This Week in Yankee History

July 27th - August 2nd

July 27th

1904 - The Tigers purchased C Monte Beville from the Highlanders to replace Bob Wood, who dislocated an elbow yesterday when he slipped trying to field a bunt against the A's

1922 - Elam Vangilder gives up a HR to Wally Pipp in the 4th inning but leads, by the score of 2 -1 going in to the 8th inning. The Yankees jump on the Browns’ starter and reliever Ray Kolp for 4 runs before the Browns tie it with 3 runs in the 9th inning. Dave Danforth comes on Fred Hofmann on a pitch "that sailed a foot." When umpire Brick Owens exams the ball, he rules it was doctored, earning Danforth, an automatic 10-day suspension. Reliever Rasty Wright comes on and serves up a game-winning HR to Wally Schang. Yankees win the game by a score of 6-5.

1936 - Former Yankees minor league OF Don Lock was born. Don was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1958. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On July 11, 1962, Don, who was playing for AAA Richmond (IL) was traded to the Senators for veteran 1B Don Long.

1945 - The Cubs purchased starter Hank Borowy from the Yankees in an unexpected waiver deal. Borowy is 10-5 with the Yankees, was put on waivers, apparently to solve a roster problem, and was passed over by 15 teams. The Cubs snatch him for $97,500. Hank will help the Cubs win the 1945 NL pennant with an 11-2 record, including 3 wins over their rivals the Cardinals down the stretch.

1947 - Yankees Catcher Yogi Berra starts an incredible 148-game errorless streak, a MLB record for catchers.

1948 - In his MLB debut with the Browns, St. Louis native Hank Arft bangs a triple and a HR off of Yankees pitcher Frank Hiller. Arft drives in 3- runs as the Browns top Yankees, by a score of 4- 0. Tomorrow's cheers of "Arft, Arft" will give Hank his nickname "Bow Wow."

1951 - The White Sox, just 3 1/2 games behind theYankees and the Red Sox, open a 4-game series at Yankee Stadium. Trailing 3-1 in the 9th inning, the Sox make it 3-2 before rain and the Yankees delay the game. Yankees INF Gil McDougald is thrown out for stalling, while Yankees Manager Casey Stengel uses 5 pitchers in the inning. Finally the Yankees win as the game is called after 30 minutes.

1955 - Former Yankees P Shane Rawley (1982-84) was born. On April 1, 1982, Shane was traded by the Mariners to the Yankees for a player to be named later,along with Pitchers Bill Caudill, and Gene Nelson. The Yankees sent Bobby Brown on April 6, 1982 to the Mariners to complete the trade. Shane went 27-27 in 92 games with 4 saves as a Yankee. On June 30, 1984, he was traded by the Yankees to the Phillies for P Marty Bystrom and OF Keith Hughes.

1956 - Future Yankee 3B Hector Lopez and former Yankees farmhand 1B Vic Power of the A’s each have 5 hits including a HR each in a 14-inning game, a 10-9 loss to the Yankees. Yankees get HRs from Yogi Berra, Andy Carey and Bill Skowron. On the pitching side, Tommy Byrne picks up the victory for the Yankees, throwing 5 1/3 innings of shut out relief. Both teams’ starters were knocked out early in the game.

1970 - The Yankees beat the Angels by the score of 5-2, behind starter Mel Stottlemyre, who is helped by shortstop Gene Michael in the 9th inning. With the score tied, Michael pulls the hidden ball trick on Angels’ pinch runner Jarvis Tatum. The Yankees score 3-runs in 10th inning to win the game.

1970 - Former Yankees CF Earle Combs, Player-Manager Lou Boudreau, MLB Commissioner Ford Frick and Cardinals P Jesse Haines are inducted to the Baseball Hall Of Fame in Cooperstown, NY.

1973 - Thurman Munson singles home the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Yankees, a 1-0 win over the Brewers starter Jim Colborn.

1973 - Former Yankees reserve INF Enrique Wilson (2001-2004) was born. On June 13, 2001, Wilson was traded by the Pirates to the Yankees for minor league P Damaso Marte. He hit .216 in 264 games as a reserve INF for the Yankees.

1975 - In the 1st game of a doubleheader at Shea Stadium, Red Sox CF Fred Lynn makes a great running catch to save the game for starter Bill Lee, who wins the game by the score of 1-0. In 2nd game, Roger Moret completes the whitewash with a 6-0 nightcap win. The 2 losses seem to finish the Yankees 1975 AL pennant hopes and Bill Virdon's Yankees managing job. Bill will be replaced by former Rangers manager Billy Martin on August 2, 1975.

