December 14th - December 20th
December 14th
1948 - The Yankees obtained OF Jim Delsing from White Sox for OF Steve Souchock. Jim only appeared in 17 games in 2 seasons for the Yankees, hitting .381.
1950 - The MLB owners choose Lou Perini (Braves), Phil Wrigley (Cubs), Del Webb (Yankees) and Ellis Ryan (Indians) to select a new MLB Commissioner as soon as possible. In a close vote of 9-7, current Commissioner Happy Chandler's contract was not renewed 3 days earlier to serve a 3rd term.
1956 - Catcher Harry Chiti was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on December 11, 1956. The Cubs sent a player to be named later to the Yankees for veteran C Charlie Silvera and cash and another player to be named. The Cubs sent Harry Chiti on December 14, 1956 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Chiti never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 2, 1957, Harry Chiti would be drafted by the A's from the Yankees in the 1957 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.
1960 - The two new AL franchises, L. A. Angels and the " new" Washington Senators are the 1st expansion teams in over a half of a century, select their rosters in the 1st ever MLB player expansion draft. The Angels make Yankees P Eli Grba, the 1st selection of the draft, while the "new" Senators follow by tabbing another Yankees P Bobby Shantz. The Yankees will trade Bobby Shantz to the Pirates for P Bernie Daniels, 1B R. C. Stevens and INF Harry Bright. They will be forward to the new Senators. Also the Yankees lose P John Gabler, veteran 1B Dale Long and minor league 1B Bud Zippel to the new Nats. The Senators originally drafted veteran Yankees INF Gil McDougal, but he refuses to go. Gil was replaced in the draft by 1B Bud Zippel. He will retire as an active MLB player. Gill will turn down a $100,000 player-manager offer from the Angels. He will become the Baseball Coach at Fordham University. Also the Yankees lose veteran OF Bob Cerv, young OF Ken Hunt and veteran hurler Duke Maas to the Angels. Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel helps out the Angels with their player draft selections as a special talent advisor. The AL teams had frozen their 40 Man MLB rosters on May 30, 1960 for players to be available for the expansion team player draft in December.
1961 - New York Yankees GM Roy Hamey denies the AL 1960 MVP winner and All Star RF Roger Maris’ request for a $75,000 1962 player contract.
1961 - Yankees obtained veteran reliever Marshall Bridges from the Reds for reserve C Jesse Gonder. Gonder was a victim of the numbers game with Yogi Berra, Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard on the 25-man player roster.
1980 - Former 1963 AL Batting Champ, 1st black player to wear the Yankee pinstripes, Elston Howard passes away from a heart attack. Elston joined the Yankees in 1955, played with the team until his mid-season trade in 1967 to the Red Sox. He took over the starting catching duties in 1960 for the Yankees. He would become the 1st black MLB coach for the Yankees in 1969. He had a lifetime BA of .274, playing in 9 World Series with the Yankees and 1 with the Red Sox in 1967.
1982 - The Cardinals swap two blue-ribbon prospects INF Bobby Meacham and OF Stan Javier to the Yankees for 3 minor leaguers - Bob Helsom, Marty Mason, and Steve Fincher. Some observers think this is a make-up trade to the Yankees for sending OF Willie McGee to the Cardinals last year in exchange for P Bob Sykes, who was injured.
1985 - Former MLB All Star OF Roger Maris dies from cancer at the age of 51. In 1961, Maris set a MLB record by hitting 61 HRs. Considered an excellent all-around outfielder, Maris won two AL MVP awards (1960-61) with the Yankees (1960-1966) during his MLB career (1957-1968), which started with the Indians in 1957, later with the A’s, then the Yankees, finishing up with the Cardinals in 1968.
1994 - The Yankees obtained starter Jack McDowell from the White Sox in exchange for minor league P Keith Heberling and a player to be named later, minor league OF Lyle Mouton.
1999 - The Yankees traded P Dan Naulty to the Dodgers for minor league player Nicholas Le ach.
2000 - The Yankees signed free agent P Brian Boehringer.
2004 - Former Yankees minor league INF Rod "Hot Rod" Kanehl passed away (1934-2004). The Yankees originally signed Rod in 1951. Rod never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. The Yankees sold him to the Mets in the winter of 1961. He would finally play for Manager Casey Stengel at the MLB level with the Mets. The Yankees wanted to give Rod a shot at 3B job in 1967, but the Mets refused to release him from contract despite being in AAA.
December 15th
1909 - Veteran shortstop Norman "Kid" Elberfeld (1903-1909), who helped make the Highlanders a winner, is sold to the Senators for $5,000.
