This Week in Yankees History

February 10th - February 16th

February 10th

1894 - Former Yankees P Herb Pennock (1923-1933) is born in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Pennock extended his ML career over 22 seasons, during which he won 241 games. As a Yankee starter, Herb won 162 games. He posted a 5-0 record in 5 World Series for the Yankees. He will be elected to the HOF by the BWAA in 1948, with 94 votes on 121 ballots.

1917 - Former Yankees HOF P Allie “Super Chief” Reynolds (1947-1954) is born. Allie was obtained from the Indians, he went 19-8 .704 in 1947. He was one of the mainstays of the Yankee starting rotation that won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953) with Eddie Lopat, Vic Raschi, and later Whitey Ford. His World Series pitching record was 7-2. Allie went 131-60 in 8 seasons with the Yankees, including a 20-8 with an ERA 2.06 in 1952. During the 1951 season, he pitched 2- no-hitters, including one against the Red Sox. A back injury during a bus accident during the 1954 AL season forced Allie to retire at the end of the season. He later became the Baseball Commissioner of the American Association (AAA).

1970 - Former Yankees reserve C Alberto Castillo (2002) was born. He hit .135 in 15 games with the Yanks, before being released.

1971 - Former MLB player Bill White becomes the 1st black play-by-play broadcaster in ML history. WPIX-TV hires White to team with Phil Rizzuto and Frank Messer on Yankees broadcasts.

1975 - Yankees sign free agent minor league INF Damaso Garcia. He played 2B during the 1978 season for the injured Willie Randolph. He appeared in 29 games hitting .229 before being traded to the Blue Jays on November 1, 1979. He was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and P Paul Mirabella for Blue Jays P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn.

1990 - Former Yankees 1B Tony Solaita (1968) passed away (1947-1990). Tony was signed by the Yankees, as an amateur free agent in 1965. In 1968, he appeared in 1 game for the Yankees, going 0 fo1. On February 28, 1973, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for George Kopacz.

2002 - Former Yankees 1B Jim Spencer (1978-1981) passed away. (1947-2002) Jim was traded on December 12, 1977, by the White Sox with P Bob Polinsky and OF Tommy Cruz to the New York Yankees for P Stan Thomas, Ed Ricks and cash. Jim never hit as expected for the Yankees during his stay with the Bombers. His best Yankee season was 1979, when he hit .279. On May 20, 1981, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with P Tom Underwood to the Athletics for 1B Dave Revering, Pitchers Mike Patterson, and Chuck Dougherty. After retiring from MLB, he coached the Naval Academy baseball team for several years.

2005 - In his 1st public appearance, Yankees 1B Jason Giambi apologizes to his teammates, Yankees fans and to baseball fans everywhere for letting them down last season. The All-Star, however, never uses the word steroids as he accept full responsibility for the controversy.


February 11th

2006 - Pitcher Shawn Chacon and the Yankees agreed to a $3.6 million, one-year contract and avoided a salary arbitration hearing.


February 12th

1921 - Former Yankee INF Don Bollweg (1953) was born. On May 14, 1951, Don was traded by the Cardinals with $15,000 to the Yankees for 3B Billy Johnson. Don hit .297 in 70 games for Yankees. On December 16, 1953, Don was traded by the Yankees along with INF Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, 1B Vic Power, OF Bill Renna, and C Jim Robertson to the Athletics for P Harry Byrd, 1B Eddie Robinson, OF Tom Hamilton, Carmen Mauro, and 3B Loren Babe.

1930 - In a defeat for AL president Ban Johnson, pitcher Carl Mays is reinstated, and the Yankees' 3rd place finish is recognized.

1932 - George Weiss is named head of the Yankees' new minor league system by General Manager Ed Barrow. Weiss will eventually become the General Manager of the Yankees (1948-1960), and along with manager Casey Stengel, will oversee an unprecedented 5 consecutive World Championships from 1949 to 1953. In 1971 Weiss will eventually gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1971, as a baseball executive.

1942 - Former Yankees P Pat Dobson (1973-75) was born (1942-2006). Pat went 39-27 in 72 games for the Yankees, after being obtained from the Braves. His best season was in 1974, when Pat posted a 19-15 record in 39 games. In winter of 1975, he was sent to the Indians for OF/DH Oscar Gamble.

1953 - Former Yankees 1B/DH Dave Revering (1981-82) was born. Don hit .190 in 59 games for the Yanks, before being traded to the Blue Jays for 1B/DH John Mayberry.