1975 - Current Yankees AL MVP and All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez was born.

1978 - The Yankees win the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Indians by a score of 11-0, but the Tribe rebound to win the 2nd game, by the score of 17-5. Indians Duane Kuiper ties the MLB record with 2 bases-loaded triples in the nightcap, only the 3rd player (after Bill Bruton and Elmer Valo) to do so in the 20th century.

1979 - The Brewers edge the Yankees by the score of 6-5 as the Brewers slugger Cecil Cooper becomes the 4th AL player this month to hit 3 HRS in a game.

1988 - Tommy John achieves what is believed to be a MLB 1st by committing 3-errors on one play in the Yankees' 16-3 rout of the Brewers. The feat ties the MLB record for errors in one inning by a pitcher.

July 28th

1898 - Former Yankees back-up C Benny Bengough (1923-1930) was born (1898-1968). Benny hit .225 in 317 games as a reserve catcher for the Yankees.

1905 - Former Yankees INF and MLB Manager, Hall Of Famer Leo “Lip” Durocher (1925 - 1929) was born (1905 - 1991). On August, 1925, Leo was purchased by the Yankees from the Hartford (Eastern) for $12,000. Leo played the INF for the Yankees in 210 games, hitting .258. He was the first Yankee player to wear uniform #7. As Babe Ruth’s roommate, he stole some things from the Babe who beat him up in their hotel room. Leo was banished from the AL. On February 5, 1930, Leo was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Yankees. He later became a successful MLB manager in the NL with the Dodgers and Giants. Also Leo managed the Cubs and Astros. He was elected to the HOF in 1994.

1922 - The Yankees move back into 1st place when Sad Sam Jones beats Ray Kolp, by a score of 7-3. Kolp lasts just 2 innings before Bill Bayne takes over for the final 7 innings only allows 2 runs. Ken Williams hits his 23rd HR for the White Sox, but Yankees Whitey Witt counters with a 3-run HR.

1924 - After scoring 10 runs in the 1st inning, the Yankees barely hang on to edge the White Sox by a score of 12-10.

1931 - The White Sox record an AL-record 12 hit in the 8th inning against the Yankees. They score 11 runs as Bob Fothergill HRs and triples to win the game by a score of 14-12.

1933 - Former Yankees P Johnny Kucks (1955-1959) was born. Before the 1952 AL season, Johnny was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. His best Yankee season was in 1956, when he went 18-9 and made the AL All Star team. He appeared in 4 World Series with the Yankees. Plagued by back troubles, Johnny would never be as effective as his great 1956 season. On May 26, 1959, he was traded by the Yankees along with INF Jerry Lumpe and P Tom Sturdivant to the A’s for P Ralph Terry and INF/OF Hector Lopez.

1936 - In the 6th inning of a 16-6, Yankee win in Detroit, the Tiger's Goose Goslin drives a ball in the gap in right center. RF Joe DiMaggio and CF Myril Hoag, in for a slumping Jake Powell, sprint for the ball and collide, the ball bounding by for an inside the park home run. Both players are knocked unconscious but appear unhurt: DiMaggio stays in though Hoag is replaced. Hoag will play tomorrow and collect a single, then collapse in his hotel room on the 30th with a brain clot. Hoag will be operated on successfully at Harper Hospital and will be out the rest of the 1936 AL season, but he'll return to play 6 more years. New York wins the game on 20 hits, scoring 4 runs in each of the 1st two innings, and 3 apiece in the 4th and 5th innings. Lou Gehrig's two doubles, single and HR # 31 with 2-aboard pace the visitors. Tommy Bridges is the loser while Johnny Murphy, who relieves starter Monte Pearson in the 4th inning, is credited with the win. George Selkirk adds a HR for the Yankees, who have now hit 122 HRs.

1940 - Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller clouts 3- HRs for the Yankees in a 10-9 Yankees win over the White Sox in the 1st game of a doubleheader split.

1943 - Former Yankees OF Richard Simpson (1969) was born. On December 4, 1968, he was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for P Dooley Womack. Richard only appeared in 6 games with the Yankees hitting .276. On May 19, 1969, Richard was traded by the Yankees to the Pilots for OF Jose Vidal. He will never play for the Yankees at MLB level.

1958 - For the 6th time in his MLB career, Mickey Mantle hits HRs from both sides of the plate. Yankees beats the A’s by a score of 14-7.

1959 - The White Sox take over 1st place for good in the AL by toppling the Yankees 4 -3 behind veteran starter Billy Pierce. OF Al Smith hitting a 2-run HR in the 8th inning, provides the winning margin. The Sox will go 13-9 against the Yankees this year, the 1st time since the 1925 AL season that Chicago is over .500 for the season against the Bombers.

