This Week in Yankees History November 17th-23rd
Nov 16, 2024 16:58:56 GMT -5
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This Week in Yankees History November 17th-23rd
November 17th
1867-Former Yankees Manager George Stallings (1909-1910) was born. (1867-1929)
George Stallings had reached the MLB as a player in 1890, going hitless in 4 games with the NL Brooklyn Bridegrooms. He was soon back playing in the Minor Leagues. In 1893, he would begin his pro baseball managing career with the Augusta Electricians (SL). From 1893-1896, he was also the Head Baseball Coach at Mercer University. In 1897, he would become the Phillies Manager, also he would appeared in 2 games as the club would finished in 10th place in the NL. In 1898, he had played in 1 game with the team, but he was replaced by Bill Shettsline at the helm on June 18th. In 1901, Stallings would lead the Tigers to a 3rd place finish in the AL. Then he would find success with the AA Buffalo Bisons (IL), leading the club to 2 Eastern League titles. Then he would take over the job as Yankees Manager for the 1909 AL season. The 1909 Yankees would finish in 5th place in the AL with a 74-77 record. The 1910 Highlanders were in 2nd place late in the season, before he resigned on September 21st. Stallings had a disagreement with the 2 Yankee Co-Team Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery over 1B Hal Chase’s play. He had strongly felt that that Chase was trying to throw games and gambling on them as well. Ironically, Stallings was replaced by the team’s Co-Owners with 1B Hal Chase. Overall, George Stallings Yankees Manager record was 153-138 mark. After 2 more seasons back with AA Buffalo, Stallings would become Manager of the 1913 Boston Braves. He would take the club from last place to a NL pennant in 1914. “The Miracle Braves,” as the 1914 squad was known, were in last place for much of the 1st part of the 1914 NL season; as late as July 18th. On August 4th, they had climbed to 4th place, but they didn't reach 1st until August 25th. They dropped back into 2nd, but by September 5th they were atop the NL standings for good. They went on to sweep Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series. Under Stallings' leadership, the Braves would finished in 2nd in 1915, he continued to manage the team through the 1920 NL season. In 1959, Stallings was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
1913-Former Yankees Pitcher Lee Stine (1938) was born. (1913-2005)
On December 19,1936, Pitcher Lee Stine was purchased by the Yankees from the Reds. He had previously pitched for the White Sox before being traded to the Reds. Lee had pitched 4 seasons in the MLB, while he was young, finishing up with the 1938 Yankees, for whom he appeared in 4 games with no record with a 1.04 ERA at age 24. He did not pitch in the 1938 World Series for the Yankees against the Cubs. In 1937, he would pitch for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), posting a 7-14 record. In 1938, Lee would appear with the Yankees AA team, the Newark Bears (IL), posting a 11-8 record for IL Pennant winning Bears. As an MLB Pitcher, Stine had a 3-8 record along with a 5.09 ERA and 2 saves in 49 games. In 1940, he was pitching for the AA LA Angels (PCL).
1961-Former Yankees Reserve OF Benny Kauff (1912) had passed away. (1890-1961)
Benny Kauff was an outfielder for 12 MLB seasons, including 8 with the Yankees, Giants and in the Federal League; Semipro and Minor League Baseball. He was a World War I Veteran. Heralded as the "Ty Cobb of the Federal League", Kauff never lived up to his braggadocio about what he could do if he played for the Giants. After playing briefly for the Yankees in 1912, he led the Federal League in hits, doubles, runs and batting average (.370) in 1914. Transferred to Brooklyn, while his Newark team moved west, he hit a 3-run HR on opening day in 1915. Feeling overworked and underpaid, he tried to jump back to the Giants, but he was thwarted in that attempt by opposition teams, who cited contractual responsibilities. He finished the season in the Federal League, but he was sold to the Giants for $30,000 Cash upon the League's disbandment in 1915. He became a good, but not great performer, topping .300 in 2 of 5 seasons. He had turned down a $500 bribe from teammates Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman to throw a game, reported the incident to Giants Manager John McGraw. He remained in the team's good graces, until he ran afoul of the law in February 1920 for accepting stolen cars in a used car business that he and his brother ran. MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Landis banned him from organized baseball before the 1921 MLB season got underway, calling his subsequent acquittal a "miscarriage of justice".
1964-The Mets would name former Yankees great Yogi Berra to their MLB Coaching staff. Berra signs a 2-year contract with the team. He will work under another former Yankees legend and his former long-time boss, Casey Stengel, who is current the Mets' Manager.
1966-Former Yankees Reliever and MLB Broadcaster Jeff Nelson (1996-2000, 2003) was born.
Pitcher Jeff Nelson was signed by MLB Scout Bob Carter for the Dodgers as a 22nd round pick in the 1986 MLB Amateur Player Draft. On December 9,1986, Jeff was drafted by the Mariners from the Dodgers in the 1986 Minor League Player Draft. On December 7,1995, P Jeff Nelson was traded by the Mariners along with 1B Tino Martinez and P Jim Mecir to the Yankees for INF Russ Davis and Starter Sterling Hitchcock. On August 6, 2003, Jeff was traded by the Mariners back to the Yankees for veteran MLB Closer Armando Benitez. With the 2003 Yankees, Nelson went 1-0 in 24 games with 1 save in his last MLB active season. As a set-up man with the Yankees, Nelson had posted a 23-19 record with a 3.47 ERA and 9 saves in 331 games. He had pitched for 4 World Champion Yankee teams, appearing in 16 World Series games, while posting a 1-0 record with 1.69 ERA. As an MLB Pitcher, Jeff would post a 48-45 record with a 3.41 ERA and 33 saves in 798 games, while pitching for the Mariners (3 times), Yankees (twice), White Sox and the Rangers. Jeff Nelson is now a Yankees Broadcaster with Yes Network.
1977-Former Yankees Shortstop and MLB Manager Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) had passed away. (1891-1977)
On May 25,1913, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh was traded by the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians) to the Yankees for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. He would stabilize the Yankees infield with his steady play at Shortstop. Roger’s best Yankees season was in 1919, when he hit .309 with 89 RBIs. During the 1914 AL season, he had managed the team for 17 games, going 9-8. Overall, as a Yankees player, Roger would hit .257 with 36 HRs and 428 RBIs in 1,219 games. He would appear in 1 World Series for the team; in 1921, Roger would hit .179 in 8 games against the Giants. On December 20,1921, Roger was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Harry Collins, veteran MLB Starter Jack Quinn and Minor League P Bill Piercy to the Red Sox for Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott, Pitchers Joe Bush and Sam Jones. During the 1921 AL off-season, he would be traded by the Red Sox to the Senators. He would become an MLB Manager again with the 1929-1933 and 1941 Indians, while posting an overall of 992-499 record.
1977-Former Yankees Pitcher Alex Graman (2004-2005) was born.
The Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Alex Graman. He had appeared in 5 games with the 2004-2005 Yankees with no record. On July 29, 2005, the Yankees would release Alex; the Reds would pick him up in August of 2005. Alex was released by the Reds in September of 2005. From 2006-2011, he would pitch in Japan with the Seibu Lions (JPL). Alex had pitched in 140 games, while posting a 11-17 record with 52 saves as Reliever.
1980-Former Yankees OF Hersh Martin (1944-1945) had passed away. (1909-1980)
Hersh Martin had played 6 seasons in the MLB from 1937-1940 as a CF with the Phillies and from 1944-1945 as a LF with the Yankees. He was an NL All-Star player in 1938. He would steal a few bases; he had moderate power and drew a fair number of walks. In 1938, when he hit .298, when the team had hit .254. On June 20,1944, Hersh Martin was traded by the AA Milwaukee Millers (AA) to the Yankees for 1B Ed Levy and Cash. With the 1944 Yankees at the age of 34, he would hit .302 on a team that hit .264 for the season. He had the 2nd-highest BA among the Yankee regulars, behind 2B “Snuffy” Stirnweiss. Playing with the 1944-1945 wartime Bronx Bombers, Hersh would appear in 202 games, while hitting .283 with 16 HRs and 100 RBIs. On December 13,1945, Martin was purchased by the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) from the Yankees. In 6 MLB seasons, Hersh Martin had played in 607 games, while hitting .285 with 28 HRs and 215 RBIs. In 1955 and 1956, Martin would be an MLB Scout for the Phillies. In 1958, he would be an MLB Scout for the Cubs. From 1961 to 1979, Martin was an MLB Scout for the Mets.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League and MLB Pitcher Shawn Green (2014, 2022) was born.
Pitcher Shawn Greene was undrafted out of high school. He had attended the Univ. of West Florida on scholarship, but he blew out his elbow late in his freshman season. After Tommy John surgery, he had lost his baseball scholarship; then he would transfer to Daytona Beach Community College. In the 15th round in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft, Green was selected by the Yankees. In 2009, while pitching for the GCL Yankees, he was 1-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 13 relief appearances in his rookie pro season. After converting to starting pitching in 2010, he recorded a 2-8 mark with a 4.59 ERA in 14 starts for the Class A short-season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL) posting a 2-6 record with a 4.59 ERA and the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) with a 0-2 record with 4.58 ERA. In 2011, the Green was 5-14 with a 4.37 ERA in 27 starts for Charleston. He would lead the South Atlantic League in losses, tied for 5th in runs allowed (88), was 5th in walks (68), was 4th in strikeouts with 128, and tied for 10th with 14 wild pitches. In 2012, he was 4-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), walking 63 batters in 112 IP. He went 12-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) splitting time between Class A Tampa (FSL) with a 4-6 record, 3.60 ERA, 13 starts) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) with an 8-4 record with a 3.18 ERA in 2013. His control was much sharper, with 30 walks in 154 1/3 IP and only 10 HRs allowed. His performance with Tampa would earn him a spot in the FSL All-Star Game, while MinorLeagueBaseball.com had named him an Organization All-Star following the season. Greene was added to the Yankees 40-man MLB roster following the 2013 MLB season. He was in a notable spring training game in 2014, because it was against Florida St. Univ. and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Greene had retired Winston on a grounder. He would start the season in the minors, but he saw little action with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (4 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 5 K in 2 2/3 IP). When Starter Michael Pineda was suspended, the Yankees would call up P Bruce Billings and Greene for arm reinforcements, while sending down INF Dean Anna and P Preston Claiborne to open 25-man MLB roster space. He would make his MLB Pitching debut on April 24th, when he gave up 3 unearned runs on 3 walks in a third of an inning against the Red Sox. He came into the game in the 7th with the Yankees leading, 12-2, but he walked Jackie Bradley and allowed Dustin Pedroia to reach on an error. A passed ball scored Bradley from 3B and he then struck out veteran Shane Victorino. He walked pinch-hitter Jonathan Herrera and Mike Napoli to load the bases, at which point he was replaced by Adam Warren; 2 more runs scored on a sacrifice fly and a double by Xander Bogaerts before the inning ended. After the 1 outing in the MLB, he was sent down in favor of Chris Leroux. He would come back to the MLB on July 7th, when he started against the Indians in place of Vidal Nuno, who had been traded the day before. Things went much better this time, as he kept the Indians hitless until the 5th inning, when Nick Swisher touched him for a solo HR; he left after allowing 2 runs in 6 innings and he was credited with his 1st MLB victory, a 5-3 win. He would finish the 2014 season with a 5-4 record with a 3.78 ERA in 15 games for the Yankees. On December 5, 2014, Shawn Greene was involved in a 3-team trade that allowed the Yankees to acquire the heir apparent to Shortstop Derek Jeter as they landed INF Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks. For his part, Greene was immediately flipped by the D-Backs to the Tigers in exchange for 2 Minor League Prospects; P Robbie Ray and INF Domingo Leyba. Shawn has pitched for the 2015-2018 Tigers; while posting a 17-21 record with a 5.20 ERA and 43 saves in 205 games. In 2019, he would pitch for the Braves, while posting a 0-3 record with a 2.30 ERA and 23 saves in 65 games. He would return to the Braves in 2020, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.60 ERA in 28 games. Shane would split the 2021 season splitting time with the Braves, then the Dodgers. On May 26, 2022, Shane would sign a Minor League deal with the Yankees. He was assigned to AAA Scranton. He had started out the 2022 MLB season with the Dodgers with a Minor League deal. He would make 1 relief appearance for the team on May 15th, holding the Phillies scoreless for 2 innings, while picking up the win. Then the Dodgers would DFA him, he would refuse the outright assignment to AAA, becoming an MLB Free Agent. He did appear in 1 game with the 2022 Yankees, pitching just 1 inning with no decisions, before being sent down to AAA Scranton for the rest of the season. After the 2022 MLB post season had ended, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees.
1992-The MLB holds the 1992 Player Expansion Team Draft to stock the rosters of the NL’s 2-new teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. The Yankees would lose the following players: Minor League OF Carl Everett (Marlins): veteran MLB 3B Charlie Hays (Rockies), Minor League Catcher Brad Ausmus (Rockies). Former Number #1 Draft Pick OF Carl Everett was let go because the Yankees felt that his mental playing attitude wasn’t right. Despite his playing talent, he would have a troubled MLB playing career because of his mental attitude, bouncing around from team to team in the MLB. Hayes who was left unprotected in the player draft due to the Yankees signing MLB Free Agent 3B Wade Boggs. Charlie would later return to the Yankees in August of 1996. Catcher Brad Ausmus would have a decent MLB playing career, the Yankees felt that he wasn’t going to be a power hitter, so they left him exposed to the player draft. Later, he would become an MLB Manager for several teams.
1993-Current Yankees Pitcher J. T. Brubaker (2024) was born.
On March 29, 2024, the Yankees have acquired right-hander JT Brubaker and international bonus pool space from the Pirates for a player to be named later, per announcements from both clubs. Prior to the official announcements, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported on that Brubaker was going to the Yankees for a PTBNL. The righty is on the 60-day IL, recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He won’t need a roster spot with the Yankees, but he won’t be available to them immediately. Brubaker is targeting a return around the All-Star break. He’s controllable via arbitration through the 2025 season. The bonus pool money is worth $550K. He has an MLB pitching record of 9-28 with a 4.99 ERA in 63 games (62 starts). In 2024, he briefly pitched for 4 Yankee minor league teams with no record as he starts his rehab from his arm surgery.
1994-Former Yankees Pitcher Adonis Rosa (2019-2020) was born.
On December 9, 2013, Pitcher Adonis Rosa was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had been pitching at the 2020 Yankees’ Alternate Training Site at Scranton. Rosa has a 3.35 ERA, with a 3.79 K/BB rate and 7.8 K/9 over 515 1/3 career Minor League innings, starting 74 of his 114 career games in New York’s farm system. Rosa’s MLB resume consists of a 1 game with a 2-inning relief appearance for the Yankees on August 13, 2019 against the Orioles. On September 5, 2020, he was released by the team.
2013-Former Yankees Reserve OF John “Zeke” Bella (1957) had passed away. (1930-2013)
In 1951, the Yankees had signed OF John “Zeke” Bella as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the 1957 Yankees, he would appear in only 5 games, while hitting just .182. He had played for the 1955-1958 AAA Denver Bears (AA), hitting over .300 each season for Bears Manager Ralph Houk. On August 22,1958, John was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to Kansas City for veteran hurler Murry Dickson. Overall, as an MLB player, with the 1957 Yankees and the 1959 A’s, Zeke had appeared in 52 games; he had 18 hits in 92 at-bats finishing his MLB playing career with a .196 BA. He would finish out his pro baseball playing career in 1960, playing with the A’s AAA club in Dallas.
2022-Yankees RF Aaron Judge is the AL winner of the AL MVP Award. His AL-record 62 HRs had grabbed the sports 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). He had finished 2nd in the AL Batting Championship race with .314 BA.
2023-The Brewers have acquired 1B/OF/DH Jake Bauers from the Yankees, per announcements from both clubs. Minor League Outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez are headed to the Bronx in return. Bauers, 28, had signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees prior to the start of 2023 MLB season. He would end up getting into 84 MLB games on the year. He had struck out in 34.9% of his plate appearances, but he had walked at a 9.9% clip and had hit 12 HRs. His final batting line was a .202 BA with 12 HRs and 30 RBIs in 84 games. Now, he’s out of options; Jake has qualified for arbitration for the 1st time, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a salary of $1.7MM next year. Tonight is the deadline for clubs to decide whether or not to tender contracts to arb-eligible players and it seems the Yankees preferred to exchange Bauers for some prospects as opposed to making him part of the 2024 MLB club. Though his results weren’t outstanding in 2023, Bauers has generally hit well in the minors, he has continued to intrigue clubs around the league. In 2013, Jake was originally drafted by the Padres, then he was traded to the Rays as part of the Wil Myers deal; with Tampa later flipping him to Cleveland in the 3-team deal that also involved Edwin Encarnación, Carlos Santana and Yandy Díaz. In 2021, Bauers was dealt a 3rd time, going to the Mariners; but he couldn’t thrive at the MLB level with any club. He has hit .211 in his career as a major leaguer, but he has a much more impressive line of .257 at AAA. The Brewers will be the latest MLB club to take a chance on him finally putting it together at the MLB level, perhaps as a Rowdy Tellez replacement. Tellez had hit just .215 this season, he is projected to make $5.9MM in his final arbitration year, making him a speculative non-tender candidate. With Bauers projected at less than a third of that price and also having 2 more seasons of club control; the Brewers are taking a bet that he will be better value for money.
2023-The Yankees have announced that the club has non-tendered right-handers Albert Abreu and Lou Trivino in addition to left-hander Anthony Misiewicz. After undergoing Tommy John surgery back in May, veteran Reliever Lou Trivino didn’t pitch in the for the team this season. On February 14, 2024, Lou will be signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. Albert Abreu had pitched to a 2-2 record with a 4.73 ERA in 45 games. Meanwhile, Reliever Anthony Misiewicz had posted a 7.36 ERA across 11 innings of work for the Diamondbacks, Tigers and the Yankees. He was hit in the head, when a comebacker from a Pirates batter, ending his 2023 Yankees season with a head conclusion. He had posted a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA in 3 appearances for the team. On December 7, 2023, Anthony will be signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. He will start the 2024 season at AAA Scranton (IL). On December 12, 2023, Abreu will sign with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2024 season.
2023-Former Yankees Reserve OF/3B Louis “The Nervous Greek” Skizas (1956) had passed away at the age of 96. (1932-2023)
Before the start of 1949 AL season, INF/OF Lou Skizas was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Lou had appeared in just 6 games with the 1956 Yankees, while hitting .167. On June 14,1956, Lou was traded by the Yankees along with veteran 1B/PH Eddie Robinson to the Kansas City A’s for Pitcher Moe Burtschy, OF Bill Renna and Cash. For the 1956 A’s, he would hit .316 with 11 HRs in 89 games before fading. In 1958, he was traded by Kanas City to the Tigers. He had started the 1959 season with the White Sox, but Lou was traded to the Reds. He would play in the MLB from 1956-1959 with the Yankees, A’s, Tigers, White Sox and the Reds, while appearing in 239 games, hitting .270 with 30 HRs and 86 RBIs.
November 18th
1863-Former Yankees C/1B and MLB Manager Deacon McGuire (1904-1907) was born. (1863-1936)
Deacon McGuire had played pro baseball for 26 years (1884-1912). On February 21,1904, the 41-year-old Catcher was purchased by the Highlanders from the Tigers. He would play for the Yankees from 1904 to 1907. He had appeared in 225 games for the team, while hitting .230 with No HRs and 67 RBIs. McGuire would share the Yankees catching duties with Red Kleinow. On June 7,1907, Deacon was selected off waivers by the Boston Americans (aka Red Sox) from the Highlanders. He would become the 1907 Red Sox Manager. Overall, as an MLB player, he had appeared in 1,781 games; while hitting .278 with 45 HRs and 840 RBIs. As an MLB Manager, he had led the 1898 Senators, 1907-1908 Red Sox and the 1909-1911 Cleveland Naps (aka Indians).
1922-Former Yankees Minor League INF Kermit Wahl was born. (1922-1987)
In 1940, Kermit Wahl had graduated from Columbia HS, where he starred in baseball and basketball at age 17. Then he would attend Indiana Univ., where he had played Big-10 College Baseball. In the summers, he would play in the independent Western Canadian League. He had served in the U.S. Army Enlisted Reserve Corps for 7 months during World War II before receiving a medical discharge for a knee injury suffered in his Sr. year of basketball (OB). He went back to college and would receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In 1944, he was signed by the Reds as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Wahl would break into Organized Baseball at age 21 with the Class A Birmingham Barons (SA). In his pro debut with the Barons, he would hit .231 with 3 RBIs. On June 22, 1944, Wahl was 21-years old, when he joined the MLB with the Reds. Also in 1945, when he was a utility infielder, appearing in 71 games. With the 7th-place team, he would hit .201 in 194 at bats with 8 doubles and 2 triples. The 1st postwar year of 1946 would find Kermit playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL). The Chiefs would finish 2nd in the IL, as he would hit .271 with 7 HRs and 58 RBIs. In 1947, Kermit was again spent time with the Reds as their utility infielder. He would play in 39 games. His BA had dropped to .173 in 81 at bats. For the 5th-place Reds, he hit his 1st MLB HR run on June 27th off of Howie Pollet, but that was his only extra-base hit of the season. In 1948, he was back with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL), where he had a good power year by hitting .255 with 20 HRs and 95 RBIs.
The team would finish 3rd, Kermit was sent from the Reds to the Dodgers. In 1949, he would play for the Dodgers' top farm team, the AAA Montreal Royals (IL). They would finish 3rd in the IL as Kermit would hit .286 with 11 HRs and 83 RBIs. On September 28,1949, he was traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia A’s for Bill McCahan and $25,000 Cash. In 1950-1951, he would play for the A’s, as his 2 good years in the International League had earned him a promotion to the MLB, albeit with the last-place Philadelphia A’s, who had won only 52 games for Manager/Owner Connie Mack in 1950. Again, he was a utility INF making the A’s lineup cards 89 times. He had hit better then in his previous MLB seasons (.257) with 280 at bats and with more power (12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HRs and 27 RBIs. Kermit had played just 3B for the 1951 A's, he batted 59 times, hitting only .186 in 20 games; later in the season, the A’s would trade him along with Paul Lehner and Cash to the St. Louis Browns for Don Lenhardt. His stay was short in St. Louis, appearing in only 8 games, as he had batted 27 times and got 9 hits, while playing 3B in 6 games and playing his final MLB game on July 29th at age 28. On July 31st, he was purchased from the Browns by the Yankees. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to wear the Yankee pinstripes, as he was sent to their AAA team, the Kansas City Blues (AA). For the 1951 AAA Blues, he would hit .275 with 9 RBIs. For the next 2 seasons, he was still stuck playing for the AAA Blues. In 1952, he hit for his highest career average by .302, while hitting 5 HRs with 43 RBIs. If he had been in another MLB organization, he would have had a much better chance at playing for an MLB club. In 1953, he would spend another season on the "farm" hitting only .240 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs. His pro baseball career was obviously fading. In 1954, he finally would escape the Yankees farm system, when he would play for the Milwaukee Braves' AAA team, the Toledo Mud Hens (AA). Kermit would hit well for average (.305), he had only hit 5 HRs along with 20 RBIs; ending his pro baseball career at age 31.
1932-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny McDevitt (1961) was born. (1932-2010)
In 1951, the Yankees had originally signed Pitcher Danny McDevitt as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that year in the low minor leagues, he was released by the Yankees, before the start of 1952 AL season. Then the Dodgers would sign him as an MLB Free Agent. On December 16,1960, Danny was purchased by the Yankees from the Dodgers. He was projected to replace Bobby Shantz as the lefty swingman for the 1961 Yankees pitching staff. For the 1961 Yankees, Danny would post a 1-2 record with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save in 8 games, before being traded on June 14,1961 to the Twins for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Dan’s claim to MLB fame was being the last Brooklyn Dodger Pitcher to start, throw a shutout and win at Ebbets Field in September of 1957 against the Pirates. His best MLB season was in 1959, when he went 10-8 for the World Champion Dodgers. He didn’t appear in the 1959 World Series for the Dodgers against the White Sox. Danny would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 21-27 record along with a 4.40 ERA with 7 saves in 155 games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Twins and the 1962 A’s.
1938-Former Yankees Minor League 1B Marion “Bud” Zipfel was born.
Before the start of the 1956 AL season, the Yankees had signed Bud Zipfel as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never play for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 14,1960, Bud was selected by the new Washington Senators from the Yankees in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. Bud had replaced veteran INF Gil McDougald on the Yankees Expansion Draft Player list, when Gil refused to go to the new Senators. Bud was being groomed to be a possible replacement for veteran Bill Skowron at 1B. With his departure, Deron Johnson and Joe Pepitone moved up in the Yankees farm system as possible Moose’s future 1B replacements.
1943-Former Yankees Minor League P Jim Shellenback was born.
Before the start of 1962 AL season, lefty hurler Jim Shellenback was signed by Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend the 1962 Minor League pitching for the Yankees Class C Idaho Yankees (PL) and the Class D Harlan Smokies (APLY). With the Idaho Yankees, Jim had posted a 0-2 record with a 6.00 ERA. His Smokies pitching record was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA in 28 games. On November 26,1962, Jim was drafted by the Pirates from the Yankees Organization in the 1962 1st-year Minor League Player Draft. He would have an MLB pitching record of 16-30 with a 3.81 ERA and 2 saves in 165 games. Jim had pitched for the Pirates, Senators, Rangers and the Twins. When he retired as a player, he would work in the Twins Minor League organization; then he would become an MLB Bullpen Coach for the Twins.
1954-In an enormous 2-part MLB trade that will begin today, the Yankees and Orioles will exchange a total of 17 players. The 2nd part of the trade will be announced after the 1954 MLB Rule 5 Draft is held in December. Included in the trade are 1B Richard Kryhoski, Pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, Catcher Darrell Johnson and INF Billy Hunter being obtained by the Yankees from the Orioles. The Yankees would send veteran MLB OF Gene Woodling, Reserve INF Willie Miranda, Pitchers Harry Byrd, Jim McDonald along with Reserve Catchers Gus Triandos and Hal Smith. This trade will give the Orioles a chance to rebuild their team, which was formerly the St. Louis Browns, one of the poorest MLB team franchises. By the late 1950’s and early 1960’s the Orioles farm system will start producing their own stars such as Brooks Robinson, John “Boog” Powell, Milt Pappas and other young players. The Yankees will plug Don Larsen and Bob Turley into their 1955 starting rotation, joining Whitey Ford, Eddie Lopat and Tommy Byrne. Veteran Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds had retired from the team due to serious back problems that occurred in a team bus accident in Baltimore during the 1954 AL season.
1960-Former Yankees Reserve INF Ron Coomer (2002) was born.
In 2001, the Yankees had signed veteran INF Ron Coomer as an MLB Free Agent. As a Reserve INF for the Yankees, Ron would appear in 55 games for the team, while hitting .264 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs during the 2002 AL season. He had appeared with the Yankees in the 2002 ALDS, getting 1 hit in 2 at-bats in his only taste of MLB postseason play. Ron would finish his MLB playing career with the 2003 Dodgers. He is now a TV Baseball Announcer for the Cubs.
1964-Baltimore Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson is voted the 1964 AL MVP, outpolling the Yankees CF Mickey Mantle by a vote of 269 to 171. In 1964, Mantle had hit .303 with 35 HRs and 111 RBIs in 143 games for the AL Pennant winning Yankees. It was Mickey’s last season as a productive slugger for the Yankees, as his decline would be starting with his bad legs. In 1965, he would be switched to LF, then he would be moved to 1B the following season.
1967-Former Yankees Reliever Tom “Flash” Gordon (2004-2005) was born.
In the winter of 2003, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Closer Tom “Flash” Gordon. He had been a Closer with the Red Sox. He was set-up man for Yankees Closer Mo Rivera during the 2004-2005 AL seasons, going 14-8 with a 2.38 ERA and 6 saves in 159 games, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency. He would be sign by the Phillies to become their 2006 Team Closer.
1968-Former Yankees Assistant GM and MLB Executive Kim Ng (1998-2002) was born.
Kim Ng was the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Dodgers from 2001 to 2011. On March 8, 2011, she was named Senior Vice-President of Baseball Operations for MLB reporting to newly-named Executive Vice-President Joe Torre, who was previously the Dodgers' Manager. On November 13, 2020, she was named General Manager of the Miami Marlins, becoming not only the 1st woman to be a General Manager in MLB, but the 1st in North American men's sports. Of Vietnamese origin, Ng was born in Indianapolis, IN, but she grew up in Queens, NY. The oldest of 5 girls, she had attended the University of Chicago, where she played softball and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy. She applied for a variety of sports-related jobs after her college graduation, she was accepted for an internship with the White Sox in 1991. She was talented in the nascent field of computers and data analysis and impressed the organization with her skills, landing her a full-time entry-level job. To her surprise, she ended up in the baseball operations side of the business, and not in marketing, where she had expected to work.
