This Week in Yankee History (2/15-2/21)

February 15th - February 21st

February 15th

1915 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cyril “Roy” Weatherly (1943-45) was born. Roy hit .266 in 79 games for the Yankees.

1916 -The Yankees buy 3B Frank "Home Run" Baker from the A’s for $37,500. He sat out the 1915 AL season in a salary dispute with the A’s Owner/Manager Connie Mack. He will anchor the 3rd base position for the Yankees for several seasons (1916-1919 and 1921-1923).

1938 - Yankees obtained reserve INF Billy “Knick” Knickerbocker from the Browns for reserve INF Don “Jeep” Heffner and cash

1931 - The Yankees' training site in St. Petersburg, Florida is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager.

1945 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ross “Mickey Mantle’s Legs” Moschitto (1965, 1967) was born. Ross was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1964. Ross hit .184 in 110 games with 1 HR with 3 RBIs. He was a sure sign that the Yankees, once great farm system was in very bad shape.

1963 - Former Yankees P Bump Hadley (1936-40) passed away (1904-1963). Bump went 47-31 in 140 games for the Yankees. He went 2-1 in 3 World Series with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1936, going 14-4. In 1939, he posted 12-6 mark for the Yankees. In 1940, he was sold to the A’s.

1966 - Former Yankees P Melido Perez (1992-95) was born. On January 10, 1992, he was traded by the White Sox along with Pitchers Domingo Jean and Bob Wickman to the Yankees for 2B Steve Sax. Melido went 33-39 for the Yankees.

1979 - The Yankees traded OF Gary Thomasson to the Dodgers for C Brad Gulden. After being obtained from the A’s Gary hit .276 in 56 games for the 1978 Yankees, while filling in for the injured CF Mickey Rivers.

1994 - The Yankees signed veteran reliever Jeff Reardon as a free agent. Jeff posted a 1-0 record in 11 games with 2 saves. On May 6, 1994, Jeff was released by the Yankees.

1995 - The Yankees signed P Bob MacDonald as a free agent. Bob posted a 1-1 record in 33 games with the Yankees. On October 16, 1995, Bob was released by the Yankees.

2001 - The Yankees signed OF Henry Rodriguez, to a 1-year contract. The agreement was reached a month ago and H-Rod is already listed in the team's spring training program. He will only appear in 5 games for the Yankees with no hits before being released by the team.

2006 - The Yankees hurler Jason Anderson is selected off waivers by the Padres. Jason was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2000 MLB amateur player draft. In 2003, he went 1-0 in 22 games for the Yankees. On July 16, 2003, Jason was traded by the Yankees along with minor league players Ryan Bicondoa and Anderson Garcia to the Mets for reliever Armando Benitez. On June 1, 2004, Jason was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Indians. In 2005, he appeared in 3 games for the Yankees posting a 1-0 record.

February 16th

1924 - The Braves 3B Tony Boeckel becomes the 1st MLB player to be killed in an automobile accident, when he dies from injuries received as a passenger yesterday in San Diego. The Yankees OF Bob Meusel, also a passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, escaped without any serious injuries.

1948 - The Yankees released veteran hurler Louis “Bob” Newsom. In 1947, he went 7-5 for the Yankees, after being obtained from the Senators.

1952 - Former Yankees reserve C Barry Foote (1981-82) was born. On April 27, 1981, Barry was traded by the Cubs to the Yankees for P Tom Filer and cash. Barry hit .177 in 57 games for the team.

1953 - The Yankees purchased P Johnny Schmitz (1952-53) from the Reds for cash. John went 2-1 in 8 games with 2 saves for the Yankees.

1967 - Former Yankees All Star P Charles “Red” Ruffing (1930-1946), author of 273 major league wins, is elected to the HOF. Red would lead the Yankee pitchers in career wins with 231 wins, until Whitey Ford passed the Yankees club record in 1965, which finished with 236 wins as a Yankee. Also he was a pretty good hitting pitching pitcher for the Yankees, hitting a Grand Slam HRs. Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year MLB career with the Red Sox, Yankees and the White Sox. From 1936-39, he went 20-3, 20-2, 21-1 and 21-2 as Yankee starter.

1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cedric Durst passed away (1896-1971). On February 8, 1927, he was traded by the Browns along with P Joe Giard to the Yankees for P Sam Jones. On May 6, 1930, Cedric was traded by the Yankees along with $50,000 to the Red Sox for P Charles “Red” Ruffing.

1981 - The Yankees traded INF Rafael Santana to the Cardinals for a player to be named later. On June 7, 1981, the Cardinals sent P George Frazier to the Yankees to complete the trade.

2001 - The Yankees premier MLB reliever, Mariano Rivera (7-4 record, with a 2.85 ERA and 36 saves), signs a 4-year, approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31-year old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley’s MLB record with 16 saves in post-season games.

