This Week In Yankees History

March 16th - March 22nd

March 16th

1927 - Former Yankees reserve C Clint “Scraps” Courtney (1951) was born (1927-1976). Clint was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947. Clint appeared in 1 game with the Yankees before being traded to the Browns for Pitcher Jim McDonald. He was one of the 1st modern catchers to wear glasses behind the catcher’s mask. On June 16, 1976, he died of a massive heart attack, while as the manager of the Richmond Braves (AAA).

1932 - In St. Petersburg training camp, Babe Ruth signs a 1-yr contract for $75,000 and a percentage of the exhibition gate. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank contract with the amount filled in later by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert.

1956 - Former Yankees reserve C Juan Espino (1982-83, 1984-86) was born. On December 26, 1974, he was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He batted .219 in 49 games. On March 31, 1984, Juan was purchased by the Indians. On January 8, 1985, he was reacquired by the Yankees from the Indians.

1959 - Former Yankees P Charlie Hudson (1987-88) was born. On December 11, 1986, Charlie was traded by the Phillies along with Jeff Knox to the Yankees for Tom Barrett and OF/DH Mike Easler. He went 17-13 in 63 games with 2 saves. On March 23, 1989, he was traded to the Tigers for INF Tom Brookens.

1978 - High-priced free agent pitcher Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the Yankees. A 20-game winner both for the Angels and Dodgers, Messersmith will never win a game for the Yankees. He ran into 1B Cliff Johnson during an infield play at 1B.


March 17th- Happy Saint Patty’s Day

1921 - With Spring training in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Yankees journey to Lake Charles to play a game against the Cardinals, who are based in Orange, Texas. The game was proclaimed "Ruth-Hornsby Day," but Hornsby hits only a single while Ruth lofts a HR over the short RF fence. The Yankees win the game by a score of 14-5.

1936 - Much-heralded Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio makes his debut with the team, collecting 4 hits including a triple. The day is marred when the Cardinals win 8 -7.

1938 - Former Yankees OF Jimmy Hall (1969) was born. He hit .236 in 80 games, before being sent to the Cubs.

1956 - Former Yankees P Tim Lollar (1980) was born. Tim was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1978 amateur player draft. Tim appeared in 14 games in 1980 with a 1-0 mark and 2 saves. On March 31, 1981, Chris was traded by the Yankees along with OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre, and P Chris Welsh to the Padres for OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Pacella.

1988 - Recently acquired slugger Jack Clark tears a calf tendon while hitting a HR for the Yankees in an exhibition game. The oft-injured Clark had signed a free agent contract during the winter. He will miss the start of the 1988 AL season, but will return to hit 27 HRs with 93 RBI.

March 18th

1928 - Former Yankees P Chi-Chi Olivo was born. On November 29, 1966, he was traded by the Braves along with OF Bill Robinson to the Yankees for 3B Clete Boyer. He never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level,

1943 - Due to wartime travel restrictions, MLB spring training camps begin opening in northern locations. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, New York (Dodgers), French Lick Springs, Indiana (Cubs and White Sox), Asbury Park, New Jersey (Yankees), Medford, Massachusetts (Red Sox) and Wallingford, Connecticut (Braves).

1960 - Former Yankee minor league OF Matt Winters was born. On June 6, 1978, Matt was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1978 amateur player draft. On November 12, 1985, he was released by the team. On December 22, 1985, Matt was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. On February 13, 1986, he was traded by the White Sox along with Chris Alvarez, Eric Schmidt, and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for P Neil Allen, C Scott Bradley, Glen Braxton and cash. He played at Columbus (AAA) that season. On October 15, 1986, he was granted free agency by the Yankees. Matt would later play baseball in Japan.

1962 - Former Yankee P Brian Fisher (1985-86) was born. On December 5, 1984, Brian was traded by the Braves to the Yankees for C Rick Cerone. He went 13-9 with the Yankees with 20 saves. On November 26, 1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Doug Drabek and Logan Easley to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements.

1984 - Former Yankees Batting Coach Charlie Lau, an renowned MLB batting instructor, dies in Key Colony Beach, FL, at age 50, after a long bout with cancer. Lau, whose MLB career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Royals batting coach from 1971-78, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau also served as a batting coach for the Orioles, Athletics, Yankees and the White Sox.