White Sox GM Dan Evans was impressed by her analytical ability and attention to detail; he quickly pegged her as someone who could aspire to senior positions and he took her under his wing. She was also lucky in starting out at a time when front offices were starting to hire persons with different profiles, which would result in a class of highly-educated young GMs, who had never played the game. In 1997, she took a job with MLB as Director of Waivers and Records for the American League office. The position required her to know all the arcane details of the Major League rules and help interpret them for General Managers. This allowed her to meet all of the league's GMs, including Yankees Brian Cashman, who was so impressed with her that he hired her as Assistant General Manager in 1998. At the time, Kim was the youngest Assistant GM in the game. She was put in charge of the Yankees' salary arbitration cases and proved very talented in this sensitive file, both in assessing the value of players and in conducting negotiations to avoid the cases having to actually be argued before an Arbitrator. She was also involved in contract negotiations with star players. She was the 2nd woman to have the title of Assistant GM, following Elaine Weddington Steward, who was hired by the Red Sox in 1990.
In 2002, her former mentor Evans, who was now GM of the Dodgers, had lured her away from the Yankees. She worked under a succession of bosses, including Paul DePodesta and Ned Colletti, until leaving for her senior position with MLB. In 2005, Ng was interviewed by the Dodgers for their vacant GM job, but she was passed over for Colletti. In 2008, She also interviewed for the Mariners' GM job and with the Padres in 2009. In her position with MLB, Ng was put in charge of implementing some of the changes to the signing of players not subjected to the Amateur Draft that were included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached at the end of 2011. These included a reform of how Latin American Amateur Players could be signed, and meant a greater involvement by MLB in setting up showcases and an "International Talent Committee" that aimed to curb the rampant abuse of young players by Scouts and other intermediaries. In 2014, her name surfaced again as one of the top candidates to replace fired Padres GM Josh Byrnes, being 1 of 4 contenders to be asked for a 2nd interview, out of an initial pool of 14 candidates. She would lose out to A.J. Preller, however. She finally was appointed to the top job in 2020, when the Marlins selected her to replace GM Michael Hill, who had been let go after the Marlins had surprised everyone by making it to the postseason during the shortened 2020 NL season. She was taking the reins of an up-and-coming team loaded with young talent. Her reaction was as follows: "This challenge is one I don’t take lightly. When I got into this business, it seemed unlikely a woman would lead an MLB team, but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals." Ng’s appointment was extremely well received around the industry, as many pointed out that her credentials were impeccable, that she would likely have acceded to the GM ranks years earlier had she not been a woman and a member of a racial minority to boot. In October of 2023, Ng would leave the Marlins organization.
1968-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Clay Bellinger (1999-2001) was born.
INF/OF Clay Bellinger was signed as an MLB Free Agent to helped out the Yankees bench; he had appeared in 182 games, hitting only .189 for 3 seasons. He could play many positions, but he had a very weak bat. His son, Cody is a currently playing for the Cubs.
1968-Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Sheffield (2004-2006) was born.
In the winter of 2003, the Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner had signed veteran MLB Slugger Gary Sheffield as an MLB Free Agent. Gary was a good power hitter, but he was injured in 2006. For the 2004-2006 Yankees, he would appear in 347 games, while hitting .291 with 76 HRs and 269 RBIs. After the Yankees had picked up his MLB player contract option on November 10, 2006, Gary was traded by the team to the Tigers for 3 Minor League Pitchers: Anthony Claggett, Humberto Sanchez and Kevin Whelan.
1970-Former Yankees Reliever Allen Watson (1999-2000) was born.
On July 3,1999, Veteran Reliever Allen Watson was signed as an MLB Free Agent. He was assigned to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He had pitched for the Mariners and the Mets, while posting a combined record of 2-3 in 17 games. Watson had MLB lifetime pitching record of 47-55. He would post a 4-0 record with a 2.10 ERA in 21 games. In 2000, he had no record, while appearing in 17 games for the Yankees. He would finish his Yankees Pitching career with a 4-0 record with a 5.27 ERA in 38 games.
1976-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter Don Gullett for $2 million. With the 1970-1976 Reds, he had posted a 91-40 record with a 3.03 ERA and 11 saves in 236 games. In 1977, Gullett will have a 14-4 record with a 3.59 ERA in 22 games, but he will spend most of the next 3 Yankee seasons on the DL, before being forced to retire from MLB. Overall, as a Yankees Starter, Don would record a 18-6 mark in 30 games for the team. He had appeared in 1 game in the 1977 World Series, posting a 0-1 record against the Dodgers. His final MLB Pitching record was a 109-50 mark with a 3.11 ERA in 266 games. His World Series record was 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 10 games (8 with the Reds and 2 with the Yankees.)
1979-Former MLB Pitcher, MLB Manager and Yankees Minor League Manager Freddie Fitzsimmons (1956) had passed away from self-inflected gunshot wound to the head. (1901-1979)
In 1956, former MLB hurler Freddie Fitzsimmons had managed the Yankees AA farm team, the Bingham Triplets (EL), leading them to an 81-53 record. He was a Special MLB Spring Training Instructor for the Yankees. As an MLB player, he had pitched for the Giants and Dodgers. Fred would finish his 19-season MLB Pitching career with a 217-146 record with a 3.51 ERA and 13 saves in 513 MLB games. He had appeared in 3 World Series, while posting a 0-3 record. From 1943-1945, he had managed the Phillies. Also, he was an MLB Coach for the Dodgers, Braves, Giants, Cubs and the A’s.
1980-The Yankees had traded Reserve Catcher Brad Gulden and Cash to the Mariners for INF Larry Milbourne and a Player to be Named Later. With the recent trades of Reserve Infielder’s Fred Stanley and Brian Doyle to the Oakland A’s, the Yankees need a new Reserve Infielder for their MLB bench. Milbourne had hit .278 and .264, for the past 2 seasons for Seattle. Gulden had hit .163 in 40 games for the 1979 Yankees, while sharing the catching duties with Jerry Narron, following Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. He had started the 1980 season with AAA Columbus (IL), he only hit .157 in 14 games, then he was sent to AA Nashville Sounds (SL), where he would hit .237 in 85 games. The Player to be Named Later for the Yankees, would turn out to be Catcher Brad Gulden, who will rejoin the team on May 18,1981. He would be sent to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).
1986-Former Yankees Pitcher Bruce Billings (2014) was born.
On December 20, 2013, Pitcher Bruce Billings was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Bruce had posted a 5-5 record with AAA Scranton (IL) before being called up to the Bronx. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees with no record. On August 2, 2014, the team released him. Bruce would be picked-up by the Dodgers organization. Later, he would finish out his pro pitching career with the Nationals organization in 2015. He was a Minor League Coach in the Phillies organization.
1991-Former Yankees Starter Jameson Taillon (2021-2022) was born.
Jameson Taillon was the #2 pick of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Pirates. On January 24, 2021, the Pirates had traded him to the Yankees in return for 4 Minor League prospects: P Miguel Yajure, P Roansy Contreras, OF Canaan Smith and Shortstop Maikol Escotto. He had pitched for the Pirates from 2016-2019, while posting a 29-24 record with a 3.67 ERA in 82 games. He had missed playing time with the team due to injuries and TJ Surgery, costing him playing time in 2014-2015, then again in 2019 and 2020. His 2021 trade would reunite him with his former Pirates teammate Gerrit Cole, now the Yankees' ace. He made his return to the mound on April 7th, pitching 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles. He recorded his 1st win in 2 years on May 1st, when he gave up 1 run in 5 innings and struck out 8 batters in a 6-4 win over the Tigers. He pitched better as the season advanced and in July, he was named the AL Pitcher of the Month, when he had a 1.16 ERA in 5 starts covering 31 innings. Cole had won the honor in April. Taillon would finish out his 2021 AL season with the Yankees, posting an 8-6 record with a 4.30 ERA in 29 games. Taillon was back in the Yankees' starting rotation at the start of the 2022 season as the team would post the best record in the MLB over the 1st 2 months. He was an excellent with a 5-1 record, along with a 2.49 ERA over his 1st 9 starts as the Yankees had the best starting rotation in the MLB over that time span. That included his best start as a Yankee on May 27th, when he pitched 8 scoreless innings against the Rays, by allowing just 2 hits, but no walks. He probably could have pitched the 9th inning as well, but Yankees Manager Aaron Boone decided to bring in Reliever Clay Holmes to close out the 2-0 win, which he did by retiring the Rays in order. On June 2nd, he started the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Angels with 7 perfect innings before allowing a double to Jared Walsh that deflected off the glove of Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Walsh came in to score on a 2-out single by Kurt Suzuki, and he left the game trailing 1-0, but the Yankees rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to give him a 2-1 win that improved his record on the season to 6-1, with a 2.30 ERA. For the 2022 AL season, he would post an excellent 14-5 record along with a 3.91 ERA in 32 games. After the MLB post season had ended, he had become an MLB Free Agent.
1997-The Yankees had obtained INF/OF Scott Brosius from the Oakland A’s to complete the Kenny Rogers deal that was made earlier in the month. He will have a chance to become the Yankees 1998 Starting 3B in Yankees 1998 MLB Spring training camp, completing against the Yankees top Minor League 3B Prospect Mike Lowell.
1997-MLB holds the 1997 Expansion Team Player Draft to stock the rosters of the 2 new MLB teams; the NL Arizona Diamondbacks and the AL Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Yankees will lose Pitcher Ben Ford to the NL Diamondbacks, meanwhile the AL Devil Rays had selected Pitcher Brian Boehringer and Reserve OF Luke Wilcox from the Yankees.
2003-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Brett (1976) had passed away from Cancer. (1948-2003)
Ken Brett was George Brett’s older brother. He had appeared in 2 games with the Red Sox in the 1967 World Series. In 1974, he was named to the NL All-Star team, while pitching for the Pirates. Ken had appeared in 2 NL post-season series with the Bucs, pitching in 3 games with no decisions. On December 11,1975, Ken Brett was traded by the Pirates along with P Dock Ellis and Rookie 2B Willie Randolph to the Yankees for MLB Starter George “Doc” Medich. He only appeared in 2 games with the 1976 Yankees with no record, before being traded on May 18th by the Yankees along with OF Rich Coggins to the White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May. His brother George complained to the MLB media that the Yankees Manager Billy Martin never gave his brother a chance to prove himself with the team. As an MLB Pitcher, Ken had posted an 83-85 record with a 3.93 ERA and 11 saves in 349 games. He was a good hitter for Pitcher; he would finish with MLB playing career with a .262 BA with 10 HRs and 44 RBIs in 385 games. Later, Ken became a Minor League Team Owner with his 2 brothers.
2022-The Yankees and Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year, $6MM deal. He had hit .261 with 4 HRs and 48 RBIs in 142 games for the team. On March 13, 2022, he was traded by the Twins along with Veteran 3B Josh Donaldson and young Catcher Ben Rortvedt to the Yankees for veteran Catcher Gary Sanchez and 3B Gio Urshela. Isiah can play several positions as well as being a former Catcher with the Rangers. In 2023, he will play multiple positions for the Yankees, while appearing in 113 games, hitting .242 with 6 HRs and 37 RBIs. He will finish his Yankees playing career with .253 BA with 10 HRs and 85 RBIs in 255 games. After the 2023 MLB post season ends, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. On December 29, 2023, he will sign a 2-year contract with the Blue Jays
November 19th
1881-Former Yankees Reserve OF Bill Bailey (1911) was born. (1881-1967)
For the 1911 Yankees, Reserve OF Bill Bailey appeared in only 5 games, while hitting just .111.
1892-Former Yankees Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott (1922-1925) was born. (1892-1960)
On December 20,1921, Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott was traded by the Red Sox along with Pitchers Joe Bush and Sam Jones to the Yankees for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh, Pitchers Jack Quinn, Harry Collins and Minor League P Bill Piercy. Deacon would give the Yankees a solid 3 seasons as their starting Shortstop, including leading the AL in fielding in 1922-1923. Shortstop Everett Scott had played in 1,307 consecutive MLB games, the MLB consecutive games record until Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig came along and broke it. He would begin his streak on June 20,1916, while playing for the Red Sox. Following the 1921 AL season, he was traded to the Yankees. On May 6,1925, he was benched by Yankees Manager Miller Huggins in favor of Shortstop Pee Wee Wanninger. Ironically, less than a month later, his Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig began his own consecutive MLB game streak, when he entered a game as a Pinch-Hitter for Wanninger. In 3 seasons with the team, he had appeared in 481 games for the Yankees, while hitting .254 with 13 HRs and 174 RBIs in 481 games for the team. Scott's streak is still the 3rd longest streak in MLB history behind Orioles Cal Ripken and Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig. In 2 World Series with the team, he had played in 11 games, while hitting .250 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. On June 17,1925, Scott was selected off waivers by the Senators from the Yankees. The Nats would use him as a Reserve INF, since they already had former Yankees player Roger Peckinpaugh as their starting shortstop. The Red Sox had traded him to the Senators during the during the winter of 1924
1908-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Joe Glenn (1932-1933,1935-1938) was born. (1908-1985)
Joe Glenn was a long-time back-up catcher for Yankees All-Star Catcher Bill Dickey. He had appeared in 138 games for the Yankees, while hitting .252 with 1 HR and 52 RBIs. He would never appear in a World Series game with the team. On October 26,1938, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with OF Myril Hoag to the St. Louis Browns for Pitcher Oral Hildebrand and OF Buster Mills.
1938-The Yankees had sold veteran Starter Johnny Broaca to the Indians. Johnny had been a successful college pitcher at Yale Univ. In 1933, he would pitch for the AA Newark Bears (IL), posting a 7-2 record with a 2.04 ERA in 10 games. In 1934, he would join the Yankees, while posting a 12-9 record with 4.16 ERA in 34 games. In the next 2 seasons, he went 15-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 35 games in 1935, the 12-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 36 games in 1936. In September of 1936, he would leave the team to take up a career in pro boxing. He had missed a chance to pitch in the 1936 World Series for the team. He would return to the team in 1937, going 1-4 with a 4.70 ERA in 7 games, before leaving the team again. Fed up with his leaving the team again, Yankees GM Edward Barrow would suspend him for the rest of 1937 AL season and the whole 1938 AL season as well. His actions cost him a chance to pitch in the 1937-1938 World Series. In November of 1938, he was reinstated by the team in order to sell him to the Indians. Overall, as a Yankees Starter, Johnny had posted a 40-27 record with a 4.04 ERA and 3 saves in 99 games. With the 1939 Indians, he will go 4-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 22 games. In 1940, he would leave the MLB.
1953-The Yankees had signed Pitcher Ralph Terry as an MLB Amateur Free Agent.
1964-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Fred “Bootnose” Hofmann (1919-1925) had passed away. (1894-1964)
With the 1919-1925 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Fred Hofmann would appear in 213 games, while hitting .245 with 7 HRs and 53 RBIs. He had played in 2 games of the 1923 World Series for the team against the Giants with no hits. On May 29,1925, Fred was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, P Oscar Roettger and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for INF Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees would send INF Ernie Johnson to the AA Saints to complete the trade. Fred would return with the MLB, playing with the 1927-1928 Red Sox. After his MLB active playing career had ended, Fred would become a Minor League Manager for the Cardinals organization. He then would move over to the St. Louis Browns' organization, as a MLB Coach beginning in 1938. After a 12-year stint as an MLB Coach for the Browns, Hofmann became an MLB Scout for the franchise from 1950 to 1964, staying with the team. when they relocated in 1954; to become the Baltimore Orioles. He had filled in several times as a Manager for teams in the Orioles' farm system during the 1950s.
1966-Former Yankees Minor League P Rodney Imes was born.
The Yankees in the 16th round of the 1987 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Rodney Imes. He would pitch in the Yankees farm system from 1987 to 1989. On December 12,1989, Rodney was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B Hal Morris to the Reds for veteran MLB Starter Tim Leary and Reserve OF Van Snider. He never appears in the MLB with the Reds.
1968-Yankees Rookie Starter Stan Bahnsen, who had posted a 17-12 record along with a 2.05 ERA and 162 strikeouts is named 1968 AL Rookie of the Year. Bahnsen easily outdistances Senators OF Del Unser in the AL Rookie Player Award voting.
1979-Former Yankees Minor League OF/DH John Ford Griffin was born.
Outfielder John-Ford Griffin was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st Round (23rd overall) of the 2001 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Griffin had played college baseball at Florida St. Univ. He was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Scott Pleis, making his pro baseball debut that summer. John would never appear with the team at the MLB level. On July 5, 2002, he was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Yankees along with MLB starter Ted Lilly, Minor League P Jason Arnold to the A’s. Then Oakland would send a Player to be Named Later, P Franklyn German and 1B Carlos Pena to the Tigers. Detroit would send MLB Starter Jeff Weaver to the Yankees. Next, the Tigers would send Cash to Oakland in return. On August 22, 2002, the Oakland A’s would send P Jeremy Bonderman to the Tigers to complete the trade. In 2005, John will make his MLB Player debut with the Blue Jays.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Michael Tonkin (2024) was born.
Reliever Michael Tonkin was originally drafted by the Twins in the 30th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Palmdale HS (Palmdale, CA). He has spent 7 seasons in the MLB, with a pitching career record of 11-8 with a 4.44 ERA and 1 save in 192 games. He has appeared with the Twins (twice), Braves and the Mets (twice). Also, he had pitched for 2 seasons in Japan, Mexico and Independent Leagues before coming back to MLB. In 2023, he was with the Braves, posting a 7-3 record with a 4.28 ERA with 1 save in 45 MLB games. The Mets would sign him for the 2024 season as an MLB reliever for their bullpen. On April 25, 2024, he was claimed by the Yankees from the Mets. For the 2024 Yankees, he would post a 3-2 record with a 3.38 ERA with 2 saves in 39 games. On August 25, 2024, he was DFA by the Yankees.
1993-Former Yankees OF Joey Gallo (2021-2022) was born.
Joey Gallo was a supplemental 1st-round selection for the Rangers in the 2012 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would make his MLB player debut 3 years later. He was a 3rd baseman at the time, but he has since been switched to the outfield. On July 28th, he was hitting .223 in 95 games, but with 25 HRs, 55 RBIs and an AL-leading 74 walks when he was scratched from the starting line-up at the last moment. It did not take long for reporters to confirm that a deal had been struck with the Yankees, with Gallo and P Joely Rodriguez going to the Yankees in return for 4 prospects, none of which was particularly high profile: 2B Ezequiel Duran, 2B Trevor Hauver, P Glenn Otto and SS Josh Smith. The trade still awaited confirmation pending physicals, something which came through shortly thereafter. Gallo comes to the Bronx with MLB lifetime BA of .211, while hitting 145 HRs and 317 RBIs in 568 games. He has been named to the AL All-Star team twice, while playing for the 2015-2021 Rangers. He would win the 2021 AL Golden Glove Award for Right Field. However, Gallo then failed to hit with New York. He would only hit .160 in 58 games in 2021, and although he had slugged 13 HRs, giving him 38 HRs on the season, but he had also struck out 88 times. In fact, he led the AL in both walks (111) and strikeouts (213). He made his MLB postseason debut in the WCG against the Red Sox, but he went 0 for 4 at the plate as the Yankees lost the game. In 2022, he was slated to be the Yankees' LF, with Aaron Hicks in CF and Aaron Judge in RF and Giancarlo Stanton as the DH; but again he had failed to hit and as result lost playing time as the 2022 season advanced, though the Yankees were on a roll and running away with a Eastern Division title. He would only hit .159, along with 12 HRs and 24 RBIs in 82 games. The Yankees had clearly given up on him for the 2nd straight MLB season, when he was traded at the MLB Trading Deadline, but this time he was sent away as dead wood on August 2nd, by which time he was in a 6 for 71 skein since mid-June. Interestingly, the team willing to take a chance on his regaining his hitting strike was another pennant contender, the Dodgers, who gave up a low-level pitching prospect Clayton Beeter in order to bring him on board. At the end of 2022 NL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the club.
2007-Yankees All-Star 3B Alex Rodriguez wins the 2007 AL MVP Award with a .314 BA, while hitting an MLB leading 54 HRs, along with 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored
2011-Former Yankees Pitcher Sonny Dixon (1956) had passed away. (1924-2011)
Before the start of 1941 AL season at the age of 16, Sonny Dixon was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Senators. He would spend 6 seasons in Minor Leagues before appearing in the MLB. In 1954, Sonny went 5-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 43 games for the Senators, but he was traded to the White Sox for Gus Keriazakos on June 11th. On the very same date, the White Sox would trade Sonny along with Al Sima, Bill Wilson and $20,000 to the A’s for Ed McGhee and Morrie Martin. Sonny would finish the 1954 AL season with the Philadelphia A’s; while posting a 5-7 record with a 4.86 ERA; after his 1-2 season start with the Senators. The 1954 AL season saw Dixon lead the AL in appearances with 54 games. He would start the 1955 season with the A’s who, where now playing in Kansas City, getting into only 2 games with no decisions. On May 11th, he was traded to the Yankees along with Cash for 2 veteran MLB players: Pitcher Johnny Sain and OF Enos Slaughter. He would finish out the 1955 season with the Yankees AAA club, the Denver Bears (AA) by going 3-3 with a 4.19 ERA. He was with the 1956 Yankees for a short time, going 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 3 appearances, this would be his last trip to the mound in the MLB. He would be sent down by the Yankees to their other AAA club, the Richmond Virginians (IL). In the 4 seasons that he was in the MLB, Sonny had posted a 11-18 record with a 4.17 career ERA, while appearing in 102 games. Dixon would pitch in the high Minor Leagues through the rest of his pro baseball career that ended with the 1961 Class AA Nashville Volunteers (SA).
2018-Mariners Starter James Paxton was traded by the team to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Players: Pitcher Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams and MLB Pitcher Justus Sheffield. In 2018, Paxton, who was 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 games for Seattle, including a No-Hitter. He will join the 2019 Yankees starting rotation. He has an MLB pitching career record of 41-26 with a 3.42 ERA in 102 games. Justus Sheffield was the Yankees Top Pitching Prospect, who made his MLB Pitching debut in 2018; appearing with the team in 3 games as a Reliever with a 0-0 record with a 10.30 ERA. In 2018, He went 7-6 with a 2.48 ERA in 20 games in the Yankees Minor League system. He had been 1 of the 3 Minor League players obtained in the July 31, 2016 MLB dead-line trade with the Indians for veteran MLB Reliever Andrew Miller. Outfielder Dom Thompson Williams had played in the Yankees Minor League system for 3 seasons, while appearing in 220 games, while hitting .270 with 28 HRs and 118 RBIs, while playing at the Class A level. Erik Swanson was obtained from the Rangers in the Carlos Beltran trade at the July 31st MLB Deadline of 2016, along with fellow Minor League Pitchers Dillon Tate and Nick Green. While pitching in the Yankees Minor League organization from 2016-2018, he had a 15-6 record in 73 games.
2021-The Yankees have designated the following MLB players OF Clint Frazier, INF Rougned Odor and INF/OF Tyler Wade for Assignment. This roster moves create space for the selections of Minor League Prospects Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza, Pitcher Ron Marinaccio, OF Everson Pereira, Pitchers Stephen Ridings and J. P. Sears to the Yankees 40-man player roster to protect them from the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. The Yankees will have 10 days to decide what to do with MLB Players Frazier, Odor and Wade. Clint Frazier will become an MLB Free Agent; he would be signed by the White Sox; meanwhile Tyler Wade would be traded to the Angels for Cash. Odor would become an MLB Free Agent, signing with the Orioles.
2021-The Phillies have acquired Reliever Nick Nelson and Minor League Catcher Donny Sands from the Yankees in exchange for 2 Minor League Players: 1B T. J. Rumfield and Pitcher Joel Valdez. In 2021 with the Yankees, Reliever Nick Nelson had posted a 1-2 record with a 6.43 ERA in 22 games. In 2021, Catcher Donny Sands had played with AA Somerset and AAA Scranton, while hitting .261 with a combined record of 18 HRs and 56 RBIs in 94 games. First baseman T. J. Rumfield was originally selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2021 1st Year Player Draft. In 2021, he had played for the Low A-Clearwater (FSL), while hitting .250 in 27 games. On September 18, 2018, Pitcher Joel Valdez was signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted Free Agent. In 2 Minor League seasons with the Phillies organization, he had a record of 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 26 games.
November 20th
1869-Former HOF Yankees Pitcher (1903-1907) MLB Manager and Team Owner Clark “The Old Gray Fox” Griffith was born. (1869-1955)
As their 1st team Manager from 1903-1908, veteran Starter Clark Griffth would take the Yankees to a 419-370 record. Before joining the Yankees in 1903, Clark had managed the 1901-1902 White Sox. In 1903, he would post a 14-11 record with a 2.70 ERA in 25 games for the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees pitcher, Clark would have a 32-24 record in 77 games. On June 24,1908, he was fired by the Yankees President Frank Farrell, being replaced by Player/Manager Kid Elberfeld for the rest of the season. From 1909 to 1911, he would manage the Reds. Next, Griffith would join the Senators as their skipper in 1912, he would purchase 10% percent ownership in the club. In November 1919, thanks to the support of grain broker William Richardson, he would increase his ownership share to 44% of the team, with Richardson owning 40.4% but agreeing to leave him full responsibility for running the team. After the 1920 season, Clark would step down as Team Manager. Although the club won 3 AL pennants and the 1924 World Series, they would struggle in the 2nd division for most of his tenure at the helm. They had a hard time competing financially with the other teams. Griffith often had to sell off his star players to keep the team afloat. While being team owner of the Senators, Griffith had played a large role in popularizing MLB night baseball. He was responsible for signing many Latin American players. His connections with President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a large role in giving baseball the "green light" to go on during World War II. In 1946, he was elected to the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer and Baseball Executive. In 1952, he was honored by the Yankees. Clark Griffith was the team owner of the Washington Senators from 1912 until his death in 1955. Overall, Griffith had posted a 237-146 record with a 3.31 ERA and 8 saves in 453 games during his 21 MLB season pitching career, that had started in 1891 and ending in 1914.
1882-Former Yankees Pitcher Andy Coakley (1911) was born. (1892-1963)
For the 1911 Yankees, Veteran MLB Starter Andy Coakley had posted a 0-1 record with 5.40 ERA in 2 games. He had previously had pitched for the 1902-1906 A’s,1907-1908 Reds and the 1908-1909 Cubs. He appeared in 1 game in the 1905 World Series for A’s, losing 1 game. He would later become a college baseball coach at Williamson, later he was with Columbia Univ., where he coached a young Pitcher/1B named Lou Gehrig.
1888-Former MLB player (1913-1924) and Yankees Minor League Manager Ray Powell (1939-1942) was born. (1888-1962)
Former MLB player Ray Powell would manage in the Yankees Minor League organization from 1939 to 1942. He was the Manager of the 1939-1940 Easton Yankees (ESL), 1941 Norfolk Yankees (NSL) and the 1942 Fond Duc Panthers (WSL). In the MLB, he had played as an Outfielder for the Tigers and the Braves.