1960 - With relief help from Bobby Shantz, Whitey Ford, who leaves with an upset stomach, picks up a 4-0 win over the Indians. Tony Kubek, Mickey Mantle, and Clete Boyer hit HRs for the Yankees. The Bombers sweep the doubleheader, winning the nightcap, by a score of 9-2, and take over 1st place in the AL by 3- percentage points.

1961 - The Yankees buy veteran 1B Bob Hale from the Indians. This will make veteran 1B Earl Torgeson, who was signed on June 17th, expendable. They'll release Torgy as a player in early September and then sign him as a 1st base coach for the Yankees.

1962 - On Old Timers Day at Yankee Stadium, White Sox knuckle-baller Eddie Fisher loses a 3-0 shut out, when he surrenders 7th inning HRs to Mickey Mantle and Johnny Blanchard and loses the game by a score of 4-3.

1964 - The Angels shortstop Jim Fregosi hits for the cycle to assure a 3-1 win over the Yankees. New York's only score is a Mickey Mantle HR over the CF fence at Chavez Ravine, 1 of only 2-hits off of starter Dean Chance. It's the 1st HR given up by Angels’ starter Dean Chance in 69 innings.

1970 - It's a tough day for Angels' catcher Tom Egan as he is charged with 5 passed balls, all with different pitchers. To make matters worse, the Angels backstop also commits an error allowing the winning run to score in a 6-5 loss to the Yankees.

1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Myril Hoag (1931-32, 1934-38) passes away (1908-1971). Myril appeared in 1,371 games as a Yankee OF hitting .273. His best season was in 1937, when he appeared in 106 games, hitting .301. On October 26, 1938, he was traded by the Yankees along with C Joe Glenn to the Browns for P Oral Hildebrand and OF Buster Mills.

1972 - Yankees re-purchased P Ron Klimkowski from the A’s for cash. He would go 0-3 for the team in his final MLB season.

1977 - In New York, a Thursday crowd of 40,918 cheer as New York unleashes a 15 hit attack to down the Orioles, by a score of 14-2. The Yankees hitting barrage includes HRs by Graig Nettles, Thurman Munson and Roy White.

1983 - AL President Lee MacPhail decides George Brett's 'Pine Tar' HR should count. The remainder of the game will played on August 18th with the Royals beating the Yankees, 5-4.

1985 - Former Yankees and Cardinals OF Enos “Country” Slaughter, Lou Brock, Arky Vaughan, and Hoyt Wilhelm are inducted into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Wilhelm is the 1st pitcher to be inducted because of his role as a relief pitcher.

1995 - The Yankees get starter David Cone from the Blue Jays in a trade for minor league pitchers Marty Janzen, Jason Jarvis, and Mike Gordon. Also the Yankees trade OF-DH Danny Tartabull to the A’s for OF-DH Ruben Sierra and minor league P Jason Beverlin.

1996 - Darryl Strawberry's 300th MLB career HR, a 2-run shot in the 9th inning, lifts the Yankees to a 3-2 win over the visiting Royals. The Yankees now lead the AL East by 12 games.

2000 - Unable to win in 4 months, veteran Yankees starter David Cone is sent to the team's minor league camp in Tampa by Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. The struggling veteran will be under supervision of Billy Connors, the Yankees vice president of player personnel.

July 29th

1903 - Cy Young goes all the way as Boston loses to the Highlanders, by a score of 15-14. The New Yorkers had been shut out in their 2 previous matches in the series. Patsy Dougherty leads the Boston offense by hitting for the cycle, but Cy gets little defense as Boston makes 8 errors behind him. New York starter Jack Chesbro is lifted in the 6th inning for Harry Howell, while Willie Keeler has 4 hits to lead the Highlander offense. The game lasts 2 hours 10 minutes.

1928 - The Indians score 8 in the 1st inning and 9 in the 2nd inning in a 24-6 win over the Yankees at home. Johnny Hodapp of the Indians becomes the first AL player to get 2 hits in an inning twice in a game. He strokes 2 singles in both the 2nd and 6th innings of the game. The Yankees' lead in the AL shrinks from 11 1/2 games to 6 games in one week.

1938 - Yankees starter Spud Chandler pitches 15 innings as the Yankees beat the White Sox in Chicago by a score of 7-3.

1938 - In a post game radio interview with Bob Elson in Chicago, OF Jake Powell of the Yankees will make headlines with remarks about "beating up niggers and then throwing them in jail" as part of his off-season duties as a policeman. For the statements, Baseball Commissioner Judge Landis suspends Powell for 10 days.

