This Week In Yankee History

September 21st - September 27th

September 21st

1875 - Former Yankees C Frank McManus (1903) was born. Frank appeared in only 4 games in 1903 with the Yankees with no BA.

1892 - Former Yankees OF Elmer Smith (1922-23) was born. Elmer was obtained from the Red Sox along with veteran INF Joe Dugan in July of 1923. After hitting .306 in 40 games in 1923, he was traded by the Yankees in 1924 to Louisville for future HOF OF Earl Combs.

1906 - At Chicago, the White Sox lose a pair to the Yankees before 20,000 fans, their largest Friday afternoon crowd. Yankees 1B Hal Chase has 22 putouts at 1B in the 1st game, tying the MLB record.

1908 - Cleveland takes the AL lead, beating the Yankees, while the Tigers takes two at St. Louis. With two weeks to go, three 1/2 games
separate 4 teams.

1923 - Yankees OF Babe Ruth is the unanimous choice of the AL committee of baseball writers for the MVP award.

1932 - Jimmie Foxx slugs his HR #54 of the 1932 season to lead the A's to an 8-4 win over the visiting Yankees. His A’s teammates, Al Simmons and Eric McNair also hit HRs off of Yankees starter Red Ruffing as Sugar Cain is able to win.

1933 - With lefty Walter Stewart pitching, the Senators eliminates the Yankees from the 1933 AL race, by clinching the AL pennant in a 2-1 home win over the Browns.

1935 - The Tigers clinch the 1935 AL pennant with a double win over the Browns, winning by the scores of 6-2 and 2-0. The Tigers will coast the rest of the way of the 1935 AL season, going just 1- 6, while the Yankees go 6-1, finishing in 2nd place with a 89-60 record.

1942 - Former Yankees P “Sudden” Sam Mc Dowell (1973-74) was born. Sam was a major disappointment for the Yankees after coming from the Giants. He went 5-8 and 1-6, before being released by the Yankees during the 1974 season. His drinking problems with ruined his MLB pitching career.

1954 - Rookie starter Bob Grim wins his 20th game of the 1954 AL season as the Yankees defeat the Senators, by the score of 3-1. Bob had previously spent the last 2 years in the Army, before making the Yankees pitching staff in spring training.

1956 - First baseman Bill “ Moose” Skowron has 5 hits, but the Yankees strand a record 20 base runners in losing to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, by the score of 13-9. Mickey Mantle sends a 480-foot HR into the CF bleachers that lands a foot from the top. His 3 hits raise his BA to .352, 4 points behind the Red Sox slugger Ted Williams.

1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris is held hitless in 4 at bats, as the A’s win by the score of 5-3, behind Bill Fischer's 3-hitter. All the runs off him are unearned. Roger Maris is the only Yankee regular to play the entire game.

1961 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Geren (1988-1991) was born. On November 7, 1985, Bob was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Bob hit .205 in 249 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1989, when he hit .288. On December 2, 1991, Bob was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Yankees. Bob is the current MLB manager of the A’s.

1963 - The A’s beat the Yankees, by a score of 5-3, despite HRs by Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle. For Yogi, it is his 358th and last HR as a Yankee player.

1963 - Former Yankees DH/1B Cecil “Big Daddy” Fielder (1996-97) was born. On July 31, 1996, Cecil was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for OF/DH Ruben Sierra and P Matt Drews (minors). Cecil hit .260, both seasons with the Yankees with 28 HRs, 96 RBIs with the Bombers, before leaving for free agency in 1997.

1968 - At Yankee Stadium, Red Sox starter Ray Culp fires his 3rd successive shutout, stopping the Yankees on 1-hit, winning by the score of 2-0. Roy White's single in the 7th inning is the only Yankees hit. It's Culp's 15th win of the year.

1971 - For the 4th consecutive AL season, Orioles starter Dave McNally wins his 20th game, as he shuts out the Yankees, by the score of 5-0.

1989 - Former Yankees P Murry Dickinson (1958) passed away. (1916-1989). The veteran pitcher went 1-2 in 6 games during the 1958 AL season, before being returned to the A’s during the 1959 AL season.

2000 - The Blue Jays defeat the Yankees by the score of 3-1, as former Yankees David Wells becomes the MLB's 1st 20-game winner.

2001 - Yankees closer Mariano Rivera blows a save, giving up a 2-run single to Jerry Hairston as the Orioles prevail over the Yankees by the score of 7-6.

2002 - The Yankees beat the Tigers, by the score 3-2, to clinch the AL East for the 5th straight year.

2008 - Yankee Stadium closes its doors forever. The Yankees defeat the Baltimore Orioles 7-3 in the final game at Yankee Stadium. Andy Pettitte picks up the win, his 14th of the season, Jose Molina and Johnny Damon both hit home runs, Molina’s being the final one ever hit at that great stadium.

September 22nd

1875 - Former Yankees C/1B Mike Powers (1905) was born. Mike hit .182 in 11 games for Yankees before being sent to the A’s.

1892 - Former Yankees OF/INF Jimmy Walsh (1914) was born. Jimmy hit .191 in 43 games for the Yankees.

1915 - In the first of two games, the Yankees top the Browns, by the score of 7-0. George Sisler pitches one perfect inning of relief for St. Louis.

1920 - Former HOF MLB OF/P, Scout, Coach and Yankees Manager (1978,79,81) Bob Lemon was born (1920-2000). Bob Lemon was brought in during the 1978 AL season to replace Billy Martin. Under his leadership the Yankees caught the Red Sox, after being 14 1/2 games behind and won the AL East. He won the 1978 World Series. Bob was a MLB player, who switched from the OF to pitching for the Indians during the late 1940’s and 1950’s. He would go 207-128 with a .618 WP, with a 3.23 ERA in 13 seasons (1946-1958). Bob had seven 20-game win seasons for the Indians. He managed in MLB with the Royals, White Sox and the Yankees.