1919-Former Yankees Pitcher Rugger Ardizoia (1947) was born. (1919-2015)
At the time of his death in 2015, 96-year-old Rinaldo "Rugger" Ardizoia was the oldest living ex-Yankees player. He had pitched 1 game in the MLB, he would spend 12 seasons pitching in the Minors, mostly with various teams in the Pacific Coast League. He was born in Italy, but he grew up in San Francisco. After graduating from high school in 1937, Rugger began playing for the AA San Francisco Missions in the (PCL). When the Missions moved to Hollywood for the 1931 PCL season; they became the Hollywood Stars. He would pitch 2 seasons for the Stars until being signed for the Yankees by West Coast MLB Scout Joe Devine. The Yankees would send him to their AA club, the Newark Bears (IL) in 1941. When World War II started, he was considered an enemy alien, since he was Italian-born. Rugger was not allowed to travel to the league’s 2 Canadian cities (Montreal and Toronto) with the team. So, in 1942, he was assigned to the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), which had no Canadian city based teams in their league. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army Air Force. Rugger was sent to McClelland Field in Sacramento, Ca., as an aircraft maintenance person. Later, he was sent to Hawaii with the 7th Air Force as a Tow Target Operator; then he would go to Tinian and Iwo Jima with the 20th Air Force. In December 1945, Ardizoia was discharged from the Air Force. In 1946, he went to the MLB Spring Training Camp with the Yankees, but Rugger would spend that season with the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL); where he had won 15 games. Ardizoia’s MLB Pitching career consisted of just 2 innings of relief pitching on April 30,1947. Yankees Manager Bucky Harris tabbed him to relieve Karl Drews in the 7th inning of the Yankees' game against the Browns at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. The Browns already held a 13-4 lead over the Yankees, so his MLB Pitching career amounted to nothing more than MLB mop-up duty. Ardizoia started out well, pitching an uneventful 7th inning. In the top of the 8th inning, Yankees 1B George McQuinn's RBI double chipped away at the Browns' lead, but in the bottom of the 8th, Ardizoia gave up 2 runs on Browns 1B Wally Judnich's 2nd HR of the game. In the top of the 9th inning, Johnny Lindell would pinch-hit for him and his MLB pitching career with the Yankees came to an end. Ardizoia would spent the 1948 season back with the AA Hollywood Stars (PCL), later he was with the 1949 AA Seattle Rainiers (PCL) and in the 1951 season, he was with the Dallas Eagles (TXL) before retiring from baseball.
1929-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Lou Berberet (1954-1955) was born. (1929-2004)
In 1950, the Yankees had signed Catcher Lou Berberet as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He appeared in just 7 games for the 1954-1955 Yankees, while hitting .400. He was blocked by the presence of All-Star Catcher Yogi Berra and Rookie Elston Howard, like many other young Yankees Minor League Catchers in the 1950’s; the team would trade Lou. On February 8,1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, INF Herb Plews, Outfielders Richard Tettelbach and Bob Wiesler to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would later send Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade. Lou would hit .261 for the 1956-1957 AL seasons for the Senators before being traded to the Red Sox in 1958. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1959-1960 Tigers. Overall, he had appeared in 468 MLB games, while hitting .230 with 31 HRs and 153 RBIs.
1930-Former Yankees Minor League INF Don Leppert was born. (1930-2021)
In 1949, the Yankees had signed INF Don Leppert as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never appear with the team at the MLB level. Don would be traded to the Orioles in the big 17-player trade in November of 1954. In 1955, he would play in 30 games for the Orioles, hitting just .141 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. During the 1956 baseball season, he would return to the Yankees organization, playing 2B for Birmingham Barons (SA), while hitting .278 in 68 games before retiring from pro baseball at the end of the season.
1934-A 17-year-old Japanese Pitcher named Eiji Sawamura gives up 1-hit, a HR to Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig, as the touring MLB All-Stars, win in Japan by the score of 1-0. At one point, Sawamura strikes out 4 future MLB Hall of Fame players in a row: Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer, Yankees OF Babe Ruth, A’s 1B Jimmie Foxx and Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig.
1940-Former Yankees Minor League P Gil Downs was born. (1940-2019)
Gil Downs had a successful Minor League Pitching career, playing in 3 MLB organizations from 1963 to 1967. He made it to AAA in part or all of 3 seasons, though he never ascended to the MLB. He began his pro pitching career in the White Sox system, going 13-3 with a 1.37 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) between the Lynchburg White Sox (3 Games, with a 1.13 ERA) and the Sarasota Sun Sox (24 Games, 1.38 ERA) in 1963. With the Sun Sox, he tossed 13 complete games and 6 shutouts; between both teams, he allowed just 140 hits and 48 walks in 191 innings for a 0.984 WHIP. He had 174 strikeouts. On June 20th, he tossed a 7-inning No-Hitter against the Class A Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). The Yankees would take him in the $8,000 1st Year portion of the 1963 Rule 5 Player Draft. For the 1964 Greensboro Yankees (SAL), he went 9-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 games (21 starts), while completing 4 games and 1 shut out. In 127 innings, he allowed 97 hits and 46 walks, while striking out 118 batters. Also, he went 4-1 with 0.87 ERA in 9 games (6 starts) with 4 complete games and 3 shutouts for the Yankees (FECIL) that season. Shifting to the bullpen in 1965, Downs went 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 42 games (3 starts) between the 2 teams. Most of his work came with the AA Columbus Confederate Yankees (SL) (42 Games, 1.18 ERA), though he made 2 starts for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL), going 0-1 with a 8.00 ERA in 9 innings. In 1966, his only full season at AAA, he went 10-8 with a 3.47 ERA in 34 games (11 starts) for the Mud Hens. In 109 innings, he had allowed only 82 hits, but he surrendered 61 walks. On December 20,1966, he was traded along with Cash by the Yankees to the Indians for veteran MLB Shortstop Richard Howser. He would spend 1 season in the Indians farm system, posting a 0-1record with a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings in 1967. Overall, Downs went 39-19 with a 2.30 ERA in 134 games (61 starts) in 5 Minor League seasons. He had 19 complete games with 8 shutouts. In 528 innings, he allowed 390 hits and 217 walks, while striking out 430 batters. Including his winter league statistics, he went 43-20 with a 2.17 ERA with 23 complete games and 11 shutouts. He was 10-10, with a 3.94 ERA in 40 games (13 starts) at AAA. He had served in the Army prior to starting his pro baseball playing career in 1963.
1945-Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) was born. (1945-2020)
On June 14,1978, OF Jay Johnstone was traded by the Phillies along with Minor League OF Bobby Brown to the Yankees for MLB Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 in 32 games. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Pitcher Dave Wehrmeister. In 1979, he had only played in 23 games, while just hitting .208 for the team, when he was traded to the Phillies. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
1962-Yankees CF Mickey Mantle collects his 3rd AL MVP Award of his MLB playing career. Mantle, who had hit .321 with 30 HRs and 89 RBIs in 123 games, also he led the AL in walks (122) along with a slugging percentage (.605), while helping the Yankees to win the 1962 World Championship against the Giants.
1967-The Yankees have obtained INF and future MLB Coach Bobby Cox from the Braves for Pitcher Dale Roberts and Reserve Catcher Bob Tillman. He will be the Yankees starting 3B for the 1968 AL season, while appearing in 132 games, hitting .229 with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs. Overall, Bobby will play in 220 games for the 1967-1968 Yankees, while hitting .225 with 9 HRs and 58 RBIs. In 1977, he will become an MLB Coach for the Yankees before joining the 1978 Braves as their MLB Manager. Also, he would also be an MLB Manager for the Blue Jays, before returning to the Braves.
1967-Former Yankees Reserve INF Alex Arias (2002) was born.
On June 6, 2002, veteran MLB INF Alex Arias was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would only appear in 6 games for the 2002 team with no hits. On October 28, 2002, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1969-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Charles “Paddy” Baumann (1915-1917) had passed away. (1885-1969)
On March 3,1915, INF/OF Paddy Baumann was sent from AA Providence (IL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. For the 1915-1917 Yankees, Charles “Paddy” Bauman would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 61 RBIs in 204 games. Paddy had started his MLB playing career with the 1911-1914 Tigers, as a Reserve player, while appearing in 95 games, hitting .272 with 1 HR and 40 RBIs. After leaving the Yankees in 1917, Paddy would play in the Minor Leagues until 1928, before retiring at the age of 42.
1971-Former Yankees Reliever Gabe White (2003-2004) was born.
On July 31, 2003, the Reds would send hurler Gabe White to the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On December 7, 2003, Gabe was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Gabe would post a 2-2 record with a 6.82 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees during the 2003-2004 AL seasons. On June 18, 2004, the Yankees would send Gabe back to the Reds for Minor League hurler Charlie Manning and Cash.
1985-Yankees 1B Don Mattingly, who had hit .324, with 35 HRs and 145 RBIs, easily wins the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player Award over the Royals 3B George Brett (.335, 30 HRs, 103 RBIs). He becomes the 1st player on a non-championship team to win the AL MVP Award since Red Sox OF Jim Rice had won in 1978.
1995-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Mike DeJean and a Player to be Named to the Rockies for Catcher Joe Girardi. He will solidify the catching position for the Yankees, while DeJean will set an MLB mark for most appearances without a loss. DeJean will post a 7-0 record through 1998, while making 88 appearances, breaking a little-known mark set by Phil Paine from 1951-1958. Yankees Manager Joe Torre will replace Mike Stanley as the Yankees starting catcher for the 1996 AL season. Stanley will be signed an MLB Free Agent by the Red Sox. The Player to be Named Later was Yankees Minor League P Steve Shoemaker, who went 4-5 in Class A ball with the Class A Tampa (FSL) and Greensboro (SAL).
2001-The Yankees would lose veteran Reserve INF Jose Vizcanio to MLB Free Agency, as he signs with the Astros. On June 20, 2000, Jose was traded by the Dodgers along with Cash to the Yankees for Catcher Jim Leyritz. He would hit .276 with 0 HRs and 10 RBIs in 73 games. Jose Vizcaino had the game-winning hit in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series between the Yankees and Mets. He would hit .235 in 4 Series games for the 2000 Yankees.
2010-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny McDevitt (1961) had passed away. (1932-2010).
In 1951, the Yankees had originally signed Pitcher Danny McDevitt as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that season in the low Minors, he was released by the Yankees before the start of 1952 AL season. Then the Dodgers would sign him as an MLB Free Agent. On December 16,1960, Danny was purchased by the Yankees from the Dodgers. For the 1961 Yankees, he was projected to replace Bobby Shantz as the lefty swingman on the Yankees pitching staff. As a Bronx hurler, Dan would post a 1-2 record with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save in 8 games, before being traded on June 14,1961 to the Twins for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Dan’s claim to MLB fame was being the last Brooklyn Dodger Pitcher to start, throw a shutout and win at Ebbets Field in September of 1957 against the Pirates. His best MLB season was in 1959, when he went 10-8 for the World Champion Dodgers. He didn’t appear in the 1959 World Series for the Dodgers against the White Sox. Danny would finish MLB Pitching career with a 21-27 record with a 4.40 ERA with 7 saves in 155 games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Twins and finishing with the 1962 A’s.
2012-The Yankees would re-sign veteran MLB Starter Hiroki Kuroda for 1 year for $15 million, giving him a big raise, after he had posted a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA in 33 games for the club in 2012.
2018-The Yankees have added Minor League Reliever Joe Harvey to their 40-Man MLB roster. On June 7, 2014, Joe Harvey was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The young reliever has a 5-6 lifetime career record with 1.75 ERA with 25 saves in 102 games. He split the 2018 season between AA Trenton Thunder (EL) and AAA Scranton (IL), while posting a 3-2 record with a 1.67 ERA and 11 saves in 43 games. On July 31, 2019, Harvey was traded by the Yankees to the Rockies for Minor League P Alfredo Garcia. In 2020, he will appear in only 4 games for the Rockies with no decisions. On November 2, 2020, Joe was granted MLB Free Agency by the Rockies.
2020-The Yankees have selected the player contract of Pitcher Alexander Vizcanio from the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL), then they will select the player contracts of Pitcher Yoendrys Gomez and Shortstop Oswald Peraza from the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) adding them to their 40-Man MLB Roster.
November 21st
1885-Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Billiard (1908) was born. (1885-1923)
Pitcher Harry Billiard had appeared in 6 games with no record for the 1908 Yankees.
1911-After a 6th place team finish with a 76-76 record for the 1911 AL season, 1B Hal Chase resigns as the Yankees Manager. Former MLB 3B Harry Wolverton replaces him as the Yankees Manager. Hal Chase will remain a player with the Yankees, until he is traded to the White Sox during the 1913 AL season. The Rookie AL Manager Harry Wolverton will go 50-100-1 for a last place finish for the 1912 AL season. Also, he had played 34 games at 3B, while hitting .300. After leaving the team, Harry will never manage in the MLB again. Former Cubs Manager Frank Chance will replace him for the 1913 AL season.
1934-The Yankees had announced that they have purchased Minor League Star OF Joe DiMaggio from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) for Players to be Named Later and Cash. He will be allowed to play for the Seals for 1 more PCL season before he will report to the Yankees for the 1936 AL season. The son of Italian immigrants will be 1 of 3 DiMaggio brothers to play in the MLB, Dom (Red Sox) and Vince (Braves and the Pirates). On December 19,1934, the Yankees will send INF Doc Farrell (Minors), P Floyd Newkirk, Minor League Players; Jim Densmore, Ted Norbert and $5,000 Cash (1935) to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete the trade. Doc Farrell will refuse to report to his new team in 1935, he would end up playing briefly with Red Sox, before retiring as an active player.
1934-Former Yankees Pitcher Fred “Lucky” Glade (1908) had passed away. (1876-1934)
On November 5,1907, veteran Starter Fred Glade was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with OF Charlie Hemphill and 2B Harry Niles to the Yankees for INF Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and 2B Jimmy Williams. For the 1908 Yankees, Fred will appear in 5 games, while posting a 0-4 record with a 4.22 ERA. After the 1908 AL season was over, Glade will retire from MLB. He finishes his MLB pitching career with a 52-68 record with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 132 games. He had pitched for the Cubs in the NL, then with the Browns and the Yankees in the AL.
1947-Former Yankees Pitcher “Slow” Joe Doyle (1906-1910) had passed away. (1881-1947)
For the 1906-1910 Yankees, hurler “Slow” Joe Doyle had posted a 22-21 record with 2.75 ERA in 70 games. On May 31,1910, Joe was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $2,000 Cash. Doyle was nicknamed “Slow” because the amount of time he took to throw his pitches in a game. Overall, Joe had an MLB lifetime pitching record of 22-21 with a 2.85 ERA in 75 games.
1971-Former Yankees Reliever Norm “Red” Branch (1941-1942) had passed away. (1915-1971)
Norm “Red” Branch had played college baseball at the Univ. of Texas. In 1937, Red was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The 6’3”, 200-Lb right-hander would pitch for the Norfolk Tars (PL) in his rookie year posting an impressive 14-4 record and earning promotion to AA Kansas City Blues (AA). By 1939, Branch was with the AA Newark Bears (IL), where he worked primarily as a relief pitcher, while appearing in 41 games that season. In 1940, the 25-year-old would make 30 appearances for AA Newark Bears. In 1941, Red would join the Yankees MLB pitching staff. He would make his MLB Pitching debut on May 5,1941. He would appear in 27 games for the team, while posting a 5-1 record with a 2.87 ERA, although he didn’t pitch in the 1941 World Series against the Dodgers. In 1942, he made just 10 appearances for the Yankees, Red would enter into military service with the Coast Guard at the end of the year. Branch was initially stationed at Groton Naval base in Connecticut before moving to the Coast Guard Academy at New London, where he spent the rest of the war. He would pitch for the Coast Guard Dolphins. Returning from service at the end of 1945 with a sore arm, Branch would pitch briefly for the AA Newark Bears (IL) and the Class A Beaumont (TXL) in 1946, before retiring from the game. As an MLB Reliever, Norm Branch had appeared in 37 games for the 1941-1942 Yankees, while posting a 5-2 record with a 3.73 ERA and 7 saves.
1973-Former Yankees OF Rickey Ledee (1998-2000) was born.
In the 16th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft, the Yankees had selected OF Rickey Ledee. He was trying to break into the Yankees starting outfield, when on June 29, 2000, he was traded by the team along with 2 Pitchers: Zach Day and Jake Westbrook to the Indians for MLB veteran OF/DH David Justice. The arrival of Dave Justice would help the Yankees win the 2000 AL Flag. As a Yankees player, Ledee had appeared in 192 games, while hitting .258 with 17 HRs and 83 RBIs. Rickey had never reached his great promise as an MLB player due to various injuries that occur to him during his MLB playing career.
1973-Former Yankees Reliever Todd Erdos (1998-2000) was born.
On March 7,1998, Pitcher Todd Erdos was traded by the Diamondbacks along with Pitcher Marty Janzen to the Yankees for Reserve INF Andy Fox. For the 1998-2000 Yankees, Todd went 0-0 with 5.03 ERA with 1 save in 20 games. On July 12, 2000, Todd was selected off waivers by Padres from the Yankees.
1978-The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Starter Tommy John, a re-entry MLB Free Agent formerly with the Dodgers. John will be a valuable addition to the Yankees starting rotation, winning 43 games in the next 2 AL seasons. He had become an MLB Free Agent, when the 1978 Dodgers had refused to give him a 3-year contract. For the 1978 Dodgers, John had posted a 17-10 record with a 3.30 ERA and 1 save in 33 games.
1980-Despite having led the 1980 Yankees to 103 wins and winning AL East Division, Manager Richard Howser resigns. He was tired of the constant interference by Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner over personnel and player decisions. Former Yankees MLB Player and Coach Gene “The Stick” Michael would replace him. In 1981, Howser will join the Kansas City Royals as their Manager.
1987-Former Yankees Reserve OF Dusty Cooke (1930-1933) had passed away.(1907-1987)
Dusty Cooke played 8 seasons in the MLB, showing an ability to draw walks. He hit .306 in 1935 and his .400 on-base percentage was among the AL leaders. He would play the Outfield in the MLB, appearing in all 3-outfield positions in roughly equal amounts. Although he was with the Yankees for 3 seasons, he did not appear in post-season play (they finished 2nd in the 2 seasons that he had most of his at-bats with them). His Yankees player career totals were a .267 BA with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs in 122 games. On May 15,1933, Dusty was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for 2B Marv Olson, OF/1B Johnny Watwood and Cash. Cooke would play for the Yankees, Red Sox and the Reds during his MLB playing career. He joined the Navy in October of 1942; he served in Okinawa Bay during the war. Cooke received training in the Navy in Conditioning, so he became the MLB Trainer for the Phillies in 1946. Also, Cooke was a Phillies MLB Coach from 1948 to 1952; he was also the club's Manager for a short time (12 games) during the 1948 NL season.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League OF Ryan LaMarre (2021) was born.
Ryan LaMarre was signed by the Yankees to a Minor League contract with an invitation to their 2021 MLB Spring Training Camp. He is a former 2nd Round pick of the Reds in the 2010 1st Year Player Draft out of the Univ. of Michigan. In 2020, he had signed a Minor League deal with Tampa; he was released by the team on July 18th. On July 23rd, he was signed to a Minor League deal with the Cubs; he was assigned to their MLB Alternate site. On September 10th, Ryan was released by the Cubs. He has played in 5 MLB seasons with the 2015 Reds, 2016 Red Sox, 2017 A’s, 2018-2019 Twins and the 2018 White Sox. He has played in 120 MLB games, while hitting .236 with 4 HRs and 21 RBIs. He started the 2021 season with the Yankees AAA club in Scranton (IL), then he was briefly with the Yankees before being outrighted to AAA Scranton on June 16th. On July 18, 2021, the Yankees had purchased his Minor League contract from AAA Scranton (IL) adding him to their 25-man MLB roster, when the team’s outfielders went down with a series of injuries. He would appear in 9 games for the team, while hitting 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. He would be returned to AAA Scranton to finish out the season. In October of 2021, the Yankees had announced that Ryan had become a Free Agent. In March of 2022, Ryan would be signed by the team to Minor League deal with an invite to the 2022 MLB Spring Training Camp. On November 22, 2022, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency, he would sign with the Twins.
1989-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Pitcher Pascual Perez. For the 1990-1991 Yankees, the troubled Perez would go 3-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 17 games. He had posted a 28-21 record in 3 seasons with the Montreal Expos. He was on the Yankees DL for shoulder injuries, that would end his MLB Pitching career. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 67-68 record with a 3.44 ERA in 207 games with the Pirates, Braves, Expos and the Yankees.
1989-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Jose Pirela (2014-2015) was born.
The Yankees had originally signed the Venezuela native INF/OF Jose Pirela, as a Non-Drafted Free Agent on July 2, 2006. Jose had a very good MLB Player debut starting at DH for the Yankees against the Orioles on September 22, 2014. He was batting 9th in the Yankees starting line-up, he went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI in a 5-0 win, with his 1st MLB hit being a triple off of Orioles Starter Wei-Yin Chen in his 1st MLB career at-bat in the 3rd inning. He was the last of 234 players to make their MLB Player debut in 2014. Pirela, 25, hit .230 (17-for-74) with 1 HR and 5 RBIs in 37 games with the 2015 Yankees. He missed the 1st month of the season on the concussion DL following an injury suffered during an MLB spring training game against the Mets on March 22nd in Port St. Lucie. In 64-combined Minor League games-including his rehab assignment-with Class A Tampa (FSL), AA Trenton (EL) and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL), he would hit .310 (76-for-245) with 3 HRs and 23 RBIs. On November 11, 2015, Jose was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Minor League hurler Ronald Herrera.
2000-The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Free Agent Catcher Joe Oliver to a contract. For the 2001 Yankees, he would hit .250 in 12 games as a Reserve Catcher, before being released by the team on June 20, 2001. He would finish out the 2001 AL season with the Red Sox.
2015-Former Yankees Reserve OF Kerry Dineen (1951-1975) had passed away.(1952-2015)
Outfielder Kerry Dineen was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1973 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Dineen would appear in only 11 games as a Reserve Outfielder for the 1975-1976 Yankees, while hitting .345 before being traded to the Phillies for Reserve INF Sergio Ferrer. Kerry had appeared in just 5 games with the 1979 Phillies, while hitting .250. He had his pro baseball career end due to back injuries.
2015-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Johnson (1969) had passed away. (1933-2015)
Veteran Ken Johnson pitched two-thirds of an inning in Game 5 of the 1961 World Series for the Reds against the Yankees. He came on in the top of the 2nd with 1 out, already being the Reds' 3rd pitcher of the game, relieving Jim Maloney, who had relieved Starter Joey Jay. Johnny Blanchard was on 1B. Johnson got Elston Howard to line to 3B and Moose Skowron to fly out to center. The Reds lost the game by the score of 13-5 and lost the 1961 World Series to the Yankees by 4 games to 1. Ken Johnson is the only MLB Pitcher to lose a 9-inning complete game No-Hitter. On April 23,1964, while with the Houston Colt .45's, he was beaten 1-0 by the Reds; despite having thrown a No-Hitter. After 8 innings of no-hit ball, in the top of the 9th, Johnson faced his counterpart, Joe Nuxhall, who grounded out to 3B. Then Pete Rose reached 2nd, after Johnson made an errant throw to 1st on a bunt. After a sacrifice to the pitcher, Rose was 90 feet from home with 2 outs. Vada Pinson then sent a grounder to 2B Nellie Fox who booted it, allowing the run to score. Johnson got the next batter to fly out, but the Colt .45's couldn't score in the last of the 9th, pegging him with the loss. In 1952, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Philadelphia A’s. He had pitched for the A’s, Reds, Colt 45s, Expos (twice), Braves, Yankees and the Cubs. Overall, Ken had posted a 91-106 record with a 3.46 ERA in 334 MLB games. After being purchased from the Braves, Ken had pitched briefly for the 1969 Yankees, appearing in only 12 games, he had posted a 1-2 record with a 3.46 ERA. In August of 1969, the team would sell him to the Cubs. After his MLB player retirement, he was a Baseball Coach for Louisiana College in Pineville, LA.
2018-The Yankees had acquired INF/OF Tim Locastro from the Dodgers for Minor League hurler Drew Finley and Cash considerations. He’s a .283 hitter through 626 AA plate appearances. Playing with the 2017-2018 Dodgers, he had appeared in 21 games, while hitting only .167. Finley, a 22-year-old righty, has yet to move past the low A level despite 3 attempts. In 120 innings as a Pitcher over 4 seasons, he carries an unsightly 5.48 ERA with a 2-11 record in 42 games in the Yankees organization. Finley was a 3rd-round pick of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees back in 2015. On January 16, 2019, Tim Locastro was traded by the Yankees the Diamondbacks for Minor League P Ronald Roman and Cash.
2023-Pitcher Yerry De Los Santos has signed a Minor League deal with an invite to 2024 Yankees MLB spring training camp, further adding that the righty would earn $900K upon making the MLB roster. De Los Santos, who also has out clauses in the deal on June 1st and July 1st. Santos had become a free agent just 2 weeks ago, after he went unclaimed on waivers. That ended his career-long tenure with the Pirates. In 2014, the righty had signed with the Pirates as an MLB Amateur Player. He would get to the MLB, 8 years later, tossing 25 2/3 innings of 4.91 ERA ball as a rookie. He took on a similar workload in 2023, tallying 24 1/3 frames over 26 MLB appearances. The 25-year-old (26 next month) turned in a 3.33 ERA for the Bucs this year. He’s a sensible target for the Yankees as a non-roster addition, however. Yankees tends to prioritize ground-ball arms in the late innings. They’ve led the MLB in ground-ball percentage from their relief corps in consecutive seasons. De Los Santos fits the mold. He relies primarily on a sinker that averaged 95 MPH at the MLB level. That has resulted in a grounder rate north of 53% in his MLB pitching career. (The league average for relievers sat at 43.6% this year.) De Los Santos has a pair of minor league options remaining. If he cracks the MLB roster, the Yankees could move him between the Bronx and AAA without exposing him to waivers.
November 22nd
1892-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Pi Schwert (1914-1915) was born. (1892-1941)
Reserve Catcher Pi Schwert was a graduate of Univ. of Pennsylvania, where he had played college baseball. He was a member of 1914-1915 Yankees as a Reserve Catcher. He had appeared in just 12 games, while hitting .208 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. He would play in the Minor Leagues from 1916-1921. In 1938, Pius Schwert was elected to Congress as a Democrat from New York and served his position until his death in 1941.
1901-Former Yankees and MLB OF/3B Harry Rice (1930) was born. (1901-1971)
For the 1930 Yankees, Veteran OF Harry Rice would hit .298 with 7 HRs and 74 RBIs as a regular Outfielder in 100 games. During the 1930 AL season, he was obtained from the Tigers in the Waite Hoyt trade. Despite his good performance for the 1930 Yankees, the new Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy had no plans for the veteran Rice in the 1931 team’s starting Outfield. On January 31,1931, Harry was claimed on waivers by the Senators from the Yankees. As an MLB player for 10 seasons, he would hit .299 with 48 HRs and 501 RBIs in 1,034 games. In 1933, after playing for the Reds, Harry would continue to play in the Minor Leagues. From 1938-1941, Harry was a Minor League Player/ Manager.
1926-Former Yankees and MLB Pitcher Lew Burdette (1950) was born. (1926-2007)
On April 6,1947, Pitcher Lew Burdette was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1947, he would break into pro baseball at age 20 with the Class B Norfolk Tars (PL), going 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in 6 games. Then he would pitch for the Amsterdam Rugmakers (CAML) in the same season, going 9-10 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 games. In 1948, Lou was with the Quincy Gems (3-I L), posting a 16-11 record with a 2.02 ERA. In 1949, Lew would pitch for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), going just 6-7 with a 5.26 ERA in 36 games. In 1950, Lew went 7-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 27 games for the Blues and got a late look with the Yankees. He would appear in just 2 games with no record for the team. In 1951, he was sent back down to the Minors by the team to the AAA San Francisco Seals (PCL), where Lew had posted a 14-12 record with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games; then on August 29,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $50,000 Cash to the Braves for veteran P Johnny Sain. He would pitch for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1942,1946 until 1951, while posting a 179-120 record with a 3.53 ERA and 24 saves in 468 games. Lew would come back to haunt the Yankees in 1957 World Series, winning 3 games against his former team; giving the Braves their 1st World Series Championship since the 1914 NL season. In 2 World Series with 1957-1958 Milwaukee Braves against the Yankees, Lew went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 6 games. He had won 20 and 21 games for the 1958-1959 Braves, also he would win 19 games twice and 18 once for the team. He was named to the NL All-Star team Pitching Staff, 3 times. In 1960, he had pitched a No-Hitter against the Phillies. Lew would finish his MLB pitching career in 1967 with an MLB lifetime mark of 203-144 with a 3.66 ERA in 626 MLB games. He had pitched for the Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and would finish his MLB career with the 1967 Angels. Later, He was an MLB Scout for the Braves organization, before retiring completely from baseball. Then he would become involved in Public Relations work. Clipper Notes: If Lew had stayed with the Yankees, he could have a good chance to win 300 games. Former Yankees GM George Weiss would name Pitcher Lou Burdette and OF Jackie Jensen as the 2 young Yankee players that he shouldn’t have traded away during his GM days with the team (1948-1960).
1934-The Yankees had sold veteran hurler Danny MacFayden to the Reds. For the 1932-1934 Yankees, Dan had posted a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games. His sale to the Reds was a conditional deal, if the team didn’t want to keep him, he would be returned to the Bronx. For the 1935 Reds, he would post a 1-2 record with a 4.75 ERA in 7 games. On June 1,1935, he was returned to the Yankees. On June 4,1935, the Yankees would sell him to the Braves.