1978 - Former Yankees P Tim Redding (2006) was born. Tim went 0-1 in 1 appearence for the Yankees, lasting only 1 inning giving up 6 runs.


February 13th

1883 - Former Yankees 1B and Player-Manager Hal “Prince Hal” Chase (1903-1913) was born. On October 4, 1904, he was drafted by the Highlanders from the Los Angeles (PCL) in the 1904 rule 5 player draft. Hal had a lifetime BA of .284 as a Yankee. He led the Yankees in hitting in 1906-07. During the 1910-11 seasons, he was a player–manager for the Yankees. His character was often questioned because of not playing honestly. On June 1, 1913, Hal was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for OF Rollie Zeider and 1B Babe Borton.

1927 - Former Yankees INF Jim Brideweser (1951-53) was born. Before the 1950 AL Season, Jim was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent after attending USC. Jim hit .363 (16 for 44) in 51 games as Yankee before being claimed on waivers by the Orioles on May 11, 1954. Jim was a good utility INF, but there was no room for him on the Yankees roster. Jim would play for the Orioles, White Sox and Tigers before finishing up in 1959 as MLB player.

1941 - Former Yankees P Jim Brenneman (1965) was born. Jim was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1961. He appeared in 3 games in 1965 with no record for the Yanks.

1960 - Former Yankees minor league P Brian Ryder was born. Pitcher Brian Ryder was drafted in the 1st round of the 1978 amateur draft by the Yankees. In December of 1981 he was traded with P Freddie Toliver for Ken Griffey Sr. Ryder never made the majors with the Reds.

1971 - Former Yankees P Todd Williams (2001) was born. Signed as a free agent, Todd went 1-0 in 15 games for the Yankees.

1980 - Former Yankees INF Drew Henson (2002-3) was born. Drew was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1998 amateur player draft. On July 12, 2000, Drew was traded by the Yankees with along with OF Jackson Melian, Brian Reith, and P Ed Yarnall to the Reds for OF Mike Frank and P Denny Neagle. On March 21, 2001, Drew was traded back to the Yankees by the Reds along with OF Michael Coleman for OF Wily Mo Pena. Drew hit .111 in 13 games. With the arrival of A-Rod, the Yankees bought out his contract, Drew left MLB baseball for NFL football.

1985 - The Yankees re-acquire Catcher Ron Hassey from the White Sox. Hassey, who had been traded to Chicago only 2 months earlier, returns to Yankees in a 7-player trade.


February 14th

1913 - Former HOF Yankees broadcasting announcer Mel Allen was born. He was known as “The Longtime Voice of the Yankees” from the late 1939 to 1964.He would greet Yankee fans with “Hello there, everyone” at the beginning of the every Yankee broadcast. With new CBS ownership, Mel was let go by the Yankees in 1964.

Mel Allen was welcomed back to the Yankees' on-air family in 1976 as a pre/post-game host for the cable telecasts with John Sterling, and eventually started calling play-by-play again. He announced Yankees cable telecasts on SportsChannel New York (now FSN New York) along with the regular crew of Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, Frank Messer, and occasionally Fran Healy. Mel Allen remained with the Yankees' play-by-play crew until 1985. Mel made occasional appearances on Yankee telecasts and commercials into the late 1980s. In 1990, Allen called play-by-play for a WPIX Yankees game to officially make him baseball's 1st 7-decade announcer. Among the memorable moments Allen called in that stretch were Yankee OF Reggie Jackson's 400th HR in 1980, and Yankee pitcher Dave Righetti's no-hitter on July 4, 1983. Later he would host This Week in Baseball, working on the show until his death in 1996.

1951 - Former Yankees reserve INF Larry Milbourne (1981-83) was born. On November 18, 1980, he was traded by the Mariners with a player to be named later to the Yankees for C Brad Gulden and $150,000. Larry hit .313 in 61 games in 1981 for the Yankees. On May 12, 1982, he was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Pete Filson, John Pacella, and cash to the Twins for C Butch Wynegar and P Roger Erickson. In 1983, Larry was purchased by the Yankees from the Phillies, Larry appeared in 31 games hitting .200. On February 14, 1984, Larry was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for P Scott Nielsen and Eric Parent.

1970 - Former Yankees reserve C Kelly Stinnett (2006) was born. On December 1, 2005, Kelly was signed as a Free Agent with the Yankees. He hit .228 in 34 games before being released in July, 2006.

1981 - Former Yankees P Brad Halsey (2004) was born. Brad was drafted by the Yankees in the 8th round of the 2002 amateur draft. He went 1-3 in 8 games in 2004, before being traded to the Diamondbacks in the Randy Johnson trade.

