,1938, in a pre-game radio interview, White Sox Broadcaster Bob Elson asked Powell what he did in the off-season. He replied (falsely) that he was a police officer in Dayton, Ohio. When Elson asked what Powell did to stay in shape, Powell responded that he "cracked n#####s over the head with [his] nightstick." After a surge of public outrage, including calls that Powell be banned for life, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspended Jake Powell for 10 games. On December 5,1940, Jake was purchased by the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) from the Yankees. He would return to MLB with the 1943 Senators as a Reserve OF, finishing up his MLB playing career with the 1945 Phillies. On November 4,1948, Jake Powell was arrested in Washington, D.C, for passing bad checks. Distraught and mentally unstable, while in police custody, Jake pulled out a gun and committed suicide.

1953-Former Yankees Pitcher Roy Slagle (1979) was born.
Pitcher Roy Slagle was selected by the Yankees in the 1st round (19th pick) of the 1976 MLB Amateur Player Draft (Secondary Phase). He had appeared 1 game in relief for the 1979 Yankees, while throwing 2 scoreless innings. He hung on as a pro, while battling pitching arm problems through the 1982 season before retiring from the game.

1961-Former Yankees Minor League P Logan Easley was born.
On June 8,1981, Pitcher Logan Easley was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 1981 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Logan never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 26,1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Doug Drabek and Brian Fisher to the Pirates for 3 Pitchers: Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements.

1965-Former Yankees Reserve INF John Mitchell (1921-1922) had passed away. (1894-1965)
On January 27,1921, Shortstop John Mitchell was traded by AA Vernon Tigers (PCL) to the Yankees for OF Howie Camp, Pitchers Ernie Shore, Bob McGraw and Catcher Truck Hannah. He had appeared in 17 games for the 1921-1922 Yankees as Reserve Shortstop, while hitting .239 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. On July 23,1922, John was traded by the Yankees along with INF Chick Fewster, OF Elmer Miller, Pitcher Lefty O'Doul and $50,000 Cash to the Red Sox for 2 MLB veterans: 3B Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith.

1967-Former Yankees Reserve OF Ryan Thompson (2000) was born.
For the 2000 Yankees, veteran Reserve OF Ryan Thompson had hit .260 in 33 games. After the 2000 AL season had ended, Ryan was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees.

1981-The Reds had traded veteran NL All-Star OF Ken Griffey Sr. to the Yankees for Pitcher Fred Toliver and Minor League P Brian Ryder. The veteran Ken Griffey was about to become an MLB Free Agent, so the Reds traded him for 2 young pitching prospects rather than he let walk away for nothing. Both Pitchers didn’t pitch for the Reds at the MLB level.

1982-Yankees MLB Coach Mike Ferraro lands his 1st MLB Managing job, signing a 2-year contract to lead the Indians. The Tribe will fire him before the end of the 1983 AL season.

1994-Former Yankees Reserve OF Willie Calhoun (2023) was born.
On January 12, 2023, the Yankees had signed OF Willie Calhoun was a Minor League Free Agent with an invite as a non-roster player to their 2023 MLB Spring Training camp. He has appeared in 257 MLB games with the 2017-2022 Rangers and the 2022 Giants. Willie has an overall MLB BA of .240 with 32 HRs and .104 RBIs. Willie was originally selected by the Dodgers in the 4th round of 2015 1st -Year Player Draft out of Yavapai College (Ariz.). As a reserve LF/DH for the 2023 Yankees, Willie would hit .239 with 5 HRs and 16 RBIs in 44 games. On August 1, 2023, the team would grant him MLB Free Agency. In 2024, he would play for the Angels.

1996-Former Yankees Minor League Pitcher Cody Morris (2024) was born.
Pitcher Cody Morris had reached the MLB with the Cleveland Guardians at the end of the 2022 AL season. He had been a 7th-round selection in the 2018 MLB Amateur Player Draft. In his 1st taste of the majors, he posted a 1-2 record with a 2.28 ERA in 7 games, 5 of them starts. He impressed enough to be added to the Guardians' roster for the postseason and made 1 appearance in the Division Series against the Yankees, pitching 2 hitless and scoreless innings in relief. It looked like that had earned him a regular job for 2023, but he made only 6 appearances for Cleveland, al in relief, posting an ERA of 6.75 in 8 innings. He would spend the bulk of the 2023 season in AA and AAA levels, while going 2-1 with a 3.23 ERA in 21 games. On December 26, 2023, he was traded to the Yankees, who needed to add some pitching depth, in return for perennial OF prospect Estevan Florial, who had played in the MLB each of the previous 4 seasons, but he had always found other players blocking his path to a regular job at the MLB level. On July 14, 2024, the Yankees would designate him for assignment in an MLB roster move. At the Triple-A Scranton, Morris has a 4.25 ERA over 36 innings, with a glaring 16% walk rate undermining a solid 25.8% strikeout rate. He was outrighted by the team to AAA Scranton to finish out the 2024 season. He will finish the 2024 IL season with 6-0 record with 4.03 ERA in 26 games

1996-Shortstop Derek Jeter of the New York Yankees is the unanimous choice as AL Rookie of the Year. Jeter becomes the 8th Yankees player to win the award and the 5th unanimous choice in American League history.

2001-In Game #7 of a classic World Series, the Diamondbacks rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning defeating the Yankees and their usually unbeatable Closer Mariano Rivera by the score of 3-2. Rivera throws a potential double-play ball into centerfield allowing the D-Backs to rally back into the game. The 4-year-old D-Backs are the youngest MLB franchise to win a Fall Classic, they have ended the Yankees string of 3 consecutive World Championships. A crowd of 49,589 fans watched the game being played at Bank 1 ballpark. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the World Series MVP honors. The 2 D-Backs pitchers are the 1st multiple winners since the Dodgers trio of Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager shared the MVP Award in the 1981 World Series.

2003-Former Yankees All-Star 1B Don Mattingly is named as the MLB Hitting Coach of the Yankees replacing recently departed MLB Hitting Coach Rick Down, who will be sign with the cross-town NL Mets.

2009-At Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 50,310 fans watched as the Yankees defeat the Phillies by the score of 7-3 in Game #6 to win the 2009 World Series. Yankees DH Hideki Matsui drives in a record 6 runs to earn the 2009 World Series Most Valuable Player Award. Matsui ties Yankees Bobby Richardson’s 1960 record of most RBIs in a World Series game He had ended the 2009 World Series with a .615 average, 3 HRs and 8 RBIs to earn the World Series MVP Award. Yankees Veteran Starter Andy Pettitte picks up the victory, while Phillies Starter Pedro Martinez takes the loss. Phillies Slugger hits a HR in the game.

2013-The recently retired Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera is named the 2013 Comeback Player of the Year in the AL, while Francisco Liriano wins the Award in the NL. Liriano had won in the 2010 AL and becomes the 1st MLB player to win it in each league. Mariano had finished the 2013 AL season with a record of 6-2 with a 2.11 ERA and 44 saves in 64 appearances.

2021-The Yankees had announced that they have declined the club options on 2 Veteran MLB Players: long-time team OF Brett Gardner and Reliever Darren O’Day, in return they have declined their own Player Options, they have become MLB Free Agents. Darren O’Day will later sign an MLB Free Agent deal with the Dodgers. Brett Gardner will not be resigned by the Yankees for the 2022 AL season.

2022-The Yankees have announced that the club will pick up their $15MM option on starter Luis Severino, who had posted a 7-3 record with a 3.18 ERA in 19 games for the 2022 AL season.

2022-Yankees RF Aaron Judge was named the AL Players Choice Player of the Year Award winner. Judge had broken Roger Maris’ mark of 61 HRs in 1961, setting a new AL HR record with 62. Judge had led the MLB with 131 RBIs, 133 runs scored, a .425 on-base percentage, a .686 slugging percentage and an AL-leading 111 walks. His 391 total bases were the most in a single season for the AL since Alex Rodriguez's 393 with the Rangers in 2001.

November 5th

1883-Former Yankees Shortstop Otis Johnson (1911) was born. (1883-1915)
During the month of August,1909, Shortstop Otis Johnson was purchased by the Yankees from AA Portland (PCL) for $4,000 Cash. For the 1911 Yankees, Johnson had appeared in 71 games, while hitting .234 with 3 HRs and 36 RBIs. It would be his only active MLB season; he would continue to play in the Minor Leagues until 1915.

1892-Former Yankees Catcher/OF Alfred “Roxy” Walters (1915-1918) was born. (1892-1956)
On July 23,1915, Catcher Roxy Walters was purchased by the Yankees from Waco (TXL). For the 1915-1918 Yankees, Walters will hit .265 with No HRs and 49 RBIs in 193 games. On December 18,1918, Roxy was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Ray Caldwell, Slim Love, OF Frank Gilhooley and $15,000 Cash to the Red Sox for 2 Pitchers: Ernie Shore and Dutch Leonard and OF Duffy Lewis.

1907-The Yankees had traded 2B Jimmy Williams and OF Danny Hoffman to the St. Louis Browns for Pitcher Fred Glade, 2B Harry Niles and OF Charlie Hemphill. Niles will hit .289 for the team, while veteran OF Charlie Hemphill will hit .297. For the 1908 Yankees, Veteran MLB Starter Fred Glade will pitch in just 5 games, posting a 0-4 record before retiring from MLB.

1924-Former Yankees Pitcher John “Sonny” Dixon (1956) was born. (1926-2011)
The Yankees had acquired hurler Sonny Gray from Kansas City for veteran Pitcher Johnny Sain and OF Enos Slaughter. He would finish the 1955 season with the AAA Denver Bears (AA) posting a 3-3 record with a 4.18 ERA in 18 games. In 1956, Dixon had a 0-1 record with a 2.08 ERA and 1 save in 3 games for the Yankees, before being sent down to AAA Richmond Virginians (IL), where he had a 6-5 record with a 2.88 ERA in 46 games. He would continue to pitch in the Minor Leagues with the Yankees, White Sox and Senators Organizations before retiring as an active player in 1961. Overall, as an MLB hurler Sonny Dixon would post a 11-18 record with a 4.17 ERA and 9 saves in 102 games with the Senators, A’s and the Yankees.