1925 - Yankees OF Ben Paschal hits 2-inside–the-park HRs during a Yankees 11-6 win against the White Sox at Yankee Stadium in the 1st game of a doubleheader. The Yankees lost the 2nd game by a score of 4-2.

1927 - Yankees CF Earl Combs connects for 3-triples during the Yankees 8-7 win over the Tigers. Also in that game, Babe Ruth hits HR #56 for the 1927 AL season.

1929 - Former Yankees INF Harry Bright (1963-64) was born (1929-2000). The Yankees acquired Harry to back up their INF off the bench. His addition to the Yankee 40 man roster cost the Yankees, a young minor league OF named Curt Belfry, who was at Greensboro (AA). He was immediately claimed by the Orioles. Harry Bright was a good field, no-hit player who could play a lot of positions including catcher. He originally came up with the Pirates in 1958, and then he played for the AL expansion team, the Senators, before joining the Yankees. He appeared in 60 games hitting .236 in 1963. He was also Sandy Koufax’ 15th strikeout victim in the 1963 World Series. In 1964, he appeared in only 4 games for the Yankees because of injuries. He finished his MLB career in 1965 with the Cubs. After retiring from the MLB, Harry becomes a baseball scout.

1952 - Former Yankees OF Del Alston (1977-78) was born. Del was traded in June 1978, along with INF Mickey Klutts to the A’s for OF Gary Thomasson, who helped the Yankees during the 1978 AL pennant race.

1959 - At Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., the Yankees beat the Senators by the score of 12-6 behind the complete game performance by Art Ditmar, who gains his 13th victory. The Senators starter Pedro Ramos is chased by the Yankees for 7 runs in 4 innings.

1963 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees edge the A’s by the score of 4-3 on Joe Pepitone’s 2-run HR in the 6th inning. Yankees starter Al Downing picks up his 13th win of the 1963 season going the distance allowing only 9 hits, 3-runs while striking out 6 A’s batters. Mickey Mantle picks up his 2nd stolen base of the 1963 season.

1964 - Yankees rookie starter Mel Stottlemyre picks up his 8th victory of the 1964 season as he goes 8 innings, allowing 8 hits, 3-runs in a 5-3 win over the Indians. Yankees new closer Pedro Ramos picks up his 3rd save of September.

1979 - The Yankees defeat the Blue Jays by the score of 7-4 behind the pitching of starter Luis Tiant and Goose Gossage 3-inning relief performance. Tiant picks up his 12th win, as Gossage gets his 16th save. He relieved Jim Kaat, who gave up a 2-run HR to Rico Carty in the 6th inning. The Yankees had HR’s by Oscar Gamble-2 HRs, Jerry Narron, a 2-run HR and Reggie Jackson had a solo HR shot.

1980 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees edge the Indians by the score of 4-3. Yankees starter Tommy John beats Tribe starter Len Barker. John goes 8 innings, as he gets his 22 win of the 1980 AL season. Goose Gossage works the 9th inning for his 31st save of the year.

1998 - The Yankees sweep a double header from the Indians at Yankee Stadium by scores of 10-4 and 5-1. In the 1st game, a 10-4 victory with Yankees starter Ramiro Mendoza picks up his 10th win of the season. The Yankees hitting attack is led by HRs from Tino Marinez, a 2-run shot, rookie OF Shane Spencer’s two solo HRs and another solo HR by Scott Brosius. In the 2nd game, a 5-1 victory, Yankees’ starter Hideki Irabu goes 8 innings to get his 13th victory. The Yankees get 7-hits in the game, no HRs are hit, but they still score 5 runs. The doubleheader sweep gives the team victories #108 and #109 for the 1998 AL season.

2003 - Hitting his 13th leadoff HR of the 2003 AL season, Alfonso Soriano establishes a new MLB record. The Yankees 2nd baseman had been tied with Brady Anderson who hit 12 HRs in 1996 for the Orioles.

September 23rd

1898 - Former Yankees P George “Smiler” Murray (1922) was born (1898-1955). As a 24-year old rookie, George went 4-2 in 22 games with the Yankees in 1922. He was traded to the Red Sox for P Herb Pennock in January of 1923.

1908 - Cleveland wins its 10th straight game, defeating the Yankees starter Jack Chesbro, by a score of 9-3. The Naps score 5 runs in the 7th inning, while Rhoades pitches strong ball until the 9th inning, when he allows 2 Yankee runs. Nap Lajoie has no official at bats, getting hit by pitched balls 3 times, tying an AL record, and walking his other time up.

1910 - Yankees Manager George Stallings, convinced that 1B Hal Chase tried to throw a game, but unable to make the charge stick, is replaced by his charismatic 1st baseman as manager of the 2nd-place Highlanders for the season's final 11 games. On his own, Prince Hal will lead the New Yorkers downhill to 6th place in 1911.

1915 - In the 1st of 2 games, the Yankees top the Browns by the score of 7-0. George Sisler pitches 1 perfect inning of relief for St. Louis.

1921 - Trailing by 2 percentage points, the Indians come to Yankee Stadium for a four game showdown. Waite Hoyt's arm and Babe Ruth's 3 doubles beat them by a score of 4-2.

1933 - The Yankees make 7 errors, 3 by INF Frank Crosetti, but have enough firepower to out-slug the Red Sox by the score of 16-12. Including in New York's 23 hits are homers by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, HR number #31 for each; Lou adds 2 doubles and a single. Sammy Byrd, Ben Chapman, and Frankie Crosetti have 3 hits apiece, and reliever Wilcy Moore drives in the last run with his 1st hit of the year. The Red Sox chased winning starter Herb Pennock in the 6th inning and make the score 12-9, but fall short at the end.