1920 - The Yankees new General Manager Ed Barrow pries future HOF starter Waite Hoyt, C Wally Schang, P Harry Harper, and INF Mike McNally from his former Red Sox team in exchange for Yankees 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen, OF Sammy Vick, and cash.
1932 - A joint meeting of AL and NL owners approves the concept of "chain store" baseball, developed as the Cardinal farm system by Branch Rickey, despite strenuous objections by MLB Commissioner Judge Landis. The era of independent minor league teams will begin to start. The Yankees will sign deal with the Newark Bears of International League to be their top farm team.
1944 - Former Yankees P Stan Bahnsen (1968-1971) was born. Stan won the AL ROY Award in 1968. The Yankees traded Stan to the White Sox for INF Rich McKinney in December of 1971.
1945 - Former Yankees P Gil Blanco (1965) was born. Gil was one of the last bonus babies for the Yankees.
1953 - Long time Yankees General Manager Ed Barrow passed away. (1899-1953.) Ed was a MLB manager with the Red Sox, winning the 1918 World Series. He is credited with making the switch of a young Babe Ruth from the mound to the outfield. He would join the Yankees front office in 1920. From 1921-1945, Ed Barrow was the Yankees General Manager, engineering some of the most famous Yankees trades. He left the team in 1945, after the Ruppert estate sold the Yankees to new owners Del Webb, Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail. In 1953, Ed was elected to Baseball's Hall of Fame.
1960 - Yankees signed free agent veteran OF Elmer Valo after his released by the Indians. During the 1960 AL season, he would be sold to the Senators.
1967 - The Yankees completed the Steve Barber trade with the Orioles made during the 1967 AL season, by sending minor league players Chet Trail and Joe Brady to the Orioles.
1980 - NL All Star OF Dave Winfield (.276, 20 HRs, with 87 RBIs) becomes the highest-paid player in the history of sports. The former Padre signs a 10-year free-agent deal with Yankees worth a record $16 million.
1981 - Former 1978 AL Cy Young Award Winner free-agent starter Ron Guidry re-signs with the Yankees to a 4-year $3.6 million pact.
1988 - The Yankees signed P Mark Hutton as an amateur free agent. Mark posted a 1-3 record in 19 games for the Yankees. On July 31, 1996, Mark was traded by the Yankees to the Marlins for veteran P Dave Weathers.
1992 - The Yankees signed free agent 3B Wade Boggs to a 3-year contract.
1994 - The Yankees signed free agent veteran shortstop Tony Fernandez. Tony hit .245 in 108 games for the Yankees in 1995.
1999 - The Yankees signed free agent OF Ryan Thompson.
2003 - Yankees lose minor league P Colter Bean to the Red Sox in the 2003 MLB Rule 5 player draft.
2003 - The Yankees signed veteran catcher John “Flash” Flaherty as a free agent.
December 16th
1953 - In a 10-player trade, the Yankees send 1B Vic Power, infielders Jimmy Finigan and Don Bollweg, OF Bill Renna, C Jim Robertson, and P John Gray to the A's. Meanwhile the A's pack up veteran 1B Eddie Robinson, 3B Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, and outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro to the Yankees. Harry Byrd, who had won 26 games in 2 years for the lowly A's, will never match his win totals in New York. The stylish Vic Power, the American Association batting leader in 1953 with the Yankees Kansas City Blues AAA team, will go on to win 7 Gold Gloves and make the AL All-Star team 4 times, while playing for the A's, Indians and Twins.
1960 - The Yankees purchased P Danny Mc Devitt from the Dodgers for cash. Danny would go 1-2 in 1961 before being traded to the Twins for reserve INF Billy Gardner. Danny had originally signed with the Yankees in 1951, but was released in 1952, being picked up by the Dodgers.
1983 - Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires Billy Martin as manager of the Yankees for the 3rd time, replacing him with Yogi Berra, while giving Billy Martin, a front-office job with the Yankees.
1996 - The Yankees lose their closer John Wetteland to free agency. A young Mo Rivera will replace him as the team’s closer. The Rangers signed the free agent closer John Wetteland to a 4-year contract worth $23 million. Wetteland had 43 saves for the Yankees during the 1996 AL season.
2003 - After declining the $4.6 million 2-year December 7th contract offer by the Yankees, which he only had 15 minutes to consider, Mike Stanton (7-1 record, 3.00 ERA, with 6 saves) still decides to stay in town by, agreeing to a $9 million, 3-year, no trade contract with the cross-town rival Mets. The Yankees didn’t offer the veteran All-Star reliever salary arbitration, after he failed to respond to their ultimatum.