1955-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Bobby Ramos (1982) was born.
On April 5,1982, the Expos had traded Catcher Bobby Ramos to the Yankees for Reserve Catcher Brad Gulden. For the 1982 Yankees, Bobby will appear in only 4 games, while hitting just .091. He had played 62 games with the Yankees AAA Columbus Clippers (IL), while hitting just .232. Bobby will be sold back to the Expos in November of 1982.

1973-Former Yankees OF/DH Johnny Damon (2006-2009) was born.
Johnny Damon had appeared in 576 games for the Yankees, while hitting .285 with 125 HRs and 296 RBI’s. The Kansas City Royals originally had signed him; then he was traded to the A’s during the 2001 AL season. Damon was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Red Sox in the fall of 2001, making the AL All-Star team and appearing in the 2004 World Series. In 2006, he signed with the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. Damon drove in 115 runs for the Yankee, while slugging 24 HRs from the leadoff spot in their batting order. It marked the 9th consecutive MLB season in which, he had scored at least 100 runs. He was a major contributor to the Yankees' 2009 World Championship season as their leadoff hitter, hitting .282, while scoring 107 runs. He made a particularly dramatic impact in Game 4 of the World Series against the Phillies, when he hit a single after a drawn-out battle with Closer Brad Lidge in the 9th inning, then he stole 2 bases on 1 play against the Phillies in a defensive shift against 1B Mark Teixeira, and then he scored the winning run on Alex Rodriguez's double. In the winter of 2009, Johnny would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency, who had refused to give him a multi-year contract, signing with the Tigers.

1976-The 2 new AL team franchises, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays had selected 30 players apiece from other AL team rosters during the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. The Yankees would lose veteran Reliever Grant Jackson and Rookie OF/INF Juan Bernhardt to the Mariners. They will lose veteran Shortstop Jim Mason, Minor League 3B Garth Iorg and Reserve OF/DH Otto Velez to the Blue Jays in the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. The veteran Reliever Grant Jackson was left unprotected by the team due to his age. The Mariners would later trade him to the Pirates for 2 younger players.

1992-Former Yankees Reliever Ron Scurry (1985-1986) had passed away. (1956-1992)
On September 14,1985, Reliever Ron Scurry was purchased by the Yankees from the Pirates. For the 1985-1986 Yankees, he would post a 2-2 record with a 3.46 ERA with 3 saves in 36 games. On November 22,1986, Ron was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. On December 6,1986, Ron was resigned as an MLB Free Agent by the club. On March 27,1987, Ron was released by the Yankees. During his MLB playing career, Rod Scurry was plagued by drug problems, while pitching for the Pirates; particularly cocaine addiction. During his stay with the 1985-1986 Yankees, he was drug free. He would die at age 36 of an apparent drug overdose, a week after collapsing during an altercation with the local police.

2000-Yankees All-Star Catcher Jorge Posada wins a 2000 AL Silver Slugger Award. He is only Yankees regular player to win the 2000 AL Silver Slugger Award. Jorge had appeared in 151 games for the Yankees, while hitting .287 with 28 HRs and 86 RBIs.

2021-The Yankees had announced that veteran MLB Catcher Bob Brantly has declined his outright assignment to AAA Scranton; he has become an MLB Free Agent. He didn’t appear in any games for the 2021 Yankees. Also, that former MLB hurler Adam Warren had become an MLB Free Agent, he didn’t appear with the team this season. At AAA Scranton for the 2021 season, he had posted a 3.59 ERA with no decisions. He had signed a 2-year deal with the Yankees, Adam had been recovering from his pitching arm injuries.

2021-Meanwhile on the MLB waiver list, the Yankees had Reserve INF Andrew Velazquez claimed by the Angels; also, veteran OF Greg Allen was claimed by the Pirates. He had hit .270 in 15 games for the Bombers. At AAA Scranton, he had hit .326. Reserve OF Tim Locastro, who was recovering from a season ending ACL Injury, after playing in just 9 games for the Yankees. On July 1, 2021, he had been obtained from the Diamondbacks for Minor League hurler Keegan Curtis. Tim has been claimed by the Red Sox. The Yankees will regain Locastro, when Boston puts him on waivers, later on in the 2021 off-season.

2021-The Yankees have announced that they have signed 3 Free Agent players to Minor League player contracts; they are Pitchers Chalniel Arias and Alexi Paulino and OF David Beckles. The 3 players signed by the team will not appear with the 2022 Yankees at the MLB level.

2023-Yankees Rookie Shortstop Anthony Volpe had won a AL Golden Glove for Shortstop.

November 6th

1931-Former HOF Yankees Pitcher Jack “Happy Jack” Chesbro had passed away. (1874-1931)
Veteran MLB Starter Jack Chesbro holds the MLB and Yankees team pitching record for most wins in an MLB season with 41 wins in 1904. From 1903-1909, Jack would win 129 games as a Yankees hurler; he had appeared in 269 games along with 169 complete games, 1,953 innings pitched with a .577 WP, with a career 2.58 ERA along with 16 shutouts and 913 strikeouts. Before joining the Yankees in 1903, Jack had previously pitched as a Starter for the 1899-1902 Pirates in NL. With the NL Bucs, Jack had posted a 70-38 record with a 2.89 ERA in 269 games; having been part of 2 MLB pennant-winning teams with the 1901-1902 NL Pirates. In 1903, he had jumped to the Yankees in the AL. He was the 1st Yankee Pitcher to start a game for the 1903 team. On September 11,1909, Jack was selected off waivers by the Red Sox from the Yankees. He had gone 0-4 with a 6.34 ERA in 9 games for the 1909 Yankees. He would only appear in 1 game for the 1909 Red Sox, going 0-1. At the end of the 1909 AL season, Jack Chesbro will retire from MLB, having accumulated an MLB career pitching record of 198-132 with a 2.68 ERA and 5 saves in 392 games. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1946.

1942-The Yankees are notified that INF Frank Crosetti will be suspended for 30 days; commencing Opening Day of the 1943 AL season for pushing Umpire Bill Sommers in Game #3 of the 1942 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Frank Crosetti was fined $250, as was his Yankees teammate 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon was fined for the same amount.

1952-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Wehrmeister (1981) was born. (1952-2023)
In 1973, Dave Wehrmeister was drafted by the Padres. On December 8,1980, Dave was drafted by the Royals from the Yankees in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On April 3,1981, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Royals to the Yankees. He would appear in 5 games for the team, while posting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA. On June 17,1983, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Phillies for 2 Minor League Pitchers Kelly Faulk and Jim Rasmussen. Dave Wehrmeister's best MLB season was in 1985 with the White Sox. He had posted a 2-2 record with a 3.43 ERA and 2 saves. He got both saves by pitching the last 4 innings of wins by Britt Burns and Tom Seaver. He did not give up a run in either save. He would finish his MLB pitching career with a 4-9 record with a 5.65 ERA and 2 saves in 76 games.

1953-Former Yankees Pitcher John “Candy Man” Candelaria (1988-1989) was born.
On January 18,1988, veteran hurler John Candelaria was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. In 1987, he had pitched for the Angels, later he was traded by the team to the Mets. John had posted a 16-10 record with a 3.80 ERA and 1 save in 35 games with the Yankees. While with the Yankees, John was bother by right knee and hip problems, that would put him on DL. On August 29,1989, he was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for Minor League INF Mike Blowers. He had posted a 3-3 record for the team.

1960-Former Yankees Minor League P Ron Romanick was born.
On December 19,1986, Pitcher Ron Romanick was traded by the Angels along with a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for Catcher Butch Wynegar. With the Angels, Ron had posted a 31-29 record with a 4.28 ERA in 82 games. On June 22,1987, the Angels would send hurler Alan Mills to the Yankees to complete the trade. Ron will not appear with the team at the MLB level. He will spend the 1987 season with the Yankees AAA team, the Columbus Clippers (IL), while posting a 5-8 record with a 5.16 ERA in 18 games. At the end of the 1987 IL season, Ron will be granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. Later, he became a Minor League Pitching Coach for several MLB organizations, including the Mariners and the A’s.

1961-Former Yankees 3B Roy Hartzell (1911-1916) had passed away. (1881-1961)
On February 11,1911, 3B Roy Hartzell was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with Cash to the Yankees for 3B Jimmy Austin and 2B Frank LaPorte. For the 1911-1916 Yankees, he had appeared in 699 games, while hitting .261 with 8 HRs and 266 RBIs. During the 1916 AL season, he was released by the Yankees to the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL). For the 1916 Yankees, he was only hitting .188 with No HRs and 7 RBIs in 33 games. In 1917, he would play for 2 Minor League teams before retiring from the game.

1968-Former Yankees Reserve OF Chad Curtis (1997-1999) was born.
On June 9,1997, OF Chad Curtis was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for hurler Dave Weathers. In 1997, Chad would hit .291 with 12 HRs and 50 RBIs in 93 games, but in 1998, he had slumped to .243 BA with 10 HRs and 56 RBIs in 151 games. In the 1999 AL season, Chad hit better with a .262 BA, but his run production dropped off to only 5 HRs and 24 RBIs in 96 games for the club. On December 13,1999, he was traded by the Yankees to the Rangers for 2 Minor League hurlers: Brandon Knight and Sam Marsonek.

1968-The Yankees would sell veteran INF Ruben Amaro Sr. to the Angels for a disclosed amount of money believed to be greater than the waiver price. Ruben was a major disappointment for the Yankees, who had traded INF Phil Linz for him to replace the retiring Yankees regular Shortstop Tony Kubek. He was the Yankees 1966 starting Shortstop before being hurt in an outfield accident with OF Tom Tresh. He would finish the 1968 AL season as Reserve INF for the Yankees, being replaced by Tresh as the team’s starting Shortstop. For the 1966-1968 Yankees, he had appeared in 191 games, while hitting .214 with 1 HR and 20 RBIs. After the spending the 1969 AL season with the Angels, he would leave the MLB.