1937 - The Yankees lose their game by a score of 9-5, but clinch the 1937 AL pennant when the Red Sox beat the Tigers.

1950 - The Yankees, tied for 1st place with the Tigers and 2 games ahead of the Red Sox. Open a crucial series with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Joe DiMaggio's 1st inning HR off of starter Mel Parnell is all the scoring needed, as the Bombers win by a score of 8-0. Yankees starter Eddie Lopat gives up only 5 hits, including a leadoff triple to Dom DiMaggio.

1955 - The Yankees clinched the 1955 AL pennant by beating the Red Sox by the score of 3-2.

1960 - The Yankees win their 7th straight game in row by downing the Red Sox by the score of 5-1 at Fenway Park. Yankees starter Bob Turley goes 7 innings, allowing only 3 hits, 1-run and striking out 7 batters. Reliever Bobby Shantz picks up his 11th save of the season. The Yankees would finish the 1960 AL season with 15 straight wins, ending with a 97-51-1 record.

1961 - An ailing Mickey Mantle's career-high 54th HR, his last of the regular AL season, helps Yankees beat Red Sox by a score of 8-3. Yankee starter Whitey Ford leaves the game in the 5th inning, but wins his 25th game of the season.

1964 - The sizzling Yankees win their 9th game in a row, defeating the Tribe, by the score of 4-3 in 11 innings in the opener and 6-4 in the 2nd game. Elston Howard's HR off of P Luis Tiant, snaps a tie game in the opener. Indians C Johnny Romano hits HRs in both games. While recently acquired closer Pedro Ramos finishes up both games for the Yankees. Ramos, however, will not be eligible to play for the Yankees in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals.

1977 - Graig Nettles’ 9th inning 2-run HR puts Yankees fans fears to rest as the Yankees rebound from a 2 game sweep in Boston by downing season-long nemesis Blue Jays, by a score of 5-3, behind starter Don Gullett’s 5-hitter.

1978 - The Yankees lead over the Red Sox is trimmed to 1 game when the Indians scalp New York by the score of 10-1.

1980 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees score 4 runs in the 9th inning to beat the Indians by a score of 5-4. The Yankee hitting attack in the game was led by Aurelio Rodriguez’s triple, doubles by Reggie Jackson and Oscar Gamble. Yankees reliever Ron Davis is the winner picking up his 9th win, while Indians reliever Mike Stanton took the loss for the Tribe.

1981 - The Yankees beat the Indians by the score of 6-1 behind starter Rick Reuschel’s complete game as he picks up his 4th win of the season at Yankee Stadium. Reggie Jackson’s 2-run HR leads the Yankee hitting attack.

1984 - The Tigers defeat the Yankees, by the score of 4-1, making Sparky Anderson the 1st MLB manager ever to win 100 games in a season in each league. As skipper of the 'Big Red Machine', his team won 108 games in 1975 and 102 in 1976

1997 - In a warm-up for the AL playoffs, the Indians rally from a 9 -2 deficit to shock the Yankees, by the score of 10-9. Yankees Tony Fernandez and Tino Martinez match 2-run HRs, while David Justice and Robby Alomar, also HR for the Indians.

1998 - With an 8-4 victory over the Indians, the 1998 Yankees tie the 1927 World Championship team for the most wins in franchise history. The Bombers' 110 victories pulled them within 1 game of the AL record of 111 victories by the 1954 Indians.

1999 - By drawing 27,549 fans, the Yankees break the New York City season attendance record with a total of 3,072,009. The Mets' had previously held the record when 3,047,724 fans turned the turnstiles in 1988.

2000 - Former Yankees reserve INF Aurelio Rodriguez (1980-81) died after being struck by a car in Detroit. (1947-2000)

2001 - By saving New York's 5-4 10-inning win over the Orioles at Camden Yards, Yankees closer Marino Rivera establishes a franchise single-season record with his 47th save. The previous club record was held by Dave Righetti, who had 46 saves in 1986.

September 24th

1910 - Former Yankees OF Dixie Walker (1931, 1933-36) was born (1910-1982). Dixie started his MLB career with the Yankees, but couldn’t break in Yankees starting outfield later he was picked up on waivers by the White Sox in May of 1936. He would become a MLB star playing for the Dodgers during the 1940’s. He was the brother of MLB star Harry Walker.

1910 - Yankees 1B Hal “Prince” Chase is named manager of the Yankees following the resignation of Manager George Stallings in the day before. The Yankees finish in 2nd place at 88-63, Hal would lead the Yankees to a 6th place finish in 1911, going 76-76. As player-manager, he would stay with the Yankees until 1913.

1919 - Red Sox starter Waite Hoyt pitches 9 perfect innings against the Yankees, but they come in between the 4th and the 13th innings in which he gives up hits. He loses the game by a score of 2-1 in the 13th inning.

1920 - In the 1st game of a twin-bill, Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits his 50th HR in the 1st inning, off of the Senators P Jose Acosta. Then he adds HR# 51 in a 4-for-4 performance at the plate in the 2nd game, a 2-1 win, to give the Yankees, a sweep. The other 3 hits off loser Shaw are by Phelps.

1923 - The Tigers P Ray Francis, with a 3-0 lead over the Yankees, issues a bases loaded walk to Babe Ruth, but hangs on for the victory.

1927 - The Yankees win their 106th game of the 1927 AL season, a 6-0 victory over the Tigers, for a new AL season record high. They will win 110 games, a record held until the 1954, when Indians won 111 games.