1951 - Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Thomasson (1978) was born. On June 15, 1978, Gary was traded by the A’s to the Yankees for OF Dell Alston, INF Mickey Klutts, and $50,000. Gary had 3 game winning hits, while filling in for the injured Mickey Rivers in CF, in 55 games with a .276 BA. On February 15, 1979, Gary was traded to the Dodgers for C Brad Gulden.

1951 - Before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 70,972 fans, the Yankees sweep the White Sox, by scores of 8-3 and 2-0. Joe DiMaggio powers 2 HRs off of P Lou Kretlow in the opener, and ex-White Sox Bob Kuzava out-duels Saul Rogovin to win the nightcap. With yesterday's game rained out, the Sox are now 6 1/2 out of 1st place in the AL race.

1959 - Former Yankees P Dave LaPoint (1989-90) was born. Dave was signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 1988. He went 13-19 in 48 games for the Yankees.

1963 - Former Yankees minor league P Steve Frey was born. Steve was drafted by the Yankees in the 15th round of the 1983 amateur player draft. Steve never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 11, 1987, Steve was traded by the Yankees along with C Phil Lombardi and OF Darren Reed to the Mets for shortstop Rafael Santana and Victor Garcia (minors).

1966 - The Yankees edge the White Sox, by the score of 2-1, on Mickey Mantle's 14th HR in 24 games. Mickey Mantle moves ahead of HOF Lou Gehrig into 6th place on the MLB career HR list with the blast.

1969 - Yankees reliever Jack Aker's string of 33 scoreless innings comes to an end as the A's rally for 3 runs to top the Yankees, by a score of 6 -5. Vida Blue, the A's starter, receives credit for his 1st MLB victory.

1977 - Yankees starter Ron Guidry and relief ace Sparky Lyle combine for a 4-0 win as the Yankees streak to their 5th win in 6 games. Cliff Johnson and Graig Nettles each hit HRs for the Yankees.

1978 - The Yankee Stadium crowd is pleasantly surprised as recently resigned skipper Billy Martin returns to join in on the Old Timers' Day festivities. Much to their delight, the fans are informed "Billy the Kid' will return as Yankee skipper for the 1980 AL season.

1991 - During a game at Yankee Stadium, Oakland OF Jose Canseco is bombarded with assorted objects by unruly fans. Included among the objects are an inflatable doll, a transistor radio, and a head of cabbage. Oakland escapes with a 10-8 victory, as Canseco strokes a double in 4 at bats.

1997 - The Blue Jays pick up veteran INF Mariano Duncan from the Yankees for cash and minor leaguer Angel Ramirez.

2007 - Former Yankees OF Bill Robinson (1967-1969) passed away. Bill came to the Yankees from the Braves in the Clete Boyer trade. Bill won the 1967 James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. He was supposed to be the “black” Mickey Mantle, but he never adjusted to playing in New York with the pressure. He would hit .202 in 310 games for the Yankees. He was sent down to AAA. Later he would return to the MLB with the Pirates and Phillies. After retiring as a player, he became a MLB batting Coach for several MLB teams.

July 30th

1890 - Former MLB player and HOF Yankees Manager Casey Stengel (1949-1960) was born (1890-1975). Casey was a OF in NL for 14 seasons with a lifetime BA of .284. Casey Stengel managed the great Yankees Dynasty teams of 1949-1960. Before joining the Yankees, Casey had managed in the NL with the Dodgers and Braves with no success. He won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Also he won World Championships in 1956 and 1958. He finished his Yankee managing career with a record of 1149-696, WP .619 with 10 AL Flags and 7 World Championships. He was let go by the Yankees after his manager’s contract expired in October, 1960. He would return to New York in 1962 to manage the new NL expansion team, the Mets, until 1965 when he suffered a serious hip injury that forced him to retire from MLB. Casey was elected to the Baseball’s Hall of Fame on July 25, 1966.

1919 - Yankees obtained P Carl Mays from the Red Sox for pitchers Hubert McGraw and Alan Russell, a minor leaguer to be named later, and $25,000. Carl Mays would go 80-39 in 4 ½ seasons with the Yankees, including 26-11 in 1920 and 27-9 in 1921. Unfortunately Carl and Yankees Manager Miller Higgins never got along, which resulted in his trade to the Reds in 1923.

