April 13th – April 19th
April 13th
1866 - Former Yankees INF Herman “Germany” Long (1903) was born. Herman appeared in 22 games for the Yankees in 1903, hitting .188.1879 - Former Yankees INF/OF Garland “Jake” Stahl (1908) was born. Jake appeared in 75 games for the Yankees in 1908, and hit .255.
1915 - Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes (1943-46) was born. On December 17, 1942, Oscar was traded by the Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar. Oscar hit .212 in 281 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the A’s.
1919 - Yankees released outfielders Ham Hyatt and Hugh High and Pitcher Ed Monore.
1921 - In the season opener for the Yankees, Babe Ruth goes 5-for-5, as New York and starter Carl Mays beat the Athletics 11-1.
1973 - Former Yankees P Mark Leiter (1990) was born. Mark went 1-1 in 8 games with Yankees. He is the older brother of former Yankees P Al Leiter.
April 14th
1910 - In the season opener before 25,000 at New York's Hilltop Park, Red Sox sport laced collars, the last MLB team to wear a collar. Boston sends Yankees into extra innings before the game is called at the end of 14 innings with the score, 4-4. Ed Cicotte starts for Boston, with Joe Wood relieving in the 8th inning. Yankees starter Hippo Vaughn goes all the way, retiring Boston batters in the 4th and 12th innings on 4 pitches. He needs just 3 pitches in the 10th inning.
1931 - Former Yankees INF Kal Segrist (1951) was born. Kal was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1951. He only appeared in 13 games in 1951, just hitting .043. Kal would be sent to the Orioles in the huge 17-player trade.
1955 - Elston Howard becomes the 1st black player in Yankees history. The 26-year-old C/OF makes his debut against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, as he hit a single with 1 RBI in the Yankees' 8-4 loss.
1955 - Former Yankees minor league P Chris Welch was born. Chris never pitched for the Yankees at MLB level. He was traded to the Padres in the Ruppert Jones-Jerry Mumphry trade. This trade also included young Yankees P Tim Lollar and OF Joe Lefebve.
1966 - Former Yankees OF/DH David Justice (2000-01) was born. Dave came over from the Indians in mid-season trade that saw the Yankees give up pitchers Zack Day and Jake Westbrook and OF Ricky Leede. Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Mets for 3B Robin Ventura in December of 2001.
1967 - Red Sox rookie P Billy Rohr makes a memorable debut by no-hitting the Yankees for 8th -two-thirds innings. Yankees C Elston Howard spoils Rohr's masterpiece with a 2-out single in the 9th inning, but the Red Sox still win, by a score of 3-0. Despite his impressive debut, Rohr will win only 2 more games in his MLB career.
1969 - Former Yankees minor leaguer and MLB player C Brad Ausmus was born. Brad was drafted from the Yankees farm system by the Rockies in MLB expansion player draft of 1992 (Rockies and Marlins). It has never been stated, why he was let go by the Yankees in the player draft.
1969 - The Yankees purchased OF Jimmie Hall from the Indians. He would hit .236 in 80 games before being sent to the Cubs.
1976 - Current Yankees P Kyle Farnsworth (2006-7) was born.
1978 - Former Yankees AL All Star INF Joe “Flash“ Gordon (1938-1943,1946) passes away (1915-1978). Former MLB 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 2B. He made the AL All Star team in from 1939 to 1943 and 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 MLB manager during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of MLB managers in 1960, when he was traded from the Indians to Tigers for Jimmy Dykes by Tribe’s General Manager Frank “Trader” Lane.
2004 - A day after Yankees teammate Mike Mussina earns his 200th MLB career victory; Kevin Brown reaches the same plateau beating the Devil Rays, 5-1. It is the 1st time in MLB history that members of the same pitching staff won their 200th MLB career victory in consecutive starts.
April 15th
1886 - Former Yankees P Leonard “King” Cole (1914-15) was born. “King Cole” would go 14-12 in 43 games with the Yankees.
1913 - Yankees purchased INF Bill McKechnie from the Braves for cash. Bill would hit .145 in 45 games for the Yankees. In 1962, he would be elected to HOF for his long time MLB Manager career.
1934 - Yankees released P Charles Devens (1932-34). Charles was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1932. He played college baseball at Harvard University. He went 5-3 in 16 games with the Yankees.
1976 - Yankees defeat Twins, 11-4, in the 1st game at the newly renovated Yankee Stadium. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and the widows of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth take part in pre-game ceremonies at the Stadium, which had been closed for the 1974 and 1975 seasons. The opening day crowd was 52,613 fans.