1971-Former Yankees OF Bubba Trammell (2003) was born.
On March 19, 2003, OF Bubba Trammell was traded by the Padres along with Minor League Player Mark Phillips and Cash to the Yankees for veteran OF/DH Rondell White. For the 2003 Yankees, Bubba appeared in only 22 games, while hitting .200, before leaving the team for personal reasons, which were never made public. His Yankees teammates suggested that he left because he was angry at the Yankees Manager Joe Torre, for not giving him enough playing time. Bubba later reported that he was suffering from depression. Overall, as an MLB Player, he had hit .261 with 82 HRs and 285 RBIs in 584 games. In the years following his departure from the Yankees, Trammell would struggle with personal problems and would sustain a meniscus injury. He had played in the Minor Leagues hoping to make a comeback, but he never made it back to the MLB. He officially retired from baseball on July 2, 2007, while on a rehab assignment with the Aberdeen IronBirds; where he was batting just .143, after 9 games.

1973-Former Yankees Pitcher Carlos Almanzar (2001) was born.
On March 24, 2001, Pitcher David Lee was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for hurler Carlos Almanzar. For the 2001 Yankees, Carlos would post a 0-1 record with a 3.38 ERA in 10 games. At the end of the 2001 AL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.

1978-The Yankees had released veteran MLB Starter Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers for 1979 MLB season. Andy Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder injury that he had suffered in a spring training game, when he was run into during a play at 1B by Yankees 1B Cliff Johnson. For the 1978 Yankees, Andy had posted a 0-3 record with a 5.64 ERA in 6 games.

1983-Former Yankees Minor League OF Justin Maxwell was born.
On February 2, 2011, OF Justin Maxwell was traded by the Nationals to the Yankees for Minor League P Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell would begin the 2011 season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), but his 2011 season ended prematurely due to a torn labrum injury. On April 8, 2012, Justin was selected off waivers by the Astros from the Yankees. He had started out the 2013 NL season with the Astros, but then Justin was traded to the Royals at the July 31st MLB Trade Deadline.

1987-Former Yankees Pitcher Caleb Cotham (2015) was born.
Pitcher Caleb Cotham joined the Yankees as a 5th Round Draft choice out of Vanderbilt Univ. in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft. In 6 seasons in the Yankees' Minor League system, he would post a 19-24 record with a 3.94 ERA in 110 games. After starting 3 games in 2009, he had missed all of 2010 season; then he was used as a Reliever in 2011. In 2012, he was a starter for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) and the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), going a combined 5-7 record with a 3.91 ERA. In 2013, he would reach AAA for the 1st time with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), after starting the season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), but his numbers weren't so good: an 8-7 record with a 5.07 ERA in 28 games. The 2014 campaign was a lost season, as he struggled with injuries, he had to go back down to the Gulf Coast League for rehabilitation; when in the upper levels of the Yankees farm system, he made only 10 starts finishing with a record of 0-4 with an ERA well above 6.00. Then the Yankees decided to make him a Reliever in 2015, it worked out beautifully. He had a combined 6-4 record with a 2.37 ERA between AA Trenton and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, leading to a 1st call-up to the Bronx in late July, with a more extended look in September. On September 14, 2015, Pitcher Caleb Cotham earned his 1st MLB win for the Yankees against the Rays. He registered the last out in the bottom of the 8th after the Rays had taken a 1-0 lead, then was the beneficiary of a 2-out rally against Tampa Closer Brad Boxberger in the 9th. Brett Gardner had walked and stole 2nd, Alex Rodriguez tied the game with a double, and after an intentional walk to Catcher Brian McCann, fellow Bronx Rookie Slade Heathcott homered to put the Yankees up by the score of 4-1. Yankees Closer Andrew Miller then pitched the bottom of the 9th to seal the win. Altogether, he went 1-0 with a 6.52 ERA in 12 relief outings for the Yankees that season. On December 28, 2015, he was 1 of 4 Yankee prospects, alongside 3B Eric Jagielo, OF Tony Renda and P Rookie Davis traded by the Yankees to the Reds for All-Star Closer Aroldis Chapman. The Reds were in full rebuilding mode, stocking up on young players, after beginning a wholesale turnover of their veterans in the middle of the 2015 NL season. For the 2016 Reds, Caleb would post a 0-3 record with a 7.40 ERA in 33 games. At the end of the 2016 NL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. In 2017, he was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Mariners. Caleb has not pitched since the end of the 2016 NL season.

1988-Former Yankees Pitcher James ‘Big Maple” Paxton (2019-2020) was born.
Pitcher James “Big Maple” Paxton would help Canada take a Bronze at the 2006 World Junior Championship. He was selected 37th overall in in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Blue Jays with a pick obtained in compensation for the Yankees MLB Free Agent Pitcher A.J. Burnett. He was the # 1 starter at the Univ. of Kentucky, going 5-3 with a 5.86 ERA. He had 115 strikeouts and 20 walks over 78 1/2 innings at school. His pitches have reached 97 mph on the radar gun. However, he failed to come to an agreement with the Blue Jays before the August 17th deadline for signing, he would return to school. His college eligibility having expired; James would lined up with the 2010 independent Grand Prairie AirHogs (AA), by going 1-2 with a 4.08 ERA in 4 starts. Then, he was selected by the Mariners in the 10th round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft, but he did not pitch again that year. James would pitch for the Mariners from 2013 to 2018 AL seasons. On May 9, 2018, James Paxton would no-hit the Blue Jays in Rogers Centre, throwing only 99 pitches in the process and reaching 100 mph on the radar gun in the 9th inning.
He became only the 2nd Canadian to throw a No-Hitter in MLB history, after Dick Fowler; the 1st to do so on Canadian soil. It was the 6th No-Hitter in M's history, but the 1st one spun on the road. The game itself lasted a mere 2 Hrs. and 19 minutes as Seattle won the game by the score of 5-0. As a Mariners Pitcher, he had posted a 41-26 record with a 3.42 ERA in 102 games. On November 19, 2018, he was traded to the Yankees in return for 3 Minor League Players – top MLB Pitching Prospect Justus Sheffield, P Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams. As a 2019 Yankees Starter, he had posted a 15-6 record with a 3.82 ERA in 29 games. In the 2019 AL Postseason, he went 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA in 2 games. However, after this successful 1st season in Yankees pinstripes, the 2020 AL season began on a bad note for him as on February 5th, he had a spinal fusion surgery, putting him on the IL for 3 to 4 months. He had 1st felt pain in late September, but he decided to undergo the surgery; after a more conservative treatment program failed to deal with the issue. In 2020, he would post a 1-1 record with a 6.64 ERA in 5 games for the team. On October 28, 2020, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency. Paxton would finish his Yankees Pitching career with a 16-7 record with a 4.16 ERA in 34 games.

1992-The Yankees had sold veteran hurler Greg Cadaret to the Reds. On June 21,1989, he had been acquired from the Oakland Athletics as part of player package in the Rickey Henderson trade. As swingman on the 1989-1992 Yankees pitching staff, he had posted a 22-23 record with 4.12 ERA and 7 saves in 188 games.

1996-Former Yankees Reliever Victor Gonzalez (2024) was born.
On July 16, 2012, hurler Victor Gonzalez was signed by the Dodgers as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 2023, he went 3-3 with a 4.01ERA in 34 games for the Dodgers. He has MLB pitching record of 9-4 with a 3.22 ERA and 1 save in 93 games. On December 11, 2023, Victor was traded by the Dodgers along with INF Jorbit Vivas (minors) to the Yankees for Minor League Shortstop prospect Trey Sweeney. Victor was replacing MLB Free Agent Wandy Peralta in the Yankees bullpen. For the 2024 Yankees, he would post a record with a 3.86 ERA in 27 games. He was outrighted by the team to AAA Scranton. On September 15, 2024, he was released by the Yankees.

2001-Yankees Pitcher Mike Mussina is the only Yankees player to win a 2001 AL Golden Glove Award, as the AL winners are announced.

2008-Yankees Pitcher Mike Mussina won the AL Golden Glove award for the 7th time in his MLB career, but for the 1st time in 5 years.

2013-Yankees 2B Robinson Cano wins his 4th straight AL Silver Slugger Award. He had played in 160 games for the 2013 Yankees, while hitting .314 with 27 HRs and 107 RBIs.

2017-Former Yankees Minor League Catcher Ron Stelmaszek had passed away from Cancer. (1948-2017)
On January 23, 1976, Catcher Ron Stelmaszek was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for Minor League Pitcher Gerry Pirtle. Ron had previously played for the Senators, Rangers, Angels and the Cubs, while appearing in 60 MLB games; hitting only .170 with 1 HR and 10 RBIs. He would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent to their 1976 AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL), where he would appear in 74 games, while hitting .200 with 2 HRs and 23 RBIs. In 1977, he would leave the Yankees organization, finish his active playing career with the Rangers Organization. In 1978, he would begin managing in the Minor Leagues with the Wisconsin Rapids Twins (WL), spending 1st year there as a Player/Manager. In 1980, Ron was named the Midwest League Manager of the Year. After 3 years at the helm of Wisconsin Rapids, he would join the Twins MLB Coaching staff in 1981. Ron would stay there through the 2012 AL season. He was the team's MLB Bullpen Coach under 5 different Managers, but he also took on other responsibilities, such as overseeing spring training camp drills and getting everyone organized. His 32 seasons as an MLB Coach with 1 team are the 3rd longest such stint in MLB history. Ron had the longest tenure of any uniformed employee in Twins history.