1930 - Former Yankees C/1B Gus Triandos (1953-54) was born. Gus appeared in 20 games with the Yankees in 1953-54, just hitting .171. He was unable to beat out Yankees starting C Yogi Berra. Gus was traded on November 17, 1954, with players to be named later, Pitchers Harry Byrd, Jim McDonald, INF Willy Miranda, C Hal Smith, and OF Gene Woodling to the Orioles for players to be named later, pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, and INF Billy Hunter. Gus would become AL All Star catcher for the Orioles during the 1957-58-59 AL seasons. Gus Triandos and Gene Woodling would give the Orioles some power hitters in their starting lineup.

1936 - The Yankees, with Jake Powell back in CF for the injured Myril Hoag, drop a 5-4 decision to the Tigers. On August 1st, Powell will go to LF, with DiMaggio playing CF for the 1st time. George Selkirk will return to RF. The Yankees lose today, when Charlie Gehringer ties the match with a 2-run HR in the 8th inning. Yankees C Bill Dickey allows a ball to get by him in the 10th inning and Burns scores the winning run. Tigers’ starter Schoolboy Rowe pitches 10 innings for the win over Yankees starter Johnny Broaca.

1940 - Former Yankees INF Cesar “Pepi” Tovar (1976) was born (1940-1994). Cesar played in 13 games hitting .154 in September 1976 for the Yankees.He retired as an active MLB player after the 1976 AL season.

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

1951 - Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio makes a rare mental error against Tigers, catching a Steve Souchock fly ball in deep CF and, thinking it's the 3rd out, begins trotting in. It's only the 2nd out, and George Kell scores from 2B to make the score 4-2 in the 8th inning. Despite the Yankee Clipper’s mental lapse, the Yanks win, by a score of 5-4, with Joe DiMaggio knocking in the winning run in the 9th inning.

1954 - Against Yankees starter Allie Reynolds, Orioles 3B Bob Kennedy hits the 1st grand slam for the new Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles surpass the top season attendance the St. Louis Browns had in their 52 years, as they draw 27,385 for the game, giving those 7,000 more than the 712,918 St. Louis drew in 1922.

1955 - The Orioles get veteran starter Ed Lopat from the Yankees for P Jim McDonald and cash. Ed was at the end of his fine long MLB career. He would rejoin the Yankees organization in 1956, managing their farm club in Richmond (IL). In 1960, he would replace the fired pitching coach Jim Turner, being Casey Stengel’s final Yankees pitching coach.

1957 - Former Yankees P Steve Trout (1987) was born. On July 13, 1987, Steve was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for pitchers Bob Tewksbury, Rich Scheid, and Dean Wilkins. Steve went 0-4 in 14 games with a 6.60 ERA for the Yankees, being a major disappointment. He was traded on December 22, 1987, by the Yankees along with OF Henry Cotto to the Mariners for Pitchers Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker, and Wade Taylor.

1966 - White Sox starter Gary Peters shuts down the Yankees by a score of 6-0, facing just 29 batters. The efficient Peters used just 75 pitches for the win.

1977 - Yankees starter Don Gullett picks up his 10th win of the year, a 9-3 victory over the A's. But it will prove to be his final win of the year when he injures his shoulder in the 7th inning and leaves the game.

1986 - Catcher Ron Hassey is traded for the 3rd time in 8 months. Traded by the Yankees with a player to be named later and Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for OF/DH Ron Kittle, INF Wayne Tolleson, and C Joel Skinner. The Yankees would send C Bill Lindsey on December 24, 1986 to the White Sox to complete the trade.

1990 - In a surprisingly harsh ruling, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent orders Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to resign as the club's general partner by August 20th and bans him from day-to-day operation of the team for life. The ruling is a result of Steinbrenner's $40,000 payment to confessed gambler Howie Spira for damaging information about since-traded Yankee All Star OF Dave Winfield.

1993 - The Yankees obtained P Paul Assenmacher from the Cubs in a 3-way deal, which sees Yankees P John Habyan go to the Royals and Royals send OF Karl Rhodes to the Cubs. Paul would go 2-2 in 24 games for the Yankees.

1997 - Yankees starter David Wells fires a 3-hitter as the Yankees beat the Royals, by a score of 7-0. Yankees 1B Tino Martinez hits his 36th HR of the 1997 AL season and INF Luis Sojo has 4 hits

1999 - The Yankees defeat the Red Sox, by a score of 13-3, as 2B Chuck Knoblauch raps out 5 hits, including a double and HR, and drives home 4 runs.

2001 - The Yankees reacquire P Sterling Hitchcock from the Padres, sending Padres minor league P Brett Jodie and OF Darren Blakely.