1943-Former Yankees Pitcher Wade Blasingame (1972) was born.
After being obtained from the Astros on June 7,1972, NL veteran hurler Wade Blasingame went 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 12 games for the 1972 Yankees before being sent to the Cardinals on a conditional deal in March of 1973.
1946-Former Yankees INF Rich McKinney (1972) was born.
On December 2,1971, INF Rich McKinney was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for Starter Stan Bahnsen. Rich would hit .215 with 1 HR and 7 RBIs in 37 games for the Yankees in one of the worst modern era trades in the team’s history. He was unable to make the adjustment from 2B to 3B. On December 1,1972, he was sent by the Yankees to Oakland to complete an earlier deal made on November 24,1972. The Bombers sent a Player to be Named Later and Pitcher Rob Gardner to Oakland for veteran OF/DH Matty Alou. The Yankees would send INF Rich McKinney on December 1,1972 to Oakland to complete the trade. With the arrival of 3B Graig Nettles from the Indians, Rich’s fate with the Yankees was sealed. He was very happy to leave New York City. As an MLB player, Rich would hit .225 with 20 HRs and 100 RBIs in 341 games.
1955-Former Yankees INF Wayne Tolleson (1986-1990) was born.
On July 30,1986, INF Wayne Tolleson was traded by the White Sox along with OF/1B Ron Kittle and C Joel Skinner to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, C Ron Hassey and OF Carlos Martinez. The Yankees would later send Minor League C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade. Wayne’s best season as a Yankees player was in 1986, when he hit .284 with No HRs and 14 RBIs in 60 games for the team. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1987 Yankees, while appearing in 121 games, hitting .221 with 1 HR and 22 RBIs. Overall, Wayne had played in 689 MLB games, hitting .249 with 8 HRs and 115 RBIs; while playing for the Rangers, White Sox and the Yankees.
1956-Former Yankees Reserve OF Roy Carlyle (1926) had passed away. (1900-1956)
On June 15,1926, OF Roy Carlyle was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox. He had originally been signed by the Senators, who later traded him to the Red Sox. For the 1926 Yankees, he had appeared in 35 games, while hitting .323 with No HRs and 11 RBIs for the team. Roy was basically used as a left-handed Pinch-Hitter by the Yankees Manager Miller Higgins since the Yankee starting Outfield was already set with Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Bob Meusel. In 1927, he would return to Minor Leagues, playing actively until 1934, retiring as a player at the age of 32.
1957-In a controversial AL MVP vote; Yankees CF Mickey Mantle edges Red Sox OF Ted Williams, 233 to 209 votes to win the 1957 AL MVP Award. Mantle had batted .365 with 34 HRs for the 1st-place Yankees, meanwhile Williams of the 3rd-place Red Sox, had led the AL with a .388 average along with 38 HRs, as well as a stunning .731 slugging percentage. Boston Team Owner Tom Yawkey fumes at the news, noting that 2 Chicago Baseball Writers had listed Ted Williams in the 9th and 10th places on their AL MVP voting ballots.
1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Lee Guetterman (1988-1992) was born.
On December 22,1987, Pitcher Lee Guetterman was traded by the Mariners along with fellow hurlers Clay Parker and Wade Taylor to the Yankees for MLB Starter Steve Trout and Reserve OF Henry Cotto. One of the more consistent relievers of his day, Guetterman would start the 1989 AL season for the Yankees with a run of 30 2/3 innings without giving up a run - the highest total in 41 years. This streak was the longest ever by a reliever to start the season. Lee’s best season with the Yankees was in 1990, when he posted a 11-7 record with a 3.39 ERA and 2 saves in 64 games. As a Yankees hurler, Lee would post a 21-19 record with a 3.73 ERA with 21 saves in 233 games before being traded on June 9,1992 to the Mets for hurler Tim Burke. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 38-36 record with a 4.33 ERA and 25 saves in 425 games.
1974-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson to the Indians for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. On June 7,1973, Pat had been obtained by the Yankees from the Braves for Minor League Players 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later. Dobson had pitched for the team from 1973 to 1975. In 1973, he had posted a 9-8 record with a 4.17 ERA in 22 games. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA in 39 games. In 1975, he had slipped to a 11-14 record with a 4.07 ERA in 35 games. Then he was removed from the 1975 Yankees starting rotation by Yankees Manager Bill Virdon. When the Bombers new Manager Billy Martin arrived in August; he would also continue to keep him out of the starting rotation. Then Pat would ask the Yankees front office for a trade. Young OF Oscar Gamble was a young lefty slugger, who had hit 54 HRs for the Tribe during the past 3 AL seasons.
1985-Yankees Former Reliever Adam Ottavino (2019-2020) was born.
On January 17, 2019, it was announced that MLB Free Agent Reliever Adam Ottavino had signed a 3-year deal with the Yankees worth $27 million. He announced shortly afterwards that the Yankees had allowed him to keep his traditional uniform number, 0. That made him the 1st player in team history to wear the number and the only member of the team to have single-digit number, given uniform numbers 1 through 9 have all been retired by the team. He decision to allow him to use the number apparently had to be okayed by Team Owner himself! In 7 seasons with the Rockies, he had a 17-18 record with a 3.41 ERA and 17 saves in 463 games. For the 2019 Yankees, Adam would have 6-6 record with a 1.90 ERA and 2 saves in 73 games. In the 2019 ALDS, he had a 0-0 record in 3 games against the Twins. In the 2019 ALCS against the Astros, he went 0-0 with a disappointing 11.57 ERA in 5 games for the Yankees. In 2020, he had appeared in 24 games for the team, while posting a 2-3 record with disappointing a 5.89 ERA and no saves. On January 25,2021, Adam was traded to the Red Sox along with Minor League hurler Frank German for Cash compensation. He would last just 1 season with the Red Sox, posting a 7-3 record with a 4.21 ERA and 11 saves in 69 games. On November 3, 2021, the Red Sox would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Mets. In November of 2023, he had opted out of his MLB player contract with the Mets, he is now an MLB Free Agent.
1988-Former Yankees Reserve C/1B Austin Romine (2011, 2013-2019) was born.
The son of former MLB Player Kevin Romine and brother of Andrew Romine, Catcher Austin Romine was selected by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the Class A Gulf Coast League Yankees, going 1-for-2 in 1st game there. In September of 2009, Austin Romine was named Florida State League Player of the Year. Romine would spend the bulk of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Where he would hit .286 with 6 HRs and 47 RBIs. After spending 4 games with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL) at the end of the season, he was called up to the MLB to experience the pennant race the Yankees were involved in. Romine made his MLB Player debut on September 11th against the Angels in Anaheim. With his parents in the stands and brother Andrew on the Angels bench, Romine was brought in as a defensive replacement for fellow top catching prospect Jesus Montero. Romine caught the final 3 innings as Mariano Rivera picked up his 599th MLB career save. He had missed most of 2012 baseball season due to back problems. In 2016, he had appeared in 62 games as a Reserve Catcher and 1B for the team, while hitting .242 with No HRs and 26 RBIs. In 2017, Austin hit .218 with 2 HRs and 21 RBIs in 80 games. With injuries to starting Catcher Gary Sanchez in 2018, Austin would play in 77 games, while hitting .244 with 10 HRs and 42 RBIs. In 2019, Austin would appear in 72 games for the team, while Sanchez was on the IL, hitting .281 with 8 HRs and 35 RBIs. Overall, as a Yankees player for 8 seasons, he had played in 368 games, while hitting .239 with 25 HRs and 135 RBIs. After the 2019 AL season was over, Austin was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. He would be sign by the Tigers, who were giving him a chance to be their 2020 starting Catcher. In 2020, he had played for the Tigers before being granted MLB Free Agency. In 2021, he would play for the Cubs, as a reserve catcher before being granted MLB Free Agency after the NL season had ended.
1995-The Angels had signed MLB Free Agent INF Randy Velarde, formerly of the Yankees to a 3-year MLB player contract. Randy will now have a chance to become the Angels full-time Shortstop for the 1996 AL season. In 10 seasons with the Yankees, Randy had appeared in 673 games, while hitting .261 with 43 HRs and 209 RBIs. He was originally signed by the White Sox. On January 5,1987, Randy was traded by the White Sox along with Pitcher Pete Filson to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers: Mike Soper (Minors) and Scott Nielsen.
2006-Former Yankees Pitcher Pat Dobson (1973-1975) had passed away from Leukemia. (1942-2006)
On June 7,1973, the Yankees would send 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later were sent to the Braves for MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers: Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. For the 1973 Yankees, Pat would post a 9-8 record with a 4.17 ERA in 22 games. His best Yankees season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA and 12 complete games in 39 starts. Overall, for the Yankees, Pat would have a 39-27 record with 19 complete starts in 72 games and 3.65 ERA, before being traded to the Indians in winter of 1975 for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. As an MLB Pitcher, Pat would have a 122-129 record with a 3.54 ERA in 414 games. He had appeared in 2 World Series with the 1968 Tigers and the 1971 Orioles with no record with a 3.97 ERA in 6 games. After his active MLB pitching career had ended, Dobson was Pitching Coach for the 1980-1981 AA Nashville Sounds (SAL) and the 1982-1984 Brewers. He later held the same position with the 1988-1990 Padres, the 1991 Royals and the Orioles in 1996. He was employed by the Giants as an Advance Scout at the time of his death in 2006 from leukemia, one day after receiving his medical diagnosis.
2010-Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Underwood (1980-1981) had passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. (1953-2010)
Tommy Underwood was selected by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1972 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The Phillies would be traded to the Cardinals on June 15,1977, who in turn would trade him in December of 1977 to the new AL Expansion team, the Blue Jays. On November 1,1979, starter Tommy Underwood was traded by the Blue Jays along with Catcher Rick Cerone and Reserve OF Ted Wilborn to the Yankees for All-Star 1B Chris Chambliss, Reserve INF Damaso Garcia and Pitcher Paul Mirabella. For the 1980 Yankees, Tom would record 13-9 mark with a 3.66 ERA and 2 saves in 38 games, before slipping to a 1-4 record with a 4.41 ERA in 9 games in 1981. Overall, as a Yankees hurler, he had a 14-13 record with a 3.77 ERA and 2 saves in 47 games. On May 20,1981, he was traded by the team along with veteran 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the Oakland A’s for 1B Dave Revering, OF Mike Patterson and Minor League P Chuck Dougherty. His younger brother Pat, also had pitched in MLB; with the Tigers. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with the 1984 Orioles. In 1985, Tom returned to the Yankees organization pitching at 3 levels before ending his active playing career. As an MLB Pitcher, Tom had posted an 86-87 record with a 3.89 ERA and 18 saves in 377 games.
2021-Former Yankees Minor League OF and MLB Player and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-1975) had passed away. (1931-2021)
In 1950, the Yankees had originally signed OF Bill Virdon as an MLB Amateur Player; he had played in the Yankees farm system from 1950 to 1953; reaching AAA Kansas City Blues (AA). In the spring of 1954, he was traded along with P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger to the Cardinals for veteran All-Star OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, while playing for the Cardinals, he won the NL Rookie Of Year Award. Bill would later go on to be an NL All-Star OF with the Pirates. He had hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. He would manage the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace long-time Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He is the only modern era Yankees Manager to not win a game at Yankee Stadium. Bill’s tenure as the Yankees Manager was when the team played their home games at Shea Stadium (1974-1975) during the remodeling of Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Bill was named The Sporting News AL Manager of the Year, for his 2nd place finish in the AL East with the Yankees. He had helped Bobby Murcer become a better MLB Outfielder in 1974. Bill had moved Elliot Maddox to CF, Bobby Murcer went to RF. The 1975 Yankees season was marred with injuries to key Yankees players such as OF Bobby Bonds, OF Lou Piniella and veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre. After being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 midseason by Billy Martin, Virdon would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL.
2022-The Yankees would grant OF Ryan LaMarre his MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Twins, playing for their AAA club in 2023, until he was release in July.
2023-The Yankees have hired Brad Ausmus to be their 2024 MLB Bench Coach. This position was left vacant when Carlos Mendoza was hired away to be the Manager of the 2024 Mets. Ausmus, 55 in April, had played in the MLB from 1993 to 2010. He was originally signed by the Yankees, but never played for them at the MLB level. After his MLB playing days were over, he would quickly jump into coaching and was an MLB manager not long after, getting his 1st skipper job with the Tigers in 2014. He would hold that job for 4 seasons, running through the 2017 AL campaign. The club made the postseason in his 1st year at the helm but they had missed in the next 3 seasons; he wasn’t brought back after his contract expired in 2017. Then he would join the Angels organization as a Special Assistant to GM Billy Eppler, but he would be moved back into the skipper’s chair going into the 2019 AL season. He had signed a 3-year deal with the team, but Brad was fired after just 1 season in which the Halos went 72-90. In 2022, he would returned to a MLB dugout, working as MLB Bench Coach for the A’s, providing 1st-time Manager Mark Kotsay with an experienced lieutenant. He didn’t return to that job for the 2023 season, reportedly seeking a front office position. He was considered by the Astros for their GM job vacancy, but Dana Brown would ultimately get that job. Ausmus is now set to jump back into an MLB Bench Coach role for the 2024 Yankees. This will be the 1st time the Yankees have an MLB new Bench Coach in a while, as Mendoza had held steady in that gig for the past 4 seasons before moving to Queens. The Yankees also made a change at MLB Hitting Coach, with Sean Casey opting not to return and getting replaced by James Rowson.
November 23rd
1920-Former Yankees Minor League P and MLB Scout Red Zar was born. (1920-2008)
After high school, Pitcher Red Zar was signed with the Yankees. In 1939, he was 1-2 with a 12.68 ERA and 2.46 WHIP for the El Paso Texans. In 1940, Red was much better with the Idaho Falls Russets (PL), while posting a 17-6 record with a 3.21 ERA; he also hit .200. He tied Mel Ristau for 3rd in the Pioneer League in wins and was 2nd in ERA (1.02 behind Larry Jansen). He had tied Robert Weyrauch for 5th in wins by a Yankees farmhand. In 1941, he would move up to the Class B Norfolk Tars (PL), while posting a 7-8 record with a 3.53 ERA. He would pitched briefly for the 1942 Fort Worth Cats and then the Seattle Rainiers (PCL), reaching AA (then the highest classification). He would join the Navy for World War II service. Afterwards, he would coach at Mary Star HS. He had scouted numerous players from the San Pedro area: Joey Amalfitano, Alan Ashby, Bobby Balcena, Ray Deeter, Marco Guglielmo, Ed Hughes, Joe Lovitto, Garry Maddox, Nello Saggiani and Jerry Zuvela. Then he would start an oil company, General Petroleum.
1940-Former Yankees Pitcher Louis Tiant (1979-1980) was born. (1940-2024)
The Red Sox would lose veteran Free Agent Starter Luis Tiant to the Yankees. For the 1977 Red Sox, he had posted a 13-8 record. He would replace Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez, who had left the Yankees to sign with the Red Sox. As a Yankees Starter, the veteran hurler Louis Tiant would post a 21-17 record with a 4.31 ERA in 55 games. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1979, when he went 13-8 with a 3.90 ERA in 30 games. In 1980, he would drop off to an 8-9 mark with a 4.95 ERA in 25 games. In the winter of 1980, the team would grant him MLB Free Agency. He was signed by the Pirates. Overall, Luis would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 229-172 record along with a 3.30 ERA and 15 saves in 573 games. He was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Indians.
1947-Former Yankees 1B/OF Frank Tepedino (1967,1969-1971,1971-1972) was born.
On November 28,1966, 1B/OF Frank Tepedino was drafted by the Yankees from the Orioles Organization in the 1966 MLB 1st-year Player Draft. He would play in the Yankees Minor League system. On June 7,1971, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League OF Bobby Mitchell to the Brewers for OF Danny Walton. On March 31,1972, Frank was purchased by the Yankees from the Brewers. On June 7,1973, Frank was traded by the Yankees with Players to be Named Later and OF Wayne Nordhagen to the Braves for veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. As a Yankees player, Frank had appeared in 52 games, while hitting .221 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. After he had finished his MLB playing career with the 1975 Braves, Frank became a NYC Firefighter, who was one of the 1st responders to the 9-11 attack at the World Trade Center.
1951-The Yankees would send young Catcher Clint “Scraps” Courtney to the St. Louis Browns for Pitcher Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald. Clint Courtney was the 1st MLB Catcher to wear eyeglasses behind the Catcher’s mask. He had appeared in only 1 game for the 1951 Yankees. He was one of many young Yankees Catchers, who were traded away during the 1950’s because of the presence of All-Star Yogi Berra starting behind the plate. From 1951-1961, he would play in 946 MLB games, while hitting .268 with 38 HRs and 313 RBIs. He would later become a Minor League Manager for the Braves organization. With the Yankees, hurler Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald post a 16-12 record with a 3.57 ERA in 69 games.
1963-Former Yankees Reserve INF Dale Sveum (1998) was born.
On November 25,1997, Reserve INF Dale Sveum was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. For the 1998 Yankees, Dale will appear in 30 games, while hitting only .155 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. On August 3,1998, Dale was released by the team. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1999 Pirates. Later, he became an MLB Manager for the 2008 Brewers and the 2012-2013 Cubs.
1971-Former Yankees Pitcher Aaron Small (2005-2006) was born.
Aaron Small was originally signed by the Blue Jays. He had pitched for the Blue Jays, Marlins (twice), A’s, D-Backs, Braves and the Yankees. Aaron Small went 10-0 as a Yankees hurler in 15 games during the 2005 AL season. In 2006, Small was injured; he went 0-3 in 11 games. He would retire from MLB in 2007. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 25-13 record with 5.20 ERA and 4 saves in 172 MLB games.
1977-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Reliever Richard “Goose” Gossage to a 6-year, 3.6-million-dollar contract. Rich Gossage had posted a 11-9 record with 1.26 ERA and 26 saves for the 1977 Pirates. He will join the 1977 AL Cy Young Award Winner Closer Sparky Lyle in the Yankees bullpen. He will replace veteran Reliever Sparky Lyle as the team’s main closer in 1977.
1977-The Yankees would lose MLB Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez to the Red Sox. On April 27,1977, Mike was traded by the Oakland A’s to the Yankees for Starter Dock Ellis, Rookie OF Larry Murray and Reserve INF Marty Perez. For the 1977 Yankees, Mike had posted a 14-12 record in 31 games along with 15 complete games. In the 1977 ALCS, he went 0-1. In 1977 World Series against the Dodgers, Mike would post a 2-0 record with a 2.50 ERA. In the winter of 1977, he would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency to sign with their AL Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox. He will give up Bucky Dent’s game winning HR in the 1978 AL Playoff game at Fenway Park.
1981-Former Yankees Minor League Catcher, Coach and MLB Coach (2018-2021) P.J. Pilittere was born.
Catcher P.J. Pilittere was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of 2004 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He hit .215 that summer for the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL); he had 11 passed balls in 31 games. He did better with the same club in 2005, batting .250. His 47 assists led NYPL backstops. The next season, he would hit .302 for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), he made only 1 error at Catcher, fielding .998. He would lead FSL Catchers in fielding percentage. Pilittere's batting line for the 2007 AA Trenton Thunder was .261, he would lead Eastern League Catchers in fielding percentage (.995), putouts (780) and assists (60). In 2008, he was back with AA Trenton Thunder, hitting .277 with a career-high 46 runs and 48 RBIs. He only struck out once per 11.38 AB, the best rate in the EL. P.J. would split 2009 season between AA Trenton Thunder (.198 in 27 G) and the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (.244 in 28 G). In 2010, he was a bench player for AAA Scranton again while Jesus Montero did the bulk of the catching, but he did well when called on, by hitting .357 in 62 plate appearances. In a similar role in 2011, he fared less well, batting only .209 in 75 plate appearances to end his active playing career. Overall, P.J. had hit .264 with 16 HRs and 183 RBIs with 178 runs and 104 walks in 470 Minor League games. He only struck out 173 times in 1,605 at-bats. He had fielded .995 in 404 games at Catcher; with 47 passed balls and an opponent steal percentage around 77. He also played 23 games at 1B as a pro, fielding .987. In 2011, he went into College Baseball Coaching with his alma mater, Ca. State Univ. He then went back to the pro ranks, coaching for the 2012 GCL Yankees (FSL) and 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), 2014 Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), and 2015-2016 AA Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2017, he would move up to AAA Scranton (IL). In 2018, he was named the Yankees Assistant MLB Batting Coach by new Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. At the end of 2021 AL season, his MLB Coaching contract wasn’t renewed by the team. Then he would move to the Rockies in 2022 as an MLB Assistant Hitting Coach again.
1983-Former Yankees Minor League OF/P and Coach Randy Guillen was born.
In 2000, Randy Guillen was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Victor Mata. In 2001, he make his pro baseball debut with the DSL Yankees, hitting a sound .281 with 11 HRs in 62 games. He tied Tiago Magalhães for the Dominican Summer League lead in dingers. Coming stateside in 2002 with the GCL Yankees, he would hit .306 with 38 runs in 59 games. Baseball America rated him as the #11 prospect in the Yankees chain and as the 2nd-best Gulf Coast League prospect, behind one Hanley Ramírez. In 2003, he would put up a .260 line with 29 doubles, 13 HRs and 79 RBIs for the Battle Creek Yankees (ML). Baseball America upgraded him to the Yankees' 3rd-best prospect. In 2004, Guillen began to stumble, when he played for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) (.264, 1 HR, 1 SB in 307 AB) and GCL Yankees (6 for 14). Baseball America dropped him to 12th on the Yankees prospect list, though they did list him as having the best Outfield arm in their farm system. Rudy would split 2005 seasons between Class A Tampa (FSL) (.260 in 100 Games) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) (.257). He was again rated as having the best Outfield arm of a Yankees farmhand, but he was no longer was considered one of the system's top 25 prospects by Baseball America. In 2006, he continued to sputter with Class A Tampa (.267, 10 HRs, 14 SB in 85 Games) and AA Trenton Thunder (.173, 27 K in 75 AB). Moving to the mound, he would pitch in 3 games for the 2007 GCL Yankees. In 4 innings, he had allowed 4 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs, though he did strike out 6 batters. During the 2012-2014 Minor League seasons, he was the Pitching Coach DSL Yankees 2. In 2014-2015, he was the Rehab Pitching Coordinator for the Yankees’ Latin Béisbol Academy.
1988-Leaving the 1988 World Champion Dodgers, MLB Free Agent 2B Steve Sax signs a 3-year deal with the Yankees. Meanwhile, former Yankees AL All-Star 2B Willie Randolph will sign with the Dodgers. For the 1989-1991 Yankees, Steve will play in 471 games, while hitting .294 with 19 HRs with 161 RBIs. He was named to the 1989-1990 AL All-Star teams. On January 10,1992, Steve Sax was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for 3 Pitchers: Domingo Jean, Melido Perez and Bob Wickman.
1994-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Tyler Wade (2017-2021) was born.
Shortstop Tyler Wade was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Murrieta Valley HS (Murrieta, CA). He would sign with the Yankees, receiving a $371,300 signing bonus. He make his pro baseball debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees (Rookie-level GCL). Near the end of the season, he was promoted to the Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). In 2014, Wade would play for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL). He would start the 2015 season with the Class A Tampa Yankees ( FSL). Then Tyler was promoted to the AA Trenton Thunder ( EL) during the 2015 season. Wade received a non-roster invitation to 2016 MLB spring training camp by the Yankees. He would start the 2016 season back with AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Wade would finish the 2016 season by hitting .259 with 5 HRs and 27 RBIs. Due to an injury to the Yankees starting Shortstop Didi Gregorius in the World Baseball Classic games, Wade would compete to earn a spot on the Yankees' 25-man roster in 2017 MLB Spring Training Camp. Wade began the 2017 season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL). The Yankees would promote Wade to their MLB roster on June 27, 2017 to replaced injured Yankees 2B Starlin Castro. He would appear in 30 games for the team, while hitting just .155 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. In 2018, Wade started the season with AAA Scranton (IL) hitting .255, when he was called up when injuries struck the Bombers; he would appear in the outfield, playing in 36 games; while hitting just .167 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. In 2019, Wade would play in 43 games for the team, hitting .245 with 2 HRs and 11 RBIs. In 2020 AL short season, he had played in 52 games, hitting just .170 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs. He was used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner by Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. In 2021, he would play in 103 games, while hitting .268 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. On November 19, 2021, the Yankees had designated Tyler Wade for assignment. Then he would be traded to the Angels. Wade would finish his Yankees playing career with a .212 BA along with 6 HRs and 33 RBIs in 264 games. The Angels would release him during the 2022 AL season, after hitting only .218 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 67 games. Then he would be resigned by the Yankees, who would send him to AAA Scranton (IL). Wade didn’t make any appearances with the 2022 Yankees. In October 10, 2022, the Yankees would announce that Tyler Wade had elected to become an MLB Free Agent. In 2024, he would play for the Padres as reserve INF, hitting just .217.
2006-Former Yankees Minor League OF Ted Del Guercio had passed away. (1927-2006)
In November of 1954, OF Ted Del Guercio came to the Yankees from the Orioles Minor League system in the big 17-player trade. He never would play for the Yankees or Orioles at the MLB level. He is the only player in the 1954 Orioles-Yankees 17-player trade that never appeared in an MLB game. The Red Sox had originally signed Ted during the mid-1940’s. He had been a HS star Baseball player in Newark, N.J. Also, he had attended Seton Hall Univ. Ted had played the Outfield in the Minor Leagues for 12 seasons before retiring, after the 1956 Minor League baseball season had ended.
2013-After making do with makeshift solutions at Catcher position all of last season, the Yankees decide to sign 7-time NL All-Star with the Braves Catcher Brian McCann to a 5-year, $85 million contract. He will become the Yankees 2014 starting Catcher.
2016-Former Yankees (1954) and Long-time Dodgers Pitcher Ralph Branca had passed away. (1926-2016)
Pitcher Ralph Branca pitched 12 seasons in the MLB, mostly with the Dodgers; appearing in 2 World Series and 3 MLB All-Star Games. He is most well known as the man who gave up the "Shot Heard 'Round the World", Bobby Thomson's HR that clinched the 1951 NL pennant for the Giants in the NL Play-off Game. In 1943, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Dodgers, Branca made his pro debut that summer with the Olean Oilers. By the following season, he was in the MLB as an 18-year-old during World War II, when many older players were serving overseas. He had won 21 games in 1947 (2nd in the NL). He made the NL All-Star team for the 1st of 3 straight seasons, while his team reached the World Series. He would earn the win in Game 6, but the Dodgers would fall to the Yankees in 7 games. In 1949, he had posted a 13-5 record and led the NL Pitchers with a .722 Winning Percentage. The Dodgers again reached the World Series, again in 1949, losing to the Yankees. Starting in 1950, Branca began to be used more often out of the bullpen than as a Starter. In 1 relief outing on October 3,1951, in the 3rd game of a 3-game playoff, he gave up a HR to Giants Thomson that cost his team the NL pennant. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" completed a monumental collapse by the Dodgers, who were leading the NL by 13 1/2 games on August 11th. Branca and Thomson eventually became close friends. In 1991 and 2001, they toured the country together for the 40th and 50th anniversaries of "The Shot". After giving up 12 earned runs in his 1st 7 outings for the 1953 Dodgers, Branca was acquired by the Tigers, who would later release him. Then he would move on to the Yankees to finish out the 1954 AL season, where he had posted a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 5 games. Later, he was released by the Yankees. In 1955, he would pitch for the AAA Minneapolis Millers (AA). Then he would end his MLB Pitching career in 1956 with 1 more appearance for the Dodgers. He would finish his MLB pitching career with an 88-68 record along with a 3.79 ERA and 19 saves in 322 games.
