February 1st - February 7th
February 1st
1921 - Former Yankees P (1950) and Scout (1956-58) Dave Madison was born. Dave was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947. Dave appeared in only 1 game during the 1950 AL season with the Yankees. He had no record. On April 7, 1952, Dave was purchased by the Browns from the Yankees. After finishing his MLB active career, Dave became a Yankees scout from 1956 to 1958. Also he would be a MLB scout for the Orioles, A’s and Mets.
1924 - Yankees purchased OF Nick Cullop (1926) from Omaha. Nick appeared in 2 games with the Yankees, before being sent to the Senators.
1926 - The Yankees sell veteran 1B Wally Pipp (1915-1925) to the Reds. In 1925, a headache had forced Wally Pipp out of the Yankees starting lineup, resulting in his replacement by future HOF 1B Lou Gehrig. Pipp never started another game for the Yankees at 1B. After being obtained from the Tigers, Wally Pipp had been the Yankees regular 1B from 1915-1925.
1943 - Former Yankees OF Ron Woods (1967-71) was born. On June 14, 1969, Ron was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for INF Tom Tresh. He was a weak-hitting outfielder. On June 25, 1971, Ron was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for OF Ron Swoboda.
1944 - Former Yankees reserve OF Paul Blair (1977-79) was born. On January 20, 1977, Paul was traded by the Orioles to the Yankees for Outfielders Elliott Maddox and Rick Bladt. Paul was a late inning replacement for Reggie Jackson in the OF.
1960 - Former Yankees P Cecilio Guante (1987-88) was born. On November 26, 1986, he was traded by the Pirates along with P Pat Clements and Rick Rhoden to the Yankees for P Doug Drabek, P Brian Fisher, and P Logan Easley. He went 8-8 in 79 games with 12 saves. On August 30, 1988, he was traded by the Yankees to the Rangers for P Dale Mohorcic.
1966 - Former Yankees P Darrin Chapin (1991) was born. Darrin was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. He went 0-1 in 3 games as a Yankee, before being traded on January 8, 1992, to the Phillies for a player to be named later. The Phillies would send INF Charlie Hayes to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1970 - The Veterans Committee selects former MLB Commissioner Ford Frick along with former players OF Earle Combs and P Jesse Haines to the HOF. Jessie Haines won 210 games for the Cardinals and pitched in 4 World Series. Although he played 100 games in a season just 9 times, Yankees CF Earl Combs accumulated 1,866 hits and batted .325. Combs Yankees career was cut short by a serious injury. Ford Frick was MLB commissioner from 1951-1965, but he is best remembered for suggesting that an asterisk be placed next to the name of anyone who broke Babe Ruth's HR record during the 8 additional games on the AL schedule in 1961.
1978 - Former Yankees INF Erick Almonte (2001, 2003) was born. The Yankees signed Erick as an amateur free agent in 1996. During 2003 AL season, Erick filled in for the injured Derek Jeter at shortstop, hitting .260 in 31 games. His final Yankee totals were a .269 BA in 39 games with 1 HR with 11 RBIs. On March 26, 2004, he was released by the Yankees.
1999 - The Yankees trade highly touted 3B prospect Mike Lowell to the Marlins for 3 minor league pitchers: Mark J. Johnson, Ed Yarnall and Todd Noel. Mike Lowell was named minor league player-of-the-year last season, is expendable, after the Yankees 3B Scott Brosius' outstanding 1998 AL season performance.
February 2nd
1894 - Former Yankees OF Charles “Ray” Demmitt (1909) was born. Ray hit .246 in 123 games in 1909, before being traded to the Browns.
1895 - Former Yankees OF George Halas (1919) was born. George Halas, better known as a legendary NFL football coach and team owner, played 1 season in the major leagues. He had been a 3-sport athlete at the University of Illinois, and after playing minor league ball, came to the majors as an outfielder in 1919. It was the year before Babe Ruth came to the Yankees and the outfield consisted of Ping Bodie, Sammy Vick, and Duffy Lewis. In 22 at-bats, Halas' MLB career batting average was .091.
1908 - Former Yankees P Wes Farrell (1938-39) was born. The veteran pitcher went 3-4 in 8 games for the Yankees during the 1938-39 AL seasons.
1916 - Former Yankees C Mike Garbark (1944-45) was born. Mike hit .244 in 149 games with the Yankees.
1930 - The Yankees waived shortstop Leo Durocher, who batted only .246 in 1929. The future HOF manager will eventually sign with the Cincinnati Reds. He was caught by his Yankees roommate Babe Ruth stealing from him.
1933 - Former Yankees reserve OF Jack Reed (1961-63) was born. The Yankees signed Jack as an amateur free agent in 1953. Jack hit his only MLB HR in 1962 to win a 22-inning game against the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. His best season as a Yankees reserve was in 1962, hitting .307 in 43 games. He later managed in the Yankees minor league system.