2003 - The Yankees signed free agent reliever Tom “Flash” Gordon to be closer Mo Rivera’s bullpen set up man.
2003 - The Yankees traded 1B Nick Johnson, OF Juan Rivera and P Randy Choate to the Expos for starter Javier Vazquez.
2006 - The Yankees sign free agent veteran lefty reliever Mike Meyers. Mike will go 4-2 in 117 games for the Yankees.
December 17th
1924 -The Yankees get 4-time 20-game winner Urban Shocker from the Browns for pitchers Milt Gaston, Joe Giard, and Joe Bush. Shocker led the Browns in wins in each of the past 5 seasons and will be a mainstay on 1920's Yankees pennant-winning staffs. Joe Bush had beaten the Browns 17 straight times after losing to them on June 12, 1922. Urban Shocker will go 46-24 in 3 seasons for the Yankees, during his second tour with the team.
1934 - Former Yankees reserve 1B Kent Hadley (1960) was born (1934-2005). Kent came to the Yankees in the Roger Maris trade with the A's in December of 1959. The Tigers originally signed him in the 1950's, and then he was traded to the A's. He hit .204 in 55 games with the Yankees. After leaving the Yankees in 1960, Kent would go on to play professional baseball in Japan.
1936 - Former Yankees P Roland "Rollie" Sheldon (1961-62, 1964-65) was born. Before the 1960 AL Season, the Yankees signed Roland as an amateur free agent. He went 11-5 in his 1961 rookie AL season. In 1963, he missed the AL season due to arm injuries. Rollie would finish his Yankee career with a 23-15 record before being traded to the A's in 1965. On May 3, 1965, Rollie was traded by the Yankees with C/1B/OF Johnny Blanchard to the A's for C Doc Edwards. This was a terrible trade for the Yankees. Rollie would go 10-8 for the A’s, while Doc Edwards was a failure behind the plate and with the bat for the Yankees.
1942 - The Yankees traded OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar to the Indians for Roy Weatherly and INF Oscar Grimes. With the war draft in mind, all 4 players are married with 1 child each. As noted by historian Lyle Spatz, Buddy Rosar had been in the doghouse with Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy for leaving the team without permission during the weekend of July 18-19th to take a police examination in Buffalo. The leave-taking prompted the Yankees to sign veteran C Rollie Hemsley.
1947 - Former Yankees reserve C Charlie Sands (1967) was born. Charlie appeared in only one game for the Yankees during the 1967 AL season. He would be traded to the Pirates in 1970.
1949 - The Yankees and Tigers swap 1st baseman, the Tigers getting Richard Kryhoski while New York takes Richard Wakefield, signed by the Tigers in 1941 with a $52,000 bonus.
1953 - In a tax-avoidance scheme, the Yankees sell Yankee Stadium and Kansas City properties (Municpal Stadium) for $6.5 million in a deal with Johnson Corporation and the Knights of Columbus, who immediately lease the property back to the Yankees.
1961 - Former Yankees OF Ping Bodie (1918-1921) passed away (1887-1961). Ping was one of the first colorful players to wear the Yankees uniform.
1964 - The Yankees fired long time television and radio voice Mel Allen. This well known broadcaster popularized the 'going, going, gone' home run call and often said 'how about that' to describe happenings on the ball field.
1976 - Yankees released veteran INF Cesar Tovar.
1986 - The Yankees signed veteran free agent INF Len Sakata.
1996 - Free agent starter David Wells signs a 3-year $13.5 million contract with the Yankees.
2001 - The Yankees signed free agent OF Rondell White, who played for the Cubs this past year, to a 2-year contract. Rondell never could stay healthy, while he was with the Yankees. He would be traded to the Padres for OF Bubba Trammel.
2003 - The Yankees continue to rebuild their bullpen corps by signing free agent veteran reliever Paul Quantrill.
2003 - After agreeing to basics weeks ago, the Yankees and 35-year old OF Gary Sheffield (.330, 39 HRs, 132 RBIs) finalizes a $39 million, a 3-year deal that includes $13.5 million in deferred money and a $13 million team option for 2007. The 7-time All-Star outfielder played with Braves last year and has spent time with the Padres, Marlins and the Dodgers after breaking in with the Brewers in 1988.
2004 - A 3-team deal which including Diamondback southpaw All Star starter Randy Johnson and P Kazuhisa Ishii traded to the Yankees, Dodgers OF Shawn Green and P Brad Penny being sent to the Diamondbacks with Yankees starter Jose Vazquez and prospects going to the Dodgers. The blockbuster transaction falls apart as the Dodgers back out at the 11th hour.