November 17th
1867-Former Yankees Manager George Stallings (1909-1910) was born. (1867-1929)
George Stallings had reached the MLB as a player in 1890, going hitless in 4 games with the NL Brooklyn Bridegrooms. He was soon back playing in the Minor Leagues. In 1893, he would begin his pro baseball managing career with the Augusta Electricians (SL). From 1893-1896, he was also the Head Baseball Coach at Mercer University. In 1897, he would become the Phillies Manager, also he would appeared in 2 games as the club would finished in 10th place in the NL. In 1898, he had played in 1 game with the team, but he was replaced by Bill Shettsline at the helm on June 18th. In 1901, Stallings would lead the Tigers to a 3rd place finish in the AL. Then he would find success with the AA Buffalo Bisons (IL), leading the club to 2 Eastern League titles. Then he would take over the job as Yankees Manager for the 1909 AL season. The 1909 Yankees would finish in 5th place in the AL with a 74-77 record. The 1910 Highlanders were in 2nd place late in the season, before he resigned on September 21st. Stallings had a disagreement with the 2 Yankee Co-Team Owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery over 1B Hal Chase’s play. He had strongly felt that that Chase was trying to throw games and gambling on them as well. Ironically, Stallings was replaced by the team’s Co-Owners with 1B Hal Chase. Overall, George Stallings Yankees Manager record was 153-138 mark. After 2 more seasons back with AA Buffalo, Stallings would become Manager of the 1913 Boston Braves. He would take the club from last place to a NL pennant in 1914. “The Miracle Braves,” as the 1914 squad was known, were in last place for much of the 1st part of the 1914 NL season; as late as July 18th. On August 4th, they had climbed to 4th place, but they didn't reach 1st until August 25th. They dropped back into 2nd, but by September 5th they were atop the NL standings for good. They went on to sweep Philadelphia Athletics in the 1914 World Series. Under Stallings' leadership, the Braves would finished in 2nd in 1915, he continued to manage the team through the 1920 NL season. In 1959, Stallings was elected to the International League Hall of Fame.
1913-Former Yankees Pitcher Lee Stine (1938) was born. (1913-2005)
On December 19,1936, Pitcher Lee Stine was purchased by the Yankees from the Reds. He had previously pitched for the White Sox before being traded to the Reds. Lee had pitched 4 seasons in the MLB, while he was young, finishing up with the 1938 Yankees, for whom he appeared in 4 games with no record with a 1.04 ERA at age 24. He did not pitch in the 1938 World Series for the Yankees against the Cubs. In 1937, he would pitch for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), posting a 7-14 record. In 1938, Lee would appear with the Yankees AA team, the Newark Bears (IL), posting a 11-8 record for IL Pennant winning Bears. As an MLB Pitcher, Stine had a 3-8 record along with a 5.09 ERA and 2 saves in 49 games. In 1940, he was pitching for the AA LA Angels (PCL).
1961-Former Yankees Reserve OF Benny Kauff (1912) had passed away. (1890-1961)
Benny Kauff was an outfielder for 12 MLB seasons, including 8 with the Yankees, Giants and in the Federal League; Semipro and Minor League Baseball. He was a World War I Veteran. Heralded as the "Ty Cobb of the Federal League", Kauff never lived up to his braggadocio about what he could do if he played for the Giants. After playing briefly for the Yankees in 1912, he led the Federal League in hits, doubles, runs and batting average (.370) in 1914. Transferred to Brooklyn, while his Newark team moved west, he hit a 3-run HR on opening day in 1915. Feeling overworked and underpaid, he tried to jump back to the Giants, but he was thwarted in that attempt by opposition teams, who cited contractual responsibilities. He finished the season in the Federal League, but he was sold to the Giants for $30,000 Cash upon the League's disbandment in 1915. He became a good, but not great performer, topping .300 in 2 of 5 seasons. He had turned down a $500 bribe from teammates Hal Chase and Heinie Zimmerman to throw a game, reported the incident to Giants Manager John McGraw. He remained in the team's good graces, until he ran afoul of the law in February 1920 for accepting stolen cars in a used car business that he and his brother ran. MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Landis banned him from organized baseball before the 1921 MLB season got underway, calling his subsequent acquittal a "miscarriage of justice".
1964-The Mets would name former Yankees great Yogi Berra to their MLB Coaching staff. Berra signs a 2-year contract with the team. He will work under another former Yankees legend and his former long-time boss, Casey Stengel, who is current the Mets' Manager.
1966-Former Yankees Reliever and MLB Broadcaster Jeff Nelson (1996-2000, 2003) was born.
Pitcher Jeff Nelson was signed by MLB Scout Bob Carter for the Dodgers as a 22nd round pick in the 1986 MLB Amateur Player Draft. On December 9,1986, Jeff was drafted by the Mariners from the Dodgers in the 1986 Minor League Player Draft. On December 7,1995, P Jeff Nelson was traded by the Mariners along with 1B Tino Martinez and P Jim Mecir to the Yankees for INF Russ Davis and Starter Sterling Hitchcock. On August 6, 2003, Jeff was traded by the Mariners back to the Yankees for veteran MLB Closer Armando Benitez. With the 2003 Yankees, Nelson went 1-0 in 24 games with 1 save in his last MLB active season. As a set-up man with the Yankees, Nelson had posted a 23-19 record with a 3.47 ERA and 9 saves in 331 games. He had pitched for 4 World Champion Yankee teams, appearing in 16 World Series games, while posting a 1-0 record with 1.69 ERA. As an MLB Pitcher, Jeff would post a 48-45 record with a 3.41 ERA and 33 saves in 798 games, while pitching for the Mariners (3 times), Yankees (twice), White Sox and the Rangers. Jeff Nelson is now a Yankees Broadcaster with Yes Network.
1977-Former Yankees Shortstop and MLB Manager Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) had passed away. (1891-1977)
On May 25,1913, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh was traded by the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians) to the Yankees for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. He would stabilize the Yankees infield with his steady play at Shortstop. Roger’s best Yankees season was in 1919, when he hit .309 with 89 RBIs. During the 1914 AL season, he had managed the team for 17 games, going 9-8. Overall, as a Yankees player, Roger would hit .257 with 36 HRs and 428 RBIs in 1,219 games. He would appear in 1 World Series for the team; in 1921, Roger would hit .179 in 8 games against the Giants. On December 20,1921, Roger was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Harry Collins, veteran MLB Starter Jack Quinn and Minor League P Bill Piercy to the Red Sox for Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott, Pitchers Joe Bush and Sam Jones. During the 1921 AL off-season, he would be traded by the Red Sox to the Senators. He would become an MLB Manager again with the 1929-1933 and 1941 Indians, while posting an overall of 992-499 record.
1977-Former Yankees Pitcher Alex Graman (2004-2005) was born.
The Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1999 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Alex Graman. He had appeared in 5 games with the 2004-2005 Yankees with no record. On July 29, 2005, the Yankees would release Alex; the Reds would pick him up in August of 2005. Alex was released by the Reds in September of 2005. From 2006-2011, he would pitch in Japan with the Seibu Lions (JPL). Alex had pitched in 140 games, while posting a 11-17 record with 52 saves as Reliever.
1980-Former Yankees OF Hersh Martin (1944-1945) had passed away. (1909-1980)
Hersh Martin had played 6 seasons in the MLB from 1937-1940 as a CF with the Phillies and from 1944-1945 as a LF with the Yankees. He was an NL All-Star player in 1938. He would steal a few bases; he had moderate power and drew a fair number of walks. In 1938, when he hit .298, when the team had hit .254. On June 20,1944, Hersh Martin was traded by the AA Milwaukee Millers (AA) to the Yankees for 1B Ed Levy and Cash. With the 1944 Yankees at the age of 34, he would hit .302 on a team that hit .264 for the season. He had the 2nd-highest BA among the Yankee regulars, behind 2B “Snuffy” Stirnweiss. Playing with the 1944-1945 wartime Bronx Bombers, Hersh would appear in 202 games, while hitting .283 with 16 HRs and 100 RBIs. On December 13,1945, Martin was purchased by the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL) from the Yankees. In 6 MLB seasons, Hersh Martin had played in 607 games, while hitting .285 with 28 HRs and 215 RBIs. In 1955 and 1956, Martin would be an MLB Scout for the Phillies. In 1958, he would be an MLB Scout for the Cubs. From 1961 to 1979, Martin was an MLB Scout for the Mets.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League and MLB Pitcher Shawn Green (2014, 2022) was born.
Pitcher Shawn Greene was undrafted out of high school. He had attended the Univ. of West Florida on scholarship, but he blew out his elbow late in his freshman season. After Tommy John surgery, he had lost his baseball scholarship; then he would transfer to Daytona Beach Community College. In the 15th round in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft, Green was selected by the Yankees. In 2009, while pitching for the GCL Yankees, he was 1-2 with a 5.87 ERA in 13 relief appearances in his rookie pro season. After converting to starting pitching in 2010, he recorded a 2-8 mark with a 4.59 ERA in 14 starts for the Class A short-season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL) posting a 2-6 record with a 4.59 ERA and the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) with a 0-2 record with 4.58 ERA. In 2011, the Green was 5-14 with a 4.37 ERA in 27 starts for Charleston. He would lead the South Atlantic League in losses, tied for 5th in runs allowed (88), was 5th in walks (68), was 4th in strikeouts with 128, and tied for 10th with 14 wild pitches. In 2012, he was 4-7 with a 5.22 ERA in 24 games (23 starts) for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), walking 63 batters in 112 IP. He went 12-10 with a 3.38 ERA in 27 games (26 starts) splitting time between Class A Tampa (FSL) with a 4-6 record, 3.60 ERA, 13 starts) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) with an 8-4 record with a 3.18 ERA in 2013. His control was much sharper, with 30 walks in 154 1/3 IP and only 10 HRs allowed. His performance with Tampa would earn him a spot in the FSL All-Star Game, while MinorLeagueBaseball.com had named him an Organization All-Star following the season. Greene was added to the Yankees 40-man MLB roster following the 2013 MLB season. He was in a notable spring training game in 2014, because it was against Florida St. Univ. and Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston. Greene had retired Winston on a grounder. He would start the season in the minors, but he saw little action with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (4 H, 1 BB, 2 R, 5 K in 2 2/3 IP). When Starter Michael Pineda was suspended, the Yankees would call up P Bruce Billings and Greene for arm reinforcements, while sending down INF Dean Anna and P Preston Claiborne to open 25-man MLB roster space. He would make his MLB Pitching debut on April 24th, when he gave up 3 unearned runs on 3 walks in a third of an inning against the Red Sox. He came into the game in the 7th with the Yankees leading, 12-2, but he walked Jackie Bradley and allowed Dustin Pedroia to reach on an error. A passed ball scored Bradley from 3B and he then struck out veteran Shane Victorino. He walked pinch-hitter Jonathan Herrera and Mike Napoli to load the bases, at which point he was replaced by Adam Warren; 2 more runs scored on a sacrifice fly and a double by Xander Bogaerts before the inning ended. After the 1 outing in the MLB, he was sent down in favor of Chris Leroux. He would come back to the MLB on July 7th, when he started against the Indians in place of Vidal Nuno, who had been traded the day before. Things went much better this time, as he kept the Indians hitless until the 5th inning, when Nick Swisher touched him for a solo HR; he left after allowing 2 runs in 6 innings and he was credited with his 1st MLB victory, a 5-3 win. He would finish the 2014 season with a 5-4 record with a 3.78 ERA in 15 games for the Yankees. On December 5, 2014, Shawn Greene was involved in a 3-team trade that allowed the Yankees to acquire the heir apparent to Shortstop Derek Jeter as they landed INF Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks. For his part, Greene was immediately flipped by the D-Backs to the Tigers in exchange for 2 Minor League Prospects; P Robbie Ray and INF Domingo Leyba. Shawn has pitched for the 2015-2018 Tigers; while posting a 17-21 record with a 5.20 ERA and 43 saves in 205 games. In 2019, he would pitch for the Braves, while posting a 0-3 record with a 2.30 ERA and 23 saves in 65 games. He would return to the Braves in 2020, posting a 1-0 record with a 2.60 ERA in 28 games. Shane would split the 2021 season splitting time with the Braves, then the Dodgers. On May 26, 2022, Shane would sign a Minor League deal with the Yankees. He was assigned to AAA Scranton. He had started out the 2022 MLB season with the Dodgers with a Minor League deal. He would make 1 relief appearance for the team on May 15th, holding the Phillies scoreless for 2 innings, while picking up the win. Then the Dodgers would DFA him, he would refuse the outright assignment to AAA, becoming an MLB Free Agent. He did appear in 1 game with the 2022 Yankees, pitching just 1 inning with no decisions, before being sent down to AAA Scranton for the rest of the season. After the 2022 MLB post season had ended, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees.
1992-The MLB holds the 1992 Player Expansion Team Draft to stock the rosters of the NL’s 2-new teams, the Florida Marlins and Colorado Rockies. The Yankees would lose the following players: Minor League OF Carl Everett (Marlins): veteran MLB 3B Charlie Hays (Rockies), Minor League Catcher Brad Ausmus (Rockies). Former Number #1 Draft Pick OF Carl Everett was let go because the Yankees felt that his mental playing attitude wasn’t right. Despite his playing talent, he would have a troubled MLB playing career because of his mental attitude, bouncing around from team to team in the MLB. Hayes who was left unprotected in the player draft due to the Yankees signing MLB Free Agent 3B Wade Boggs. Charlie would later return to the Yankees in August of 1996. Catcher Brad Ausmus would have a decent MLB playing career, the Yankees felt that he wasn’t going to be a power hitter, so they left him exposed to the player draft. Later, he would become an MLB Manager for several teams.
1993-Current Yankees Pitcher J. T. Brubaker (2024) was born.
On March 29, 2024, the Yankees have acquired right-hander JT Brubaker and international bonus pool space from the Pirates for a player to be named later, per announcements from both clubs. Prior to the official announcements, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reported on that Brubaker was going to the Yankees for a PTBNL. The righty is on the 60-day IL, recovering from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He won’t need a roster spot with the Yankees, but he won’t be available to them immediately. Brubaker is targeting a return around the All-Star break. He’s controllable via arbitration through the 2025 season. The bonus pool money is worth $550K. He has an MLB pitching record of 9-28 with a 4.99 ERA in 63 games (62 starts). In 2024, he briefly pitched for 4 Yankee minor league teams with no record as he starts his rehab from his arm surgery.
1994-Former Yankees Pitcher Adonis Rosa (2019-2020) was born.
On December 9, 2013, Pitcher Adonis Rosa was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had been pitching at the 2020 Yankees’ Alternate Training Site at Scranton. Rosa has a 3.35 ERA, with a 3.79 K/BB rate and 7.8 K/9 over 515 1/3 career Minor League innings, starting 74 of his 114 career games in New York’s farm system. Rosa’s MLB resume consists of a 1 game with a 2-inning relief appearance for the Yankees on August 13, 2019 against the Orioles. On September 5, 2020, he was released by the team.
2013-Former Yankees Reserve OF John “Zeke” Bella (1957) had passed away. (1930-2013)
In 1951, the Yankees had signed OF John “Zeke” Bella as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. For the 1957 Yankees, he would appear in only 5 games, while hitting just .182. He had played for the 1955-1958 AAA Denver Bears (AA), hitting over .300 each season for Bears Manager Ralph Houk. On August 22,1958, John was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to Kansas City for veteran hurler Murry Dickson. Overall, as an MLB player, with the 1957 Yankees and the 1959 A’s, Zeke had appeared in 52 games; he had 18 hits in 92 at-bats finishing his MLB playing career with a .196 BA. He would finish out his pro baseball playing career in 1960, playing with the A’s AAA club in Dallas.
2022-Yankees RF Aaron Judge is the AL winner of the AL MVP Award. His AL-record 62 HRs had grabbed the sports 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). He had finished 2nd in the AL Batting Championship race with .314 BA.
2023-The Brewers have acquired 1B/OF/DH Jake Bauers from the Yankees, per announcements from both clubs. Minor League Outfielders Jace Avina and Brian Sanchez are headed to the Bronx in return. Bauers, 28, had signed a Minor League deal with the Yankees prior to the start of 2023 MLB season. He would end up getting into 84 MLB games on the year. He had struck out in 34.9% of his plate appearances, but he had walked at a 9.9% clip and had hit 12 HRs. His final batting line was a .202 BA with 12 HRs and 30 RBIs in 84 games. Now, he’s out of options; Jake has qualified for arbitration for the 1st time, with MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projecting a salary of $1.7MM next year. Tonight is the deadline for clubs to decide whether or not to tender contracts to arb-eligible players and it seems the Yankees preferred to exchange Bauers for some prospects as opposed to making him part of the 2024 MLB club. Though his results weren’t outstanding in 2023, Bauers has generally hit well in the minors, he has continued to intrigue clubs around the league. In 2013, Jake was originally drafted by the Padres, then he was traded to the Rays as part of the Wil Myers deal; with Tampa later flipping him to Cleveland in the 3-team deal that also involved Edwin Encarnación, Carlos Santana and Yandy Díaz. In 2021, Bauers was dealt a 3rd time, going to the Mariners; but he couldn’t thrive at the MLB level with any club. He has hit .211 in his career as a major leaguer, but he has a much more impressive line of .257 at AAA. The Brewers will be the latest MLB club to take a chance on him finally putting it together at the MLB level, perhaps as a Rowdy Tellez replacement. Tellez had hit just .215 this season, he is projected to make $5.9MM in his final arbitration year, making him a speculative non-tender candidate. With Bauers projected at less than a third of that price and also having 2 more seasons of club control; the Brewers are taking a bet that he will be better value for money.
2023-The Yankees have announced that the club has non-tendered right-handers Albert Abreu and Lou Trivino in addition to left-hander Anthony Misiewicz. After undergoing Tommy John surgery back in May, veteran Reliever Lou Trivino didn’t pitch in the for the team this season. On February 14, 2024, Lou will be signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. Albert Abreu had pitched to a 2-2 record with a 4.73 ERA in 45 games. Meanwhile, Reliever Anthony Misiewicz had posted a 7.36 ERA across 11 innings of work for the Diamondbacks, Tigers and the Yankees. He was hit in the head, when a comebacker from a Pirates batter, ending his 2023 Yankees season with a head conclusion. He had posted a 1-0 record with a 3.38 ERA in 3 appearances for the team. On December 7, 2023, Anthony will be signed as a Free Agent by the Yankees. He will start the 2024 season at AAA Scranton (IL). On December 12, 2023, Abreu will sign with the Seibu Lions of Nippon Professional Baseball for the 2024 season.
2023-Former Yankees Reserve OF/3B Louis “The Nervous Greek” Skizas (1956) had passed away at the age of 96. (1932-2023)
Before the start of 1949 AL season, INF/OF Lou Skizas was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Lou had appeared in just 6 games with the 1956 Yankees, while hitting .167. On June 14,1956, Lou was traded by the Yankees along with veteran 1B/PH Eddie Robinson to the Kansas City A’s for Pitcher Moe Burtschy, OF Bill Renna and Cash. For the 1956 A’s, he would hit .316 with 11 HRs in 89 games before fading. In 1958, he was traded by Kanas City to the Tigers. He had started the 1959 season with the White Sox, but Lou was traded to the Reds. He would play in the MLB from 1956-1959 with the Yankees, A’s, Tigers, White Sox and the Reds, while appearing in 239 games, hitting .270 with 30 HRs and 86 RBIs.
November 18th
1863-Former Yankees C/1B and MLB Manager Deacon McGuire (1904-1907) was born. (1863-1936)
Deacon McGuire had played pro baseball for 26 years (1884-1912). On February 21,1904, the 41-year-old Catcher was purchased by the Highlanders from the Tigers. He would play for the Yankees from 1904 to 1907. He had appeared in 225 games for the team, while hitting .230 with No HRs and 67 RBIs. McGuire would share the Yankees catching duties with Red Kleinow. On June 7,1907, Deacon was selected off waivers by the Boston Americans (aka Red Sox) from the Highlanders. He would become the 1907 Red Sox Manager. Overall, as an MLB player, he had appeared in 1,781 games; while hitting .278 with 45 HRs and 840 RBIs. As an MLB Manager, he had led the 1898 Senators, 1907-1908 Red Sox and the 1909-1911 Cleveland Naps (aka Indians).
1922-Former Yankees Minor League INF Kermit Wahl was born. (1922-1987)
In 1940, Kermit Wahl had graduated from Columbia HS, where he starred in baseball and basketball at age 17. Then he would attend Indiana Univ., where he had played Big-10 College Baseball. In the summers, he would play in the independent Western Canadian League. He had served in the U.S. Army Enlisted Reserve Corps for 7 months during World War II before receiving a medical discharge for a knee injury suffered in his Sr. year of basketball (OB). He went back to college and would receive his Bachelor of Science degree in Education. In 1944, he was signed by the Reds as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Wahl would break into Organized Baseball at age 21 with the Class A Birmingham Barons (SA). In his pro debut with the Barons, he would hit .231 with 3 RBIs. On June 22, 1944, Wahl was 21-years old, when he joined the MLB with the Reds. Also in 1945, when he was a utility infielder, appearing in 71 games. With the 7th-place team, he would hit .201 in 194 at bats with 8 doubles and 2 triples. The 1st postwar year of 1946 would find Kermit playing for the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL). The Chiefs would finish 2nd in the IL, as he would hit .271 with 7 HRs and 58 RBIs. In 1947, Kermit was again spent time with the Reds as their utility infielder. He would play in 39 games. His BA had dropped to .173 in 81 at bats. For the 5th-place Reds, he hit his 1st MLB HR run on June 27th off of Howie Pollet, but that was his only extra-base hit of the season. In 1948, he was back with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL), where he had a good power year by hitting .255 with 20 HRs and 95 RBIs.
The team would finish 3rd, Kermit was sent from the Reds to the Dodgers. In 1949, he would play for the Dodgers' top farm team, the AAA Montreal Royals (IL). They would finish 3rd in the IL as Kermit would hit .286 with 11 HRs and 83 RBIs. On September 28,1949, he was traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia A’s for Bill McCahan and $25,000 Cash. In 1950-1951, he would play for the A’s, as his 2 good years in the International League had earned him a promotion to the MLB, albeit with the last-place Philadelphia A’s, who had won only 52 games for Manager/Owner Connie Mack in 1950. Again, he was a utility INF making the A’s lineup cards 89 times. He had hit better then in his previous MLB seasons (.257) with 280 at bats and with more power (12 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HRs and 27 RBIs. Kermit had played just 3B for the 1951 A's, he batted 59 times, hitting only .186 in 20 games; later in the season, the A’s would trade him along with Paul Lehner and Cash to the St. Louis Browns for Don Lenhardt. His stay was short in St. Louis, appearing in only 8 games, as he had batted 27 times and got 9 hits, while playing 3B in 6 games and playing his final MLB game on July 29th at age 28. On July 31st, he was purchased from the Browns by the Yankees. Unfortunately, he never got a chance to wear the Yankee pinstripes, as he was sent to their AAA team, the Kansas City Blues (AA). For the 1951 AAA Blues, he would hit .275 with 9 RBIs. For the next 2 seasons, he was still stuck playing for the AAA Blues. In 1952, he hit for his highest career average by .302, while hitting 5 HRs with 43 RBIs. If he had been in another MLB organization, he would have had a much better chance at playing for an MLB club. In 1953, he would spend another season on the "farm" hitting only .240 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs. His pro baseball career was obviously fading. In 1954, he finally would escape the Yankees farm system, when he would play for the Milwaukee Braves' AAA team, the Toledo Mud Hens (AA). Kermit would hit well for average (.305), he had only hit 5 HRs along with 20 RBIs; ending his pro baseball career at age 31.
1932-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny McDevitt (1961) was born. (1932-2010)
In 1951, the Yankees had originally signed Pitcher Danny McDevitt as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that year in the low minor leagues, he was released by the Yankees, before the start of 1952 AL season. Then the Dodgers would sign him as an MLB Free Agent. On December 16,1960, Danny was purchased by the Yankees from the Dodgers. He was projected to replace Bobby Shantz as the lefty swingman for the 1961 Yankees pitching staff. For the 1961 Yankees, Danny would post a 1-2 record with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save in 8 games, before being traded on June 14,1961 to the Twins for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Dan’s claim to MLB fame was being the last Brooklyn Dodger Pitcher to start, throw a shutout and win at Ebbets Field in September of 1957 against the Pirates. His best MLB season was in 1959, when he went 10-8 for the World Champion Dodgers. He didn’t appear in the 1959 World Series for the Dodgers against the White Sox. Danny would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 21-27 record along with a 4.40 ERA with 7 saves in 155 games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Twins and the 1962 A’s.
1938-Former Yankees Minor League 1B Marion “Bud” Zipfel was born.
Before the start of the 1956 AL season, the Yankees had signed Bud Zipfel as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never play for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 14,1960, Bud was selected by the new Washington Senators from the Yankees in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. Bud had replaced veteran INF Gil McDougald on the Yankees Expansion Draft Player list, when Gil refused to go to the new Senators. Bud was being groomed to be a possible replacement for veteran Bill Skowron at 1B. With his departure, Deron Johnson and Joe Pepitone moved up in the Yankees farm system as possible Moose’s future 1B replacements.
1943-Former Yankees Minor League P Jim Shellenback was born.
Before the start of 1962 AL season, lefty hurler Jim Shellenback was signed by Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would spend the 1962 Minor League pitching for the Yankees Class C Idaho Yankees (PL) and the Class D Harlan Smokies (APLY). With the Idaho Yankees, Jim had posted a 0-2 record with a 6.00 ERA. His Smokies pitching record was 1-0 with a 2.60 ERA in 28 games. On November 26,1962, Jim was drafted by the Pirates from the Yankees Organization in the 1962 1st-year Minor League Player Draft. He would have an MLB pitching record of 16-30 with a 3.81 ERA and 2 saves in 165 games. Jim had pitched for the Pirates, Senators, Rangers and the Twins. When he retired as a player, he would work in the Twins Minor League organization; then he would become an MLB Bullpen Coach for the Twins.
1954-In an enormous 2-part MLB trade that will begin today, the Yankees and Orioles will exchange a total of 17 players. The 2nd part of the trade will be announced after the 1954 MLB Rule 5 Draft is held in December. Included in the trade are 1B Richard Kryhoski, Pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, Catcher Darrell Johnson and INF Billy Hunter being obtained by the Yankees from the Orioles. The Yankees would send veteran MLB OF Gene Woodling, Reserve INF Willie Miranda, Pitchers Harry Byrd, Jim McDonald along with Reserve Catchers Gus Triandos and Hal Smith. This trade will give the Orioles a chance to rebuild their team, which was formerly the St. Louis Browns, one of the poorest MLB team franchises. By the late 1950’s and early 1960’s the Orioles farm system will start producing their own stars such as Brooks Robinson, John “Boog” Powell, Milt Pappas and other young players. The Yankees will plug Don Larsen and Bob Turley into their 1955 starting rotation, joining Whitey Ford, Eddie Lopat and Tommy Byrne. Veteran Yankees Starter Allie Reynolds had retired from the team due to serious back problems that occurred in a team bus accident in Baltimore during the 1954 AL season.
1960-Former Yankees Reserve INF Ron Coomer (2002) was born.
In 2001, the Yankees had signed veteran INF Ron Coomer as an MLB Free Agent. As a Reserve INF for the Yankees, Ron would appear in 55 games for the team, while hitting .264 with 3 HRs and 17 RBIs during the 2002 AL season. He had appeared with the Yankees in the 2002 ALDS, getting 1 hit in 2 at-bats in his only taste of MLB postseason play. Ron would finish his MLB playing career with the 2003 Dodgers. He is now a TV Baseball Announcer for the Cubs.
1964-Baltimore Orioles 3B Brooks Robinson is voted the 1964 AL MVP, outpolling the Yankees CF Mickey Mantle by a vote of 269 to 171. In 1964, Mantle had hit .303 with 35 HRs and 111 RBIs in 143 games for the AL Pennant winning Yankees. It was Mickey’s last season as a productive slugger for the Yankees, as his decline would be starting with his bad legs. In 1965, he would be switched to LF, then he would be moved to 1B the following season.
1967-Former Yankees Reliever Tom “Flash” Gordon (2004-2005) was born.
In the winter of 2003, the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Closer Tom “Flash” Gordon. He had been a Closer with the Red Sox. He was set-up man for Yankees Closer Mo Rivera during the 2004-2005 AL seasons, going 14-8 with a 2.38 ERA and 6 saves in 159 games, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency. He would be sign by the Phillies to become their 2006 Team Closer.
1968-Former Yankees Assistant GM and MLB Executive Kim Ng (1998-2002) was born.
Kim Ng was the Vice President and Assistant General Manager of the Dodgers from 2001 to 2011. On March 8, 2011, she was named Senior Vice-President of Baseball Operations for MLB reporting to newly-named Executive Vice-President Joe Torre, who was previously the Dodgers' Manager. On November 13, 2020, she was named General Manager of the Miami Marlins, becoming not only the 1st woman to be a General Manager in MLB, but the 1st in North American men's sports. Of Vietnamese origin, Ng was born in Indianapolis, IN, but she grew up in Queens, NY. The oldest of 5 girls, she had attended the University of Chicago, where she played softball and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Public Policy. She applied for a variety of sports-related jobs after her college graduation, she was accepted for an internship with the White Sox in 1991. She was talented in the nascent field of computers and data analysis and impressed the organization with her skills, landing her a full-time entry-level job. To her surprise, she ended up in the baseball operations side of the business, and not in marketing, where she had expected to work.