March 19th

1935 - Former Yankees reserve INF Fritz “Fritzie” Brickell (1958-1959) was born (1935-1965). He batted .256 in 20 games with the Yankees in 1958-59, as a backup infielder. On April 4, 1961, Fritz was traded to the expansion Angels for former Yankee P Duke Maas. He was the son of former MLB OF Fritz Brickell, who played for the Pirates and Phillies (1926-1933). Fritz passed away in the fall of 1965.

1974 - In a 5-player, 3-team deal involving the Indians, Tigers, and Yankees, P Jim Perry joins his pitching brother, Gaylord, in Cleveland. Tigers send Perry to Indians and P Ed Farmer to the Yankees, who sent C Jerry Moses to Detroit, and Cleveland send P Rick Sawyer and OF Walt Williams to the Yankees. The 1974 season will mark the Perrys' 1st season as teammates during their MLB careers.

1989 - With All Star OF Dave Winfield sidelined the Yankees trade C Joel Skinner and minor leaguer OF Turner Ward to the Indians for OF Mel Hall (1989-1992). Winfield will miss all of the 1989 AL season after undergoing back surgery next week for central disc hernia.

2003 - Former Yankees shortstop and long time Minor League Team Owner Joe Buzas (1945) died. Joe Buzas owned 82 minor league teams at some point in a 47-yr period. At the time of his death he owned the Salt Lake Stingers. He was the opening day shortstop for the New York Yankees in 1945, he badly injured his shoulder, ending his MLB playing career. The 1st team that he owned was the Syracuse Chiefs. Buzas was known for turning a profit when times were poor financially in the minors.

March 20th

1944 - Former Yankees P Steve Blateric (1972) was born. Steve was acquired in a conditional deal with the Reds. He appeared in only 1 game with the Yankees with no record. He was returned to the Reds in 1973.

1954 - Former Yankees P Paul Mirabella (1979) was born. On November 10, 1978, Paul was traded by the Rangers along with Greg Jemison (minors), OF Juan Beniquez, Pitchers Mike Griffin, and Dave Righetti to the Yankees for INF Domingo Ramos, C Mike Heath, Pitchers Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich, and cash. Paul was 0-4 in 10 games with the team in 1979. On November 1, 1979, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and INF Damaso Garcia to the Blue Jays for P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn.

1958 - The Phillies acquired veteran 1B/OF Joe Collins (1948-1957) from the Yankees. Opting not to report to the Phillies spring training camp, Joe Collins decides to retire, thereby canceling the deal. Joe is quoted by the NY-NJ media, “I want to be remembered as a Yankee.” He turns down a player contract offered by the Phillies of $100,000. Joe batted .258 in 908 games with the Yankees (1948-1957), never becoming the player that the Yankees had projected him to be. He was replaced at 1B by Bill “Moose” Skowron.

1961 - Yankees announce the team will oppose any plan that would enable the new NL expansion franchise to use Yankee Stadium. This decision leaves the only the old Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the NL new team, the Mets.

1984 - Former Yankees and Hall Of Fame Pitcher Stan Coveleski dies in South Bend, Indiana, at the age of 94. Coveleski pitched for the Athletics, Indians, Senators and Yankees (1928) over a 14-season career, winning 215 games, which include five 20-win seasons. On December 21, 1927, Stan was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. In 1928, he went 5-1 in 12 games for the team.

2006 - Two-time All-Star P Al Leiter (1987-89, 2005) announces his retirement after a 19-season MLB career at the Yankees spring training camp in Tampa, Fla. Al was originally signed by the Yankees, later he was traded to the Blue Jays for OF Jesse Barfield. He also pitched for the cross-town rivals Mets and Marlins.


March 21st

1892 - Former Yankees INF Bill Stumpf (1912-13) was born. At the age of 20, he played for the Yankees appearing in 54 games and hitting .234. On May 25, 1913, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with Jack Lelivelt to the Cleveland Naps for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.

1897 - Former Yankees OF William “Goodtime Bill” Lamar (1917-1919) was born. He hit .219 in 50 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Red Sox during the 1919 season.

1936 - Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio runs his spring training hitting record to 12-for-20, in an 11-2 Yankees victory over the newly named Boston Bees, formerly the Braves. Before the next game is played, the prize rookie is left unattended with his foot in a diathermy machine. The resulting burn ends his spring training and delays his MLB debut until May.

