This Week in Yankees History

February 17th - February 23rd

February 17th
1893 - Former Yankees 1B Wally Pipp (1915-1925) was born. On February 4, 1915, Wally was purchased by the Yankees from the Tigers. He was the Yankees regular 1B from 1915-1925, he hit over .300 twice for the club. His best Yankees season was in 1922, when he hit .329 in 152 games. During the 1925 AL season, Pipp had asked out of the Yankees starting lineup with a headache He was replaced by Lou Gehrig. He never started another game for the Yankees at 1B. On January 15, 1926, Wally was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $7,500.

1908 - Former HOF Yankees broadcaster Red “Old Redhead” Barber (1954-1966) was born. Red was a broadcast journalist, not a “homer” announcer. He had previously worked for the Reds and Dodgers before joining the Yankees in 1954. He teamed up with Mel Allen to give the Yankees, one of most famous broadcasting teams in MLB history. He was let go by the Yankees after the 1966 season, ending a great broadcasting tradition.

1937 - The Yankees buy another Babe from the Red Sox, picking up 1B Babe Dahlgren. The California native will become the player who replaces Lou Gehrig during the 1939 season.

1943 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio, drawing $43,500 from the Yankees, trades in his salary for the $50 a month as an army enlisted man. DiMaggio, in his customary quiet style, gives no notice to the club.

1959 - The Yankees invite Australian cricket player Norman O'Neill for a tryout at Shortstop. U.S. Davis Cup captain Billy Talbert, while playing tennis in Australia, arranges the deal after hearing of O'Neill's prowess.

1982 - Current Yankees P Brian Bruney (2006-7) was born.

1986 - Former Yankees HOF P Charles “Red” Ruffing passed away. (1905-1986)
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 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. He will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1967.

1987 - Yankees 1B Don Mattingly wins his $1.975 million arbitration case breaking the record for the largest amount ever awarded to a player set by Pitcher Jack Morris just 4 days ago.

1989 - Former Yankees HOF P Veron “Lefty” Gomez passed away. (1908-1989)
On August 17, 1929, Lefty was purchased by the Yankees from the San Francisco Seals (PCL). Lefty would go 189-101 with a WP of 637 in 357 games in his Yankee career. Also Lefty would finish with 1,468 strikeouts with 173 complete games and 26 shutouts. Lefty appeared on 7 AL All Star teams, including the very 1st team in 1933. His AL All Star record was 3-1 in 5 games. His World Series record as a Yankee starter was 5-0 in 7 games.
On January 25, 1943, Lefty was purchased by the Braves from the Yankees. He would be released by the Braves. Then he was picked up by Senators, going 0-1 in 1 game before retiring in July of 1943. He would be elected to Baseball’s HOF in 1972. He was one of the most colorful players to wear the Yankees uniform, having the nickname of “Goofy”.

February 18th

1915 - Former Yankees (1938-43, 1946) MVP 2B and MLB Manager Joe “Flash” Gordon was born. Former ML Manager: Indians (1958-60), Tigers (1960), A’s (1961) and Royals (1969). Joe was signed by the Yanks in 1936. In 1938, he joined the Yankees as a 2nd baseman. He made the AL All Star team in from 1939 to 1943, 1946. In 1942, he won AL MVP award hitting .342. In October 1946, Joe was traded to the Indians for starter Allie Reynolds. After retiring as an active player, he later became a ML manager during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of ML managers in 1960, when he was traded from the Indians to Tigers for Jimmy Dykes.

1927 - Former Yankees P and Scout Louis Arroyo (1960-1963) was born. On July 20, 1960, Louis was purchased by the Yankees from the Reds. He would go 5-1 with 7 saves in 1960. In 1961, he had his best career season going 15-5 with 29 saves and leading the AL with 54 games finished. Next season, he injured his pitching arm, just going 1-3. In September of 1963, he was released by the team. His final Yankees record was 22-10 with 30 saves. He later would become a scout for the Yankees.

1929 - Former Yankees minor league C Cal Neeman was born. Cal was signed by the Yankees in 1949, but never played for the team at MLB level. On December 3, 1956, he was drafted by the Cubs from the Yankees in the 1956 rule 5 player draft.

1949 - Former Yankees 1B/DH John Mayberry (1982) was born. On May 5, 1982, John was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees for 1B Dave Revering, OF Tom Dodd, and Jeff Reynolds. John would hit .209 in 69 games for the Yankees.

1998 - The Yankees sign All Star CF Bernie Williams to an $8.5 million, 1-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

1999 - The Yankees end the trade rumors by acquiring Cy Young Award winner P Roger Clemens from the Blue Jays in exchange for pitchers David Wells and Graeme Lloyd and IF Homer Bush.

February 19th

1935 - Lou Gehrig signs a contract with the Yankees for $30,000, $7,000 less than he asked for, but still making him the highest-paid player. The 32-year old 1B will hit .329 and 30 HRs driving in 119 runs for the 2nd-place Yankees.