1936 - The BWAA announces the results of the 1st Hall Of Fame vote. Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Christy Mathewson and Honus Wagner comprise the inaugural class of HOF members at Cooperstown, NY. Several other MLB stars like hurler Cy Young fail to make the grade, but will enter the Hall of Fame in later elections.
1950 - Former Yankees P Dale Murray (1983-85) was born. On December 9, 1982, Dale was traded by the Blue Jays along with OF Tom Dodd to the Yankees for OF Dave Collins, 1B Fred Mc Griff (minors), P Mike Morgan, and cash. The Yankees had hope that Murray would help out their bullpen, but he wasn’t the answer, going just 2-6 in 62 games with only 1 save.
1958 - Former Yankees minor league INF Pat Tabler was born. Pat was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (16th pick) of the 1976 MLB amateur player draft. With All Star Willie Randolph entrenched at 2B for the Yankees, Pat’s future was blocked in the Yankees infield. On August 19, 1981, Pat was traded by the Yankees to the Cubs for 2 players to be named later. The Cubs sent P Bill Caudill on April 1,1982, later P Jay Howell on August 2,1982 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1962 - Former Yankees P Pat Clements (1983-85) was born. On November 26, 1986, Pat was traded by the Pirates along with P Cecilio Guante and Rick Rhoden to the Yankees for P Doug Drabek, P Brian Fisher, and P Logan Easley. He went 3-3 in 61 games with 7 saves. On October 24, 1988, Pat was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Jack Clark to the Padres for Pitchers Lance McCullers, Jimmy Jones, and OF Stan Jefferson.
1972 - The Yankees purchased INF Hal Lanier (1972-73) from the Giants. Hal was a weak hitting, reserve infielder, the son of former MLB Cardinals star pitcher Max Lanier.
February 3rd
1888 - Former Yankees HOF co-owner and General Manager Larry Mac Phail (1945-1947) was born. Larry MacPhail is best remembered for having lights installed at Crosley Field in 1935 for night baseball. The Reds were also the 1st team to fly to games. His son, Lee, was a Hall of Fame baseball executive and AL president. Lee worked for the Yankees and Orioles. They are the only father-son combination in the Hall of Fame. Larry was the President of Columbus in the American Association (1930-33). Then he was the General Manager for the Cincinnati Reds (1933-36). He moved to the Brooklyn Dodgers, where he was their General Manager, from 1938 to1942. With the Yankees, he succeeded the long-time Yankees GM Edward Barrow in 1945. After the 1947 World Series, he sold his ownership shares of the Yankees to co-owners Del Webb and Dan Topping. He was not very popular with the Yankee players.
1896 - Former Yankees OF Nelson “Chicken” Hawks (1921) was born. In 1921, he was briefly an outfielder on the 1921 Yankees, playing with fellow OF Babe Ruth in the season that Ruth hit 59 HRs. Hawks, although he had only 2 HRs, had a .479 slugging percentage, which was one of the highest on the 1921 team.
1925 - Former Yankees P Harry Byrd (1954) was born. On December 16, 1953, Harry was traded by the Athletics along with 3B Loren Babe, OF Tom Hamilton, OF Carmen Mauro, and 1B Eddie Robinson to the Yankees for 1B Don Bollweg, P Johnny Gray, C Jim Robertson, 3B Jim Finigan, 1B Vic Power, and OF Bill Renna. Harry went 9-7 with 2.99 ERA in 1954 for the Yankees before being sent to the Orioles in the big 17-player trade that winter.
1928 - The Yankees released INF Julie Wera (1927, 1929). He appeared in 43 games hitting .278 for the Yankees, playing parts of the 1927 and 1929 AL seasons with the team. On November 25, 1930, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Jersey City (International League). Before the 1931 AL Season, he was sent by the Yankees to the San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete an earlier deal made on August 23, 1930. The Yankees sent a player to be named later and 3 players to the Seals for INF Frankie Crosetti. The Yankees send INF Julie Wera (1931) to the Seals to complete the trade.
1944 - Former Yankees INF Celerino Sanchez (1972-73) was born (1944-1992). On December 6,1971, he was traded by the Mexico City Tigers (Mexican League) to the Yankees for INF/OF Ossie Chavarria. He would hit .242 in 105 games for the Yankees. After suffering a fatal heart attack in 1992, Celerino passed away in his hometown of Mexico City.
1951 - Former Yankees P Mike Wallace (1974-75) was born. On May 3, 1974, Mike was traded by the Phillies to the Yankees for P Ken Wright. Mike would post a 6-0 record in 26 games, before being sold to the Cardinals in 1975.