1929 - The Yankees starter Tom Zachary wins his 12th game without a loss,by the score of 5-3 over Red Sox. His 12-0 season record will not be equaled.

1931 - The round-robin playoff among New York City's 3 MLB teams, to raise money for the unemployed, concludes with Dodgers losing to both the Giants and the Yankees at the Polo Grounds. Again, a near capacity crowd turns out and adds $48,000 to bring the fund to $108,000. In field events held between games, Babe Ruth, normally a left-handed hitter, bats right-handed and wins the fungo hitting contest. He breaks the old distance record held by Big Ed Walsh. Babe Ruth's drive lands in deep center field, 421 FT away. The old record, set 20 years earlier, was 419 1/2 FT.

1932 - In a battle of Boston collegians, Harvard beats Boston College. Charlie Devens, former Harvard hurler, makes his MLB debut for the Yankees and beats the Red Sox, by the score of 8-2. The loss goes to Eddie Gallagher, former Boston College pitcher who exits in the 5th inning. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth swats his 41st HR of the year in the 9th inning, Lou Gehrig belts his 34th HR in the 5th inning.

1934 - The idle Tigers win the 1934 AL pennant, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 5-0 in the season's finale at Yankee Stadium. Babe Ruth walks in the 1st inning, limps to 1B, and leaves for a pinch runner in his last home game was a Yankee. A crowd of only 2,500 fans see the final home game for the 1934 AL season. The Yankees finish in 2nd place with a 94-60 record.

1946 - Disappointing on the field, the Yankees (87-67,3rd Place) nevertheless finish their home season with a 2,309,029 attendance. The best previous draw was the 1929 Cubs at 1,485,166. Total MLB attendance was 18.5 million, 80 percent more than 1945.

1948 - Former Yankees DH/INF Eric Soderholm (1980) was born. On November 14, 1979: Eric was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for players to be named later and cash. The Yankees sent Amos Lewis (minors) and Ricky Burdette (minors) on December 13, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Eric hit .280 for the Yankees in 1980.

1949 - Red Sox starter Ellis Kinder (15-1 at Fenway Park) pitches a 6-hitter, as Ted Williams lines his 42nd HR to beat the Yankees by the score of 2-0 and pull the Red Sox 1 game behind the Yankees.

1950 - In the 2nd game of a key series with the Red Sox, 66,924 fans are on hand for “Johnny Mize Day” at Yankee Stadium, as the Yankees top the fading Red Sox, by the score of 9-5 to go 4 games up on Boston and 2 1/2 games ahead of the Tigers. Yankees Shortstop Phil Rizzuto contributes a single, double, and HR, while Yogi Berra, adds 4 hits including a triple. Joe DiMaggio's hitting streak reaches 15 games. The Yankees will win 5 of their next 7 games, while the Tigers will manage to go 4-3.

1954 - The Yankees tie a MLB record, when 3 consecutive Yankees pinch hitters strike out in 1-inning. The 9th inning Yankee victims of A’s hurler Arnold Portocarrero were Lou Berbert, Gus Triandos, and Frank Leja. The Yankees would strike out 11 times in the game, which they lost by a score of 5-1 to the A’s.

1957 - The Yankees clinch their 23rd AL pennant and 8th under Manager Casey Stengel, as the A’s tips the White Sox by the score of 6-5.

1958 - The Red Sox close out their 1958 AL home schedule with a 7-5 loss to the Yankees. Mickey Mantle cracks his 42nd HR of the year to put him 3 HRs, ahead of Indians slugger Rocky Colavito, who will finish at 42 HRs.

1960 - Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle's 11th inning HR off of Ted Wilks gives New York, a 6-5 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mantle had driven in the games 1st run with a drag bunt in the 1st inning. The Yankees win their 8th straight game and would finish the 1960 AL season with 15 game winning streak as they clinched the AL Flag.

1967 - The Twins crunch the Yankees by the score of 9-2 as Dean Chance scatters 9 hits for his 20th victory of the 1967 AL season.

1972 - In the nightcap of a twin-bill sweep over the Indians, Yankees closer Sparky Lyle sets an AL record and tying the MLB mark by saving his 35th game. The Yankees win the game, by the score of 8-3, after gaining a 5-4 win in the opener when they score 2 unearned runs on 5 Indian errors in the 11th inning. Thurman Munson steals 2B by kicking the ball out of Frank Duffy's glove and going to 3B on the error. Duffy then boots a grounder and throws wildly for 2 more Errors. Catcher Gerry Moses then picks up a squibber and fires over 1B and RF Del Unser's throw to the plate is over Moses' head for error #5.

1973 - The Yankees acquired C Duke Simms on waivers from the Tigers. Duke would make Yankee Stadium history by hitting the last Yankees HR at the old Yankee Stadium in 1973.

1977 - Former Yankees C Sherman Lollar (1947-1948) passes away. Sherman played in 33 games as a backup catcher to Yogi Berra. He appeared in the 1947 World Series with the Yankees. He would be traded to the Browns after the 1948 season as part of the Fred Sanford trade. He would later become an AL All Star catcher for the White Sox during the 1950’s. He was the starting catcher for the 1959 AL champions White Sox.

1978 - Yankees starter Ron Guidry (23-3) gains his 3rd 2-hit shutout of the month, 4-0 over the Indians. The 2 Indian hits are by Duane Kuiper, the 2nd time this year that he has recorded the only hits in a game. The Yankees ace, also 2-hit the Red Sox on September 9th (7-0) and 15th (4-0). It is Guidry's 9th shut out of the year, a Yankee record, and just 1 short of the AL record for southpaws set by Red Sox lefty Babe Ruth in 1916. The Red Sox stay 1 game in back of Yankees by topping Blue Jays by the score of 7-6.