July 31st

1922 - Former Yankees All Star OF and MLB Manager Hank Bauer (1948-1959) was born (1922-2007). Before the 1946 AL Season, Hank was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He was AL All Star RF in 1952-1954. Hank appeared in 9 World Series with the Yankees with the 1958 series against the Braves being his best, hitting .323 with 4 HRs with 8 RBI’s. Hank finished his Yankee career with a .277 BA, 158 HRs, and 654 RBIs in 1,406 games. On December 11,1959, Hank was traded by the Yankees along with P Don Larsen, OF Norm Siebern, and OF/1B Marv Throneberry to the A’s for OF Roger Maris, INF Joe DeMaestri, and 1B Kent Hadley. Hank would finish his playing career with the A’s in 1961. He would manage the A’s in Kansas City and Oakland. Hank would win the 1966 World Series with the Baltimore Orioles beating the LA Dodgers. Later he would manage in the Mets farm system at Tidewater (AAA) in the 1970’s and then scout for the Yankees afterwards. Hank passed away on February 9, 2007 from cancer

1925 - Yankees released veteran C Steve O’Neill. He hit .286 in 35 games for the Yankees.

1927 - Former Yankees back-up C Billy Shantz (1960) was born (1927-1993). Billy was the brother of Yankees hurler Bobby Shantz. They were both originally signed by the Philadelphia A’s. On April 4, 1959, Billy was purchased by the Yankees from the A’s. He spent the 1959 season at Richmond (AAA). During the 1960 season, he appeared in 1 game for the Yankees. He spent most of the 1960 season at Richmond as back-up catcher to starter Jesse Gonder.

1928 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits a fungo 447 FT in an unofficial test, beating all trial competition records.

1931 - Former Yankees P Walter Lee “Rip” Coleman (1955-56) was born (1931-2004). Before the 1952 Season, Rip was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Rip went 5-6 in 39 games for the Yankees in 1955-56. He appeared in 1 game during the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers. On February 19, 1957, Rip was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later, INF Milt Graff, INF Billy Hunter, P Mickey McDermott, P Tom Morgan, and OF Irv Noren to the A’s for players to be named later, Pitchers, Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, INF’s Jack McMahan, and Wayne Belardi. The Yankees sent P Jack Urban on April 5, 1957 to the A’s to complete the trade. The A’s sent Curt Roberts on April 4, 1957 and INF Clete Boyer on June 4, 1957 to the Yankees to complete the trade.

1936 - Led by All Star 1B Lou Gehrig, who clouts his 33rd HR, as the Yankees down the Indians, by a score of 11-7, at League Park. The loss snaps the Tribe's 5-game winning streak, and leaves the Yankees 8 1/2 games ahead of Cleveland. Lou Gehrig and Red Rolfe clout HRs in the 5th inning to chase P Mel Harder, but the Indians answer back with 3 doubles by Earl Averill and a HR by Hal Trosky. Yankees starter Bump Hadley, with relief help from closer Johnny Murphy, hangs on for his 9th win.

1951 - The Browns acquired OF Cliff Mapes from the Yankees, sending P Bob Hogue, 3B Kermit Wahl, shortstop Tom Upton and P Lou Sleater to New York. The trade frees up an outfield spot for Mickey Mantle's return from the minors (Kansas City Blues AAA) as well as Mapes No. 7 Yankees uniform.

1955 - Starter Don Larsen wins a 5-2 decision, as the Yankees and A’s collaborate for 9-Double Plays, with the Yankees turning in 6. The A’s starter Cloyd Boyer, who had 3 of his 1st 8 pitches hit for HRs by Yankee sluggers Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra takes the loss. Cloyd was the older brother of MLB players Ken and Clete Boyer. He would later become a Yankees pitching coach during the 1970’s.

1960 - At Yankee Stadium, the A's push over 3 unearned runs in the 11th inning on 2 throwing errors by Yankees 3B Hector Lopez to top Yankees by a score of 5-2.

1962 - At Washington D.C. Stadium, Mickey Mantle is on the Yankees bench with a wrenched knee, but veteran 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron supplies the Yankees power with a grand slam HR. New York wins the game, by a score of 9-5.

1963 - Yankees starter Ralph Terry uses just 75 pitches in a 5-hitter, winning by a score of 3-2 over the A's. Terry issues no walks and has 5 strikeouts against the A’s starting lineup.

1970 - Former Yankees back-up C Mike Figga (1997-1999) was born. On June 5, 1989, Mike was drafted by the Yankees in the 44th round of the 1989 amateur player draft. Mike appeared in 5 games for the Yankees. On June 3, 1999, Mike was selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Yankees.