White Sox GM Dan Evans was impressed by her analytical ability and attention to detail; he quickly pegged her as someone who could aspire to senior positions and he took her under his wing. She was also lucky in starting out at a time when front offices were starting to hire persons with different profiles, which would result in a class of highly-educated young GMs, who had never played the game. In 1997, she took a job with MLB as Director of Waivers and Records for the American League office. The position required her to know all the arcane details of the Major League rules and help interpret them for General Managers. This allowed her to meet all of the league's GMs, including Yankees Brian Cashman, who was so impressed with her that he hired her as Assistant General Manager in 1998. At the time, Kim was the youngest Assistant GM in the game. She was put in charge of the Yankees' salary arbitration cases and proved very talented in this sensitive file, both in assessing the value of players and in conducting negotiations to avoid the cases having to actually be argued before an Arbitrator. She was also involved in contract negotiations with star players. She was the 2nd woman to have the title of Assistant GM, following Elaine Weddington Steward, who was hired by the Red Sox in 1990.
In 2002, her former mentor Evans, who was now GM of the Dodgers, had lured her away from the Yankees. She worked under a succession of bosses, including Paul DePodesta and Ned Colletti, until leaving for her senior position with MLB. In 2005, Ng was interviewed by the Dodgers for their vacant GM job, but she was passed over for Colletti. In 2008, She also interviewed for the Mariners' GM job and with the Padres in 2009. In her position with MLB, Ng was put in charge of implementing some of the changes to the signing of players not subjected to the Amateur Draft that were included in the Collective Bargaining Agreement reached at the end of 2011. These included a reform of how Latin American Amateur Players could be signed, and meant a greater involvement by MLB in setting up showcases and an "International Talent Committee" that aimed to curb the rampant abuse of young players by Scouts and other intermediaries. In 2014, her name surfaced again as one of the top candidates to replace fired Padres GM Josh Byrnes, being 1 of 4 contenders to be asked for a 2nd interview, out of an initial pool of 14 candidates. She would lose out to A.J. Preller, however. She finally was appointed to the top job in 2020, when the Marlins selected her to replace GM Michael Hill, who had been let go after the Marlins had surprised everyone by making it to the postseason during the shortened 2020 NL season. She was taking the reins of an up-and-coming team loaded with young talent. Her reaction was as follows: "This challenge is one I don’t take lightly. When I got into this business, it seemed unlikely a woman would lead an MLB team, but I am dogged in the pursuit of my goals." Ng’s appointment was extremely well received around the industry, as many pointed out that her credentials were impeccable, that she would likely have acceded to the GM ranks years earlier had she not been a woman and a member of a racial minority to boot. In October of 2023, Ng would leave the Marlins organization.
1968-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Clay Bellinger (1999-2001) was born.
INF/OF Clay Bellinger was signed as an MLB Free Agent to helped out the Yankees bench; he had appeared in 182 games, hitting only .189 for 3 seasons. He could play many positions, but he had a very weak bat. His son, Cody is a currently playing for the Cubs.
1968-Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Sheffield (2004-2006) was born.
In the winter of 2003, the Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner had signed veteran MLB Slugger Gary Sheffield as an MLB Free Agent. Gary was a good power hitter, but he was injured in 2006. For the 2004-2006 Yankees, he would appear in 347 games, while hitting .291 with 76 HRs and 269 RBIs. After the Yankees had picked up his MLB player contract option on November 10, 2006, Gary was traded by the team to the Tigers for 3 Minor League Pitchers: Anthony Claggett, Humberto Sanchez and Kevin Whelan.
1970-Former Yankees Reliever Allen Watson (1999-2000) was born.
On July 3,1999, Veteran Reliever Allen Watson was signed as an MLB Free Agent. He was assigned to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). He had pitched for the Mariners and the Mets, while posting a combined record of 2-3 in 17 games. Watson had MLB lifetime pitching record of 47-55. He would post a 4-0 record with a 2.10 ERA in 21 games. In 2000, he had no record, while appearing in 17 games for the Yankees. He would finish his Yankees Pitching career with a 4-0 record with a 5.27 ERA in 38 games.
1976-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter Don Gullett for $2 million. With the 1970-1976 Reds, he had posted a 91-40 record with a 3.03 ERA and 11 saves in 236 games. In 1977, Gullett will have a 14-4 record with a 3.59 ERA in 22 games, but he will spend most of the next 3 Yankee seasons on the DL, before being forced to retire from MLB. Overall, as a Yankees Starter, Don would record a 18-6 mark in 30 games for the team. He had appeared in 1 game in the 1977 World Series, posting a 0-1 record against the Dodgers. His final MLB Pitching record was a 109-50 mark with a 3.11 ERA in 266 games. His World Series record was 2-2 with a 3.61 ERA in 10 games (8 with the Reds and 2 with the Yankees.)
1979-Former MLB Pitcher, MLB Manager and Yankees Minor League Manager Freddie Fitzsimmons (1956) had passed away from self-inflected gunshot wound to the head. (1901-1979)
In 1956, former MLB hurler Freddie Fitzsimmons had managed the Yankees AA farm team, the Bingham Triplets (EL), leading them to an 81-53 record. He was a Special MLB Spring Training Instructor for the Yankees. As an MLB player, he had pitched for the Giants and Dodgers. Fred would finish his 19-season MLB Pitching career with a 217-146 record with a 3.51 ERA and 13 saves in 513 MLB games. He had appeared in 3 World Series, while posting a 0-3 record. From 1943-1945, he had managed the Phillies. Also, he was an MLB Coach for the Dodgers, Braves, Giants, Cubs and the A’s.
1980-The Yankees had traded Reserve Catcher Brad Gulden and Cash to the Mariners for INF Larry Milbourne and a Player to be Named Later. With the recent trades of Reserve Infielder’s Fred Stanley and Brian Doyle to the Oakland A’s, the Yankees need a new Reserve Infielder for their MLB bench. Milbourne had hit .278 and .264, for the past 2 seasons for Seattle. Gulden had hit .163 in 40 games for the 1979 Yankees, while sharing the catching duties with Jerry Narron, following Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. He had started the 1980 season with AAA Columbus (IL), he only hit .157 in 14 games, then he was sent to AA Nashville Sounds (SL), where he would hit .237 in 85 games. The Player to be Named Later for the Yankees, would turn out to be Catcher Brad Gulden, who will rejoin the team on May 18,1981. He would be sent to AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).
1986-Former Yankees Pitcher Bruce Billings (2014) was born.
On December 20, 2013, Pitcher Bruce Billings was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Bruce had posted a 5-5 record with AAA Scranton (IL) before being called up to the Bronx. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees with no record. On August 2, 2014, the team released him. Bruce would be picked-up by the Dodgers organization. Later, he would finish out his pro pitching career with the Nationals organization in 2015. He was a Minor League Coach in the Phillies organization.
1991-Former Yankees Starter Jameson Taillon (2021-2022) was born.
Jameson Taillon was the #2 pick of the 2010 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Pirates. On January 24, 2021, the Pirates had traded him to the Yankees in return for 4 Minor League prospects: P Miguel Yajure, P Roansy Contreras, OF Canaan Smith and Shortstop Maikol Escotto. He had pitched for the Pirates from 2016-2019, while posting a 29-24 record with a 3.67 ERA in 82 games. He had missed playing time with the team due to injuries and TJ Surgery, costing him playing time in 2014-2015, then again in 2019 and 2020. His 2021 trade would reunite him with his former Pirates teammate Gerrit Cole, now the Yankees' ace. He made his return to the mound on April 7th, pitching 4 2/3 innings against the Orioles. He recorded his 1st win in 2 years on May 1st, when he gave up 1 run in 5 innings and struck out 8 batters in a 6-4 win over the Tigers. He pitched better as the season advanced and in July, he was named the AL Pitcher of the Month, when he had a 1.16 ERA in 5 starts covering 31 innings. Cole had won the honor in April. Taillon would finish out his 2021 AL season with the Yankees, posting an 8-6 record with a 4.30 ERA in 29 games. Taillon was back in the Yankees' starting rotation at the start of the 2022 season as the team would post the best record in the MLB over the 1st 2 months. He was an excellent with a 5-1 record, along with a 2.49 ERA over his 1st 9 starts as the Yankees had the best starting rotation in the MLB over that time span. That included his best start as a Yankee on May 27th, when he pitched 8 scoreless innings against the Rays, by allowing just 2 hits, but no walks. He probably could have pitched the 9th inning as well, but Yankees Manager Aaron Boone decided to bring in Reliever Clay Holmes to close out the 2-0 win, which he did by retiring the Rays in order. On June 2nd, he started the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Angels with 7 perfect innings before allowing a double to Jared Walsh that deflected off the glove of Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Walsh came in to score on a 2-out single by Kurt Suzuki, and he left the game trailing 1-0, but the Yankees rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the inning to give him a 2-1 win that improved his record on the season to 6-1, with a 2.30 ERA. For the 2022 AL season, he would post an excellent 14-5 record along with a 3.91 ERA in 32 games. After the MLB post season had ended, he had become an MLB Free Agent.
1997-The Yankees had obtained INF/OF Scott Brosius from the Oakland A’s to complete the Kenny Rogers deal that was made earlier in the month. He will have a chance to become the Yankees 1998 Starting 3B in Yankees 1998 MLB Spring training camp, completing against the Yankees top Minor League 3B Prospect Mike Lowell.
1997-MLB holds the 1997 Expansion Team Player Draft to stock the rosters of the 2 new MLB teams; the NL Arizona Diamondbacks and the AL Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The Yankees will lose Pitcher Ben Ford to the NL Diamondbacks, meanwhile the AL Devil Rays had selected Pitcher Brian Boehringer and Reserve OF Luke Wilcox from the Yankees.
2003-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Brett (1976) had passed away from Cancer. (1948-2003)
Ken Brett was George Brett’s older brother. He had appeared in 2 games with the Red Sox in the 1967 World Series. In 1974, he was named to the NL All-Star team, while pitching for the Pirates. Ken had appeared in 2 NL post-season series with the Bucs, pitching in 3 games with no decisions. On December 11,1975, Ken Brett was traded by the Pirates along with P Dock Ellis and Rookie 2B Willie Randolph to the Yankees for MLB Starter George “Doc” Medich. He only appeared in 2 games with the 1976 Yankees with no record, before being traded on May 18th by the Yankees along with OF Rich Coggins to the White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May. His brother George complained to the MLB media that the Yankees Manager Billy Martin never gave his brother a chance to prove himself with the team. As an MLB Pitcher, Ken had posted an 83-85 record with a 3.93 ERA and 11 saves in 349 games. He was a good hitter for Pitcher; he would finish with MLB playing career with a .262 BA with 10 HRs and 44 RBIs in 385 games. Later, Ken became a Minor League Team Owner with his 2 brothers.
2022-The Yankees and Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa have avoided arbitration by agreeing to a 1-year, $6MM deal. He had hit .261 with 4 HRs and 48 RBIs in 142 games for the team. On March 13, 2022, he was traded by the Twins along with Veteran 3B Josh Donaldson and young Catcher Ben Rortvedt to the Yankees for veteran Catcher Gary Sanchez and 3B Gio Urshela. Isiah can play several positions as well as being a former Catcher with the Rangers. In 2023, he will play multiple positions for the Yankees, while appearing in 113 games, hitting .242 with 6 HRs and 37 RBIs. He will finish his Yankees playing career with .253 BA with 10 HRs and 85 RBIs in 255 games. After the 2023 MLB post season ends, the Yankees will grant him MLB Free Agency. On December 29, 2023, he will sign a 2-year contract with the Blue Jays
November 19th
1881-Former Yankees Reserve OF Bill Bailey (1911) was born. (1881-1967)
For the 1911 Yankees, Reserve OF Bill Bailey appeared in only 5 games, while hitting just .111.
1892-Former Yankees Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott (1922-1925) was born. (1892-1960)
On December 20,1921, Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott was traded by the Red Sox along with Pitchers Joe Bush and Sam Jones to the Yankees for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh, Pitchers Jack Quinn, Harry Collins and Minor League P Bill Piercy. Deacon would give the Yankees a solid 3 seasons as their starting Shortstop, including leading the AL in fielding in 1922-1923. Shortstop Everett Scott had played in 1,307 consecutive MLB games, the MLB consecutive games record until Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig came along and broke it. He would begin his streak on June 20,1916, while playing for the Red Sox. Following the 1921 AL season, he was traded to the Yankees. On May 6,1925, he was benched by Yankees Manager Miller Huggins in favor of Shortstop Pee Wee Wanninger. Ironically, less than a month later, his Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig began his own consecutive MLB game streak, when he entered a game as a Pinch-Hitter for Wanninger. In 3 seasons with the team, he had appeared in 481 games for the Yankees, while hitting .254 with 13 HRs and 174 RBIs in 481 games for the team. Scott's streak is still the 3rd longest streak in MLB history behind Orioles Cal Ripken and Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig. In 2 World Series with the team, he had played in 11 games, while hitting .250 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. On June 17,1925, Scott was selected off waivers by the Senators from the Yankees. The Nats would use him as a Reserve INF, since they already had former Yankees player Roger Peckinpaugh as their starting shortstop. The Red Sox had traded him to the Senators during the during the winter of 1924
1908-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Joe Glenn (1932-1933,1935-1938) was born. (1908-1985)
Joe Glenn was a long-time back-up catcher for Yankees All-Star Catcher Bill Dickey. He had appeared in 138 games for the Yankees, while hitting .252 with 1 HR and 52 RBIs. He would never appear in a World Series game with the team. On October 26,1938, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with OF Myril Hoag to the St. Louis Browns for Pitcher Oral Hildebrand and OF Buster Mills.
1938-The Yankees had sold veteran Starter Johnny Broaca to the Indians. Johnny had been a successful college pitcher at Yale Univ. In 1933, he would pitch for the AA Newark Bears (IL), posting a 7-2 record with a 2.04 ERA in 10 games. In 1934, he would join the Yankees, while posting a 12-9 record with 4.16 ERA in 34 games. In the next 2 seasons, he went 15-7 with a 3.58 ERA in 35 games in 1935, the 12-7 with a 4.24 ERA in 36 games in 1936. In September of 1936, he would leave the team to take up a career in pro boxing. He had missed a chance to pitch in the 1936 World Series for the team. He would return to the team in 1937, going 1-4 with a 4.70 ERA in 7 games, before leaving the team again. Fed up with his leaving the team again, Yankees GM Edward Barrow would suspend him for the rest of 1937 AL season and the whole 1938 AL season as well. His actions cost him a chance to pitch in the 1937-1938 World Series. In November of 1938, he was reinstated by the team in order to sell him to the Indians. Overall, as a Yankees Starter, Johnny had posted a 40-27 record with a 4.04 ERA and 3 saves in 99 games. With the 1939 Indians, he will go 4-2 with a 4.70 ERA in 22 games. In 1940, he would leave the MLB.
1953-The Yankees had signed Pitcher Ralph Terry as an MLB Amateur Free Agent.
1964-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Fred “Bootnose” Hofmann (1919-1925) had passed away. (1894-1964)
With the 1919-1925 Yankees, Reserve Catcher Fred Hofmann would appear in 213 games, while hitting .245 with 7 HRs and 53 RBIs. He had played in 2 games of the 1923 World Series for the team against the Giants with no hits. On May 29,1925, Fred was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, P Oscar Roettger and $50,000 Cash to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) for INF Mark Koenig. On October 28,1925, the Yankees would send INF Ernie Johnson to the AA Saints to complete the trade. Fred would return with the MLB, playing with the 1927-1928 Red Sox. After his MLB active playing career had ended, Fred would become a Minor League Manager for the Cardinals organization. He then would move over to the St. Louis Browns' organization, as a MLB Coach beginning in 1938. After a 12-year stint as an MLB Coach for the Browns, Hofmann became an MLB Scout for the franchise from 1950 to 1964, staying with the team. when they relocated in 1954; to become the Baltimore Orioles. He had filled in several times as a Manager for teams in the Orioles' farm system during the 1950s.
1966-Former Yankees Minor League P Rodney Imes was born.
The Yankees in the 16th round of the 1987 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Pitcher Rodney Imes. He would pitch in the Yankees farm system from 1987 to 1989. On December 12,1989, Rodney was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B Hal Morris to the Reds for veteran MLB Starter Tim Leary and Reserve OF Van Snider. He never appears in the MLB with the Reds.
1968-Yankees Rookie Starter Stan Bahnsen, who had posted a 17-12 record along with a 2.05 ERA and 162 strikeouts is named 1968 AL Rookie of the Year. Bahnsen easily outdistances Senators OF Del Unser in the AL Rookie Player Award voting.
1979-Former Yankees Minor League OF/DH John Ford Griffin was born.
Outfielder John-Ford Griffin was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st Round (23rd overall) of the 2001 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Griffin had played college baseball at Florida St. Univ. He was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Scott Pleis, making his pro baseball debut that summer. John would never appear with the team at the MLB level. On July 5, 2002, he was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Yankees along with MLB starter Ted Lilly, Minor League P Jason Arnold to the A’s. Then Oakland would send a Player to be Named Later, P Franklyn German and 1B Carlos Pena to the Tigers. Detroit would send MLB Starter Jeff Weaver to the Yankees. Next, the Tigers would send Cash to Oakland in return. On August 22, 2002, the Oakland A’s would send P Jeremy Bonderman to the Tigers to complete the trade. In 2005, John will make his MLB Player debut with the Blue Jays.
1989-Former Yankees Pitcher Michael Tonkin (2024) was born.
Reliever Michael Tonkin was originally drafted by the Twins in the 30th round of the 2008 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Palmdale HS (Palmdale, CA). He has spent 7 seasons in the MLB, with a pitching career record of 11-8 with a 4.44 ERA and 1 save in 192 games. He has appeared with the Twins (twice), Braves and the Mets (twice). Also, he had pitched for 2 seasons in Japan, Mexico and Independent Leagues before coming back to MLB. In 2023, he was with the Braves, posting a 7-3 record with a 4.28 ERA with 1 save in 45 MLB games. The Mets would sign him for the 2024 season as an MLB reliever for their bullpen. On April 25, 2024, he was claimed by the Yankees from the Mets. For the 2024 Yankees, he would post a 3-2 record with a 3.38 ERA with 2 saves in 39 games. On August 25, 2024, he was DFA by the Yankees.
1993-Former Yankees OF Joey Gallo (2021-2022) was born.
Joey Gallo was a supplemental 1st-round selection for the Rangers in the 2012 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He would make his MLB player debut 3 years later. He was a 3rd baseman at the time, but he has since been switched to the outfield. On July 28th, he was hitting .223 in 95 games, but with 25 HRs, 55 RBIs and an AL-leading 74 walks when he was scratched from the starting line-up at the last moment. It did not take long for reporters to confirm that a deal had been struck with the Yankees, with Gallo and P Joely Rodriguez going to the Yankees in return for 4 prospects, none of which was particularly high profile: 2B Ezequiel Duran, 2B Trevor Hauver, P Glenn Otto and SS Josh Smith. The trade still awaited confirmation pending physicals, something which came through shortly thereafter. Gallo comes to the Bronx with MLB lifetime BA of .211, while hitting 145 HRs and 317 RBIs in 568 games. He has been named to the AL All-Star team twice, while playing for the 2015-2021 Rangers. He would win the 2021 AL Golden Glove Award for Right Field. However, Gallo then failed to hit with New York. He would only hit .160 in 58 games in 2021, and although he had slugged 13 HRs, giving him 38 HRs on the season, but he had also struck out 88 times. In fact, he led the AL in both walks (111) and strikeouts (213). He made his MLB postseason debut in the WCG against the Red Sox, but he went 0 for 4 at the plate as the Yankees lost the game. In 2022, he was slated to be the Yankees' LF, with Aaron Hicks in CF and Aaron Judge in RF and Giancarlo Stanton as the DH; but again he had failed to hit and as result lost playing time as the 2022 season advanced, though the Yankees were on a roll and running away with a Eastern Division title. He would only hit .159, along with 12 HRs and 24 RBIs in 82 games. The Yankees had clearly given up on him for the 2nd straight MLB season, when he was traded at the MLB Trading Deadline, but this time he was sent away as dead wood on August 2nd, by which time he was in a 6 for 71 skein since mid-June. Interestingly, the team willing to take a chance on his regaining his hitting strike was another pennant contender, the Dodgers, who gave up a low-level pitching prospect Clayton Beeter in order to bring him on board. At the end of 2022 NL season, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the club.
2007-Yankees All-Star 3B Alex Rodriguez wins the 2007 AL MVP Award with a .314 BA, while hitting an MLB leading 54 HRs, along with 156 RBIs and 143 runs scored
2011-Former Yankees Pitcher Sonny Dixon (1956) had passed away. (1924-2011)
Before the start of 1941 AL season at the age of 16, Sonny Dixon was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Senators. He would spend 6 seasons in Minor Leagues before appearing in the MLB. In 1954, Sonny went 5-8 with a 3.75 ERA in 43 games for the Senators, but he was traded to the White Sox for Gus Keriazakos on June 11th. On the very same date, the White Sox would trade Sonny along with Al Sima, Bill Wilson and $20,000 to the A’s for Ed McGhee and Morrie Martin. Sonny would finish the 1954 AL season with the Philadelphia A’s; while posting a 5-7 record with a 4.86 ERA; after his 1-2 season start with the Senators. The 1954 AL season saw Dixon lead the AL in appearances with 54 games. He would start the 1955 season with the A’s who, where now playing in Kansas City, getting into only 2 games with no decisions. On May 11th, he was traded to the Yankees along with Cash for 2 veteran MLB players: Pitcher Johnny Sain and OF Enos Slaughter. He would finish out the 1955 season with the Yankees AAA club, the Denver Bears (AA) by going 3-3 with a 4.19 ERA. He was with the 1956 Yankees for a short time, going 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA in 3 appearances, this would be his last trip to the mound in the MLB. He would be sent down by the Yankees to their other AAA club, the Richmond Virginians (IL). In the 4 seasons that he was in the MLB, Sonny had posted a 11-18 record with a 4.17 career ERA, while appearing in 102 games. Dixon would pitch in the high Minor Leagues through the rest of his pro baseball career that ended with the 1961 Class AA Nashville Volunteers (SA).
2018-Mariners Starter James Paxton was traded by the team to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Players: Pitcher Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams and MLB Pitcher Justus Sheffield. In 2018, Paxton, who was 11-6 with a 3.76 ERA in 28 games for Seattle, including a No-Hitter. He will join the 2019 Yankees starting rotation. He has an MLB pitching career record of 41-26 with a 3.42 ERA in 102 games. Justus Sheffield was the Yankees Top Pitching Prospect, who made his MLB Pitching debut in 2018; appearing with the team in 3 games as a Reliever with a 0-0 record with a 10.30 ERA. In 2018, He went 7-6 with a 2.48 ERA in 20 games in the Yankees Minor League system. He had been 1 of the 3 Minor League players obtained in the July 31, 2016 MLB dead-line trade with the Indians for veteran MLB Reliever Andrew Miller. Outfielder Dom Thompson Williams had played in the Yankees Minor League system for 3 seasons, while appearing in 220 games, while hitting .270 with 28 HRs and 118 RBIs, while playing at the Class A level. Erik Swanson was obtained from the Rangers in the Carlos Beltran trade at the July 31st MLB Deadline of 2016, along with fellow Minor League Pitchers Dillon Tate and Nick Green. While pitching in the Yankees Minor League organization from 2016-2018, he had a 15-6 record in 73 games.
2021-The Yankees have designated the following MLB players OF Clint Frazier, INF Rougned Odor and INF/OF Tyler Wade for Assignment. This roster moves create space for the selections of Minor League Prospects Shortstop Oswaldo Peraza, Pitcher Ron Marinaccio, OF Everson Pereira, Pitchers Stephen Ridings and J. P. Sears to the Yankees 40-man player roster to protect them from the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. The Yankees will have 10 days to decide what to do with MLB Players Frazier, Odor and Wade. Clint Frazier will become an MLB Free Agent; he would be signed by the White Sox; meanwhile Tyler Wade would be traded to the Angels for Cash. Odor would become an MLB Free Agent, signing with the Orioles.
2021-The Phillies have acquired Reliever Nick Nelson and Minor League Catcher Donny Sands from the Yankees in exchange for 2 Minor League Players: 1B T. J. Rumfield and Pitcher Joel Valdez. In 2021 with the Yankees, Reliever Nick Nelson had posted a 1-2 record with a 6.43 ERA in 22 games. In 2021, Catcher Donny Sands had played with AA Somerset and AAA Scranton, while hitting .261 with a combined record of 18 HRs and 56 RBIs in 94 games. First baseman T. J. Rumfield was originally selected by the Phillies in the 12th round of the 2021 1st Year Player Draft. In 2021, he had played for the Low A-Clearwater (FSL), while hitting .250 in 27 games. On September 18, 2018, Pitcher Joel Valdez was signed by the Phillies as a non-drafted Free Agent. In 2 Minor League seasons with the Phillies organization, he had a record of 2-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 26 games.
November 20th
1869-Former HOF Yankees Pitcher (1903-1907) MLB Manager and Team Owner Clark “The Old Gray Fox” Griffith was born. (1869-1955)
As their 1st team Manager from 1903-1908, veteran Starter Clark Griffth would take the Yankees to a 419-370 record. Before joining the Yankees in 1903, Clark had managed the 1901-1902 White Sox. In 1903, he would post a 14-11 record with a 2.70 ERA in 25 games for the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees pitcher, Clark would have a 32-24 record in 77 games. On June 24,1908, he was fired by the Yankees President Frank Farrell, being replaced by Player/Manager Kid Elberfeld for the rest of the season. From 1909 to 1911, he would manage the Reds. Next, Griffith would join the Senators as their skipper in 1912, he would purchase 10% percent ownership in the club. In November 1919, thanks to the support of grain broker William Richardson, he would increase his ownership share to 44% of the team, with Richardson owning 40.4% but agreeing to leave him full responsibility for running the team. After the 1920 season, Clark would step down as Team Manager. Although the club won 3 AL pennants and the 1924 World Series, they would struggle in the 2nd division for most of his tenure at the helm. They had a hard time competing financially with the other teams. Griffith often had to sell off his star players to keep the team afloat. While being team owner of the Senators, Griffith had played a large role in popularizing MLB night baseball. He was responsible for signing many Latin American players. His connections with President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a large role in giving baseball the "green light" to go on during World War II. In 1946, he was elected to the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer and Baseball Executive. In 1952, he was honored by the Yankees. Clark Griffith was the team owner of the Washington Senators from 1912 until his death in 1955. Overall, Griffith had posted a 237-146 record with a 3.31 ERA and 8 saves in 453 games during his 21 MLB season pitching career, that had started in 1891 and ending in 1914.
1882-Former Yankees Pitcher Andy Coakley (1911) was born. (1892-1963)
For the 1911 Yankees, Veteran MLB Starter Andy Coakley had posted a 0-1 record with 5.40 ERA in 2 games. He had previously had pitched for the 1902-1906 A’s,1907-1908 Reds and the 1908-1909 Cubs. He appeared in 1 game in the 1905 World Series for A’s, losing 1 game. He would later become a college baseball coach at Williamson, later he was with Columbia Univ., where he coached a young Pitcher/1B named Lou Gehrig.
1888-Former MLB player (1913-1924) and Yankees Minor League Manager Ray Powell (1939-1942) was born. (1888-1962)
Former MLB player Ray Powell would manage in the Yankees Minor League organization from 1939 to 1942. He was the Manager of the 1939-1940 Easton Yankees (ESL), 1941 Norfolk Yankees (NSL) and the 1942 Fond Duc Panthers (WSL). In the MLB, he had played as an Outfielder for the Tigers and the Braves.