1980 - The Yankees beat the Indians by the score of 7-3 at Yankee Stadium behind the pitching of starter Luis Tiant and reliever Tommy Underwood. Tiant gets his 8th win, while Tommy Underwood picks up his 2nd save of the season. The Yankees hitting attack is led by 1B Bob Watson, who goes 3 for 5 with 3 RBI’s.

1996 - Former Yankees P Red Embree (1948) passed away (1917-1996). On December 11,1947, Red was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for OF Allie Clark. Red went 5-3 in 20 games for the Yankees in 1948. On December 13, 1948, Red was traded by the Yankees along with C Sherm Lollar, 1B Richard Starr, and $100,000 to the Browns for C Roy Partee and P Fred Sanford.

1998 -The Yankees win, by the score of 5-2, over the Devil Rays and post their 111th win of the year, surpassing the club record 110, set by the 1927 World Championship team. They tie the AL record of 111 victories in 1954 held by the Indians. Yankees Rookie OF Shane Spencer pounds a Grand Slam HR, his 8th HR in 57 at bats.

2002 - Thanks to 1B Jason Giambi's 2-HRs in the Yankees 6-0 whitewash of the Devil Rays, the Giambi brothers (Jason 40, Jeremy 20) pass the DiMaggio siblings for the highest single-season total for HRs with 60. The DiMaggio’s (Joe 46, Vince, 13) went yard 59 times in 1937.

2005 - Averaging more than 50,000 fans per game, the Yankees become the 3rd franchise in MLB history, and the 1st since the 1994 MLB baseball strike, to pass the 4-million attendance mark. The 1993 Rockies and the 1991-1993 Blue Jays are the other MLB teams, which have reached the attendance milestone.

September 25th

1902 - Former Yankees P Pat Malone (1935-37) was born. Pat went 19-13 as a Yankees hurler. The 1936 AL season was his best as Yankee pitcher, posting a 12-4 mark.

1917 - Former Yankees HOF Shortstop and Broadcaster Phil ”Scooter” Rizzuto (1941-42, 1946-1956) was born (1917-2007). Phil was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1937. He won the Minor League player of the Year Award in 1940 with the Kansas City Blues (American Association, AAA). In 1941 he played his 1st season as a Yankee appearing in 133 games and hitting .307. Phil would miss the 1943-45 AL seasons, while serving with the US Navy during WWII. His lifetime MLB BA was .279. Phil would appear in 9 World Series for the Yankees, hitting .242 in 52 games. He was named to the AL All Star squad 5 times. He led the AL shortstops in fielding in 1949-1950. In 1950, Phil had his best Yankee career season, as he won the AL MVP Award, hitting .325 in 155 games with 200 hits, and scoring 100 runs. Also in 1950, he won the MLB best player award. In 1951, Phil won the Babe Ruth Award hitting .320 against the Giants in the 1951 World Series. During the 1955-56 AL seasons, Phil was slowed down by injuries, he was no longer the Yankees starting shortstop. On August 25, 1956, Phil was released by the Yankees. In 1957, Phil started his long-time broadcasting career with the Yankees joining Mel Allen and Red Barber in the booth. In 1994, he was voted into Baseball’s HOF by the Veteran’s Committee. Phil passed away in August 2007.

1917 - Former Yankees P (1951-55) and Pitching Coach (1961-63) Johnny Sain was born (1917-2007). John was obtained from the Braves in August of 1951 for Yankees rookie P Lou Burdette and $50,000. John was 20-20, with 67 saves for the Yankees coming out of the bullpen. His best Yankee season was in 1953, going 14-7 with 19 saves. He led the AL in saves in 22 in 1954, while going 6-6. He was traded in 1955 to the A’s along with OF Enos Slaughter for A’s P Sonny Dixon. John would later become a very successful MLB pitching coach with the Tigers, Yankees, Twins and Braves. He was the Yankees pitching coach from 1961-1963 for Manager Ralph Houk. Whitey Ford won 25 games during Johnny Sain’s 1st year as Yankees pitching coach in 1961. John passed away in 2007.

1921 - At the Polo Grounds, the Yankees thrash the 2nd place Indians by the score of 21-7 to move a full game ahead of the Tribe. The Yankees knock out Caldwell in the 2nd inning and dust Mails for 10 runs in his 2 innings. Yankees starter Carl Mays goes the distance for the win.

1926 - The Yankees take 2 games from the Browns to nail down the 1926 AL flag, winning the opener by the score of 10-2 behind starter Herb Pennock. Babe Ruth's Grand Slam HR is the big blow. In the nightcap, Lou Gehrig homers in the 3rd inning off of Milt Gaston, while Babe Ruth matches him with a two-run HR in the 6th inning off of Win Ballou. Babe Ruth adds a solo HR in the 9th inning, his 46th HR, off of Joe Giard to seal the Waite Hoyt 10-4 victory. Despite the score, the game is played in a new AL record of 55 minutes. The NL record is 51 minutes, played on September 28, 1919.

1929 - At Fenway Park in Boston, the game is halted during in the 5th inning when the umpires called time-out and have players from the Yankees and Red Sox to gather at home plate. Bill McGowan, a respected umpire, informs the teams that Bronx Bomber manager Miller Huggins has just died in New York City, he asks the crowd stands for 1 minute of silence as the flag in center field is lowered to half-staff.

1929 - Three days after turning the team over to coach Art Fletcher, Yankee manager Miller Huggins dies from blood poisoning at New York's St. Vincent Hospital. He was only 49 years old. On the day of his funeral in Cincinnati, the AL will cancel all games. "Hug” won 6 pennants and 3 World Series in his 12 years as skipper of the Bronx Bombers. Miller Huggins will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964.