December 18th
1918 - OF Duffy Lewis returns from the military, and is traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees. He goes along with front-line hurlers Ernie Shore and Dutch Leonard for P Ray "Slim" Caldwell, P Slim Love, OF Roxy Walters, OF Frank Gilhooley, and $15,000. The Tigers had turned down a deal for Leonard on the 16th. The Boston Post reports "it will take a lot to convince Boston fans that they got the better of this one."
1930 - Former Yankees1B Bill "Moose" Skowron (1954-1962) was born. Bill hit .296 in 12 seasons with the Yankees slugging 156 HRs with 672 RBI's. He was named to the AL All Star team 1957-1961. In 1958, Bill led the AL 1B in fielding. He appeared in 7 World Series with the Yankees and 1 with the Dodgers (1963). After the 1962 World Series, the Yankees traded Bill to the Dodgers for veteran starter Stan Williams. Bill currently does public relations work for the White Sox.
1950 - The Yankees OF great Tommy "Old Reliable" Henrich calls it a career as a MLB player. He accepts a MLB coaching position with the Yankees for the 1951 AL season.
1956 - Former Yankees All Star and 1950 AL MVP shortstop Phil Rizzuto signs a contract to become a Yankee radio-TV announcer.
1967 - The White Sox send veteran 3B/1B slugger Pete Ward to the Yankees for P Mickey Scott and cash. Pete Ward is at the end of his MLB career playing with back problems.
1973 - The Yankees announced the signing of Richard Williams as their new manager, precipitating a legal showdown with the A's Owner Charlie Finley. Two days later, AL President Joe Cronin rules that the Yankees cannot sign Williams as their manager. The Yankees will end up signing their former minor league OF Bill Virdon as their new manager, replacing the recently departed long-time manager Ralph Houk (1966-1973).
1987 - The Yankees released veteran reliever Rich Bodi.
1988 - The Yankees signed free agent INF Wayne Tolleson.
1993 - Top Yankees minor league pitching prospect Brien Taylor injures his shoulder in a fight near his home in North Carolina. The Injury will require surgery and cause Taylor to miss the entire 1994 season. Taylor, who signed for a $1.55 million bonus in 1991, he has yet to make it to the majors.
1997 - The Yankees signed free agent OF Scott Pose.
2001 - Yankees traded minor league INF Bernie Castro to the Padres for OF Kevin Reese.
2001 - The Yankees signed free agent starter Sterling Hitchcock.
2002 - The Yankees signed free agent 3B Todd Zeile to a contract.
2003 - The Yankees traded veteran reliever Chris Hammond and cash to the A’s for minor league players Eduardo Sierra and J. T. Stotts.
December 19th
1930 - Former Yankees reserve OF Gordon Windhorn (1959) was born. On March 14, 1957, Gordon was traded by the Red Sox along with P Eli Grba to the Yankees for OF Bill Renna. Gordy will appear in only 7 games for the Yankees in 1959. On April 5, 1960, Gordon was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Dick Sanders to the Dodgers for P Fred Kipp.
1934 - The Yankees send 5 players to San Francisco Seals (PCL) as part of the payment for OF Joe DiMaggio. He will play another season in the Pacific Coast League and will report at the end of 1935.
1943 - Former Yankee OF/DH Walt "No Neck" Williams (1974-75) was born. Walt hit .113 and 281 for the Yankees. After the Yankees released him, he went to Japan to play baseball. Yankees Owner George Steinnbrenner helped him getting a contract with a Japanese professional team.
1944 - Former Yankees P Robert "Rob" Gardner (1970-72) was born. Rob went 9-5 in two tours with the Yankees between trades to the A's. He was traded for both of the Alou brothers. His best Yankees season was in 1972, when he went 8-5 in 14 starts for the Yankees.
1962 - Former Yankees P Clay Parker (1989-90) was born. On December 22,1987, Clay was traded by the Mariners along with pitchers Lee Guetterman and Wade Taylor to the Yankees for starter Steve Trout and OF Henry Cotto. Clay went 5-6 in 32 games for the Yankees. On June 4, 1990, the Yankees along with P Lance McCullers to the Tigers traded Clay for OF/DH/C Matt Nokes.
1974 - The race to sign free agent All Star starter Catfish Hunter begins in the law offices of Cherry, Cherry & Flythe in Ahoskie, North Carolina. The Yankees and Red Sox representatives are the first arrivals.
1984 - Current Yankees P Ian Kennedy (2007-8) was born. Ian was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (21st pick) of the 2006 MLB amateur player draft. He is 1-4 in 13 games for the Yankees.