1998 - The 1st-ever AL-NL doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13th. The Yankees earn their 1st victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time HR leader at Shea Stadium, adds to his total with a shot into the LF bleachers. In the regularly scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea Stadium in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, drew a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 who showed up for the Mets game at night.
April 16th
1929 - Yankees are the 1st team in MLB history to permanently feature numbers on the backs of their uniforms. The numbers correspond to each player's position in the batting order. The numbers also allow fans and broadcasters to more easily identify the players.
1937 - Yankee Stadium opened for its 15th season with a new enlarged RF stand. Prior to the 1937 AL season, the triple decked seating area ended at the foul poles, and the bleachers extended across the outfield from pole to pole. The extended decks included new box and reserved seats, and thereby reduced the Stadium’s seating capacity below the 72,000, it once allegedly held.
1939 - Former Yankees INF Bernie Allen (1972-73) was born. Bernie was obtained from the Rangers in 1972 for 2 Yankee minor league players, Pitchers Terry Ley and Gary Jones. During the 1973 season, he was sold to the Expos.
1943 - Former Yankees C Frank Fernandez (1967-69) was born. Frank was weak hitting catcher who was traded with pitcher Al Downing to the A’s for 1B Danny Cater.
1954 - Former Yankees C Bruce Robinson (1979-1980) was born. Bruce was purchased from A’s for $400,000 in February of 1979. He only appeared in 10 games for the Yankees going 2 for 17.
1959 - The Yankees unveil the 1st message scoreboard in Stadium History. It listed the lineups, out of town scores, and a wide expanse for paragraph-type messages, posted via electronic devices.
1961 - Beginning his historic homerun chase of Babe Ruth's 60 HR season-record, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for 1st HR in the 12th game of the 1961 AL season. The 5th-inning solo shot is off Tigers veteran starter pitcher Paul Foytack.
1967 - The Yankees edge the Red Sox 7-6 in 18 innings. The 5-hour, 50-minute marathon ended when Jake Gibbs walked, stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Joe Pepitone.
1973 - The Yankees purchased 3B/1B Jim Ray Hart from the Giants for over $50,000.
April 17th
1888 - Former Yankees INF Thomas “Rebel” McMillian (1912) was born. On August 12, 1912, Tom was traded by the Rochester (International) to the Highlanders for Jack Quinn and Jack Martin. He hit .228 in 14 games in 1912.
1912 - At the Polo Grounds in New York City, the Giants and Yankees play an charity game to raise money for the survivors of the Titanic, which sunk on April 14th. The Giants belt the Yankees, now clad in their new pinstriped uniforms, to win the game by a score of 11-2.
1929 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth marries actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson. The ceremony is held at 5 o' clock in the morning on Opening Day to avoid crowds. Playing the next day, at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hits a HR against P Red Ruffing of the Red Sox and tips his cap in the direction of Claire, who is seated in the stands. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-3.
1939 - On the morning of Opening Day in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Yankees visit Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Also Roosevelt is scheduled to throw out the 1st pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out and Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors 4 days later.
1953 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-FT HR off of P Chuck Stobbs. The shot came in the 5th inning of a 7-3 Yankees victory over the Senators. It is believed to be the longest HR hit in Griffith Stadium history.
1956 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a pair of tape measure HRS against the Senators starter Camilo Pascual at Griffith Stadium. Both long balls are estimated at over 500 FT. The 2 teams combine for 6 HRs in a 10-4 Opening Day victory for the Yankees.
1973 - Yankees released veteran P Casey Cox (1972-73). On August 30, 1972, Casey was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for P Jim Roland. He went 0-1 in 6 games for the Yankees before being released.
April 18th
1888 - Former Yankees OF George “Duffy” Lewis (1919-20) was born. On December 18, 1918, Duffy was traded by the Red Sox, along with Pitchers Dutch Leonard and Ernie Shore to the Yankees for OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, P Ray Caldwell, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000 cash. He would hit .271 for the Yankees in 2 seasons, before being traded on December 31, 1920, along with P George Mogridge to the Senators for OF Braggo Roth.1923 - The debut of Yankee Stadium is a huge success with an announced attendance of 74,217. Bob Shawkey of the Yankees, aided by a 3-run HR by Babe Ruth, beats Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke by a score of 4 -1.
1933 - Former Yankees P Steve “Lefty” Kraly (1953) was born. Steve was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1949. In 1953, Steve went 0-2 in 5 games with the Yankees.