1931 - Sam Rice drops a fly ball and the Yankees rally for 5 runs in the 8th inning to beat the Senators, by the score of 8-3. Babe Ruth has 2-solo HRs to help in the win. The 3rd place Yankees, now trail the Senators by a 1/2 game.

1934 - Yankees 1st baseman Lou Gehrig plays his 1,500th consecutive MLB game. His 48th HR is a personal career high.

1949 - Despite 71 injuries that kept players out of games, Casey Stengel and his Yankees have been in 1st place all season. But today the Red Sox move into a tie for 1st place with a 4-1 victory over Allie Reynolds. Ted Williams hits his 43rd HR, as Mel Parnell wins his 25th game of the season. The lefty is 16-3 at Fenway Park this season. Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio listens to the game on the radio from a hospital, bedridden with pneumonia. The Yankees return to New York City and are greeted at Grand Central Station by a huge crowd of fans, including Mrs. Babe Ruth, who predicts, "Whoever wins tomorrow should go all the way."

1959 - At Yankee Stadium, lefty Ace Whitey Ford defeats the Orioles by the score of 5-2 with a complete game, allowing 8-hits, 2-runs, with 4-strikeouts. Yankees hitters Hector Lopez (2), Yogi Berra (1) and Norm Siebern (1) drive in runs. It would be the last Yankees victory of the 1959 AL season, as they would drop the last 2 games to the Orioles. The Yankees would finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75-1 record behind the Indians (2nd Place) and 1959 AL Champs White Sox.

1960 - Yankees starter Ralph Terry clinches the Yankees' 25th AL pennant with a 4-3 win over the Red Sox. Luis Arroyo saves the win. It is Casey Stengel's 10th pennant in 12 years at New York. The Yankees are in the middle of a 15 game winning streak, picking up victory #9, to end to the 1960 AL season.

1962 - Yankees ace lefty starter Whitey Ford beats the Senators by the score of 8-3, as the Yankees clinch their 26th AL pennant. Yankees Manager Ralph Houk becomes the 5th manager in MLB to capture pennants in each of his 1st two seasons.

1966 - The smallest crowd in Yankee Stadium history, only 413 fans see the Yankees lose to the White Sox by a score of 4-1.

1968 - In Mickey Mantle's last appearance at Yankee Stadium, he slices a 2-out 1st inning single off of Tribe starter Luis Tiant, for the only hit for the Yankees. Tiant tosses his 9th shutout of the season, tops in the AL, to win, by a score of 3-0. El Tiante's ERA drops to 1.60, the previous low for an Indians pitcher was HOF hurler Stan Coveleski's 1.87 in 1917.

1969 - Former Yankees INF/OF Tony Womack (2005) was born.

1969 - Former Yankees P Dave Weathers (1996-97) was born. Dave went 0-3 was a Yankees. He was obtained from Marlins for P Mark Hutton. In June of 1997, he was traded to the Indians for OF Chad Curtis.

1971 - With rookie C Tim Hosley hitting 2 HRs and driving in 5 runs, the Tigers trip the Yankees, by the score of 10-7. Les Cain pitches 6 innings for the win. Cain finishes with a 10- 9 record with 145 innings, but contends he is forced to pitch by Tiger’s Manager Billy Martin, while Cain has a sore arm. Later, Cain claims that it did permanent damage to his arm and he sues the Tigers. In a landmark decision, the Michigan Bureau of Workman's Compensation will order the Tigers to pay Cain $111 a month for the rest of his life. A lump sum payment was later agreed upon.

1977 - Yankees Cliff Johnson continues his personal assault on the Blue Jays by slamming 2 HRs in the 2nd game of doubleheader to lead the Yankees to a 2-0 win. Yankees starter Ron Guidry won the opener, 15-0, as the Yankees boosted their lead over the Red Sox to 3 games. The double shut out win was the 1st by the Yankees since July 21, 1972. Cliff Johnson hit 6 of his 12 HRs off of the Blue Jays and batted .381 against them, compared to .296 against the rest of AL.

1977 - Former Yankees back-up C Wil Nieves (2005-07) was born. On March 29, 2005, Wil was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for P Bret Prinz. Wil appeared in 35 games for the Yankees hitting .164. He is currently in the Nationals organization, playing at Columbus (AAA).

1985 -Yankees LF Rickey Henderson steals his 75th base of the 1985 season in the Yankees 10- 2 win over the Tigers, breaking the Yankees club record of 74 set by Fritz Maisel in 1914.

1989 - Red Sox 3B Wade Boggs extends his own modern MLB record when he collects his 200th hit for the 7th MLB consecutive season. The Red Sox 3B goes 4-for-5 as the Red Sox beat the Yankees, by the score of 7-4.

1990 - The Yankees tie a MLB record when their 1st 8-batters all hit safely in a 15-3 rout of the Orioles. Anthony Telford allows the 1st 6 hits to take the loss. The Yankees hit 6 HRs in the game.

1996 - The Yankees clinch the AL East title by pounding out 20 hits in a 19-2 win over the Brewers in the opening game of a doubleheader. The Yankees score 10 runs in the 2nd inning after plating 4 in the opening frame. Tino Martinez leads with 5 RBIs. Yankees starter David Cone (7-2) is the easy winner. The Yankees take the nightcap, by a score of 6-2.

1998 - With a 6-1 victory over the Devil Rays, the Bronx Bombers set an AL record with their 112th win, breaking the 1954 Cleveland Indians mark of 111 wins. Yankees starter Orlando Hernandez improves his season record to 12-4.The 1906 Cubs, who went 116-36, are the only team with more victories than the 1998 Yankees.