2023-The Mets have settled on their next MLB manager, by tabbing Yankees MLB Bench Coach Carlos Mendoza to lead their club in 2024. It’ll reportedly be a 3-year deal that pays around $4.5MM total, while the Mets will hold an option for the 2027 NL season. Mendoza, 43, who had spent 13 seasons as an infielder in the minor leagues with the Giants and Yankees before joining the Yankees’ Minor League Coaching staff in 2009. He had last served as a manager at the minor league level in 2012, with the club’s Single-A affiliate in Charleston (SAL). From 2013 to 2017, Mendoza had served as a Roving Defensive Instructor in the Yankees’ organization before he was being promote to the MLB Coaching staff prior to the 2018 AL season as an Infield Coach. He receive his final promotion with the Yankees upon being named the MLB Bench Coach to Manager Aaron Boone shortly after the 2019 AL season. Carlos has remained in that role for the past 4 years. After 18 years working with the Yankees organization, Mendoza now heads from the Bronx to Queens to take over from Buck Showalter as Manager of the Mets. Mendoza will step into the role just as newly-minted President of Baseball Operations David Stearns steps into his own new role with the club after being hired for the role back in September.
2023-The Yankees announced today that the club has selected the minor league player contract of Catcher Carlos Narvaez It’s an early birthday present for Narvaez, who turns 25 in just a few weeks. A right-handed hitter, he had signed with the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Player from Venezuela before the 2016 season. He is the cousin of Mets Catcher Omar Narvaez. Carlos has spent the past 7 years in the Yankees Minor System. He didn’t reach Low-A until 2021, but he has posted respectable numbers over the past couple years, albeit with a 3 true outcomes approach. Narvaez had opened this year at AA Somerset, but he would spend the bulk of the season at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. He had hit .240 with 10 HRs across 84 games for the RailRiders. Narvaez had walked in a huge 15.3% of his plate appearances but he had struck out more than a quarter of the time. He has routinely posted strikeout rates approaching 30% in the minors, generally limiting his batting average. The ability to draw free passes and bring some power from behind the plate is clearly still intriguing to the New York front office. Narvaez has spent parts of 7 seasons in the minors, meaning he would have become a minor league free agent, where he had not been added to the Yankees 40-man roster. Now, he joins MLB veterans Kyle Higashioka, Jose Trevino, Ben Rortvedt and prospect Austin Wells in what has become a crowded catching mix. Narvaez can be sent to AAA for the foreseeable future, as he’ll be in his 1st of 3 minor league option years in 2024.

2023-In other Yankees MLB Roster news, OF/1B Franchy Cordero, OF Billy McKinney as well as Pitchers Domingo German, Jimmy Cordero, Matt Bowman and Ryan Weber have all elected MLB Free Agency after rejecting their outright assignments to AAA Scranton (IL) from earlier this week.

November 7th

1889-Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Thompson (1912) was born. (1889-1963)
For the 1912 Yankees, Pitcher Tommy Thompson had posted a 0-2 record with a 6.06 ERA in 7 games. He would continue pitch in the Minor Leagues from 1913-1915.

1911-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Herbert “Workhorse” Crompton (1945) was born. (1911-1963)
On November 1,1944, Catcher Herb Crompton was drafted by the Yankees from the Pirates organization in the 1944 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He would appear in only 36 games as a Reserve Catcher for the 1945 Yankees, while hitting just .192 with No HRs and 12 RBIs. Herb had previously played in the MLB for the 1937 Senators, appearing in 2 games; while going 1 for 3.

1933-Former Yankees Reserve PH/OF/1B Bob Hale (1961) was born. (1933-2012)
On July 28,1961, veteran 1B Bob Hale was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. Bob would be used by the team as a pinch-hitter, but he did play 5 games at 1B for the Bombers. He had appeared in only 11 games for the Yankees, while hitting .154 before retiring from MLB at the end of the 1961 World Series. He did not appear in the 1961 World Series with the Yankees against the Reds. In 1952, Bob was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the St. Louis Browns. He had played for the 1955-1959 Orioles. Then he was with the 1960-1961 Indians; he was used primary as a Reserve 1B and Pinch-Hitter during his 8 MLB seasons playing career. Overall, Bob would appear in 376 MLB games, while hitting .273 with 2 HRs and 89 RBIs.

1938-Former Yankees 3B/Catcher and Minor League Manager Jake Gibbs (1962-1971) was born.
In 1961, the Yankees had signed Old Miss. College Baseball and Football Star Jake Gibbs for $100,000 as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Jake was originally signed as a 3B/Shortstop. He would begin his pro career with the AAA Richmond Virginians (IL); he had recorded 5 hits in a double header in his pro playing debut and started his pro baseball career with an 8-game hitting streak. In 1962, the Yankees would option him to AAA Richmond, but his playing season was limited by injuries. Then Yankees would ask Gibbs to switch from the Infield to Catcher in 1963. Gibbs would spend the 1963 season with the AAA Virginians, before the Yankees promoted him again in September. Jake’s spent his 1st 4 pro seasons in Minor League baseball, where his highest season batting average was .284. He had managed to hit 28 HRs across the 4 seasons. With Yogi Berra's active player retirement and becoming the team’s Manager before the start of the 1964 AL season, Gibbs competed for a spot on the Yankees' MLB 25-man roster. He was unable to appear in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals due to broken fingers. Also, he had missed the end of the 1966 AL season, after he had suffered a broken left hand. Gibbs would backed up Yankees starting Catcher Elston Howard for a number of seasons. When the Yankees had traded Howard to the Red Sox during the 1967 AL season, Jake Gibbs became the team's starting catcher. He eventually lost the 1st-string catcher job to Rookie Catcher Thurman Munson in 1970, but he continued as a Reserve Catcher with the team. In June 1971, he would announce his retirement from the MLB, effective at the end of the season. He would play his final game on September 29,1971. Jake had hit .233 with 25 HRs and 146 RBIs in 538 games in 10 seasons with the Yankees. He would help a young Thurman Munson developed his catching skills, when he first came up with the Yankees before retiring as an active player. In college, Jake was an All-American Quarterback at Old Miss; he was drafted by NFL (Browns) and AFL (Oilers) teams before deciding on an MLB playing career with the Yankees. He is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. After his MLB playing career ended, he would return to Mississippi, where he was their Head Baseball Coach for 19 seasons (1972-1990). In 1994-1995, he had managed the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) in the Yankees Minor League system.

1938-Former Yankees Pitcher and MLB Broadcaster Jim Kaat (1979-1980) was born.
On May 11,1979, veteran lefty hurler Jim Kaat was purchased by the Yankees from the Phillies. Jim will appear in 44 games with the Yankees, while posting a 2-4 record along with a 4.12 ERA and 2 saves before being purchased by the Cardinals on April 30,1980. He would retire from the MLB in 1983, finishing his 25 MLB season pitching career with a 283-237 record, while posting a 3.45 ERA in 898 games. Jim was originally signed by the Washington Senators during the 1950’s. He would make MLB pitching debut with the 1958 Senators.

1944-Former Yankees Pitcher Joe Niekro (1985-1987) was born. (1944-2006)
On September 15,1985, veteran MLB Starter Joe Niekro was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for Minor League Players to be Named Later and Rookie hurler Jim Deshaies. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League players: INF Neder Horta on September 24,1985 and P Dody Rather on January 11,1986 to the Astros to complete the trade. Joe would post a 14-15 record with 4.58 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees.
On June 7,1987, the Yankees would trade Joe to the Twins for C/1B/DH Mark Salas. He would finish his MLB Pitching career by posting a 221-204 record with a 3.59 ERA in 702 games.

1963-Yankees AL All-Star Catcher Elston Howard becomes the 1st Black player to win the AL Most Valuable Player Award. Howard beats out Tigers RF Al Kaline by 248 votes to 148 votes in the AL MVP balloting. For the 1963 AL Champion Yankees, Ellie had hit .287 with 28 HRs and 85 RBIs in 135 games

1968-Former Yankees Pitcher Russ Springer (1992) was born.
On June 5,1989, Pitcher Russ Springer was selected by the Yankees in the 7th round of the 1989 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would appear in 14 games with the 1992 Yankees with no record. On December 6,1992, Russ was traded by the Yankees along with P Jerry Nielsen and 1B J.T. Snow to the Angels for MLB Starter Jim Abbott. He would pitch in the MLB for 18 seasons with 10 MLB teams, finishing with an overall record of 36-45 with a 4.52 ERA along with 9 saves in 740 games.

1978-In a controversial selection, Red Sox OF Jim Rice is named AL MVP over Yankees Pitcher Ron Guidry. Jim Rice led the AL in HRs (46), RBI’s (139), hits (213), and triples with a slugging percentage of .600. He became the 1st AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio in 1937. While Yankees Starter Ron Guidry, had posted a 25-3 record with 248 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA for the AL pennant-winning Bronx Bombers. Guidry will win the 1978 AL Cy Young Award.

1989-Former Yankees Starter Sonny Gray (2017-2018) was born.
The Oakland A's had selected Pitcher Sonny Gray as their 18th pick of 2011 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Gray was signed by Oakland for $1.54 million. In 16 starts for the 2017 A's, he was 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA. His name was continually mentioned in MLB trade rumors starting in late June, as he was clearly one of the better MLB starting pitchers available to a contender willing to pay the price at the July 31st MLB Trading Deadline. It took until July 31st deadline for the expected trade to be finalized, as the winners of the lottery were the Yankees, who gave up 3 Minor League Prospects: OF Dustin Fowler, P James Kaprielian and INF/OF Jorge Mateo to bring him on board; a sure sign that the A’s was focusing on the distant future at that point was that 2 of the Yankees prospects - Fowler and Kaprielian - were out for the rest of the 2017 AL season with injuries at the time of the trade. Gray would finish the 2017 AL season with the Yankees with a 4-7 record with a 3.72 ERA in 11 games. In the 2017 MLB post season, he would post a 0-1 record in 2 games for the team. For the 2018 Yankees, he went 11-9 with a 4.90 ERA in 30 games. He was left off the Yankees 2018 AL Postseason roster. On January 21, 2019, Sonny was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Pitcher Reiver Sanmartin to the Reds for INF Shed Long and a 2019 Competitive Balance Round A Pick.