2004 - Former MLB GM, manager and coach Charley Fox passes away. Charley spent most of his MLB career with the Giants organization. In 1989, he was a MLB coach for the Yankees.

2004 - The Yankees traded a player to be named later and AL All Star 2B Alfonso Soriano to the Rangers for All Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez and cash. On April 24, 2004, the Yankees would send minor league player Joaquin Arias to the Rangers to complete the trade.

2006 - The Yankees signed veteran P Scott Erickson as a free agent. He will appear in only 6 games for the Yankees with no record. On June 11, 2006, Scott was released by the Yankees.

February 17th

1893 - Former Yankees 1B Wally Pipp (1915-1925) was born. On February 4, 1915, Wally was purchased by the Yankees from the Tigers. He was the Yankees regular 1B from 1915-1925, he hit over .300 twice for the club. His best Yankees season was in 1922, when he hit .329 in 152 games. During the 1925 AL season, Pipp had asked out of the Yankees starting lineup with a headache He was replaced by rookie 1B Lou Gehrig. He never started another game for the Yankees at 1B. On January 15, 1926, Wally was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $7,500.

1908 - Former HOF Yankees broadcaster Red “Old Redhead” Barber (1954-1966) was born. Red was a broadcast journalist, not a “homer” announcer. He had previously worked for the Reds and Dodgers before joining the Yankees in 1954. He teamed up with Mel Allen to give the Yankees, one of most famous broadcasting teams in MLB history. He was let go by the Yankees after the 1966 season, ending a great broadcasting tradition.

1937 - The Yankees buy another Babe from the Red Sox, this time picking up 1B Babe Dahlgren. The California native will become the player who replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in Detroit, during the 1939 AL season.

1943 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio, drawing $43,500 from the Yankees, trades in his MLB salary for the $50 a month as an U.S. Army enlisted man. Joe DiMaggio, in his customary quiet style, gives no notice to the Yankees.

1959 - The Yankees invite Australian cricket player Norman O'Neill for a tryout at shortstop. U.S. Davis Cup captain Billy Talbert, while playing tennis in Australia, arranges the deal after hearing of O'Neill's prowess.

1977 - The Yankees traded veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. to the Rangers for infielders Greg Pryor, Brian Doyle and cash.

1981 - The Yankees signed free agent reliever Bill Castro. Bill will post a 1-1 record in 11 games for the Yankees in 1981. On March 24, 1982, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for INF Butch Hobson.

1982 - Current Yankees reliever Brian Bruney was born. On July 1, 2006, Brian was signed as a free agent with the Yankees, after being released by the Diamondbacks. He has posted a 7-3 record in 109 games with 1 save for the Yankees.

1986 - Former Yankees HOF P Charles “Red” Ruffing passed away (1905-1986). Red would lead the Yankee pitchers in career wins with 231 wins, until Whitey Ford passed the club record in 1965, who finished with 236 wins as a Yankee. Also he was a pretty good pitching pitcher for the Yankees hitting a Grand Slam HR. Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year MLB career with the Red Sox, Yankees and White Sox. He will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1967.

1987 - Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly wins his $1.975 million arbitration case breaking the record for the largest amount ever awarded to a MLB player set by starter Jack Morris, just 4 days ago.

1989 - Former Yankees HOF P Veron “Lefty” Gomez passed away (1908-1989). On August 17,1929, Lefty was purchased by the Yankees from the San Francisco Seals (PCL). Lefty would go 189-101 with a WP of .637 in 357 games in his Yankee career. Also Lefty would finish with 1,468 strikeouts with 173 complete games and 26 shutouts. Lefty appeared on 7 AL All Star teams including the very 1st team in 1933. His AL All Star record was 3-1 in 5 games. His World Series record as a Yankee starter was 5-0 in 7 games. On January 25, 1943, the Braves purchased Lefty from the Yankees. He would be released by the Braves. Then he was picked up by Senators, going 0-1 in 1 game, before retiring in July of 1943. He would be elected to Baseball’s HOF in 1972. He was one of the most colorful players to wear the Yankees uniform, having the nickname of “Goofy”.

1990 - The Yankees signed P Mariano Rivera as an amateur free agent.

1991 - The Yankees released veteran P Dave LaPoint. Dave had posted a 13-19 record in 48 games for the Yankees.

February 18th

1915 - Former Yankees MVP 2B (1938-43, 1946) and MLB Manager Joe “Flash” Gordon was born. Former MLB Manager: Indians (1958-60), Tigers (1960), A’s (1961) and the Royals (1969). The Yankees signed Joe in 1936. In 1938, he joined the Yankees as a 2B. He made the AL All Star team in from 1939 to 1943, and 1946. In 1942, he won AL MVP award, hitting .342. In October 1946, Joe was traded to the Indians for starter Allie Reynolds. After retiring as an active player, he later became a MLB manager during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of MLB managers in 1960, when he was traded from the Indians to Tigers for Manager Jimmy Dykes. Joe was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in December of 2008.