2002 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees defeat the Devil Rays by the score of 4-3. Yankees starter Roger Clements goes 5 innings leaving the game with a 3-3 tie. Reliever Jeff Weaver picks up the win for his 11th victory of the 2002 AL season with closer Mo Rivera getting his 28th save. The losing pitcher for the Devil Rays was future Yankee pitcher Tanyon Sturtze, who was now at 4-18 mark with Tampa.

September 26th

1921 - Babe Ruth hits HRs # 57 and # 58 plus a double and a walk to beat the Indians by the score of 8-7, as the Yankees take a 2 game lead. George Burns adds a triple and 3 singles for New York in the come-from-behind win. The Indians load the bases in the 9th inning, but Steve Neill strikes out on a Carl Mays fastball in the dirt to end it.

1925 - Former Yankees P Bobby Shantz (1957-1960) was born. Bobby was obtained from the A’s in February of 1957. He was a starter who injured his arm and later became a very successful relief pitcher. He originally came up with the Philadelphia A’s. His best season with the A’s was in 1952, going 24-7, winning the 1952 AL MVP award and The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. Then he injured his pitching arm. As a Yankee, Bobby went 30-18 with 19 saves. In 1957, he was the 1st Yankee player to win an AL Golden Glove Award. Bobby would win it again for AL pitchers during the 1958-59-60 seasons. Also in 1957, Bobby led the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.45 mark. Bobby appeared in the 1957 and 1960 World Series for the Yankees going 0-1. In 1960, his brother Billy Shantz, a catcher appeared with the Yankees for 1 game. He had been signed by the Philadelphia A’s. The Yankees lost Bobby in the 1960 AL Expansion draft being selected by the new Washington Senators, who then traded him to the Pirates for 3 players.

1926 - The Browns beat the Yankees twice, by the scores of 6-1 and 6-2, in a total time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, a MLB record for a twin-bill. The 2nd game is the fastest in AL history: 55 minutes. The Yankees total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 hits in the 2 games. Babe Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses 2 scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in game 2 and, when the Browns score 4 runs in the 8th inning, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers twice the runner-up, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Babe Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie Manush, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns coach Jimmie Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nightcap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his MLB final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th inning.

1949 - Before a crowd of 67,434 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled, 7-6 win, when Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. Leading by 1 game, the Red Sox then moved on to Washington for a 3-game series with the Senators before the last 2 games of the year with the Yankees.

1952 - The Yankees clinch their 4th AL straight pennant, an 11-inning 5-2 win at Philadelphia, beating the A’s behind the pitching of starter Ed Lopat and reliever Johnny Sain.

1954 - Future Yankees P Art Ditmar of the A’s defeats the Yankees by the score of 8-6 in the last game the franchise will play at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, before moving to Kansas City in 1955. Yankees C Yogi Berra plays his only game at 3B in his MLB career. Mickey Mantle plays shortstop again in Yankees Manager Casey Stengel's "power line-up."

1955 - The Red Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 8-1 as Ted Williams goes 1-for-20. Williams finishes the season at .356, well ahead of Tigers Al Kaline's .340, but does not have enough at bats to win the AL batting title.

1956 - Rookie hurler Charlie Beamon of the Orioles throws a 1-0 shutout against the Yankees in his 1st MLB start.

1960 - The Yankees winning streak reaches 10 game mark, as they defeat the Senators by the score of 4-2 by scoring 2 runs in the 9th inning. Yankees rookie starter Bill Stafford goes 8-innings, with reliever Duke Maas picks up the win going to 3-1 for the season. Yankees 1B Dale Long hits a 2-run HR off of Senators starter Pedro Ramos, who goes to 11-17 mark with the loss. The Yankees would go 15-0 in their last 15 games of the 1960 AL season.

1961 - In New York's 159th game of the 1961 AL season, Roger Maris rips a Jack Fisher fastball into the RF seats at Yankee Stadium for his 60th HR. Bronx Bombers beat the Orioles by a score of 3-2. Yankees OF Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single season AL HR record. There are fewer than 8,000 fans on hand to view this historic event.

1964 - Behind their rookie starter Mel Stottlemyre's two-hitter, the Yankees roll over the Senators, by the score of 7-0, for their 11th win in a row. Stottlemyre leads the offense with an MLB-record-tying 5 hits, the last pitcher to collect that many and just the 8th pitcher this century to do so (Jim Callahan of the White Sox did it twice). With a single in his last at bat in his last game, he's had 6 hits in a row.

1978 - Yankees starter Ed Figueroa earns his 19th win, while Gossage picks up his 28th save as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays by the score of 4-1. Mickey Rivers 2-out, 2-run double in the 2nd inning opens an early lead for the Yankees.

1980 - At Detroit, Ron Guidry gives up 5 runs in 6-innings, but still wins his 16 victory with Ron Davis getting his 7th save as the Yankees win by a score of 7-5. The Yankees hitting attack is led by Eric Soderholm’s 3-run HR and a solo HR by Willie Randolph.

1997 - Four Yankees pitchers combine to 1-hit the Tigers, winning by a score of 8-2. Andy Pettitte starts and allows a 2-run single to Travis Fryman in the 3rd inning, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pettitte leaves after 4 innings and is succeeded by Brian Boehringer (3 innings), Mariano Rivera (1 inning), and Jeff Nelson (1 inning). Mo Rivera receives credit for the win, when Yankees explodes for 6 runs in the 9th inning.