1997-The Yankees had traded veteran starter Kenny Rogers to Oakland Athletics for a Player to be Named Later and Cash considerations. In December of 1995, Rogers was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He had posted a 12-7 record with a 4.68 ERA in 30 games in 1996. He would make 2 postseason appearances for the 1996 Yankees with no decisions. In 1997, he would drop to a 6-7 record with a 5.65 ERA in 31 games, he had been pulled out of the Yankees starting rotation. On November 18,1997, Oakland would send INF/OF Scott Brosius to the Yankees to complete the trade.

2006-Former Yankees Pitcher (1951-1955) and Long-time MLB Pitching Coach (Yankees: 1961-1963) Johnny Sain had passed away. (1917-2006)
On August 29, 1951, Veteran NL starter Johnny Sain was obtained from the Braves for Yankees Rookie hurler Lou Burdette and $50,000 Cash. John would post a 33-20 record with a 3.31 ERA with 41 saves in 130 games for the team coming out of their bullpen and being an occasional spot starter. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1953, when he posted a 14-7 mark with a 3.00 ERA along with 19 saves in 40 games. He was named to the AL All-Star team. In 1954, Johnny would lead the AL in saves with 26, while recording a 6-6 record with 3.16 ERA in 45 games. On May 11,1955, he was traded to the A’s along with veteran OF Enos Slaughter for hurler Sonny Dixon. Overall, John would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 139-116 record with a 3.49 ERA and 53 saves in 412 games. He had appeared in 4 World Series (Braves-1, Yankees-3), while posting a 2-2 record with 2.64 ERA in 6 games. Later, he would later become a very successful MLB Pitching Coach with the Tigers, Yankees, Twins and later with the Braves. From 1961-1963, he was the Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, replacing the Yankees 1960 Pitching Coach Eddie Lopat. Whitey Ford would win 25 games during Johnny’s 1st season as Yankees MLB Pitching Coach. After the 1963 World Series had ended, Johnny would leave the Yankees. He had asked the Bronx front office for a $2,500 pay raise for his good rebuilding job with the Yankees pitching staff, but the Yankees Front Office would refuse his request for pay raise; he would leave the team. So, Yogi Berra would ask his former Yankees teammate Whitey Ford to be the new 1964 MLB Pitching Coach.

2019-The AL Silver Slugger Award winners are announced. Only 1 Yankee player is named for the 2019 Award, it’s 2B D. J. LeMahieu, who had hit .327 with 26 HRs and 102 RBIs in 145 games.

2020-The Yankees recognized their 2021 Minor League System organization in-line with the MLB’s reorganization of the Minor Leagues. The team had moved its AA Eastern League team, the Trenton Thunder across from the Delaware River in Mercer County to central part of the state located at Bridgewater-Raritan; to the home of the Atlantic League’s long-time successful franchise, the Somerset Patriots for their new 2021Class AA level team. The Trenton Thunder franchise will be offered the Somerset’s place in the Atlantic League. The Thunder organization was very vocal in the news media about this change. Also, the Yankees would lose the following 2 Short season teams: the Rookie League Pulaski Yankees (APL), Class A short-season, the Staten Island Yankees (NYPL) and the Class A Charleston Riverdogs (SAL). The Yankees new Class A team will be the Hudson Valley Renegades (NYPL), who were with the Tampa Bay Rays organization in 2020. The Staten Island Yankees will sue the Yankees and MLB for damages in court, but they will lose their case.

2021-The Yankees have announced that they have declined their 3-million-dollar club option on Reliever Joely Rodriguez; he gets a $500,000 buyout and becomes an MLB Free Agent. The Yankees had acquired him in the Joey Gallo trade with the Rangers. He had posted an 2-3 record with a 4.66 ERA and 1 saves in 52 games with the Rangers and Yankees. Also, the Yankees have selected the player contract of Minor League Catcher Donnie Sands from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, adding him to their 40-man MLB Roster. He would replace former Catcher Rob Brently, who had elected to take MLB Free Agency rather then be outrighted to AAA Scranton. Later, the Yankees would trade Sands to the Phillies during the off-season.

2021-The 2021 AL Golden Glove awards are announced only 1 Yankee player is named to the team, RF Joey Gallo, who had split the 2021 AL season playing with the Rangers and Yankees.

2022-The Yankees would lose MLB Assistant Batting Coach Hensley Meulens to the Rockies as he becomes the 2023 Rockies MLB Batting Coach, replacing veteran MLB Hitting Coach Dave Magadan. He previously had coached at the MLB level for the Giants and the Mets before joining the Yankees MLB coaching staff in 2022.

November 8th

1896-Former Hall of Fame MLB Manager Player and Yankees Manager Bucky Harris (1947-1948) was born. (1896-1977)
Bucky Harris was a 2B in the AL during the 1920-1930’s. He won 2 AL pennants with the 1924-1925 Senators as a Player-Manager, earning him the nickname of “Boy Wonder.” As an MLB player, he appeared in 1,263 games, while hitting .274 with 9 HRs and 508 RBIs. After managing the 1924-1928 Senators, he moved to the 1929-1933 Tigers. In 1934, he took over the Red Sox lasting only 1 season. In 1935, he moved back to Senators, running the team from 1935 to 1942. In 1943, he took the Manager’s job for the Phillies, lasting until mid-July of 1943. Harris then spent 3 seasons out of the MLB as GM (from 1944–1946) and Manager (1944–1945) of the AA Buffalo Bisons, his old team in the International League. In August 1946, the Yankees' Co- Team Owner and GM, Larry MacPhail, appointed Harris to a front-office position. The tumultuous 1946 AL season saw MacPhail employ 3 Managers—Joe McCarthy, Bill Dickey and Johnny Neun as the team finish 3rd; 17 games in arrears of the pennant-winning Red Sox. At the close of the season, MacPhail would name Harris as the new Bombers' 1947 Manager; as he led them to his 3rd AL pennant and the Yankees' 15th AL title. His 1948 Yankees had won 94 games to finish a close 3rd in a hectic AL pennant race, 2 games behind the Indians and Red Sox, who ended the regular season in a tie for 1st place. This result had dissatisfied the Yankees new GM George Weiss. He would replace Harris with his own man, former MLB and Minor League Manager Casey Stengel. He would lead New York to 10 AL pennants and 7 World Series titles in the next 12 seasons. Later, Bucky would manage the 1950-1954 Senators and the 1955-1956 Tigers. Harris would finish his MLB Manager career with a 2,159-2,219 record in 29 MLB seasons. In 1957, he would join the Red Sox front office working as an Assistant to GM Joe Cronin, later in 1959, he would become the team’s new GM, when Cronin would leave Boston to become the new AL President. After the 1960 AL season, Red Sox Team Owner Tom Yawkey had fired Harris, he was disappointed by the lack of success in player trades and the team’s performance on the playing field. Harris would end his long MLB career as an MLB Scout for the 1961-1962 White Sox and also serving as a Special Assistant for new Senators Expansion Team Franchise. He was elected to Hall of Fame in 1975 by the Veteran’s Committee as an MLB Manager.

1942-Former Yankees OF William “Birdie” Cree (1908-1915) had passed away. (1882-1942)
Outfielder Birdie Cree would hit .292 with 11 HRs and 332 RBIs in 742 games with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1911, when he hit .348 with 4 HRs and 88 RBIs in 137 games. In 1912, he injured his leg, only appearing in 50 games, never regaining his playing form of the 1911 AL season. After a mediocre 1913 AL season with the Yankees, he was sold to the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL). However, on July 6,1914, the Yankees would send OF Bill Holden and Cash to the AA Orioles to get him back. After 1915 AL season, he had retired from MLB going to work in the banking industry.

1951-Yankees All-Star Catcher Yogi Berra wins the 1st of his 3 AL MVP Awards. He had hit .294 with 27 HRs, 88 RBIs in 141 games for the 1951 World Champion Yankees. During the 1951 AL season, Yogi Berra caught Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds 2 No-Hitters against the Indians and Red Sox. He was selected for the 1951 AL All-Star team. Also, he was named to the 1951 The Sporting News All-Star team.

1961-With only 1 Cy Young Award given for the 2 MLB leagues, Yankees veteran All-Star Starter Whitey Ford, the AL leader in wins (25) and innings pitched (283), won the honor ahead of the Milwaukee Braves Warren Spahn, who had led the NL in wins (21) and ERA (3.02). In one of the closest votes in Cy Young Award history, future Hall of Famers Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn totaled 9 and 6 points respectively.

1962-Former Yankees Minor League OF John Fishel was born.
On January 10,1989, OF John Fishel was traded by the Astros along with 2 Minor Leaguer Pitchers: Mike Hook and Pedro DeLeon to the Yankees for veteran MLB Starter Rick Rhoden. With the 1988 Astros, he had appeared in 19 games, while hitting .231 with 2 HRs and 2 RBIs in his only MLB playing time. He would play for the 1989-1990 AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). In 1989, he had hit .218 with 6 HRs and 31 RBIs. In 1990, he would hit just .200 with 3 HRs and 21 RBIs. Overall, Fishel had hit .254 with 72 HRs and 333 RBIs in his 6-year Minor League player career.

1967-Former Yankees LF/1B Henry Rodriquez (2001) was born.
On February 15, 2001, OF/1B Henry Rodriquez was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would only appear in 5 games with the team with no hits. On June 19, 2001, Henry was released by the Yankees.