1977 - Graig Nettles scores 3 runs to lead the Yankees to a 9- 2 win over the A's, the 8th win in 9 games for New York. The Yankees are a half game out of 1st place in the AL East.

1978 - The Yankees stop Rangers, by a score of 6 -1, to move to 7 1/2 games behind Red Sox in the AL East.

1985 - The Indians end Ron Guidry's win streak at 12 games, beating the Yankees, by a score of 6-5. Guidry and Waddell, the winner, each go 6+ innings.

1996 - At the trading deadline, the Tigers trade 1B-DH Cecil Fielder, 32, to the Yankees for OF-DH Ruben Sierra and minor league P Matt Drews. It is the 1st swap in MLB history in which 2 players with more than 220 HRs are traded for one another.

1996 - The Yankees obtained P David Weathers from the Marlins for P Mark Hutton, but they will send him to the minors in 3 weeks.

1999 - The Yankees bring back veteran C Jim Leyritz from the Padres for minor league P Geraldo Padua. Padua was 25-4 in 3 seasons in Class A, including a run of 20 straight wins. Mysteriously, Padua will lose 14 straight in the minors in 2000 and earn a release from Altoona (AA) in May, 2001, after serving up 3 straight HRs.

2004 - A minute before the trading deadline, the Yankees deal the talented but underachieving Cuban P Jose Contreras (8-5 with a 5.64) and $3 million to the White Sox for All-Star starter Esteban Loaiza (9-5, 4.86). Both hurlers are 32 years old.

2005 - At Yankee Stadium, the Molina brothers, Bengie and Jose, both HR off of Yankees starter Randy Johnson. The Angel teammates join Hank and Tommie Aaron, Matty and Jesus Alou, Aaron and Bret Boone, Billy and Tony Conigliaro, Al and Tony Cuccinello, Rick and Wes Farrell, Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, Graig and Jim Nettles, Cal and Billy Ripken and Paul and Lloyd Waner as siblings who have gone deep in the same game.

2007 - The Yankees tie the 1939 Yankees by hitting 8 HRs in a game, while crushing the White Sox. Matsui hit 2 HRs, with Johnny Damon, Shelly Duncan, Bobby Arbeu, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera each hitting HRs for the Yankees.

August 1st

1903 - A’s starter Rube Waddell no-hits the Highlanders, except for Kid Elberfeld, who has 4 singles, these, plus a lavish 6 walks, down the A's 3-2. Waddell observes afterward, "If I would have walked him 4 times, I would have pitched a no-hitter."

1922 - Yankees purchased C Benny Bengough (1922-1930) from Buffalo (IL). Benny would share catch duties with other catchers, until the arrival of starting catcher Bill Dickey in 1928.

1923 - Stepping in against the Indians Sherrod Smith in the 9th inning, Babe Ruth starts off batting righthanded. After taking a strike, he switches to LH and hits his 25th HR of the season. The Indians still win the game by a score of 5-3. The Babe will bat righty again 4 days later.

1925 - The Yankees buy INF Tony Lazzeri from the Salt Lake City (Pacific Coast League) team for spring delivery. Lazzeri will hit 60 HRs with 222 RBIs at Salt Lake City in 1925. Tony will earn the nickname of "Poosh-em-up" from his legion of Italian admirers at Yankee Stadium.

1928 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits HR No. 42 and is 4 weeks ahead of his 1927 AL season pace of hitting 60 HRs.

1932 - The Tigers successfully protest a Yankees 6-3 win, but gain nothing when the rematch ends in a 8-8 tie and the game is called because of darkness.

1937 - Yankees All Star 1B Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle against the Browns, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-5. It is the 2nd time he has performed this feat in his MLB career.

1941 - Lefty Gomez of the Yankees pitches a 9-0 shutout over the Browns despite walking 11 batters, the most ever issued in a shutout. Fifteen base runners are left stranded by the Browns.

1952 - Yankees purchased P Johnny Schmitz from the Dodgers for cash. He would go 1-1 with Yankees before being sent to the Reds on a conditional basis in September of 1952.

1961 - Former Yankees minor league OF Todd Demeter was born. The son of former MLB outfielder Don Demeter, 1B/OF Todd Demeter was selected in the 2nd round of the 1979 amateur player draft by the Yankees, but never made the majors.

1968 - Against the Red Sox, Stan Bahnsen strikes out 12 batters, the most ever by a Yankee rookie pitcher, in posting his 1st MLB shutout, by a score of 1-0. His mark will last 30 years until "El Duque" Hernandez K's 13 batters. A safe bunt by Tom Tresh, a steal, and a single by Bill Robinson accounts for the only run off of Red Sox P Dave Morehead.