1952 - Former Yankees minor league P David Cheadle was born. David was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1970 amateur player draft. He never played for the team at MLB level. He was sent to the Braves in 1973 as part of the Pat Dobson trade.

1959 - Former Yankees P Tim Burke (1992) was born. On June 9, 1992, Tim was traded by the Mets to the Yankees for P Lee Guetterman. Tim went 2-2 in 23 games before leaving for free agency.

1957 - The Yankees obtain P Art Ditmar and Bobby Shantz, INFer’s Clete Boyer, Jack McMahon, and Wayne Belard from the A’s for Yankee Pitchers Rip Coleman, Tom Morgan and Maury McDermott, shortstop Billy Hunter and outfielders Irv Noren and Milt Graff. Commissioner Ford Frick ruled that Clete Boyer, a Kansas City “bonus baby” had to remain with the A’s until his bonus term expired on the A’s ML roster, he did not join the Yankees until June 4, 1957.

The key to the trade was Clete Boyer, a badly needed infielder of outstanding defensive ability. He would anchor the 3rd base position from 1960-1966. Art Ditmar pitched well for the Yankees from 1957-1960, except for in the 1960 World Series. He won 15 games in 1960. He was traded back to the A’s in 1961 along with OF Deron Johnson for veteran starter Bud Daley. Bobby Shantz became the 1st Yankee to win an AL Golden Glove award in 1957. He won the AL pitcher’s Golden Glove award from 1957-1960. Also he led the AL Pitchers in ERA in 1957 with a 2.45 mark. He was very effective out of the bullpen for the Yankees. After the 1960 World Series, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for 3 players, who were sent to the new expansion Senators. The Yankees trade bait to the A’s in this trade was veteran OF Irv Noren, a former .300 hitter. He never hit .300 for the A’s. Tom Morgan was a serviceable bullpen pitcher. McMahon and Belardi never made to the Yankees at the MLB level. The A's will eventually admit that when they signed Boyer for a $40,000 bonus in 1955, it was on behalf of the Yankees, with the understanding that they'd later ship him to team.

1962 - Former Yankees INF Alvaro Espinoza (1988-91) was born. He was signed as a free agent. His best Yankee season was in 1989, when he hit .282.

February 20th

1887 - Former Yankees P Boardwalk Brown (1914-1915) was born. After being acquired from the A’s, he went 3-6 for the Yankees before being released.

1896 - Former Yankees reserve C Muddy Ruel (1917-1920) was born. Muddy was obtained from the Browns in 1917. He would be traded to the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade.

1913 - Former Yankees OF/1B and Coach Tommy “Old Reliable” Henrich (1937-42, 1946-50) was born. On April 19, 1937, Tommy was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He played 11 seasons with Yanks finishing with a lifetime BA of .282. He appeared in 4 World Series, hitting .262. He was named to the AL All Star teams in 1942, 1947-1950. After retiring, he became a Yankees Coach.

1947 - Former Yankees P Tom Buskey (1973-74) was born (1947-1998). Tom was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1969. Tom went 0-2 in 12 games before being traded to the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade in 1974. Tom died in auto accident in 1998.

1959 - Former Yankees P Bill Gullickson (1987) was born. On August 26, 1987, Bill was traded by the Reds to the Yankees for P Dennis Rasmussen. He went 4-2 in 8 games before leaving for free agency and signing to pitch in Japan.

196 3- Former Yankees reserve C Phil Lombardi (1986-87) was born. Phil was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1981 amateur player draft. Phil hit .201 in 25 games before being sent to the Mets. On December 11, 1987, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Steve Frey and OF Darren Reed to the Mets for Shortstop Rafael Santana and Victor Garcia.

1972 - Former Yankees OF/DH Shane Spencer (1998-2002) was born. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 28th round of the 1990 amateur player draft. Spence had a call-up in September 1998 to remember, when he hit .373 with 10 HRs with 27 RBIs. In 2000, Shane was hitting .282 as the Yankees LF, when he injured his leg at Shea Stadium. He never regained his playing form after that season ending injury. He left the Yankees for free agency. He is now a minor league coach. He had played baseball in Japan for several years after leaving the MLB in 2004.

1985 - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner gives manager Yogi Berra the dreaded vote of confidence. Steinbrenner says that Berra will remain Yankee skipper for the entire season, regardless of how badly the team might struggle. Berra will last only 16 games before being fired. This will lead to a boycott of the Yankees by Yogi Berra that will last for 15 years.

2006 - Former Yankees announcer Curt Gowdy (1949-1950) passed away. Curt would leave the Yankees to announce games for the Red Sox and NBC-TV.

February 21st

1919 - Yankees purchased P John Quinn from Veron for P Joe Finneran, 1B Zinn Beck and other considerations. Jack spent 2 tours with the Yankees (1909-1912 and 1919-1921) going 83-67 before being sent to the Red Sox.