1977-Former Hall of Fame MLB Manager Player and Yankees Manager Bucky Harris (1947-1948) had passed away. (1896-1977)
Bucky Harris was a 2B in the AL during the 1920-1930’s. He had won 2 AL pennants with the 1924-1925 Senators as a Player-Manager, earning him the nickname of “Boy Wonder.” As an MLB player, he had appeared in 1,263 games; while hitting .274 with 9 HRs and 508 RBIs. After managing the 1924-1928 Senators, then he would move to the 1929-1933 Tigers. In 1934, he would take over the Red Sox lasting only 1 season. In 1935, he moved back to Senators, running the team from 1935 to 1942. In 1943, he took the Manager’s job for the Phillies, lasting until mid-July of 1943. Harris then would spend 3 seasons out of the MLB as GM (from 1944-1946) and Manager (1944-1945) of the AA Buffalo Bisons, his old team in the International League. In August 1946, the Yankees' Co-Team Owner and GM, Larry MacPhail had appointed Harris to a front-office position to help evaluate the team. The tumultuous 1946 AL season saw GM MacPhail employ 3 Managers- veteran Manager Joe McCarthy who had resigned, then Bill Dickey and Johnny Neun, who would finish out the season as the team finished 3rd; 17 games in arrears of the pennant-winning Red Sox. At the close of the 1946 AL season, MacPhail will name Harris, giving him a 2-year contract as the Bombers' 1947-1948 Manager; as he led them to his 3rd AL pennant and the Yankees' 15th AL title. His 1948 Yankees had won 94 games to finish a close 3rd in a hectic AL Pennant race, 2 games behind the Indians and Red Sox, who ended the regular season in a tie for 1st place. His results had dissatisfied the Yankees new GM George Weiss. Some of the 1948 Yankees team players said that even if Bucky had won the 1948 AL pennant; Weiss was going to get rid of him, replacing with his own man. He will replace Harris with his own man, former MLB and Minor League Manager Casey Stengel, who would lead New York to 10 AL pennants and 7 World Series titles in the next 12 seasons. Later, Bucky would manage the 1950-1954 Senators and then the 1955-1956 Tigers. Harris would finish his MLB Manager career with a 2,159-2,219 record in 29 MLB seasons. In 1957, he would join the Red Sox front office working as an Assistant to GM Joe Cronin. Later in 1959, he would become the team’s new GM, when Cronin left Boston to become the new AL President. After the 1960 AL season, Red Sox Team Owner Tom Yawkey would fire Harris. He was disappointed by the lack of success in trades and the team’s performance on the playing field. Harris would end his long MLB career as an MLB Scout for the 1961-1962 White Sox. Then, he was a Special Assistant for the new Senators expansion franchise. In 1975, Bucky Harris was elected to Hall of Fame by the Veteran’s Committee as an MLB Manager.

1979-The Yankees would sign 2 veteran MLB Free Agents: 1B/DH Bob Watson and Pitcher Rudy May to long-term MLB Player contracts. May had pitched for the 1974-1976 Yankees before being traded to the Orioles on June 15,1976. For the 1980 Yankees, Rudy will post a 15-5 record with 3 saves along with AL leading ERA of 2.46. Veteran 1B/DH Bob Watson will hit .307 with 13 HRs and 64 RBIs in 130 games for the team.

1979-Former Yankees Minor League Pitching Coach and Former Pitcher Justin Pope was born.
In 2001, Justin Pope would begin his pro career with the short-season New Jersey Cardinals with a 2-4 record and a 2.60 ERA in 15 games that he had started. Baseball America rated him the #11 prospect in the NYPL and #5 in the Cardinals system. Justin had started 12 games for the 2002 Single A Peoria Chiefs (ML). The right-hander would post an 8-1 record with a 1.38 ERA, while opponents batted only .173 against him. Baseball America ranked him as the #18 prospect in the MWL; injuries limited his time and presumably lowered his rating considerably. He struggled to begin the 2003 season, while pitching for the Class A Palm Beach Cardinals (FSL) as he went 4-11 with a 4.92 ERA. In August 22, 2003, he was traded by the Cardinals along with P Ben Julianel to the Yankees for veteran hurler Sterling Hitchcock. Justin was credited with 2 wins in 2 relief appearances with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) to close out the season. Pope, who had been used as a starting pitcher for the majority of his pro career thus far, began the conversion to the bullpen in 2004. He had started 19 of 31 games that season, while splitting time with Class A Tampa (4-4 record with a 3.80 ERA) and the AA Trenton Thunder (5-3 record with 4.06 ERA). By 2005, his transition to closer was complete as he set the Thunder's franchise record with 29 saves. He was selected to the Eastern League's mid-season All-Star team. His 54 "games finished" led the EL. He posted a 6-4 record with a 2.81 ERA that season and walked 20 batters in 77 innings. He would begin the 2006 season again with the AA Thunder, as he notched 23 saves (going 2-2, with 2.47 ERA). Justin, also struggled with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL) with a 7.30 ERA in 12 1/3 innings pitched in middle relief role. By season's end, he was back with AA Trenton. After retiring as an active player in 2010, Pope would move into the Minor League Coaching ranks for the Yankees organization with the short-season Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). Next, he was a Pitching Coach for the AA 2011 Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2012-2013, Pope would go back to Staten Island, this time as the team’s Manager. Then he was then Pitching Coach of the 2015 Yankees Rookie team, the Class A Pulaski Yankees (APL) and the 2016-2017 Class A Charleston River Dogs (SAL) and the 2019 GCL Yankees East. In 2020, he was at the Yankees Alternate Training site at Scranton. In 2021, Pope would move to the Miami Marlins' organization as a Pitching Coach for the Class A FCL Marlins for the 2021 Minor League season.

1989-Current Yankees DH/OF Giancarlo Stanton (2018-2024) was born.
The 2017 NL MVP win came at a time when trade rumors were swirling around Stanton, as the Marlins' new ownership team, led by Derek Jeter, indicated that they would entertain trade offers as they were looking to reduce the team’s payroll. There even serious rumors that they had given him an ultimatum: either wave his no-trade clause, or stay put while everyone else on the team of value gets traded in order to meet payroll targets, in effect forcing him to sit through yet another rebuilding. It wasn't clear how either option would result in anything other than further antagonizing an already skeptical fan base in south Florida, but it was apparently the direction the new ownership group wanted to take. Given the size of his contract, however, the Marlins were unlikely to receive much talent in return for the slugger, unless they were willing to absorb a huge part of his outstanding salary.

On December 9th, stories emerged that the winners of the sweepstakes for Stanton's future services would be the Yankees, who were on Giancarlo's list of acceptable trade partners. They would pick up $265 million of the $295 million remaining on his contract, and give up MLB 2B Starlin Castro and 2 prospects, Jorge Guzman and Jose Devers. The trade was officially confirmed on December 11th. He would start his playing career in pinstripes with a bang as on Opening Day, March 29, 2018, when he hit a pair of HRs, a 1st-inning shot off of Blue Jays Starter J.A. Happ and a 9th-inning one against Reliever Tyler Clippard then added a double as well, scoring 3 runs and driving in 4 in a 6-1 Yankees victory over the Blue Jays. He had played DH that day, with Brett Gardner, Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge making up the Bronx outfield. However, he went into a slump after that great 1st game, going 1 for 14 over his next 4 games and putting on the rare "platinum sombrero" by striking out 5 times in the Yankees' home opener against the Rays on April 3rd. He snapped out of that brief funk with his 1st HR in new home park in the 1st inning of the next day's game; it was a no-doubt 2-run shot off of Starter Blake Snell that traveled an estimated 458 FT, getting the Yankees on their way to an 11-4 win. However, he had another 5-strikeout game on April 8th. In that game, he wasted a chance to redeem himself in extra innings when he came up against the Orioles in the 12th after Judge had just hit into a bases-loaded double play, but he ended the game with another strikeout. On May 2nd, however, he had a great performance in support of Luis Severino's 1st MLB career shutout as he would hit 2 HRs and added another RBI on a double in accounting for all the runs in a 4-0 win over the Astros. On June 4th, he got a measure of revenge on Pitcher Mike Fiers, who had ended his 2014 NL season early with a beaning. Now pitching for the Tigers, Fiers would give up a 456-FT towering HR to Stanton in the 6th inning at Comerica Park.

His 1st season as a Yankee playerwas considered a bit of a disappointment as he failed to reproduce his outlandish numbers of the year before, but he still topped 30 HRs before the end of August. On August 30th, he hit his 300th MLB career HR. It happened in his 1,119th MLB career game, the 5th fewest in MLB history. He would finish the season hitting .266 with 38 HRs and 100 RBIs in 158 games. These would have been considered great numbers were it not for the outsized expectations placed on him. In the 1st postseason games of his MLB playing career, he would homered in 3 at-bats in Bronx Bombers would win over the Oakland A’s in the ALWC Game, then he went 4 for 18 in their loss to the Red Sox in the ALDS. In 2019, after going 2 for 8 with 7 walks in the Yankees' 1st 3 games, he was placed on the IL on April 1st with an aching left biceps. He was out until June 18th, but the Yankees managed to not just stay afloat, but play very well in his absence, something that was even more surprising given that Judge was also out of action at the same time. He hit his 1st HR of the season on June 24th against Jays P Aaron Sanchez , but the very next day had to leave the game after an awkward slide at 3B and a collision with Jays P Clayton Richard, who was covering the bag. Not only was he tagged out in a double play, but he also aggravated his earlier injury and went back on the IL. He would finish the 2019 AL season appearing in only 18 games for the team, while hitting .288 with 3 HRs and 13 RBIs. In 2020, he had appeared in 23 games of 60 game shorten AL season, while hitting .250 with 4 HRs and 11 RBIs. In the 2020 AL Postseason, he had hit .437 with 6 HRs and 13 RBIs in 7 games for the Yankees. In 2021, he had a bounce back season for the Yankees by hitting .273 with 35 HRs and 97 RBIs in 139 games. On April 27, 2022, he would hit MLB HR #350 for his career, making him the 7th fastest to the mark in terms of games played (1,341). That same week, there had been a lot of talk about whether any active players had a shot at reaching any of the 4 traditional career milestones, following Miguel Cabrera's entry into the 3,000 hit club, i.e. 300 wins, the 3,000 strikeouts or 500 home runs. Stanton seemed the best placed to reach the HR, being still only 32, but many feared that his recent history of injuries did not bode well. He hit his 10th HR in a 10-4 win over the White Sox on May 13th, in the same game as Judge hit his 12th HR. It was only the 3rd time in the Yankees' long history that 2 hitters had reached double figures in HRs in 32 games; the others were Babe Ruth (14) and Lou Gehrig(10) in 1930 and Mickey Mantle (16) and Yogi Berra (12) in 1956. He was named the winner of the Ted Williams Award as MVP of the 2022 All-Star Game, as his 2-run HR off of Tony Gonsolin in the 4th inning was the key blow for the AL in the game. He would finish the 2022 season by hitting just hitting .211 with 31 HRs and 78 RBIs in 110 games. In 2023, Stanton would hit just .191 with 24 HRs and 60 RBIs in 101 games. For the 2024 Yankees, he would hit .233 with 27 HRs and 72 RBIs in 114 games. In 2024 ALCS against the Guardians, he would hit 4 HRs and 7 RBIs in 5 games. He was named the ALCS MVP. In the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, Stanton would hit .238 with 2 HRs and 5 RBIs in 5 games.