1986 - The Yankees traded C Butch Weyngar to the Angels. They will receive a player to be named later and Ron Romanick. The Angels will send P Alan Mills to the Yankees on June 22, 1986, to complete the trade.
1991 - Yankees reliever Steve Howe is arrested in Montana on a charge of possession of cocaine. Howe has been suspended from baseball 5-times for drug and alcohol problems.
2003 - The Yankees signed veteran INF Miguel Cario as a free agent.
2006 - The Yankees purchased P Kei Igawa from the Hanshin Tigers (Japan Central League).
December 20th
1903 - In an unpopular trade in Boston, the Pilgrims send Long Tom Hughes to the Highlanders for lefty P Jesse Tannehill. Hughes, 20-7 for the AL champs, had jumped to the AL from the NL Chicago team in 1902. Hughes will come up short in New York and be shipped to the Senators in July, while Tannehill will win 20 for the Hubmen.
1921 - The Yankees raided the Red Sox again, and come away with P Bullet Joe Bush, Shortstop Everett Scott, and P Sad Sam Jones in exchange for Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (who goes on to Senators), pitchers Jack Quinn, Rip Collins, and Bill Piercy, and $50,000.
1940 - Former Yankees P Thad Tillotson (1967-68) was born. Thad went 4-9 for the Yankees in 50 games after being obtained from the Dodgers for veteran INF Richard Schofield.
1946 - With the trade for veteran C Al Lopez, the Indians send young C Sherm Lollar and 2B Ray Mack to the Yankees for minor league pitchers Gene Bearden, Al Gettel, and OF Hal Peck. Peck never played for the Yankees after they acquired him in June. Lollar will play just 33 games in 2-years, with Yankees having Yogi Berra and Ralph Houk ahead of him. Meanwhile Ray Mack is swapped after appearing in 1 game during the 1947 AL season. Gene Bearden, as a rookie knuckle-ball pitcher in 1948, will win 20 games and the lead the AL in ERA. It will be his best season as a MLB pitcher.
1949 - Former Yankees OF/DH Oscar Gamble (1976, 1979-84) was born. On November 22, 1975, Oscar was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for P Pat Dobson. Oscar hit .232 in 1976. On April 5, 1977, Oscar was traded by the Yankees along with minor league pitchers Bob Polinsky, La Marr Hoyt, and $200,000 to the White Sox for INF Bucky Dent. On August 1, 1979, Oscar was traded by the Rangers with players to be named later and Amos Lewis (minors) to the Yankees for players to be named later and OF Mickey Rivers. The Rangers sent pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson on October 8, 1979 to the Yankees to complete the trade. The Yankees will send minor league pitchers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch, and Mark Softy on October 8, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Oscar would hit well for the Yankees, until injuries slowed him down. He will finish his MLB Career with the White Sox in 1985.
1966 - The Yankees acquired shortstop Richard Howser from the Indians for minor leaguer P Gil Downs and cash. Howser was at the end of his fine MLB career because of back problems. He would become the Yankees 3B Coach after retiring as an active player. He would later manage the Yankees (1980) and the Royals before dying of cancer in 1985.
1974 - The Yankees released veteran All Star starter Sam McDowell. Sam was battling drinking problems that eventually ended his MLB career.
1986 - The Yankees released veteran hurler Bob Shirley. He will be resigned in January of 1987. Bob will post a 14-20 record in 165 games with 5 saves as a Yankee.
1988 - The Yankees signed free agent veteran C Jamie Quirk. He will appear in only 13 games, hitting only .083 before being released by the Yankees.
1989 - The Yankees signed free agent veteran C Rick Cerone. He will appear in 49 games as reserve catcher, hitting .302.
1993 - The Yankees signed free agent OF/DH Luis Polonia (1989-90, 1994 -95, 2000). Luis would be a reserve OF and occasional DH for the Yankees during his 3 tours with the team.
1996 - The Yankees granted free agency to the following players: P Billy Brewer, P Scott Kamieniecki and INF Luis Sojo.
2002 - The Japan's most heralded player, 28-year-old outfield slugger Hideki Matsui (.334, 50 HRs, 107 RBIs), reaches a preliminary agreement with the Yankees on a $21 million, 3-year contract. "Godzilla" the3-time Most Valuable Player of Japan's Central League, had rejected the Yomiuri Giant's $33 million, 4-year offer opting to play for the Yankees.
2003 - The Yankees signed free agent INF Homer Bush.
2004 - The Yankees signed free agent starter Carl Pavano. Carl posted a 9-8 record in 26 games during his injury riddled stay with the Yankees (2005-08).
2004 - The Yankees signed free agent veteran INF Tony Womack.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
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