1919-Former Yankees Pitcher Rugger Ardizoia (1947) was born. (1919-2015)
At the time of his death in 2015, 96-year-old Rinaldo "Rugger" Ardizoia was the oldest living ex-Yankees player. He had pitched 1 game in the MLB, he would spend 12 seasons pitching in the Minors, mostly with various teams in the Pacific Coast League. He was born in Italy, but he grew up in San Francisco. After graduating from high school in 1937, Rugger began playing for the AA San Francisco Missions in the (PCL). When the Missions moved to Hollywood for the 1931 PCL season; they became the Hollywood Stars. He would pitch 2 seasons for the Stars until being signed for the Yankees by West Coast MLB Scout Joe Devine. The Yankees would send him to their AA club, the Newark Bears (IL) in 1941. When World War II started, he was considered an enemy alien, since he was Italian-born. Rugger was not allowed to travel to the league’s 2 Canadian cities (Montreal and Toronto) with the team. So, in 1942, he was assigned to the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), which had no Canadian city based teams in their league. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army Air Force. Rugger was sent to McClelland Field in Sacramento, Ca., as an aircraft maintenance person. Later, he was sent to Hawaii with the 7th Air Force as a Tow Target Operator; then he would go to Tinian and Iwo Jima with the 20th Air Force. In December 1945, Ardizoia was discharged from the Air Force. In 1946, he went to the MLB Spring Training Camp with the Yankees, but Rugger would spend that season with the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL); where he had won 15 games. Ardizoia’s MLB Pitching career consisted of just 2 innings of relief pitching on April 30,1947. Yankees Manager Bucky Harris tabbed him to relieve Karl Drews in the 7th inning of the Yankees' game against the Browns at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. The Browns already held a 13-4 lead over the Yankees, so his MLB Pitching career amounted to nothing more than MLB mop-up duty. Ardizoia started out well, pitching an uneventful 7th inning. In the top of the 8th inning, Yankees 1B George McQuinn's RBI double chipped away at the Browns' lead, but in the bottom of the 8th, Ardizoia gave up 2 runs on Browns 1B Wally Judnich's 2nd HR of the game. In the top of the 9th inning, Johnny Lindell would pinch-hit for him and his MLB pitching career with the Yankees came to an end. Ardizoia would spent the 1948 season back with the AA Hollywood Stars (PCL), later he was with the 1949 AA Seattle Rainiers (PCL) and in the 1951 season, he was with the Dallas Eagles (TXL) before retiring from baseball.
1929-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Lou Berberet (1954-1955) was born. (1929-2004)
In 1950, the Yankees had signed Catcher Lou Berberet as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He appeared in just 7 games for the 1954-1955 Yankees, while hitting .400. He was blocked by the presence of All-Star Catcher Yogi Berra and Rookie Elston Howard, like many other young Yankees Minor League Catchers in the 1950’s; the team would trade Lou. On February 8,1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, INF Herb Plews, Outfielders Richard Tettelbach and Bob Wiesler to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would later send Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade. Lou would hit .261 for the 1956-1957 AL seasons for the Senators before being traded to the Red Sox in 1958. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1959-1960 Tigers. Overall, he had appeared in 468 MLB games, while hitting .230 with 31 HRs and 153 RBIs.
1930-Former Yankees Minor League INF Don Leppert was born. (1930-2021)
In 1949, the Yankees had signed INF Don Leppert as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never appear with the team at the MLB level. Don would be traded to the Orioles in the big 17-player trade in November of 1954. In 1955, he would play in 30 games for the Orioles, hitting just .141 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. During the 1956 baseball season, he would return to the Yankees organization, playing 2B for Birmingham Barons (SA), while hitting .278 in 68 games before retiring from pro baseball at the end of the season.
1934-A 17-year-old Japanese Pitcher named Eiji Sawamura gives up 1-hit, a HR to Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig, as the touring MLB All-Stars, win in Japan by the score of 1-0. At one point, Sawamura strikes out 4 future MLB Hall of Fame players in a row: Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer, Yankees OF Babe Ruth, A’s 1B Jimmie Foxx and Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig.
1940-Former Yankees Minor League P Gil Downs was born. (1940-2019)
Gil Downs had a successful Minor League Pitching career, playing in 3 MLB organizations from 1963 to 1967. He made it to AAA in part or all of 3 seasons, though he never ascended to the MLB. He began his pro pitching career in the White Sox system, going 13-3 with a 1.37 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) between the Lynchburg White Sox (3 Games, with a 1.13 ERA) and the Sarasota Sun Sox (24 Games, 1.38 ERA) in 1963. With the Sun Sox, he tossed 13 complete games and 6 shutouts; between both teams, he allowed just 140 hits and 48 walks in 191 innings for a 0.984 WHIP. He had 174 strikeouts. On June 20th, he tossed a 7-inning No-Hitter against the Class A Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). The Yankees would take him in the $8,000 1st Year portion of the 1963 Rule 5 Player Draft. For the 1964 Greensboro Yankees (SAL), he went 9-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 games (21 starts), while completing 4 games and 1 shut out. In 127 innings, he allowed 97 hits and 46 walks, while striking out 118 batters. Also, he went 4-1 with 0.87 ERA in 9 games (6 starts) with 4 complete games and 3 shutouts for the Yankees (FECIL) that season. Shifting to the bullpen in 1965, Downs went 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 42 games (3 starts) between the 2 teams. Most of his work came with the AA Columbus Confederate Yankees (SL) (42 Games, 1.18 ERA), though he made 2 starts for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL), going 0-1 with a 8.00 ERA in 9 innings. In 1966, his only full season at AAA, he went 10-8 with a 3.47 ERA in 34 games (11 starts) for the Mud Hens. In 109 innings, he had allowed only 82 hits, but he surrendered 61 walks. On December 20,1966, he was traded along with Cash by the Yankees to the Indians for veteran MLB Shortstop Richard Howser. He would spend 1 season in the Indians farm system, posting a 0-1record with a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings in 1967. Overall, Downs went 39-19 with a 2.30 ERA in 134 games (61 starts) in 5 Minor League seasons. He had 19 complete games with 8 shutouts. In 528 innings, he allowed 390 hits and 217 walks, while striking out 430 batters. Including his winter league statistics, he went 43-20 with a 2.17 ERA with 23 complete games and 11 shutouts. He was 10-10, with a 3.94 ERA in 40 games (13 starts) at AAA. He had served in the Army prior to starting his pro baseball playing career in 1963.
1945-Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) was born. (1945-2020)
On June 14,1978, OF Jay Johnstone was traded by the Phillies along with Minor League OF Bobby Brown to the Yankees for MLB Reliever Rawly Eastwick. For the 1978 Yankees, Jay would hit .262 in 32 games. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Pitcher Dave Wehrmeister. In 1979, he had only played in 23 games, while just hitting .208 for the team, when he was traded to the Phillies. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
1962-Yankees CF Mickey Mantle collects his 3rd AL MVP Award of his MLB playing career. Mantle, who had hit .321 with 30 HRs and 89 RBIs in 123 games, also he led the AL in walks (122) along with a slugging percentage (.605), while helping the Yankees to win the 1962 World Championship against the Giants.
1967-The Yankees have obtained INF and future MLB Coach Bobby Cox from the Braves for Pitcher Dale Roberts and Reserve Catcher Bob Tillman. He will be the Yankees starting 3B for the 1968 AL season, while appearing in 132 games, hitting .229 with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs. Overall, Bobby will play in 220 games for the 1967-1968 Yankees, while hitting .225 with 9 HRs and 58 RBIs. In 1977, he will become an MLB Coach for the Yankees before joining the 1978 Braves as their MLB Manager. Also, he would also be an MLB Manager for the Blue Jays, before returning to the Braves.
1967-Former Yankees Reserve INF Alex Arias (2002) was born.
On June 6, 2002, veteran MLB INF Alex Arias was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would only appear in 6 games for the 2002 team with no hits. On October 28, 2002, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1969-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Charles “Paddy” Baumann (1915-1917) had passed away. (1885-1969)
On March 3,1915, INF/OF Paddy Baumann was sent from AA Providence (IL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. For the 1915-1917 Yankees, Charles “Paddy” Bauman would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 61 RBIs in 204 games. Paddy had started his MLB playing career with the 1911-1914 Tigers, as a Reserve player, while appearing in 95 games, hitting .272 with 1 HR and 40 RBIs. After leaving the Yankees in 1917, Paddy would play in the Minor Leagues until 1928, before retiring at the age of 42.
1971-Former Yankees Reliever Gabe White (2003-2004) was born.
On July 31, 2003, the Reds would send hurler Gabe White to the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On December 7, 2003, Gabe was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Gabe would post a 2-2 record with a 6.82 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees during the 2003-2004 AL seasons. On June 18, 2004, the Yankees would send Gabe back to the Reds for Minor League hurler Charlie Manning and Cash.
1985-Yankees 1B Don Mattingly, who had hit .324, with 35 HRs and 145 RBIs, easily wins the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player Award over the Royals 3B George Brett (.335, 30 HRs, 103 RBIs). He becomes the 1st player on a non-championship team to win the AL MVP Award since Red Sox OF Jim Rice had won in 1978.
1995-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Mike DeJean and a Player to be Named to the Rockies for Catcher Joe Girardi. He will solidify the catching position for the Yankees, while DeJean will set an MLB mark for most appearances without a loss. DeJean will post a 7-0 record through 1998, while making 88 appearances, breaking a little-known mark set by Phil Paine from 1951-1958. Yankees Manager Joe Torre will replace Mike Stanley as the Yankees starting catcher for the 1996 AL season. Stanley will be signed an MLB Free Agent by the Red Sox. The Player to be Named Later was Yankees Minor League P Steve Shoemaker, who went 4-5 in Class A ball with the Class A Tampa (FSL) and Greensboro (SAL).
2001-The Yankees would lose veteran Reserve INF Jose Vizcanio to MLB Free Agency, as he signs with the Astros. On June 20, 2000, Jose was traded by the Dodgers along with Cash to the Yankees for Catcher Jim Leyritz. He would hit .276 with 0 HRs and 10 RBIs in 73 games. Jose Vizcaino had the game-winning hit in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series between the Yankees and Mets. He would hit .235 in 4 Series games for the 2000 Yankees.
2010-Former Yankees Pitcher Danny McDevitt (1961) had passed away. (1932-2010).
In 1951, the Yankees had originally signed Pitcher Danny McDevitt as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that season in the low Minors, he was released by the Yankees before the start of 1952 AL season. Then the Dodgers would sign him as an MLB Free Agent. On December 16,1960, Danny was purchased by the Yankees from the Dodgers. For the 1961 Yankees, he was projected to replace Bobby Shantz as the lefty swingman on the Yankees pitching staff. As a Bronx hurler, Dan would post a 1-2 record with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save in 8 games, before being traded on June 14,1961 to the Twins for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Dan’s claim to MLB fame was being the last Brooklyn Dodger Pitcher to start, throw a shutout and win at Ebbets Field in September of 1957 against the Pirates. His best MLB season was in 1959, when he went 10-8 for the World Champion Dodgers. He didn’t appear in the 1959 World Series for the Dodgers against the White Sox. Danny would finish MLB Pitching career with a 21-27 record with a 4.40 ERA with 7 saves in 155 games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Twins and finishing with the 1962 A’s.
2012-The Yankees would re-sign veteran MLB Starter Hiroki Kuroda for 1 year for $15 million, giving him a big raise, after he had posted a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA in 33 games for the club in 2012.
2018-The Yankees have added Minor League Reliever Joe Harvey to their 40-Man MLB roster. On June 7, 2014, Joe Harvey was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The young reliever has a 5-6 lifetime career record with 1.75 ERA with 25 saves in 102 games. He split the 2018 season between AA Trenton Thunder (EL) and AAA Scranton (IL), while posting a 3-2 record with a 1.67 ERA and 11 saves in 43 games. On July 31, 2019, Harvey was traded by the Yankees to the Rockies for Minor League P Alfredo Garcia. In 2020, he will appear in only 4 games for the Rockies with no decisions. On November 2, 2020, Joe was granted MLB Free Agency by the Rockies.
2020-The Yankees have selected the player contract of Pitcher Alexander Vizcanio from the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL), then they will select the player contracts of Pitcher Yoendrys Gomez and Shortstop Oswald Peraza from the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) adding them to their 40-Man MLB Roster.
November 21st
1885-Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Billiard (1908) was born. (1885-1923)
Pitcher Harry Billiard had appeared in 6 games with no record for the 1908 Yankees.
1911-After a 6th place team finish with a 76-76 record for the 1911 AL season, 1B Hal Chase resigns as the Yankees Manager. Former MLB 3B Harry Wolverton replaces him as the Yankees Manager. Hal Chase will remain a player with the Yankees, until he is traded to the White Sox during the 1913 AL season. The Rookie AL Manager Harry Wolverton will go 50-100-1 for a last place finish for the 1912 AL season. Also, he had played 34 games at 3B, while hitting .300. After leaving the team, Harry will never manage in the MLB again. Former Cubs Manager Frank Chance will replace him for the 1913 AL season.
1934-The Yankees had announced that they have purchased Minor League Star OF Joe DiMaggio from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) for Players to be Named Later and Cash. He will be allowed to play for the Seals for 1 more PCL season before he will report to the Yankees for the 1936 AL season. The son of Italian immigrants will be 1 of 3 DiMaggio brothers to play in the MLB, Dom (Red Sox) and Vince (Braves and the Pirates). On December 19,1934, the Yankees will send INF Doc Farrell (Minors), P Floyd Newkirk, Minor League Players; Jim Densmore, Ted Norbert and $5,000 Cash (1935) to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete the trade. Doc Farrell will refuse to report to his new team in 1935, he would end up playing briefly with Red Sox, before retiring as an active player.
1934-Former Yankees Pitcher Fred “Lucky” Glade (1908) had passed away. (1876-1934)
On November 5,1907, veteran Starter Fred Glade was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with OF Charlie Hemphill and 2B Harry Niles to the Yankees for INF Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and 2B Jimmy Williams. For the 1908 Yankees, Fred will appear in 5 games, while posting a 0-4 record with a 4.22 ERA. After the 1908 AL season was over, Glade will retire from MLB. He finishes his MLB pitching career with a 52-68 record with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 132 games. He had pitched for the Cubs in the NL, then with the Browns and the Yankees in the AL.
1947-Former Yankees Pitcher “Slow” Joe Doyle (1906-1910) had passed away. (1881-1947)
For the 1906-1910 Yankees, hurler “Slow” Joe Doyle had posted a 22-21 record with 2.75 ERA in 70 games. On May 31,1910, Joe was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $2,000 Cash. Doyle was nicknamed “Slow” because the amount of time he took to throw his pitches in a game. Overall, Joe had an MLB lifetime pitching record of 22-21 with a 2.85 ERA in 75 games.
1971-Former Yankees Reliever Norm “Red” Branch (1941-1942) had passed away. (1915-1971)
Norm “Red” Branch had played college baseball at the Univ. of Texas. In 1937, Red was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The 6’3”, 200-Lb right-hander would pitch for the Norfolk Tars (PL) in his rookie year posting an impressive 14-4 record and earning promotion to AA Kansas City Blues (AA). By 1939, Branch was with the AA Newark Bears (IL), where he worked primarily as a relief pitcher, while appearing in 41 games that season. In 1940, the 25-year-old would make 30 appearances for AA Newark Bears. In 1941, Red would join the Yankees MLB pitching staff. He would make his MLB Pitching debut on May 5,1941. He would appear in 27 games for the team, while posting a 5-1 record with a 2.87 ERA, although he didn’t pitch in the 1941 World Series against the Dodgers. In 1942, he made just 10 appearances for the Yankees, Red would enter into military service with the Coast Guard at the end of the year. Branch was initially stationed at Groton Naval base in Connecticut before moving to the Coast Guard Academy at New London, where he spent the rest of the war. He would pitch for the Coast Guard Dolphins. Returning from service at the end of 1945 with a sore arm, Branch would pitch briefly for the AA Newark Bears (IL) and the Class A Beaumont (TXL) in 1946, before retiring from the game. As an MLB Reliever, Norm Branch had appeared in 37 games for the 1941-1942 Yankees, while posting a 5-2 record with a 3.73 ERA and 7 saves.
1973-Former Yankees OF Rickey Ledee (1998-2000) was born.
In the 16th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft, the Yankees had selected OF Rickey Ledee. He was trying to break into the Yankees starting outfield, when on June 29, 2000, he was traded by the team along with 2 Pitchers: Zach Day and Jake Westbrook to the Indians for MLB veteran OF/DH David Justice. The arrival of Dave Justice would help the Yankees win the 2000 AL Flag. As a Yankees player, Ledee had appeared in 192 games, while hitting .258 with 17 HRs and 83 RBIs. Rickey had never reached his great promise as an MLB player due to various injuries that occur to him during his MLB playing career.
1973-Former Yankees Reliever Todd Erdos (1998-2000) was born.
On March 7,1998, Pitcher Todd Erdos was traded by the Diamondbacks along with Pitcher Marty Janzen to the Yankees for Reserve INF Andy Fox. For the 1998-2000 Yankees, Todd went 0-0 with 5.03 ERA with 1 save in 20 games. On July 12, 2000, Todd was selected off waivers by Padres from the Yankees.
1978-The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Starter Tommy John, a re-entry MLB Free Agent formerly with the Dodgers. John will be a valuable addition to the Yankees starting rotation, winning 43 games in the next 2 AL seasons. He had become an MLB Free Agent, when the 1978 Dodgers had refused to give him a 3-year contract. For the 1978 Dodgers, John had posted a 17-10 record with a 3.30 ERA and 1 save in 33 games.
1980-Despite having led the 1980 Yankees to 103 wins and winning AL East Division, Manager Richard Howser resigns. He was tired of the constant interference by Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner over personnel and player decisions. Former Yankees MLB Player and Coach Gene “The Stick” Michael would replace him. In 1981, Howser will join the Kansas City Royals as their Manager.
1987-Former Yankees Reserve OF Dusty Cooke (1930-1933) had passed away.(1907-1987)
Dusty Cooke played 8 seasons in the MLB, showing an ability to draw walks. He hit .306 in 1935 and his .400 on-base percentage was among the AL leaders. He would play the Outfield in the MLB, appearing in all 3-outfield positions in roughly equal amounts. Although he was with the Yankees for 3 seasons, he did not appear in post-season play (they finished 2nd in the 2 seasons that he had most of his at-bats with them). His Yankees player career totals were a .267 BA with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs in 122 games. On May 15,1933, Dusty was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for 2B Marv Olson, OF/1B Johnny Watwood and Cash. Cooke would play for the Yankees, Red Sox and the Reds during his MLB playing career. He joined the Navy in October of 1942; he served in Okinawa Bay during the war. Cooke received training in the Navy in Conditioning, so he became the MLB Trainer for the Phillies in 1946. Also, Cooke was a Phillies MLB Coach from 1948 to 1952; he was also the club's Manager for a short time (12 games) during the 1948 NL season.
1988-Former Yankees Minor League OF Ryan LaMarre (2021) was born.
Ryan LaMarre was signed by the Yankees to a Minor League contract with an invitation to their 2021 MLB Spring Training Camp. He is a former 2nd Round pick of the Reds in the 2010 1st Year Player Draft out of the Univ. of Michigan. In 2020, he had signed a Minor League deal with Tampa; he was released by the team on July 18th. On July 23rd, he was signed to a Minor League deal with the Cubs; he was assigned to their MLB Alternate site. On September 10th, Ryan was released by the Cubs. He has played in 5 MLB seasons with the 2015 Reds, 2016 Red Sox, 2017 A’s, 2018-2019 Twins and the 2018 White Sox. He has played in 120 MLB games, while hitting .236 with 4 HRs and 21 RBIs. He started the 2021 season with the Yankees AAA club in Scranton (IL), then he was briefly with the Yankees before being outrighted to AAA Scranton on June 16th. On July 18, 2021, the Yankees had purchased his Minor League contract from AAA Scranton (IL) adding him to their 25-man MLB roster, when the team’s outfielders went down with a series of injuries. He would appear in 9 games for the team, while hitting 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. He would be returned to AAA Scranton to finish out the season. In October of 2021, the Yankees had announced that Ryan had become a Free Agent. In March of 2022, Ryan would be signed by the team to Minor League deal with an invite to the 2022 MLB Spring Training Camp. On November 22, 2022, the Yankees would grant him MLB Free Agency, he would sign with the Twins.
1989-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Pitcher Pascual Perez. For the 1990-1991 Yankees, the troubled Perez would go 3-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 17 games. He had posted a 28-21 record in 3 seasons with the Montreal Expos. He was on the Yankees DL for shoulder injuries, that would end his MLB Pitching career. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 67-68 record with a 3.44 ERA in 207 games with the Pirates, Braves, Expos and the Yankees.
1989-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Jose Pirela (2014-2015) was born.
The Yankees had originally signed the Venezuela native INF/OF Jose Pirela, as a Non-Drafted Free Agent on July 2, 2006. Jose had a very good MLB Player debut starting at DH for the Yankees against the Orioles on September 22, 2014. He was batting 9th in the Yankees starting line-up, he went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI in a 5-0 win, with his 1st MLB hit being a triple off of Orioles Starter Wei-Yin Chen in his 1st MLB career at-bat in the 3rd inning. He was the last of 234 players to make their MLB Player debut in 2014. Pirela, 25, hit .230 (17-for-74) with 1 HR and 5 RBIs in 37 games with the 2015 Yankees. He missed the 1st month of the season on the concussion DL following an injury suffered during an MLB spring training game against the Mets on March 22nd in Port St. Lucie. In 64-combined Minor League games-including his rehab assignment-with Class A Tampa (FSL), AA Trenton (EL) and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL), he would hit .310 (76-for-245) with 3 HRs and 23 RBIs. On November 11, 2015, Jose was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Minor League hurler Ronald Herrera.
2000-The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Free Agent Catcher Joe Oliver to a contract. For the 2001 Yankees, he would hit .250 in 12 games as a Reserve Catcher, before being released by the team on June 20, 2001. He would finish out the 2001 AL season with the Red Sox.
2015-Former Yankees Reserve OF Kerry Dineen (1951-1975) had passed away.(1952-2015)
Outfielder Kerry Dineen was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1973 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Dineen would appear in only 11 games as a Reserve Outfielder for the 1975-1976 Yankees, while hitting .345 before being traded to the Phillies for Reserve INF Sergio Ferrer. Kerry had appeared in just 5 games with the 1979 Phillies, while hitting .250. He had his pro baseball career end due to back injuries.
2015-Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Johnson (1969) had passed away. (1933-2015)
Veteran Ken Johnson pitched two-thirds of an inning in Game 5 of the 1961 World Series for the Reds against the Yankees. He came on in the top of the 2nd with 1 out, already being the Reds' 3rd pitcher of the game, relieving Jim Maloney, who had relieved Starter Joey Jay. Johnny Blanchard was on 1B. Johnson got Elston Howard to line to 3B and Moose Skowron to fly out to center. The Reds lost the game by the score of 13-5 and lost the 1961 World Series to the Yankees by 4 games to 1. Ken Johnson is the only MLB Pitcher to lose a 9-inning complete game No-Hitter. On April 23,1964, while with the Houston Colt .45's, he was beaten 1-0 by the Reds; despite having thrown a No-Hitter. After 8 innings of no-hit ball, in the top of the 9th, Johnson faced his counterpart, Joe Nuxhall, who grounded out to 3B. Then Pete Rose reached 2nd, after Johnson made an errant throw to 1st on a bunt. After a sacrifice to the pitcher, Rose was 90 feet from home with 2 outs. Vada Pinson then sent a grounder to 2B Nellie Fox who booted it, allowing the run to score. Johnson got the next batter to fly out, but the Colt .45's couldn't score in the last of the 9th, pegging him with the loss. In 1952, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Philadelphia A’s. He had pitched for the A’s, Reds, Colt 45s, Expos (twice), Braves, Yankees and the Cubs. Overall, Ken had posted a 91-106 record with a 3.46 ERA in 334 MLB games. After being purchased from the Braves, Ken had pitched briefly for the 1969 Yankees, appearing in only 12 games, he had posted a 1-2 record with a 3.46 ERA. In August of 1969, the team would sell him to the Cubs. After his MLB player retirement, he was a Baseball Coach for Louisiana College in Pineville, LA.
2018-The Yankees had acquired INF/OF Tim Locastro from the Dodgers for Minor League hurler Drew Finley and Cash considerations. He’s a .283 hitter through 626 AA plate appearances. Playing with the 2017-2018 Dodgers, he had appeared in 21 games, while hitting only .167. Finley, a 22-year-old righty, has yet to move past the low A level despite 3 attempts. In 120 innings as a Pitcher over 4 seasons, he carries an unsightly 5.48 ERA with a 2-11 record in 42 games in the Yankees organization. Finley was a 3rd-round pick of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees back in 2015. On January 16, 2019, Tim Locastro was traded by the Yankees the Diamondbacks for Minor League P Ronald Roman and Cash.
2023-Pitcher Yerry De Los Santos has signed a Minor League deal with an invite to 2024 Yankees MLB spring training camp, further adding that the righty would earn $900K upon making the MLB roster. De Los Santos, who also has out clauses in the deal on June 1st and July 1st. Santos had become a free agent just 2 weeks ago, after he went unclaimed on waivers. That ended his career-long tenure with the Pirates. In 2014, the righty had signed with the Pirates as an MLB Amateur Player. He would get to the MLB, 8 years later, tossing 25 2/3 innings of 4.91 ERA ball as a rookie. He took on a similar workload in 2023, tallying 24 1/3 frames over 26 MLB appearances. The 25-year-old (26 next month) turned in a 3.33 ERA for the Bucs this year. He’s a sensible target for the Yankees as a non-roster addition, however. Yankees tends to prioritize ground-ball arms in the late innings. They’ve led the MLB in ground-ball percentage from their relief corps in consecutive seasons. De Los Santos fits the mold. He relies primarily on a sinker that averaged 95 MPH at the MLB level. That has resulted in a grounder rate north of 53% in his MLB pitching career. (The league average for relievers sat at 43.6% this year.) De Los Santos has a pair of minor league options remaining. If he cracks the MLB roster, the Yankees could move him between the Bronx and AAA without exposing him to waivers.
November 22nd
1892-Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Pi Schwert (1914-1915) was born. (1892-1941)
Reserve Catcher Pi Schwert was a graduate of Univ. of Pennsylvania, where he had played college baseball. He was a member of 1914-1915 Yankees as a Reserve Catcher. He had appeared in just 12 games, while hitting .208 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. He would play in the Minor Leagues from 1916-1921. In 1938, Pius Schwert was elected to Congress as a Democrat from New York and served his position until his death in 1941.
1901-Former Yankees and MLB OF/3B Harry Rice (1930) was born. (1901-1971)
For the 1930 Yankees, Veteran OF Harry Rice would hit .298 with 7 HRs and 74 RBIs as a regular Outfielder in 100 games. During the 1930 AL season, he was obtained from the Tigers in the Waite Hoyt trade. Despite his good performance for the 1930 Yankees, the new Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy had no plans for the veteran Rice in the 1931 team’s starting Outfield. On January 31,1931, Harry was claimed on waivers by the Senators from the Yankees. As an MLB player for 10 seasons, he would hit .299 with 48 HRs and 501 RBIs in 1,034 games. In 1933, after playing for the Reds, Harry would continue to play in the Minor Leagues. From 1938-1941, Harry was a Minor League Player/ Manager.
1926-Former Yankees and MLB Pitcher Lew Burdette (1950) was born. (1926-2007)
On April 6,1947, Pitcher Lew Burdette was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1947, he would break into pro baseball at age 20 with the Class B Norfolk Tars (PL), going 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in 6 games. Then he would pitch for the Amsterdam Rugmakers (CAML) in the same season, going 9-10 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 games. In 1948, Lou was with the Quincy Gems (3-I L), posting a 16-11 record with a 2.02 ERA. In 1949, Lew would pitch for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), going just 6-7 with a 5.26 ERA in 36 games. In 1950, Lew went 7-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 27 games for the Blues and got a late look with the Yankees. He would appear in just 2 games with no record for the team. In 1951, he was sent back down to the Minors by the team to the AAA San Francisco Seals (PCL), where Lew had posted a 14-12 record with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games; then on August 29,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $50,000 Cash to the Braves for veteran P Johnny Sain. He would pitch for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1942,1946 until 1951, while posting a 179-120 record with a 3.53 ERA and 24 saves in 468 games. Lew would come back to haunt the Yankees in 1957 World Series, winning 3 games against his former team; giving the Braves their 1st World Series Championship since the 1914 NL season. In 2 World Series with 1957-1958 Milwaukee Braves against the Yankees, Lew went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 6 games. He had won 20 and 21 games for the 1958-1959 Braves, also he would win 19 games twice and 18 once for the team. He was named to the NL All-Star team Pitching Staff, 3 times. In 1960, he had pitched a No-Hitter against the Phillies. Lew would finish his MLB pitching career in 1967 with an MLB lifetime mark of 203-144 with a 3.66 ERA in 626 MLB games. He had pitched for the Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and would finish his MLB career with the 1967 Angels. Later, He was an MLB Scout for the Braves organization, before retiring completely from baseball. Then he would become involved in Public Relations work. Clipper Notes: If Lew had stayed with the Yankees, he could have a good chance to win 300 games. Former Yankees GM George Weiss would name Pitcher Lou Burdette and OF Jackie Jensen as the 2 young Yankee players that he shouldn’t have traded away during his GM days with the team (1948-1960).