1973 - Catchers Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk brawl at Fenway Park. With a 2-2 score in the top of the 9th inning, Munson, attempting to score from 3rd base on a missed bunt by Gene Michael, crashes into Fisk and they both come up swinging. Boston would end up wining 3 -2 in the bottom of the 9th inning.

1978 - The Yankees and Red Sox play a 14 inning 5-5 tie game, which is suspended by AL curfew rules. The Yankees manage to blow a 5 run lead while the Red Sox relievers Bob Stanley and Tom Burgmeier stopped the Yankee hitting attack.

1979 - Following the Yankees 9-1 win over the White Sox, members of the New York club create a minor scandal by autographing the bare behind of a young woman who boards the team bus outside Comiskey Park.

1979 - In an 8-player deal, the Rangers send OF Oscar Gamble, minor leaguer Amos Lewis, a former 1st pick in the 1978 draft, and 2 players to be named to the Yankees and finally acquired OF Mickey Rivers and 3 players to be named. The Yankees sent pitchers Bob Polinsky (minors) Neal Mersch (minors), and Mark Softy (minors) on October 8, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Mickey Rivers had been traded to the Rangers in June but the deal fell through. Both of the players to be named with Gamble will make the majors: Gene Nelson and Ray Fontenot, something that can't be said for the 3 players that the Yankees sent to the Rangers.

1989 - Former Yankees reserve INF and MLB Manager Don “Jeep” Heffner (1934-1937) passed away. (1911-1989) Don was a back-up INF for the Yankees (1934-1937) On February 15, 1938, Don was traded by the Yankees with $10,000 cash to the Browns for INF Bill Knickerbocker. In 1966, Don managed the Reds.

1993 - Former Yankees OF/DH Reggie Jackson (1977-1981) is inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY.

2007 - The Yankees tie the 1939 Yankees by hitting 5 HRs in route to defeating the White Sox, by a score of 8-1. With 2 HRs by Jorge Posada, HRs by Shelly Duncan, Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter. The 1939 Yankees had hit 13 HRs in two games against the A’s during a doubleheader sweep.

August 2nd

1931 - The Red Sox and the 3rd-place Yankees split a Sunday doubleheader before a record 40,000 fans, played at Braves Field because of religious restrictions involving Fenway Park. Former Boston P Red Ruffing wins the 1st game by score of 4-1, while ex-Yankee Wilcy Moore blanks his former teammates 1-0 in the nightcap. Moore allows just 3 singles in topping George Pipgras. The Yanks will go 308 games before being shut out again.

1961 - Yankees beat the A’s by a score of 12- 5 with Mickey Mantle walloping a 1st inning HR off of their former Yankees teammate A’s starter Art Ditmar. Yankee All Star sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris are now both at 40 HRs mark.

1975 - Former 1950’s Yankees player Billy Martin becomes Yankee manager replacing Bill Virdon. Vidron was saddled with an injury plagued team (Elliot Maddox, Mel Stottlemyre and Bobby Bonds) in 1975. Bill had been named TSN Manager of the year for his work with the Yankees in 1974, bringing the Yankees to 2nd place finish in the AL East. The 1975 Yankees were 53-51 under Bill Vidron. Under Billy Martin, the Yankees went 30-26 for the remainder of the 1975 AL season, finishing in 3rd place with an 83-77 record in the AL East.

1978 - The Yankees take a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox, but Boston ties it in the 8th inning on 3-wild pitches, 2 bases-loaded walks, and a collection of bloop hits. The game ends in a 14-inning tie at 5-5.

1979 - Yankees Captain and AL All Star C Thurman Munson, 32, perishes at Canton, Ohio, in a crash of the plane, he was piloting. A crowd of 51,151 fans will attend the memorial tribute for Munson at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.

1985 - Ozzie Guillen scores from 2B on an infield hit in the 11th inning to give the White Sox a 6-5 victory over the Yankees. Salazar's slow roller down the 1B line is fielded by P Mike Bordi, and with no play at 1B, Guillen keeps running. In the 7th inning, when White Sox catcher Carlton Fisk tags out 2 Yankee runners at home plate during the same play. The unusual 8-6-2-2 double play results as both Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra try to score on Rickey Henderson's double in the gap.

1990 - Yankees rookie 1B Kevin Maas hits his 10th HR in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. But the Yankees lose to Detroit by a score of 6-5 in 11 innings.

2005 - Former Yankees minor league INF Milt Graf passed away. Milt was traded to the A’s in February, 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level.

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