1927 - Former Yankees Closer and Scout Louis Arroyo (1960-1963) was born. On July 20, 1960, Louis was purchased by the Yankees from the Reds. He would go 5-1 with 7 saves in 1960. In 1961, he had his best career season going 15-5 with 29 saves and leading the AL with 54 games finished. In 1962, he injured his pitching arm, just going 1-3. In September of 1963, the team released him. His final Yankees career pitching record was 22-10 with 30 saves. He later would become a scout for the Yankees.

1929 - Former Yankees minor league C Cal Neeman was born. Cal was signed by the Yankees in 1949, but never played for the team at MLB level. On December 3, 1956, he was drafted by the Cubs from the Yankees organization in the 1956 MLB Rule 5 player draft.

1949 - Former Yankees 1B/DH John Mayberry (1982) was born. On May 5, 1982, John was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees for 1B Dave Revering, OF Tom Dodd, and Jeff Reynolds. John would hit .209 in 69 games for the Yankees.

1977 - The Yankees signed INF Jose Uribe as an amateur free agent. On July 5, 1977, Jose was released by the Yankees. He would sign with the Cardinals, and then he played for the Giants.

1998 - The Yankees sign All Star CF Bernie Williams to an $8.5 million, 1-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.

1999 - The Yankees end the trade rumors by acquiring Cy Young Award winner P Roger Clemens from the Blue Jays in exchange for pitchers David Wells and Graeme Lloyd and INF Homer Bush.

2005 - The Yankees signed P Ramiro Mendoza as a free agent. He was still recovering from arm problems.

February 19th

1935 - Yankees All Star 1B Lou Gehrig signs a MLB player contract with the Yankees for $30,000, $7,000 less than he asked for, but still making him the highest-paid player. The 32-year old 1B will hit .329 with 30 HRs, while driving in 119 runs for the 2nd-place 1935 Yankees.

1952 - Former Yankees minor league P David Cheadle was born. David was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1970 MLB amateur player draft. He never played for the team at MLB level. He was sent to the Braves in 1973 as part of the Pat Dobson trade.

1957 - The Yankees obtained pitchers Art Ditmar and Bobby Shantz, infielders Clete Boyer, Jack McMahon, and Wayne Belardi from the A’s for Yankees pitchers Rip Coleman, Tom Morgan and Maury McDermott, shortstop Billy Hunter and outfielder Irv Noren and INF Milt Graff. MLB Commissioner Ford Frick ruled that Clete Boyer, an A’s “bonus baby” had to remain with the team until his bonus term expired with the A’s MLB roster. He did not join the Yankees until June 4, 1957. The key to the trade was Clete Boyer, a badly needed infielder of outstanding defensive ability. Ditmar pitched well for the Yankees from 1957-1960, except for in the 1960 World Series. He won 15 games in 1960, leading the Yankees starters in victories. He was traded back to the A’s in June of 1961 along with OF Deron Johnson for veteran starter Bud Daley. Bobby Shantz became the 1st Yankee to win an AL Golden Glove award in 1957. He won the AL pitcher’s Golden Glove award from 1957-1960. Also he led the AL Pitchers in ERA in 1957 with a 2.45 mark. He was very effective out of the bullpen for the Yankees, as well as being a occasional starter. After the 1960 World Series, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for 3 players, who were sent to the new expansion Senators. The Yankees bait to the A’s in this 1957 trade was veteran OF Irv Noren, a former .300 hitter. He never hit .300 for the A’s. Tom Morgan was a serviceable bullpen pitcher. Jack McMahon and Wayne Belardi never made to the Yankees at the MLB level. The A's will eventually admit that when they signed Clete Boyer for a $40,000 bonus in 1955, it was on behalf of the Yankees, with the understanding that they'd later ship him to team.

1959 - Former Yankees P Tim Burke (1992) was born. On June 9, 1992, Tim was traded by the Mets to the Yankees for P Lee Guetterman. Tim went 2-2 in 23 games before leaving the Yankees for free agency.

1962 - Former Yankees INF Alvaro Espinoza (1988-91) was born. He was signed as a free agent. His best Yankee season was in 1989, when he hit .282.

February 20th

1887 - Former Yankees P Boardwalk Brown (1914-1915) was born. After being acquired from the A’s, he went 3-6 for the Yankees before being released.

1896 - Former Yankees reserve C Muddy Ruel (1917-1920) was born. Muddy was obtained from the Browns in 1917. He would be traded to the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade.