1985 - Former Yankees P Tyler Clippard (2007) was born. Tyler was drafted by the Yankees in the 9th round of the 2003 amateur player draft. Tyler went 3-1 in 6 games for the Yankees. He was traded to Nationals this winter.

1984 - Former Yankees INF (1952-53) and Coach (1967) Loren Babe passed away. Loren was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1945.
Babe appeared in 17 games for the Yankees in 1952-53. He had been buried in the Yankees farm system with so many talented INF around. In 1953, he was sold to the Philadelphia A’s, but was reacquired by the Yanks in December, 1953. He remained in the minor leagues until retiring in 1958. From 1961-1966, he managed in the Yankees farm system. He was a coach for the Yankees in 1967. He later worked with the White Sox in the 1980’s before his death from cancer in 1984.


February 15th

1915 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cyril “Roy” Weatherly (1943-45) was born. Roy hit .266 in 79 games for the Yankees.

1916 - The Yankees buy Frank "Home Run" Baker from the Athletics for $37,500. He sat out the 1915 season in a salary dispute with A’s Owner/Manager Connie Mack. He will anchor the 3rd base position for several years.

1938 - Yankees obtained reserve INF Billy “Knick” Knickerbocker from Browns for reserve INF Don “Jeep” Heffner and cash

1931 - The Yankees' training site in St. Petersburg, Florida is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager.

1945 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ross “Mickey Mantle’s Legs” Moschitto (1965, 1967) was born. Ross was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1964. Ross hit .184 in 110 games with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. He was a sure sign that the Yankees great farm system was in very bad shape.

1963 - Former Yankees P Bump Hadley (1936-40) passed away. (1904-1963) Bump went 47-31 in 140 games for the Yankees. He went 2-1 in 3 World Series with the Yankees. His best season was in 1936, going 14-4 and in 1939, he posted 12-6 mark for the Yankees. In 1940, he was sold to the A’s.

1966 - Former Yankees P Melido Perez (1992-95) was born.On January 10, 1992, he was traded by the White Sox along with Pitchers Domingo Jean and Bob Wickman to the Yankees for 2B Steve Sax. Melido went 33-39 for the Yankees.

2001 - The Yanks sign Henry Rodriguez, to a 1-year contract. The agreement was reached a month ago and H-Rod is already listed in the team's spring training program. He will only appear in 5 games with no hits before being released by the Yanks.


February 16th

1924 - Braves 3B Tony Boeckel becomes the 1st ML to be killed in an automobile accident when he dies from injuries received as an passenger yesterday in San Diego. Yankees OF Bob Meusel, also a passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, escaped without any serious injuries.

1948 - Yankees released veteran Pitcher Louis “Bob” Newsom. In 1947, he went 7-5 for the Yankees, after being obtained from the Senators.

1952 - Former Yankees reserve C Barry Foote (1981-82) was born. On April 27, 1981, Barry was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for P Tom Filer and cash. Barry hit .177 in 57 games for the team.

1953 - Yankees purchased P Johnny Schmitz (1952-53) from the Reds for cash. John went 2-1 in 8 games with 2 saves for the Yankees.

1967 - Former Yankees All Star P Charles “Red” Ruffing (1930-1946), author of 273 major league wins, is elected to the HOF. Red would lead the Yankee pitchers in career wins with 231 wins, until the club record was passed by Whitey Ford in 1965, who finished with 236 wins as a Yankee. Also he was a pretty good hitting pitching pitcher for the Yankees with a Grand Slam HR. Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year career with the Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox. From 1936-39, he went 20-3, 20-2, 21-1 and 21-2 as Yankee starter.

1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cedric Durst passed away. (1896-1971) On February 8, 1927, he was traded by the Browns with P Joe Giard to the Yankees for P Sam Jones. Durst was a reserve OF for the Yankees. On May 6, 1930, Cedric was traded by the York Yankees with $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for Pitcher Charles “Red” Ruffing.Durst lasted 1yr with the Sox hitting .245 and retiring. Ruffing went on to win 231 games for the Yankees.

2001 - The Yankees premier reliever, Mariano Rivera (7-4, 2.85, 36 saves), signs a 4-year, approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31-year old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley's ML record with 16 saves in post-season games.

2004 - Former MLB GM, manager and coach Charley Fox passes away. Charley spent most of his MLB career with the Giants. In 1989, he was a coach for the Yankees.


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(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contributions)