1950 - At Fenway Park, Commissioner Happy Chandler gives Ted Williams his 1949 AL MVP award. Then Mass. Governor Paul Dever tosses out the first ball. To the delight of 31,822 fans, Boston rips Yanks starter Allie Reynolds with a 5-run 4th inning to drive him from the game and take a 9-0 margin. But the Yankees score 4 runs in the 6th inning off of starter Mel Parnell and then, down 10-4, New York unloads for 9 runs in the 8th inning. Yankees Rookie INF Billy Martin becomes the 1st player in MLB history to get 2 base hits in 1 inning in his 1st MLB game. He doubles against Parnell on his 1st at bat in the 8th inning, and then singles off of P Al Papai.
Walt Masterson gives up Tommy Henrich's 2nd triple of the game before giving way to 4 more Boston pitchers. Boo Ferriss, pitching in his last MLB game, allows the last 2 runs in the 9th inning as the Yankees chalk up a 15-10 victory, the biggest blown lead the Red Sox have ever had at Fenway Park (on June 4, 1989, they'll blow a 10-run lead at home). Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerr, each had 3 hits. Don Johnson is the winning pitcher, his last victory for the Yankees, with closer Joe Page pitching a perfect 8th and 9th innings in relief.
1951 - Yankees Rookie Mickey Mantle makes his MLB debut. Mantle picks up 1 hit in 2 official at-bats, as the Yankees defeat the rival Red Sox 6-1, behind the pitching of starter Eddie Lopat.
1956 - Ed Rommel becomes the 1st MLB umpire to wear glasses during a game as he arbitrates a contest between the Yankees and Senators.
1959 - Former Yankees P Rich Bordi (1987) was born. Rich was obtained from the Cubs in 1984. He appeared in 16 games during the 1987 season going 3-1 out of the Yanks bullpen. He was traded to the Orioles along with INF Rex Hudler.
1959 - Former Yankees P Dennis Rasmussen (1982-1987) was born. Dennis was obtained by the Yanks in the Tommy John trade in 1982. He went 39-24 in 103 games for the Yankees, with his best season in 1987 going 18-6 in 31 games. In August of 1983, he was traded to Padres in the John Montefusco trade. In March 1984, he was reacquired by the Yanks in the Graig Nettles trade to the Padres. He left the Yankees in August, 1987, going to the Reds for P Bill Gullickson.
2005 - The Yankees scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning of a 19 -8 victory over the Devil Rays. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was on June 21, 1945, in the 5th inning of a 14 -4 victory against Red Sox.
April 19th
1887 - Former Yankees INF John “Jack” Martin (1912) was born. On August 12, 1912, John was traded by the Highlanders along with Jack Quinn to the Rochester (IL) for INF Tommy McMillan. He hit .225 in 71 games with the team.
1928 - Yankees are out of AL 1st place for the 1st time since May 1926, as they lose to the Red Sox the morning Patriots Day game at Fenway Park.
1935 - Former Yankees P John Wyatt (1968) was born. John appeared briefly with the Yankees after being acquired from the Red Sox before moving on to the Tigers during the 1968 AL season. He was a former AL All Star closer with the A’s.
1946 - The Yankees moved to 1st base dugout as their new Yankee Stadium clubhouse opens for the 1st time.
1949 - The Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth. Monument Park, located in the deep CF region of Yankee Stadium, also includes monuments for Lou Gehrig and Manager Miller Huggins.
1960 - Newly acquired RF Roger Maris makes his Yankees debut with 4 hits, including 2 HRs, against the Red Sox. In 1961, Maris will set a MLB mark for the most HRs in 1 season, with 61, breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding MLB and AL record of 60 HRs.
1964 - Former Yankees P Scott Kamieniecki (1991-1996) was born. Scott was a 14th round pick by the Yanks in 1986. He went 36-39 in 113 games from 1991 to 1996. He left the Yankees after 1996 season as a free agent.
1973 - New Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires President Mike Burke replaces him with Gabe Paul. In fairness to Burke, he never had access to the money that George brought to the Yankees. CBS gave him a short budget and the Yankee farm system had been traded away during the 1950’s in trades by 1964, it was empty of talent. It is ironic that it was Michael Burke, who approached Steinnbrenner’s group to purchase the team from CBS, when they decided to sell the team.
1974 - The Yankees obtain OF Walt “No Neck” Williams from the White Sox along with P Ed Farmer as part of a 3-way deal that saw the Yankees sent C Gerry Moses to Tigers, who in turn sent P Jim Perry to the Indians.
1979 - Yankee teammates Rich Gossage and Cliff Johnson of the brawl in the clubhouse after a 6 -3 loss to the Orioles. Gossage suffers a sprained ligament in his thumb, which will keep him out of action until July 12th. As "punishment" for injuring the team's ace reliever, the Yankees will trade Cliff Johnson to the Indians later in the summer.
2006 - Former Yankees minor League manager and Coordinator of Latin American Operations Oscar Acosta is killed in an auto accident.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
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