1990-Former Yankees Reserve 1B and MLB Coach Clifford “Earl of Snohomish” Torgeson (1961) had passed away. (1924-1990)
After being released by the White Sox on June 17,1961, veteran 1B Earl Torgeson was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He had appeared in only 22 games for the team, while just hitting .111 before being released by the Yankees as a player, finishing the 1961 AL season as an MLB 1B Coach for the team.

2005-The Yankees would let veteran AL All-Star 1B Tino Martinez leave for MLB Free Agency, declining their $3 million option on the popular 1B. He will sign with the Cardinals, replacing the retiring 1B Mark McGuire. Tino will return to the Yankees in 2005. He will hit .241 in part-time duty with the team to back up starting 1B Jason Giambi; while hitting 17 HRs with 49 RBI’s. He was a staple in the starting Yankees' lineup from 1996-2001, helping the team to win 4 World Series Championships and 5 AL pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense at 1B.

2012-Former Yankees and MLB Baseball Executive Lee MacPhail Jr. had passed away. (1917-2012)
Lee MacPhail Jr. was the son of former Yankees Co-Team Owner Larry MacPhail (1945-1947). After graduating from college, Lee MacPhail was the Business Manager for the 1941 Reading Brooks. Next, he was the General Manager of the AA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL) then he would begin his long association with the Yankees. He was the Business Manager, then General Manager of the AA Kansas City Blues (AA). He would move up to Midwest Farm Director for the Yankees. He was Co-Farm Director, then Director of Player Personnel for the team. In 1958, Lee would join the Orioles organization, becoming their General Manager replacing Paul Richards holding the position until 1965. After leaving the club in the fall of 1965, he would moving into the MLB commissioner's office, serving as an Assistant to the newly elected MLB Commissioner (and previously unconnected to baseball) retired Air Force General William Eckert. Then he would return to the Bronx as the new General Manager of the 1967-1973 Yankees. Next, he was selected to be the President of American League from 1974-1983. During his term, he would face many issues with the Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner. After retiring from that post, he would serve as the President of the MLB Player Relations Committee; as a representative for the MLB Team Owners. Lee was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1998, as a Baseball Executive. Lee and Larry MacPhail are the only father and son team to be elected to the Hall of Fame, as Baseball Executives.

2012-Yankees Shortstop Derek Jeter and 2B Robinson Cano would win an AL Silver Slugger Awards. Jeter had appeared in 159 games for the 2012 Yankees, while hitting .316 with 15 HRs and 58 RBIs. Meanwhile, Yankees 2B Robinson Cano had played in 161 games, while hitting .313 with 33 HRs and 94 RBIs.

2016-The Yankees LF Brett Gardner wins a AL Golden Glove Award. He is only Yankees player to win the award this season.

2018-Yankees 2B D. J. Mahieu wins a AL Silver Slugger Award.

2021-Former Yankees Reliever Pedro Feliciano (2011-2012) had passed away. (1976-2021)
Pedro Feliciano was a left-handed relief pitcher who was most noted for his ability to pitch almost every day, when he was with the 2007-2010 Mets. During that 3-year span, in which he led the NL in games pitched for 3 consecutive seasons, he would set 2 records. He had the most games pitched over 3 consecutive seasons, 266; the previous record was 263 held by Mike Marshall from 1972-1974 and Kent Tekulve, from 1978-1980. He also had the most games pitched over 4 consecutive seasons, 344, adding the 2007 season; the previous record was 341 held by Paul Quantrill, from 2001-2004. In 2011, Feliciano was signed as a MLB Free Agent to a 2-year contract by the Yankees, but he was sidelined by shoulder troubles in spring training camp. On April 14th, Yankees GM Brian Cashman had announced that he would face shoulder surgery, meaning that he would be ready to pitch again the following season's spring training at the earliest, and possibly much later. Asked if he had signed damaged goods, Cashman lashed at overuse of relief pitchers by certain managers, singling out former Yankees Manager Joe Torre and his overuse of Scott Proctor, among others. In 2011, Feliciano came back to pitch once in the minor leagues and 10 times in 2012, never reaching higher than at AA level. He did make it back briefly, with his original team, the Mets, at the end of the 2013 NL season.

November 9th

1897-Former Yankees Reserve OF Harvey “Gink” Hendrick (1923-1924) was born. (1897-1941)
On January 3,1923, Minor League OF Harvey Hendrick was traded by the Red Sox along with Rookie hurler George Pipgras to the Yankees for Catcher Al DeVormer and Cash. For the 1923-1924 Yankees as a Reserve OF, Harvey would hit .282 with 4 HRs and 23 RBIs in 77 games. He had appeared in 1 game of the 1923 World Series against the Giants for the Yankees. He would play in MLB for 11 seasons (1923-1934), while hitting .308 for 7 MLB teams: Yankees, Indians, Dodgers, Reds, Cardinals, White Sox and the Phillies. On October 29,1941, Harvey had committed suicide at the age of 43.

1912-Veteran 1B Frank Chance is sold by the Cubs to the Reds. When all NL Clubs waived claims to him in December, the Reds would free Frank Chance to manage the Yankees. Frank Chance will manage the Yankees in 1913-1914, going 118-170, before he is fired by the Yankees Team Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery.

1919-Former Yankees Reserve INF Jerry Priddy (1941-1942) was born.(1919-1980)
Before the start of 1937 AL season, the Yankees had signed INF Jerry Priddy as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Phil Rizzuto and Jerry Priddy were going to be the new Yankees double-play combination of the future. They had been stars for the Yankees AA Kansas City Blues (AA) farm team. He will appear in 115 games for the Yankees, while hitting .248 with 3 HRs and 54 RBIs. He had appeared in 3 games of the 1942 World Series for the Yankees against the Cardinals. Jerry was unable to unseat All-Star Joe “Flash” Gordon as the Yankees starting 2B, due to his weak bat, forcing Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy turning him to a Reserve INF role on the team for the 1941-1942 seasons. On January 29,1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Milo Candini to the Senators for veteran Pitcher Bill Zuber and Cash.

1931-Former Yankees Minor League OF, MLB Player/ HOF Manager Whitey Herzog was born. (1931-2024)
Before the start of 1949 AL Season, the Yankees had signed OF Whitey Herzog as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play in their Minor League system until 1956. He had missed the 1953-1954 baseball seasons due to serving in the Army. Unable to crack the Yankees MLB starting outfield, Herzog would never play for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 2,1956, Whitey was sent by the Yankees to the Senators to complete, an earlier deal made on February 8,1956. The Yankees would send a Player to be Named Later, Catcher Lou Berberet, Pitcher Bob Wiesler, 2B Herb Plews and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. On April 2,1956, the Yankees would send Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to completing the trade. He had been playing for the AAA Denver Bears (AA). In 8 MLB seasons, Whitey had hit .257 with 25 HRs and 172 RBIs in 634 games. After his MLB playing career was over in 1963, Herzog would move to the Kansas City A's as a MLB Scout (1964) and MLB Coach (1965). Then he would move to the Mets organization (1966-1972) as an MLB Coach, MLB Scout and eventually becoming the Team’s Farm Director. Whitey was successful as a Manager, both with the 1970’s Royals and the 1980’s Cardinals. His teams had won 6 Division Championships, 3 Pennants and 1 World Series Championship title. In addition to managing the Rangers, Angels, Royals and the Cardinals, Whitey Herzog was General Manager of the Cardinals from 1980 to 1982; then the Angels in 1993-1994. In 2010, he was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame as an MLB Manager.

1952-Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Wehrmeister (1981) was born. (1952-2023)
In 1973, Pitcher Dave Wehrmeister was drafted by the San Diego Padres. On December 8,1980, Dave was drafted by the Royals from the Yankees in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On April 3,1981, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Royals to the Yankees. He would appear in 5 games for the team, while posting a 0-0 record with a 5.14 ERA. On June 17,1983, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Phillies for 2 Minor League Pitchers Kelly Faulk and Jim Rasmussen. Dave Wehrmeister's best MLB season was in 1985 with the White Sox. He had posted a 2-2 record with a 3.43 ERA and 2 saves. He got both saves by pitching the last 4 innings of wins by Britt Burns and Tom Seaver. He did not give up a run in either save. He would finish his MLB career with a 4-9 record with a 5.65 ERA and 2 saves in 76 games.

1953-Reaffirming its earlier position, the U.S. Supreme Court rules by a vote of 7-2 that MLB is a sport and not a business and therefore not subject to federal government antitrust laws. The ruling is made in a case involving New York Yankees Minor League Pitcher George Toolson, who refused to move from the AAA Newark Bears team (IL) to a Yankees AA team, the Binghamton Triplets (EL). He was placed on the ineligible list by the team. He would move to California and sued both Major Leagues, Pacific Coast League and 2 PCL clubs, claiming that he had been effectively banned from baseball. He asked for $375,000 in damages, but his case was thrown out in court in 1951. He never appears with the Yankees at the MLB Level.

1962-Former Yankees Reserve OF/DH Dion James (1992-1996) was born.
Dion James had played for the Bronx Bombers from 1992-1996. He would hit .302 with 12 HRs and 79 RBIs in 273 games. His best season for the Yankees was in 1993, when he would hit .332 with 7 HRs and 36 RBIs in 115 games. On May 1,1996, he was released by the Yankees; he was only hitting just .167 in 6 games for the team. He would go to Japan to his finish pro baseball career.