1934-The Yankees had sold veteran hurler Danny MacFayden to the Reds. For the 1932-1934 Yankees, Dan had posted a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games. His sale to the Reds was a conditional deal, if the team didn’t want to keep him, he would be returned to the Bronx. For the 1935 Reds, he would post a 1-2 record with a 4.75 ERA in 7 games. On June 1,1935, he was returned to the Yankees. On June 4,1935, the Yankees would sell him to the Braves.
1943-Former Yankees Pitcher Wade Blasingame (1972) was born.
After being obtained from the Astros on June 7,1972, NL veteran hurler Wade Blasingame went 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 12 games for the 1972 Yankees before being sent to the Cardinals on a conditional deal in March of 1973.
1946-Former Yankees INF Rich McKinney (1972) was born.
On December 2,1971, INF Rich McKinney was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for Starter Stan Bahnsen. Rich would hit .215 with 1 HR and 7 RBIs in 37 games for the Yankees in one of the worst modern era trades in the team’s history. He was unable to make the adjustment from 2B to 3B. On December 1,1972, he was sent by the Yankees to Oakland to complete an earlier deal made on November 24,1972. The Bombers sent a Player to be Named Later and Pitcher Rob Gardner to Oakland for veteran OF/DH Matty Alou. The Yankees would send INF Rich McKinney on December 1,1972 to Oakland to complete the trade. With the arrival of 3B Graig Nettles from the Indians, Rich’s fate with the Yankees was sealed. He was very happy to leave New York City. As an MLB player, Rich would hit .225 with 20 HRs and 100 RBIs in 341 games.
1955-Former Yankees INF Wayne Tolleson (1986-1990) was born.
On July 30,1986, INF Wayne Tolleson was traded by the White Sox along with OF/1B Ron Kittle and C Joel Skinner to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, C Ron Hassey and OF Carlos Martinez. The Yankees would later send Minor League C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade. Wayne’s best season as a Yankees player was in 1986, when he hit .284 with No HRs and 14 RBIs in 60 games for the team. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1987 Yankees, while appearing in 121 games, hitting .221 with 1 HR and 22 RBIs. Overall, Wayne had played in 689 MLB games, hitting .249 with 8 HRs and 115 RBIs; while playing for the Rangers, White Sox and the Yankees.
1956-Former Yankees Reserve OF Roy Carlyle (1926) had passed away. (1900-1956)
On June 15,1926, OF Roy Carlyle was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox. He had originally been signed by the Senators, who later traded him to the Red Sox. For the 1926 Yankees, he had appeared in 35 games, while hitting .323 with No HRs and 11 RBIs for the team. Roy was basically used as a left-handed Pinch-Hitter by the Yankees Manager Miller Higgins since the Yankee starting Outfield was already set with Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Bob Meusel. In 1927, he would return to Minor Leagues, playing actively until 1934, retiring as a player at the age of 32.
1957-In a controversial AL MVP vote; Yankees CF Mickey Mantle edges Red Sox OF Ted Williams, 233 to 209 votes to win the 1957 AL MVP Award. Mantle had batted .365 with 34 HRs for the 1st-place Yankees, meanwhile Williams of the 3rd-place Red Sox, had led the AL with a .388 average along with 38 HRs, as well as a stunning .731 slugging percentage. Boston Team Owner Tom Yawkey fumes at the news, noting that 2 Chicago Baseball Writers had listed Ted Williams in the 9th and 10th places on their AL MVP voting ballots.
1958-Former Yankees Pitcher Lee Guetterman (1988-1992) was born.
On December 22,1987, Pitcher Lee Guetterman was traded by the Mariners along with fellow hurlers Clay Parker and Wade Taylor to the Yankees for MLB Starter Steve Trout and Reserve OF Henry Cotto. One of the more consistent relievers of his day, Guetterman would start the 1989 AL season for the Yankees with a run of 30 2/3 innings without giving up a run - the highest total in 41 years. This streak was the longest ever by a reliever to start the season. Lee’s best season with the Yankees was in 1990, when he posted a 11-7 record with a 3.39 ERA and 2 saves in 64 games. As a Yankees hurler, Lee would post a 21-19 record with a 3.73 ERA with 21 saves in 233 games before being traded on June 9,1992 to the Mets for hurler Tim Burke. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 38-36 record with a 4.33 ERA and 25 saves in 425 games.
1974-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson to the Indians for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. On June 7,1973, Pat had been obtained by the Yankees from the Braves for Minor League Players 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later. Dobson had pitched for the team from 1973 to 1975. In 1973, he had posted a 9-8 record with a 4.17 ERA in 22 games. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA in 39 games. In 1975, he had slipped to a 11-14 record with a 4.07 ERA in 35 games. Then he was removed from the 1975 Yankees starting rotation by Yankees Manager Bill Virdon. When the Bombers new Manager Billy Martin arrived in August; he would also continue to keep him out of the starting rotation. Then Pat would ask the Yankees front office for a trade. Young OF Oscar Gamble was a young lefty slugger, who had hit 54 HRs for the Tribe during the past 3 AL seasons.
1985-Yankees Former Reliever Adam Ottavino (2019-2020) was born.
On January 17, 2019, it was announced that MLB Free Agent Reliever Adam Ottavino had signed a 3-year deal with the Yankees worth $27 million. He announced shortly afterwards that the Yankees had allowed him to keep his traditional uniform number, 0. That made him the 1st player in team history to wear the number and the only member of the team to have single-digit number, given uniform numbers 1 through 9 have all been retired by the team. He decision to allow him to use the number apparently had to be okayed by Team Owner himself! In 7 seasons with the Rockies, he had a 17-18 record with a 3.41 ERA and 17 saves in 463 games. For the 2019 Yankees, Adam would have 6-6 record with a 1.90 ERA and 2 saves in 73 games. In the 2019 ALDS, he had a 0-0 record in 3 games against the Twins. In the 2019 ALCS against the Astros, he went 0-0 with a disappointing 11.57 ERA in 5 games for the Yankees. In 2020, he had appeared in 24 games for the team, while posting a 2-3 record with disappointing a 5.89 ERA and no saves. On January 25,2021, Adam was traded to the Red Sox along with Minor League hurler Frank German for Cash compensation. He would last just 1 season with the Red Sox, posting a 7-3 record with a 4.21 ERA and 11 saves in 69 games. On November 3, 2021, the Red Sox would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Mets. In November of 2023, he had opted out of his MLB player contract with the Mets, he is now an MLB Free Agent.
1988-Former Yankees Reserve C/1B Austin Romine (2011, 2013-2019) was born.
The son of former MLB Player Kevin Romine and brother of Andrew Romine, Catcher Austin Romine was selected by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the Class A Gulf Coast League Yankees, going 1-for-2 in 1st game there. In September of 2009, Austin Romine was named Florida State League Player of the Year. Romine would spend the bulk of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Where he would hit .286 with 6 HRs and 47 RBIs. After spending 4 games with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL) at the end of the season, he was called up to the MLB to experience the pennant race the Yankees were involved in. Romine made his MLB Player debut on September 11th against the Angels in Anaheim. With his parents in the stands and brother Andrew on the Angels bench, Romine was brought in as a defensive replacement for fellow top catching prospect Jesus Montero. Romine caught the final 3 innings as Mariano Rivera picked up his 599th MLB career save. He had missed most of 2012 baseball season due to back problems. In 2016, he had appeared in 62 games as a Reserve Catcher and 1B for the team, while hitting .242 with No HRs and 26 RBIs. In 2017, Austin hit .218 with 2 HRs and 21 RBIs in 80 games. With injuries to starting Catcher Gary Sanchez in 2018, Austin would play in 77 games, while hitting .244 with 10 HRs and 42 RBIs. In 2019, Austin would appear in 72 games for the team, while Sanchez was on the IL, hitting .281 with 8 HRs and 35 RBIs. Overall, as a Yankees player for 8 seasons, he had played in 368 games, while hitting .239 with 25 HRs and 135 RBIs. After the 2019 AL season was over, Austin was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. He would be sign by the Tigers, who were giving him a chance to be their 2020 starting Catcher. In 2020, he had played for the Tigers before being granted MLB Free Agency. In 2021, he would play for the Cubs, as a reserve catcher before being granted MLB Free Agency after the NL season had ended.
1995-The Angels had signed MLB Free Agent INF Randy Velarde, formerly of the Yankees to a 3-year MLB player contract. Randy will now have a chance to become the Angels full-time Shortstop for the 1996 AL season. In 10 seasons with the Yankees, Randy had appeared in 673 games, while hitting .261 with 43 HRs and 209 RBIs. He was originally signed by the White Sox. On January 5,1987, Randy was traded by the White Sox along with Pitcher Pete Filson to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers: Mike Soper (Minors) and Scott Nielsen.
2006-Former Yankees Pitcher Pat Dobson (1973-1975) had passed away from Leukemia. (1942-2006)
On June 7,1973, the Yankees would send 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later were sent to the Braves for MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers: Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. For the 1973 Yankees, Pat would post a 9-8 record with a 4.17 ERA in 22 games. His best Yankees season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA and 12 complete games in 39 starts. Overall, for the Yankees, Pat would have a 39-27 record with 19 complete starts in 72 games and 3.65 ERA, before being traded to the Indians in winter of 1975 for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. As an MLB Pitcher, Pat would have a 122-129 record with a 3.54 ERA in 414 games. He had appeared in 2 World Series with the 1968 Tigers and the 1971 Orioles with no record with a 3.97 ERA in 6 games. After his active MLB pitching career had ended, Dobson was Pitching Coach for the 1980-1981 AA Nashville Sounds (SAL) and the 1982-1984 Brewers. He later held the same position with the 1988-1990 Padres, the 1991 Royals and the Orioles in 1996. He was employed by the Giants as an Advance Scout at the time of his death in 2006 from leukemia, one day after receiving his medical diagnosis.
2010-Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Underwood (1980-1981) had passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. (1953-2010)
Tommy Underwood was selected by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1972 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The Phillies would be traded to the Cardinals on June 15,1977, who in turn would trade him in December of 1977 to the new AL Expansion team, the Blue Jays. On November 1,1979, starter Tommy Underwood was traded by the Blue Jays along with Catcher Rick Cerone and Reserve OF Ted Wilborn to the Yankees for All-Star 1B Chris Chambliss, Reserve INF Damaso Garcia and Pitcher Paul Mirabella. For the 1980 Yankees, Tom would record 13-9 mark with a 3.66 ERA and 2 saves in 38 games, before slipping to a 1-4 record with a 4.41 ERA in 9 games in 1981. Overall, as a Yankees hurler, he had a 14-13 record with a 3.77 ERA and 2 saves in 47 games. On May 20,1981, he was traded by the team along with veteran 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the Oakland A’s for 1B Dave Revering, OF Mike Patterson and Minor League P Chuck Dougherty. His younger brother Pat, also had pitched in MLB; with the Tigers. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with the 1984 Orioles. In 1985, Tom returned to the Yankees organization pitching at 3 levels before ending his active playing career. As an MLB Pitcher, Tom had posted an 86-87 record with a 3.89 ERA and 18 saves in 377 games.
2021-Former Yankees Minor League OF and MLB Player and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-1975) had passed away. (1931-2021)
In 1950, the Yankees had originally signed OF Bill Virdon as an MLB Amateur Player; he had played in the Yankees farm system from 1950 to 1953; reaching AAA Kansas City Blues (AA). In the spring of 1954, he was traded along with P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger to the Cardinals for veteran All-Star OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, while playing for the Cardinals, he won the NL Rookie Of Year Award. Bill would later go on to be an NL All-Star OF with the Pirates. He had hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. He would manage the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace long-time Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He is the only modern era Yankees Manager to not win a game at Yankee Stadium. Bill’s tenure as the Yankees Manager was when the team played their home games at Shea Stadium (1974-1975) during the remodeling of Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Bill was named The Sporting News AL Manager of the Year, for his 2nd place finish in the AL East with the Yankees. He had helped Bobby Murcer become a better MLB Outfielder in 1974. Bill had moved Elliot Maddox to CF, Bobby Murcer went to RF. The 1975 Yankees season was marred with injuries to key Yankees players such as OF Bobby Bonds, OF Lou Piniella and veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre. After being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 midseason by Billy Martin, Virdon would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL.
2022-The Yankees would grant OF Ryan LaMarre his MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Twins, playing for their AAA club in 2023, until he was release in July.
2023-The Yankees have hired Brad Ausmus to be their 2024 MLB Bench Coach. This position was left vacant when Carlos Mendoza was hired away to be the Manager of the 2024 Mets. Ausmus, 55 in April, had played in the MLB from 1993 to 2010. He was originally signed by the Yankees, but never played for them at the MLB level. After his MLB playing days were over, he would quickly jump into coaching and was an MLB manager not long after, getting his 1st skipper job with the Tigers in 2014. He would hold that job for 4 seasons, running through the 2017 AL campaign. The club made the postseason in his 1st year at the helm but they had missed in the next 3 seasons; he wasn’t brought back after his contract expired in 2017. Then he would join the Angels organization as a Special Assistant to GM Billy Eppler, but he would be moved back into the skipper’s chair going into the 2019 AL season. He had signed a 3-year deal with the team, but Brad was fired after just 1 season in which the Halos went 72-90. In 2022, he would returned to a MLB dugout, working as MLB Bench Coach for the A’s, providing 1st-time Manager Mark Kotsay with an experienced lieutenant. He didn’t return to that job for the 2023 season, reportedly seeking a front office position. He was considered by the Astros for their GM job vacancy, but Dana Brown would ultimately get that job. Ausmus is now set to jump back into an MLB Bench Coach role for the 2024 Yankees. This will be the 1st time the Yankees have an MLB new Bench Coach in a while, as Mendoza had held steady in that gig for the past 4 seasons before moving to Queens. The Yankees also made a change at MLB Hitting Coach, with Sean Casey opting not to return and getting replaced by James Rowson.
November 23rd
1920-Former Yankees Minor League P and MLB Scout Red Zar was born. (1920-2008)
After high school, Pitcher Red Zar was signed with the Yankees. In 1939, he was 1-2 with a 12.68 ERA and 2.46 WHIP for the El Paso Texans. In 1940, Red was much better with the Idaho Falls Russets (PL), while posting a 17-6 record with a 3.21 ERA; he also hit .200. He tied Mel Ristau for 3rd in the Pioneer League in wins and was 2nd in ERA (1.02 behind Larry Jansen). He had tied Robert Weyrauch for 5th in wins by a Yankees farmhand. In 1941, he would move up to the Class B Norfolk Tars (PL), while posting a 7-8 record with a 3.53 ERA. He would pitched briefly for the 1942 Fort Worth Cats and then the Seattle Rainiers (PCL), reaching AA (then the highest classification). He would join the Navy for World War II service. Afterwards, he would coach at Mary Star HS. He had scouted numerous players from the San Pedro area: Joey Amalfitano, Alan Ashby, Bobby Balcena, Ray Deeter, Marco Guglielmo, Ed Hughes, Joe Lovitto, Garry Maddox, Nello Saggiani and Jerry Zuvela. Then he would start an oil company, General Petroleum.
1940-Former Yankees Pitcher Louis Tiant (1979-1980) was born. (1940-2024)
The Red Sox would lose veteran Free Agent Starter Luis Tiant to the Yankees. For the 1977 Red Sox, he had posted a 13-8 record. He would replace Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez, who had left the Yankees to sign with the Red Sox. As a Yankees Starter, the veteran hurler Louis Tiant would post a 21-17 record with a 4.31 ERA in 55 games. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1979, when he went 13-8 with a 3.90 ERA in 30 games. In 1980, he would drop off to an 8-9 mark with a 4.95 ERA in 25 games. In the winter of 1980, the team would grant him MLB Free Agency. He was signed by the Pirates. Overall, Luis would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 229-172 record along with a 3.30 ERA and 15 saves in 573 games. He was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Indians.
1947-Former Yankees 1B/OF Frank Tepedino (1967,1969-1971,1971-1972) was born.
On November 28,1966, 1B/OF Frank Tepedino was drafted by the Yankees from the Orioles Organization in the 1966 MLB 1st-year Player Draft. He would play in the Yankees Minor League system. On June 7,1971, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League OF Bobby Mitchell to the Brewers for OF Danny Walton. On March 31,1972, Frank was purchased by the Yankees from the Brewers. On June 7,1973, Frank was traded by the Yankees with Players to be Named Later and OF Wayne Nordhagen to the Braves for veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. As a Yankees player, Frank had appeared in 52 games, while hitting .221 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. After he had finished his MLB playing career with the 1975 Braves, Frank became a NYC Firefighter, who was one of the 1st responders to the 9-11 attack at the World Trade Center.
1951-The Yankees would send young Catcher Clint “Scraps” Courtney to the St. Louis Browns for Pitcher Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald. Clint Courtney was the 1st MLB Catcher to wear eyeglasses behind the Catcher’s mask. He had appeared in only 1 game for the 1951 Yankees. He was one of many young Yankees Catchers, who were traded away during the 1950’s because of the presence of All-Star Yogi Berra starting behind the plate. From 1951-1961, he would play in 946 MLB games, while hitting .268 with 38 HRs and 313 RBIs. He would later become a Minor League Manager for the Braves organization. With the Yankees, hurler Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald post a 16-12 record with a 3.57 ERA in 69 games.
1963-Former Yankees Reserve INF Dale Sveum (1998) was born.
On November 25,1997, Reserve INF Dale Sveum was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. For the 1998 Yankees, Dale will appear in 30 games, while hitting only .155 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. On August 3,1998, Dale was released by the team. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1999 Pirates. Later, he became an MLB Manager for the 2008 Brewers and the 2012-2013 Cubs.
1971-Former Yankees Pitcher Aaron Small (2005-2006) was born.
Aaron Small was originally signed by the Blue Jays. He had pitched for the Blue Jays, Marlins (twice), A’s, D-Backs, Braves and the Yankees. Aaron Small went 10-0 as a Yankees hurler in 15 games during the 2005 AL season. In 2006, Small was injured; he went 0-3 in 11 games. He would retire from MLB in 2007. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 25-13 record with 5.20 ERA and 4 saves in 172 MLB games.
1977-The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Reliever Richard “Goose” Gossage to a 6-year, 3.6-million-dollar contract. Rich Gossage had posted a 11-9 record with 1.26 ERA and 26 saves for the 1977 Pirates. He will join the 1977 AL Cy Young Award Winner Closer Sparky Lyle in the Yankees bullpen. He will replace veteran Reliever Sparky Lyle as the team’s main closer in 1977.
1977-The Yankees would lose MLB Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez to the Red Sox. On April 27,1977, Mike was traded by the Oakland A’s to the Yankees for Starter Dock Ellis, Rookie OF Larry Murray and Reserve INF Marty Perez. For the 1977 Yankees, Mike had posted a 14-12 record in 31 games along with 15 complete games. In the 1977 ALCS, he went 0-1. In 1977 World Series against the Dodgers, Mike would post a 2-0 record with a 2.50 ERA. In the winter of 1977, he would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency to sign with their AL Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox. He will give up Bucky Dent’s game winning HR in the 1978 AL Playoff game at Fenway Park.
1981-Former Yankees Minor League Catcher, Coach and MLB Coach (2018-2021) P.J. Pilittere was born.
Catcher P.J. Pilittere was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of 2004 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He hit .215 that summer for the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL); he had 11 passed balls in 31 games. He did better with the same club in 2005, batting .250. His 47 assists led NYPL backstops. The next season, he would hit .302 for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), he made only 1 error at Catcher, fielding .998. He would lead FSL Catchers in fielding percentage. Pilittere's batting line for the 2007 AA Trenton Thunder was .261, he would lead Eastern League Catchers in fielding percentage (.995), putouts (780) and assists (60). In 2008, he was back with AA Trenton Thunder, hitting .277 with a career-high 46 runs and 48 RBIs. He only struck out once per 11.38 AB, the best rate in the EL. P.J. would split 2009 season between AA Trenton Thunder (.198 in 27 G) and the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (.244 in 28 G). In 2010, he was a bench player for AAA Scranton again while Jesus Montero did the bulk of the catching, but he did well when called on, by hitting .357 in 62 plate appearances. In a similar role in 2011, he fared less well, batting only .209 in 75 plate appearances to end his active playing career. Overall, P.J. had hit .264 with 16 HRs and 183 RBIs with 178 runs and 104 walks in 470 Minor League games. He only struck out 173 times in 1,605 at-bats. He had fielded .995 in 404 games at Catcher; with 47 passed balls and an opponent steal percentage around 77. He also played 23 games at 1B as a pro, fielding .987. In 2011, he went into College Baseball Coaching with his alma mater, Ca. State Univ. He then went back to the pro ranks, coaching for the 2012 GCL Yankees (FSL) and 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), 2014 Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), and 2015-2016 AA Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2017, he would move up to AAA Scranton (IL). In 2018, he was named the Yankees Assistant MLB Batting Coach by new Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. At the end of 2021 AL season, his MLB Coaching contract wasn’t renewed by the team. Then he would move to the Rockies in 2022 as an MLB Assistant Hitting Coach again.
1983-Former Yankees Minor League OF/P and Coach Randy Guillen was born.
In 2000, Randy Guillen was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Victor Mata. In 2001, he make his pro baseball debut with the DSL Yankees, hitting a sound .281 with 11 HRs in 62 games. He tied Tiago Magalhães for the Dominican Summer League lead in dingers. Coming stateside in 2002 with the GCL Yankees, he would hit .306 with 38 runs in 59 games. Baseball America rated him as the #11 prospect in the Yankees chain and as the 2nd-best Gulf Coast League prospect, behind one Hanley Ramírez. In 2003, he would put up a .260 line with 29 doubles, 13 HRs and 79 RBIs for the Battle Creek Yankees (ML). Baseball America upgraded him to the Yankees' 3rd-best prospect. In 2004, Guillen began to stumble, when he played for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) (.264, 1 HR, 1 SB in 307 AB) and GCL Yankees (6 for 14). Baseball America dropped him to 12th on the Yankees prospect list, though they did list him as having the best Outfield arm in their farm system. Rudy would split 2005 seasons between Class A Tampa (FSL) (.260 in 100 Games) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) (.257). He was again rated as having the best Outfield arm of a Yankees farmhand, but he was no longer was considered one of the system's top 25 prospects by Baseball America. In 2006, he continued to sputter with Class A Tampa (.267, 10 HRs, 14 SB in 85 Games) and AA Trenton Thunder (.173, 27 K in 75 AB). Moving to the mound, he would pitch in 3 games for the 2007 GCL Yankees. In 4 innings, he had allowed 4 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs, though he did strike out 6 batters. During the 2012-2014 Minor League seasons, he was the Pitching Coach DSL Yankees 2. In 2014-2015, he was the Rehab Pitching Coordinator for the Yankees’ Latin Béisbol Academy.
1988-Leaving the 1988 World Champion Dodgers, MLB Free Agent 2B Steve Sax signs a 3-year deal with the Yankees. Meanwhile, former Yankees AL All-Star 2B Willie Randolph will sign with the Dodgers. For the 1989-1991 Yankees, Steve will play in 471 games, while hitting .294 with 19 HRs with 161 RBIs. He was named to the 1989-1990 AL All-Star teams. On January 10,1992, Steve Sax was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for 3 Pitchers: Domingo Jean, Melido Perez and Bob Wickman.
1994-Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Tyler Wade (2017-2021) was born.
Shortstop Tyler Wade was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Murrieta Valley HS (Murrieta, CA). He would sign with the Yankees, receiving a $371,300 signing bonus. He make his pro baseball debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees (Rookie-level GCL). Near the end of the season, he was promoted to the Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). In 2014, Wade would play for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL). He would start the 2015 season with the Class A Tampa Yankees ( FSL). Then Tyler was promoted to the AA Trenton Thunder ( EL) during the 2015 season. Wade received a non-roster invitation to 2016 MLB spring training camp by the Yankees. He would start the 2016 season back with AA Trenton Thunder (EL). Wade would finish the 2016 season by hitting .259 with 5 HRs and 27 RBIs. Due to an injury to the Yankees starting Shortstop Didi Gregorius in the World Baseball Classic games, Wade would compete to earn a spot on the Yankees' 25-man roster in 2017 MLB Spring Training Camp. Wade began the 2017 season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL). The Yankees would promote Wade to their MLB roster on June 27, 2017 to replaced injured Yankees 2B Starlin Castro. He would appear in 30 games for the team, while hitting just .155 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. In 2018, Wade started the season with AAA Scranton (IL) hitting .255, when he was called up when injuries struck the Bombers; he would appear in the outfield, playing in 36 games; while hitting just .167 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. In 2019, Wade would play in 43 games for the team, hitting .245 with 2 HRs and 11 RBIs. In 2020 AL short season, he had played in 52 games, hitting just .170 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs. He was used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner by Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. In 2021, he would play in 103 games, while hitting .268 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. On November 19, 2021, the Yankees had designated Tyler Wade for assignment. Then he would be traded to the Angels. Wade would finish his Yankees playing career with a .212 BA along with 6 HRs and 33 RBIs in 264 games. The Angels would release him during the 2022 AL season, after hitting only .218 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 67 games. Then he would be resigned by the Yankees, who would send him to AAA Scranton (IL). Wade didn’t make any appearances with the 2022 Yankees. In October 10, 2022, the Yankees would announce that Tyler Wade had elected to become an MLB Free Agent. In 2024, he would play for the Padres as reserve INF, hitting just .217.
2006-Former Yankees Minor League OF Ted Del Guercio had passed away. (1927-2006)
In November of 1954, OF Ted Del Guercio came to the Yankees from the Orioles Minor League system in the big 17-player trade. He never would play for the Yankees or Orioles at the MLB level. He is the only player in the 1954 Orioles-Yankees 17-player trade that never appeared in an MLB game. The Red Sox had originally signed Ted during the mid-1940’s. He had been a HS star Baseball player in Newark, N.J. Also, he had attended Seton Hall Univ. Ted had played the Outfield in the Minor Leagues for 12 seasons before retiring, after the 1956 Minor League baseball season had ended.
2013-After making do with makeshift solutions at Catcher position all of last season, the Yankees decide to sign 7-time NL All-Star with the Braves Catcher Brian McCann to a 5-year, $85 million contract. He will become the Yankees 2014 starting Catcher.
2016-Former Yankees (1954) and Long-time Dodgers Pitcher Ralph Branca had passed away. (1926-2016)
Pitcher Ralph Branca pitched 12 seasons in the MLB, mostly with the Dodgers; appearing in 2 World Series and 3 MLB All-Star Games. He is most well known as the man who gave up the "Shot Heard 'Round the World", Bobby Thomson's HR that clinched the 1951 NL pennant for the Giants in the NL Play-off Game. In 1943, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Dodgers, Branca made his pro debut that summer with the Olean Oilers. By the following season, he was in the MLB as an 18-year-old during World War II, when many older players were serving overseas. He had won 21 games in 1947 (2nd in the NL). He made the NL All-Star team for the 1st of 3 straight seasons, while his team reached the World Series. He would earn the win in Game 6, but the Dodgers would fall to the Yankees in 7 games. In 1949, he had posted a 13-5 record and led the NL Pitchers with a .722 Winning Percentage. The Dodgers again reached the World Series, again in 1949, losing to the Yankees. Starting in 1950, Branca began to be used more often out of the bullpen than as a Starter. In 1 relief outing on October 3,1951, in the 3rd game of a 3-game playoff, he gave up a HR to Giants Thomson that cost his team the NL pennant. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" completed a monumental collapse by the Dodgers, who were leading the NL by 13 1/2 games on August 11th. Branca and Thomson eventually became close friends. In 1991 and 2001, they toured the country together for the 40th and 50th anniversaries of "The Shot". After giving up 12 earned runs in his 1st 7 outings for the 1953 Dodgers, Branca was acquired by the Tigers, who would later release him. Then he would move on to the Yankees to finish out the 1954 AL season, where he had posted a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 5 games. Later, he was released by the Yankees. In 1955, he would pitch for the AAA Minneapolis Millers (AA). Then he would end his MLB Pitching career in 1956 with 1 more appearance for the Dodgers. He would finish his MLB pitching career with an 88-68 record along with a 3.79 ERA and 19 saves in 322 games.