1998 - The Yankees defeat the Devil Rays, by the score of 3-1, for David Cone's 20th win of the year. Cone sets a record for the most years (10) between 20-win seasons, having won 20 for the Mets in 1988. Jim Kaat held the previous record at 9. Yankees’ rookie OF Shane Spencer homered, his 6th HR in 9 days and his 7th HR in the month of September, which was a Yankees rookie record.

September 27th

1914 - Second baseman Nap Lajoie collects his 3,000th hit as his Cleveland team defeats the Yankees, by the score of 3-2.

1919 - Yankees starter Bob Shawkey strikes out 15 batters in a 9-inning game with against his former teammates the A’s. Shawkey’s club record of 15K’s in a game would stand until the 1978 AL season, when Yankees Ace starter Ron Guidry strikes out 18 Angels.

1920 - Starter Carl Mays and the Yankees beat the A's, by the score of 3-0, as Mays allows just 4 hits. It is his 3rd straight shutout over Philadelphia, his 10th straight win against them. Babe Ruth drives in all the runs on a pair of HRs over the RF fence off Rommel, his 52nd and 53rd HRs of the campaign. He hit t2 other liners to left and center that were close to the wall.

1921 - The largest crowd ever to see the Yankees play at the Polo Grounds (estimated to exceed 40,000 people) jammed the 30,000-seat stadium. The Yankees respond with a 21-7, shellacking of the Indians.

1923 - Yankees Rookie 1B Lou Gehrig, who was signed in June for a $1,500 bonus by the Yankees, and recently brought up from Hartford (Eastern League), Lou Gehrig hits the 1st of his 493 MLB career HRs. It comes off of Red Sox P Bill Piercy at Fenway Park in a Yankee 8-3 win.

1927 - Babe Ruth connects for a Grand Slam HR off of Lefty Grove, while Lou Gehrig hits HR # 46 in a 7-4 win over the A's. Babe Ruth has 57 HRs with three games left to play. One of the HRs is a grand slam, the Babe's 2nd in 3 days.

1930 - Lou Gehrig plays the last of 885 consecutive games at 1B. In the next game, the 1930 AL season's finale, he will take Babe Ruth's LF position.

1931 - Lou Gehrig hits HR to tie Babe Ruth at 46 while the Yankees pound Lefty Grove, by the score of 13-1, and deny him his 32nd victory of the 1931 AL season. Grove throws just 3 innings in the warm-up for the World Series. Lou Gehrig drives in 2 runs as he (184) and Babe Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the year, the most productive duo in MLB history. Bill Dickey has 4 hits and ends the season with no passed balls, the only AL catcher and the Yankees are the only AL team to ever accomplish the feat.

1942 - The Red Sox starter Tex Hughson wins his 22nd to tie Cardinals Mort Cooper for the MLB lead, as the Red Sox edge the Yankees. A Fenway Park crowd of 26,166--including 4,293 youngsters who gained free admission by bringing 29,000 pounds of scrap metal for the war effort--watches Hughson scatter 11 hits.

1950 - Against the A's, Whitey Ford relieves and loses his 1st game after 9 wins. The Yankees lose the game by a score of 8-7.

1960 - Against the Senators, Yankees win their 11th straight game by a score of 5-1. Yankee pitchers, starter Ryne Duren, Eli Grba and Bob Turley hold the Senators to 3 hits and 1-run. In a rare start, Ryne Duren only goes 4 innings, he doesn’t get the win, Eli Grba does, picking up his 6th win, while Bob Turley picks up his 4th save of the 1960 AL season. Bill Skowron hits his 28th HR, as Johnny Blanchard hits a triple, while Clete Boyer and Dale Long, each hit doubles for the Yankees.

1962 - Former Yankees P Don Schulze (1989) was born. Don was signed by the Yankees as a free agent in November of 1988. He appeared in only 2 games, posting a 1-1 mark. On July 22, 1989, Don was traded by the Yankees along with 3B Mike Pagliarulo to the Padres for a player to be named later and P Walt Terrell. The Padres sent P Freddie Toliver on September 27, 1989 to the Yankees to complete the trade.

1968 - Facing Red Sox P Lee Stange at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle flies out in his final MLB plate appearance, before being replaced by Andy Kosko. A HR by Kosko's ties the game in the 8th inning for the Yankees. Joe Pepitone's HR in the 9th inning gives the Yankees, a 4-3 win.

1972 - Trailing by the score of 5-1, the Tigers score 3-runs in the 8th inning and 2 in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees and closer Sparky Lyle.

1978 - Yankees maintain their lead by beating the Blue Jays, by the score of 5-1, at Yankee Stadium. Yankees starter Catfish Hunter wins his 9th decision in 10 games. He gives up only 6-hits, with 1-run. Yankees Graig Nettles and Reggie Jackson hit HRs for the Yankees.

1986 - Jack Morris shuts out the Yankees by the score of 1-0 in 10 innings, raising his 1986 season record to 20-8. Morris snaps Yankees 1B Don Mattingly's hitting streak at 24 consecutive games.

1991 - The Indians lose their 100th game of the 1991 AL season as the Yankees beat Tribe starter Greg Swindell, by the score of 3-0. With 8 innings of work, Yankees starter Pascual Perez (2-4) earns his last MLB decision.

1992 - At Yankee Stadium, Jack Morris wins his 20th game of the 1992 AL season, going 6-innings in a 12-2 blowout game over the 4th place Yankees. The Blue Jays scores 9 runs off of Yankees starter Scott Sanderson, who leaves in the 2nd inning.

1998 - The 1998 Yankees win their 7th straight game to end the 1998 AL season with a .704 winning percentage. The Bronx Bombers (114-48) become the 1st team MLB since the 1954 Cleveland Indians (111-43) to play over .700 baseball for the entire season.

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