1964-Former Yankees Pitcher Kevin Mmahat (1989) was born.
On June 20,1988, Pitcher Kevin Mmahat was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers. For the 1989 Yankees, Kevin had posted a 0-2 record with a 12.91 ERA in 4 games. It would be his only MLB pitching experience. He would continue pitch in the Yankees Minor League system from 1989 to 1992.

1992-Former Yankees Pitcher Daniel Camarena (2019) was born.
Pitcher Dan Camarena was selected in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees. He began his pro career in 2012. He had posted a 1.02 ERA in 17 2/3 innings his 1st pro baseball season. In 2014, he was a Florida State League Mid-Season All-Star, after going 5-5 with a 2.35 ERA in 16 starts for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL). He would miss the 2015 season due to an elbow surgery, but he would return in 2016 to win 10 games for the 1st time. Also, he would reach AAA for the 1st time that year (0-1, 6 IP, 6.00 ERA). He would split the 2018 season with the Yankees AAA Scranton (IL) and the Giants AAA Sacramento (PCL) and the AA Richmond (EL). In 2019, he had started the season with the Twins AAA Rochester (IL) and the Yankees AAA Scranton (IL). His pitching record was 3-4 with a 5.91 ERA in 12 games. On July 6, 2019, his Minor league player contract was acquired by the Yankees. He didn’t make any appearance with the team. On August 13, 2019, Daniel was released by the Yankees. He was signed with his hometown team, the San Diego Padres in February of 2020.

1992-Former Yankees 1B Greg Bird (2015, 2017-2019) was born.
After hitting .553 with 12 HRs and 38 RBIs during his Sr. year of HS, 1B Greg Bird was selected by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He began his pro career that year. After hitting .083 in a 14-game tryout with the 2011 GCL Yankees; Bird upped his performance to the tune of a .337 line with 17 walks in 28 games between the 2012 GCL Yankees and Staten Island Yankees. With the 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), he would hit .288 with 20 HRs, 84 RBIs, 84 runs scored, 36 doubles and 107 walks in 130 games. His 107 BBs were the most among all minor leaguers. He also paced the South Atlantic League in on-base percentage. Between the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) in 2014, he hit .271 with 14 HRs, 43 RBIs, 30 doubles and 63 walks in 102 games. He played for the Scottsdale Scorpions (AZL) following the season, he would hit .313 in 26 games. Bird was named the circuit's MVP. He was invited to the 2015 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, he hit .357 through his 1st 14 at-bats. In 2013, he was a MiLB.com Organization All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star and a Topps Class-A All-Star. In 2014, he was an AFL Rising Star, the AFL Rising Stars MVP, the AFL MVP, he made the AFL All-Prospect Team. He was assigned back to AA Trenton (AA) to start the 2015 season. He had hit .258 in 59 games, but with 16 doubles and 9 HRs. He was promoted to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL) in early July, playing in 34 games there, hitting .301 before being called up to the Bronx. He made his MLB player debut on August 13th, starting at 1B in place of Mark Teixeira and hitting 7th in the line-up. Facing the Indians, he went 0 for 5 with a pair of strikeouts, but the Yankees had snapped a 5-game losing streak with an 8-6 win. It was not necessarily an easy situation for Bird, with the Yankees in the middle of a tough race for 1st place in the AL East with the Blue Jays, but he managed to prove his mettle quickly. He got his 1st MLB hit against the Jays on August 15th, then had an excellent 3-game series against the Twins contributing to a Yankees sweep by going 5 for 9. In the final game of the set on August 19th, he hit his 1st 2 MLB HRs in a 4-3 win. Both long balls came off of Twins Starter Ervin Santana, he drove in all 4 Yankees runs, as Carlos Beltran had gotten on base ahead of him both times. Teammates were starting to whisper "Wally Pipp" at Teixeira, out with a bruise caused by fouling a ball off his leg, a reminder of the man who had once given his starting spot to Lou Gehrig and never managed to get it back. Teixeira's bruise turned out to be a fracture, giving Bird a chance to start at 1B the rest of the season. His 10th HR run on September 22nd was an important one, as it was a 3-run HR shot off of Blue Jays reliever Mark Lowe in the 10th inning that was key to a 6-4 Yankees win that brought them back to 2 1/2 games of 1st place. He finished the 2015 AL season with a .261 BA in 46 games, with 9 doubles, 11 HRs and 31 RBIs. He started the Wild Card Game at 1B against the Astros.

He got 1 of his team's 3 hits off of Astros starter Dallas Keuchel, a 2nd-inning single. Bird suffered a major set-back before the start of the 2016 MLB season, however, as he aggravated a pre-existing shoulder injury in off-season drills. He had to undergo surgery on February 2nd and as a result missed the entire 2016 MLB season. But if there was any concern that the injury would slow him down in 2017, he dispelled these with a tremendous spring training during which he hit .450 with a bunch of HRs. With veteran 1B Mark Teixeira having retired, he was the opening day 1B for the Yankees but he started the season slowly as he was bothered by a bruised right foot and flu-like symptoms. He broke out of a 0-for-20 slump with his 1st HR of the season; a 2-run HR shot off of Cardinals Starter Adam Wainwright in the 2nd inning of a 9-3 win on April 16th. He would finish that game 3-for-3 with a walk, also slugging a double. However, he continued to struggle at the plate for the rest of the month. On May 2nd, the Yankees placed him on the DL with a bruised right ankle. He was hitting just .100 with the 1 HR in 60 at-bats. Then he suffered a setback when working himself back into playing shape at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in early June, necessitating more time off. He was batting only .143 in the Minors at the time. On July 17th, the Yankees announced that he would undergo surgery on his ankle to remove excessive bone growth. With a recovery time set at 6 weeks, there was a small chance that he could come back in September, although it was unlikely the Yankees would want to rush him back to the field. But he did make it back on August 26th, with the Yankees in a tough race for a 2017 AL Postseason slot. In his 1st game back, he reached base 3 times with a hit and a pair of walks in a 6-3 win over the Mariners. Greg would finish the 2017 AL season with a .190 BA with 9 HRs and 28 RBIs in 48 games. The Yankees made him their starting 1B for the 2017 AL Post Season, he had appeared in 14 games, while hitting .250 with 3 HRs and 6 RBIs. He would struggle with injuries in 2018, he was replaced at 1B by Luke Voit, who was acquired from the Cardinals during the 2018 AL season. Bird was left off the 2018 AL Playoff roster. In 2019, he was on the Opening Day Yankees line-up, he hit HR in the game. Greg would only play in 10 games for the team due to foot injuries that led to season ending surgery. He was released by the Yankees before their 2020 MLB Spring Training camp had opened. He was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Rangers, who later would release him. On September 15, 2020, Greg was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Phillies. He did not play in any games for the team. In 2022, Bird went to MLB Spring Training camp with the Blue Jays, it seemed that he had a shot with Jays, but they would release him before the 2022 season had started. On April 6, 2022, he would return to the Yankees organization on a Minor League deal, he would play at AAA Scranton, hitting just .218 with 6 HRs and 22 RBIs in 59 games before being released by the team on July 13, 2022.

1998-Former Yankees and A’s Hall of Fame hurler Jim "Catfish" Hunter announces that he is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The fatal disease, known medically as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), attacks the nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and leads to a loss of motor skills. Hunter will succumb to the disease less than a year later.

2009-The winners of the 2009 AL Gold Glove Awards are announced. Two Yankees are named Golden Glove Award winners: 1B Mark Teixeria and Shortstop Derek Jeter.

2010-The winners of the 2010 AL Gold Glove Awards are announced. The Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki wins his 10th Gold Glove in as many years, while 1st-time winners are Yankees 2B Robinson Cano and OFs Carl Crawford of Tampa Bay and Franklin Gutierrez of Mariners. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano had appeared in 160 games for the 2010 Yankees, while hitting .319 with 29 HRs and 109 RBIs.

2014-The 1st MLB Free Agent signing of the 2014 MLB off-season is a modest affair, as OF Chris Young re-signs with the Yankees for 1 year, after a good final month with the team. He had appeared in 23 games with the Yankees, while hitting .282 with No HRs and 10 RBIs. In 2015, Chris will appear in 140 games for the Yankees, while hitting .252 with 14 HRs and 42 RBIs. The fall of 2015, he will be granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He will sign a 2-year deal with their AL Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox.

2017-The winners of the MLB Silver Slugger Awards are announced. In the AL, Astros 2B José Altuve is a winner for the 4th straight year, while in the NL, 3B Nolan Arenado is honored for the 3rd straight. First-time winners include dynamic Yankees youngsters Catcher Gary Sanchez and OF Aaron Judge.

2021-The Yankees have announced that the following Yankee Minor League players have become Free Agents: Former # 1 Draft Pick INF Kyle Holder, Reserve OF Trey Amburgey, who had played for the team in 2021 before getting injured and finishing the season at AAA Scranton. Also, on the Free Agent list are 1B Dermis Garcia, Shortstop Wilkerman Garcia, Relievers Nick Goody and Nick Green, Pitchers David Sosebie, Kevin Gadea, Jeffrey Valdez, Justin O’Connor, Jio Orozco, Freicu Perez and Jason Lopez; 1B Bradon Wagner and 3B Kaleb Cowart. Last week, the club had announced that 2 veteran MLB players Catcher Bob Brantly and hurler Adam Warren had become MLB Free Agents.

2022-Yankees RF Aaron Judge is the AL winner of the Hank Aaron Award. His AL-record 62 HRs grabbed the headlines, but Judge led all of baseball in a bevy of categories, including runs (133), RBIs (131), OBP (.425), slugging (.686), OPS (1.111) and total bases (391).

Bronx Bombers Board

This Week in Yankees History November 3rd-9th

Post by fwclipper51 on Nov 2, 2024 14:17:26 GMT -5

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