1957 - Former Yankees Minor League coach and Manager Oscar Acosta was born. Oscar managed in the Yankees farm system for the Columbus Clippers
(1996-98) and the Lansing Lugnuts (1999). In 2004, he became manager of the GCL Yankees and Latin American Coordinator, positions he held when he was killed in a car accident in 2006.

1986 - The Yankees announce that their most celebrated off-season acquisition, 26-year-old Pitcher Britt Burns, will not pitch at all this season because of a chronic deteriorating hip condition. He never again pitches in the MLB. On December 12, 1985, Britt was traded by the White Sox along with Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to the Yankees for C Ron Hassey and P Joe Cowley. The Yankees front office had advised Yankees Owner George Steinnbrenner not to make the deal because of Burns major health concerns, but he ignored their advice.

2001 - In a trade of highly touted prospects, the New York Yankees re-obtain 3B Drew Henson along with OF Michael Coleman from the Reds for OF Wily Mo Peña and cash consideration.

March 22nd

1903 - Advance tickets for the New York Highlanders’ home opener go on sale on the same day the team announces that it will build a new ballpark at 168th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Their new home, Hilltop Park, was an all-wood structure with a small cover stand in the infield and open bleachers down the foul lines. It sat approximately 15,000 fans, including on the field, “bring your seat” tickets. Hilltop Park was finished in time for the 1903 AL season opener; it remained home for the Highlander-Yankees until 1912.

1915 - Former Yankees P Norman “Red” Branch (1941-42) was born. Red went 5-2 in 37 games with 4 saves for the Yankees.

1960 - Former Yankees C Scott Bradley (1984-1985) was born. Scott was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1981 amateur player draft. He appeared in 28 games, hitting .224. On February 13, 1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with Glen Braxton (minors), P Neil Allen, and cash to the White Sox for C Ron Hassey, OF Matt Winters, Chris Alvarez (minors), and Eric Schmidt (minors). Scott is currently the head baseball coach for Princeton University.

1962 - At spring training, Yankees All Star slugger Roger Maris declines to pose with Hall Of Fame Mets batting coach Rogers Hornsby, because he had criticized him in his book “My Wars with Baseball.” Hornsby was jealous of the money that the modern players were making, using Roger Maris as an example in his book.

1963 - Former Yankees P and Coach Rich Monteleone (1990-1993) was born. On April 29, 1990, Rich was traded by the Angels along with OF/DH Claudell Washington to the Yankees for OF/DH Luis Polonia. Rich went 17-9 in 120 games for the Yankees. Later, he became a pitching coach in the Yankees farm system. Also he served as the Yankees bullpen coach as well.

1965 - Former Yankees OF/DH Glenallen Hill (2000) was born. Glenallen hit .333 in 40 games with the Yankees during the 2000 season. On July 21, 2000, he was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for pitchers Ben Ford and Oswaldo Mairena. On March 28, 2001, he was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for Darren Blakely.

1972 - Former Yankees P Cory Lidle (2006) was born. (1972-2006) He went 4-3 in games with the Yankees in 2006 before his death in an airplane crash in October of 2006. On July 30, 2006, Cory was traded by the Phillies along with OF Bobby Abreu to the Yankees for P Matt Smith, Shortstop C.J. Henry, Carlos Monastrios and Jesus Sanchez.

1972 - In one of the best trades in the New York Yankees franchise history, the Yanks acquired relief pitcher Sparky Lyle from the Red Sox in exchange for 1B/OF Danny Cater and INF Mario Guerrero. In 7 seasons with the Yankees, Lyle will post a 57-40 record with 141 saves and a 2.41 ERA, win a Cy Young Award (1977), and help the team to 3 World Series Championships.

1974 - The Yankees purchased OF Elliot Maddox (1974-1977) from the Rangers for $100,000. Texas Manager Billy Martin didn’t get along with him. During the 1974 season, Yankees Manager Bill Virdon switched CF Bobby Mercer to RF to play Elliot Maddox in CF, who responded with a .303 BA. Bobby Mercer became a very effective RF for the Yanks. Elliot was injured on the outfield playing turf during the 1975 season at Shea Stadium, resulting in a serious knee injury. He was never again effective as the 1974 AL season. Yankees manager Billy Martin had him traded to the Orioles in January, 1977 for veteran OF Paul Blair. Elliot Maddox would sue the New York City over the playing conditions at Shea Stadium, but he lost the law suit.

previous week

(As always I'd like to thank Clipper51 for his great contribution.)