1913 - Former Yankees OF/1B and MLB Coach Tommy “Old Reliable” Henrich (1937-42, 1946-50) was born. On April 19, 1937, Tommy was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He played 11 seasons with Yankees finishing with a lifetime BA of .282. He appeared in 4 World Series, hitting .262 for the Yankees. He was named to the AL All Star teams in 1942, 1947-1950. After retiring, he became a Yankees MLB Coach.

1947 - Former Yankees P Tom Buskey (1973-74) was born (1947-1998). Tom was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1969. Tom went 0-2 in 12 games before being traded to the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade in 1974. Tom died in auto accident in 1998.

1959 - Former Yankees P Bill Gullickson (1987) was born. On August 26, 1987, Bill was traded by the Reds to the Yankees for P Dennis Rasmussen. He went 4-2 in 8 games before leaving for free agency and signing to pitch in Japan.

1963 - Former Yankees reserve C Phil Lombardi (1986-87) was born. Phil was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1981 MLB amateur player draft. Phil hit .201 in 25 games for the Yankees. On December 11, 1987, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Steve Frey and OF Darren Reed to the Mets for Shortstop Rafael Santana and minor league player Victor Garcia.

1972 - Former Yankees OF/DH Shane Spencer (1998-2002) was born. Shane was drafted by the Yankees in the 28th round of the 1990 MLB amateur player draft. Spence had a call-up in September 1998 to remember, when he hit .373 with 10 HRs with 27 RBIs. In 2000, Shane was hitting .282 as the Yankees regular LF, when he injured his leg at Shea Stadium. He never regained his playing form after that season ending injury. He left the Yankees for free agency. He is now a minor league coach. He had played baseball in Japan for several years after leaving the MLB in 2004.

1976 - The Yankees sell veteran C/DH Ed Herrmann to the Angels. On April 1, 1975, Ed was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for minor league players Fred Anyzeski, John Narron, Ken Bennett, Terry Quinn, and cash. Ed appeared in 80 games for the Yankees, hitting .255 with 6 HRs and 30 RBI’s.

1985 - Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner gives Yankees Manager Yogi Berra the dreaded vote of confidence. Steinbrenner says that Yogi Berra will remain Yankees skipper for the entire 1985 AL season, regardless of how badly the team might struggle. Yogi Berra will last only 16 games in 1985, before being fired. This will lead to a boycott of the Yankees by Yogi Berra that will last for 15 years.

1996 - The Yankees signed veteran starter Dwight “Doc” Gooden as a free agent. Doc will post a 20-11 record in 49 games, before leaving the team for free agency in 1997.

2006 - Former Yankees announcer Curt Gowdy (1949-1950) passed away. Curt would leave the Yankees in 1951 to announce games for the Red Sox and NBC-TV.

February 21st

1919 - The Yankees purchased P John Quinn from Veron for P Joe Finneran, 1B Zinn Beck and other considerations. Jack spent 2 tours with the Yankees (1909-1912) and (1919-1921) going 83-67, before being sent to the Red Sox.

1945 - Former Yankees reserve OF Tom Shopay (1967, 1969) was born. Tom was drafted by the Yankees in the 34th round of the 1965 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in only 36 games for the Yankees, hitting just .189. On December 1, 1969, he was drafted by the Orioles from the Yankees organization in the 1969 MLB Rule 5 player draft.

1947 - Former Yankees Pitcher Terry Ley (1971) was born. Terry was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1967 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). He appeared in 6 games in 1971 for the Yankees with no record. On December 2, 1971, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Gary Jones to the Rangers for veteran INF Bernie Allen.

1961 - Former Yankees C Joel Skinner (1986-88) was born. Joel was a weak hitting catcher, who was obtained from the White Sox. He would be sent to the Indians in the Mel Hall trade. He was the son of former MLB player Bob Skinner.

1982 - The Yankees signed OF Roberto Kelly as an amateur free agent.

1985 - Former Yankees OF Oscar Azocar (1990) was born. Oscar was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1983. He hit .248 in 65 games for the Yankees, before being traded to Padres for OF Mike Humphrey. Oscar was a real “free swinger” at the plate.

1991 - The Yankees signed veteran P Steve Howe as a free agent. Steve would go 3-1 in 37 games with 3 saves for the Yankees in 1991.

2005 - The Yankees signed OF Mike Vento as free agent. He would spend most of the 2005 season at Columbus (AAA). Mike was originally drafted by the Yankees in the 40th round of the 1997 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in only 2 games with no hits with the Yankees during the 2005 AL season.

2006 - Former Yankees Pitcher Mark Freeman (1959) passed away (1930-2006). Mark was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1952. He appeared in 1 game for the Yankees during the 1959 AL season, before being sent to the White Sox.

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