1945 - Former Yankees reserve OF Tom Shopay (1967, 1969) was born. Tom was drafted by the Yankees in the 34th round of the 1965 amateur player draft. He appeared in 36 games hitting .189. On December 1, 1969, he was drafted by the Orioles from the Yankees in the 1969 rule 5 player draft.

1947 - Former Yankees P Terry Ley (1971) was born. Terry was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1967 amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). He appeared in 6 games with no record. On December 2, 1971, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Gary Jones to the Rangers for veteran INF Bernie Allen.

1961 - Former Yankees C Joel Skinner (1986-88) was born. Joel was a weak hitting catcher who was obtained from the White Sox. He would be sent to the Indians in the Mel Hall trade.

1985 - Former Yankees OF Oscar Azocar (1990) was born. Oscar was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1983. He hit .248 in 65 games for the Yankee before being traded to Padres for OF Mike Humphrey. Oscar was a free swinger at the plate.

2006 - Former Yankees P Mark Freeman (1959) passed away (1930-2006). Freeman was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1952, and appeared in 1 game for the Yankees in 1959, before being sent to the White Sox.

February 22nd

1920 - Former Yankees P Karl Drews (1946-48) was born. Karl was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1939. He appeared in 52 games, posting an 8-10 record before being sold to the Browns.

1929 - Former Yankees Closer Ryne Duren (1958-61) was born. Ryne was obtained by the Yankees in the June 1957, Billy Martin trade with the A’s. In 1958, he led the AL in saves with 20, while posting a 6-4 record. He appeared in 2 games in the 1958 World Series going 1-1 with 1 save with 14 K’s, while posting 1.93 ERA. Ryne was wild and fast. Also he was an alcoholic. By the start of the 1961 season, his best days as a Yankee closer were gone. On May 8, 1961, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Johnny James and OF Lee Thomas to the Angels for veteran P Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv. He would later write a book on his fight with alcoholism during his 10 year MLB career, titled “The Comeback.”

1938 - Former Yankees P Steve Barber (1967-68) was born. On July 4, 1967, Steve was traded by the Orioles to the Yankees for players to be named later, 1B Ray Barker, and cash. The Yankees sent Chet Trail (minors) and Joe Brady) to the Orioles to complete the trade. Steve went 12-14 in 37 games before being drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 AL player expansion draft.

1956 - Former Yankees OF Joe Lefebvre (1980) was born. He was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1977 amateur player draft. Joe batted .227 in 74 games as an back-up OF. On March 31, 1981, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with OF Ruppert Jones, Pitchers Tim Lollar, and Chris Welsh to the San Diego Padres for OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Pacella.

1973 - Former Yankees INF Russ Johnson (2005) was born. Russ appeared in 22 games with a .222 BA as a reserve INF.

2000 - A Florida Department of Corrections report says Yankees OF/DH Darryl Strawberry tested positive for cocaine on January 19.

2005 - Jerry Coleman, the San Diego broadcaster, is selected as the recipient of this year's Hall of Fame Ford C. Frick Award. The 80-year old play-by-play man, who was the MVP of the 1950 World Series for the Yankees, has spent 41 years in the booth working for the Yankees (1958-1967), Angels and Padres.

February 23rd

1903 - Former Yankees OF Roy Johnson (1936-37) was born. On January 17, 1936, Roy was traded by the Senators along with P Bump Hadley to the Yankees for P Jimmie DeShong and OF Jesse Hill. Roy appeared in 75 games, hitting .278 before being picked up by Boston Bees.

1918 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ed ‘Truck” Kearse (1942) was born. Ed appeared in 11 games, batting 192.

1929 - Former Yankees MVP All Star C/OF (1955-1967) and Coach Elston Howard (1968-1980) was born. Elston Howard played the OF in the Negro Leagues for 3 years, switched to catcher in 3 seasons in the minors, and caught for 14 years for the Yankees and Red Sox. In 1955, he became the 1st black ML player for the Yankees. He hit a HR in his 1st World Series at bat in 1955 and tied the following World Series records: most hits, inning, 1960, (2); most long hits, 5 game series, 1961 (4); most passed balls, game, 1964 (2). He established AL catcher's records for PO (939) and TCA (1006) in 1964. In 1958, Howard won the Babe Ruth Award. Ellie was an AL All Star team member 9 times during his career. In 1963, he won the AL MVP award hitting .287 with 28 HRs and 85 RBIs. Howard won the AL Golden Glove Award for catchers in 1963-64. Upon his retirement as a player in 1968, he became the 1st black Yankee coach. He held this position until his premature death in 1980 at age 51 from heart failure.

1954 - The Cardinals purchased P Vic Raschi from the Yankees for $85,000. Yankees GM George Weiss did the deal to show other Yankee veterans what would happen to them, if they were going to stage a contract holdout. Raschi did one before the 1953 season.

1972 - Former Yankees OF/DH Rondell White (2002) was born.Rondell was signed as a free agent. He was injured most of the 2002 season with the Yankees. He only hit .240 in 126 games. On March 19, 2003, he was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for OF Bubba Trammell, Mark Phillips (minors), and cash.

previous week

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