1961 - Former Yankees minor league P Fred Toliver was born. Fred was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft. Fred was traded to the Reds along with P Brian Ryder in the Ken Griffey Sr. trade in 1981. He would return to the Yankees in September of 1989, but he would not make any appearances with the team at MLB level.
1965 - Former Yankees minor league P Rich Scheid was born. Rich was drafted by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. On July 13, 1987, he was traded by the Yankees along with pitchers Bob Tewksbury and Dean Wilkins to the Cubs for starter Steve Trout.
1966 - Former Yankees OF Mike Milosevich (1944-45) passed away. Mollie hit .241 for the 1944-45 Yankees.
1977 - Former Yankees minor league P Chi-Chi Olivo passed away. On November 29, 1966, he was traded by the Braves along with rookie OF Bill Robinson to the Yankees for veteran 3B Clete Boyer. He never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1998 - The Yankees replaced recently resigned General Manager Bob Watson with Brian Cashman.
2002 - Yankees C Jorge Posada signs a 5-year contract with the club. Terms are not announced, but Posada was asking for $7.75 million in arbitration, which would make the 30-year-old the 2nd best-paid catcher in MLB history.
February 4th
1915 - The Yankees purchased Wally Pipp and Hugh High from the Tigers for a reported $5,000 each. Baseball historian Lyle Spatz (Yankees Coming, Yankees Going) writes that this was the 1st of some promised funneling of ball players to the recently sold Yankees franchise. Wally Pipp would be the Yankees regular 1B from 1915 until mid season of 1925, being replaced by Lou Gehrig. He would be sold to the Reds following the 1925 AL season.
1916 - The Yankees released veteran OF Birdie Cree (1908-1915). Birdie played for the Yankees for 8 seasons, hitting a career .292 BA in 742 games with 761 hits, 11 HRs and 332 RBI’s. His best Yankees season was in 1911, when he hit .348 in 137 games for the Yankees
1937 - Former Yankees Manager Harry Wolverton (1912) passed away (1873-1937), Harry managed the Yankees to a 50-102 record, a last place finish in the AL in 1912. The veteran 3B appeared in several games an s pinch hitter for the Yankees. He was replaced as Yankees manager for the 1913 AL season by former Cubs Manager Frank Chance.
1957 - Former Yankees and MLB Manager Joe McCarthy and OF Sam Crawford are elected to the HOF by the BWAA. McCarthy, the winningest manager in MLB history, won 9 pennants and 4 consecutive World Championships with the Yankees. Sam Crawford, one of the greatest hitters of the dead-ball era, finished his MLB career with 309 triples, 1st on the all-time MLB list.
1969 - Attorney Bowie Kuhn is named MLB commissioner, succeeding Spike Eckert. Kuhn receives a 1-year contract paying him $100,000. Major league owners turned to Kuhn after failing to agree on either of two other candidates, Michael Burke of the Yankees and Chub Feeney of the Giants.
1984 - The Yankees obtained 3B Toby Harrah and a player to be named later from the Indians in exchange for OF Otis Nixon, P George Frazier and a player to be named later. The Indians will send minor leaguer Rick Browne on February 8, 1984 to the Yankees to complete the trade. The Yankees will send minor league P Guy Elston on February 8, 1984 to the Indians to complete the trade. Toby was a major disappointment with the bat for the Yankees. He only managed to hit .217 in 88 games with 1 HR with 26 RBIs. On February 27, 1985, Toby was traded by the Yankees to the Rangers for a player to be named later and OF Bill Sample. The Rangers will send minor league player Eric Dersin on July 14, 1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
2007 - Former Yankees P Steve Barber (1967-68) passed away. On July 4, 1967, Steve was traded by the Orioles to the Yankees for players to be named later, 1B Ray Barker, and cash. The Yankees would send minor league players INF Chet Trail and OF Joe Brady to the Orioles to complete the trade. Steve went 12-14 in 37 games before being drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the1968 AL expansion draft. He was still recovering from arm problems that he had with the Orioles, never showing the great form that made him a starter for the Birds.
2007 - Former Yankees reserve OF Jim Pisoni (1959-60) passed away. Jim came to Yankees from the A’s in the June 15, 1957, Billy Martin trade. He hit .144 in 32 games as a reserve Yankee OF. On December 1, 1958 Jim was drafted by the Braves from the Yankees in the 1958 MLB Rule 5 player draft. In May of 1959, the Braves returned Jim to the Yankees.
February 5th
1891 - Former Yankees INF (1913-1921) and Manager (1914) Roger Peckinpaugh was born. On May 25, 1913, he was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for Bill Stumpf and Jack Lelivelt. Roger had 8 good seasons with the Yankees as a starting shortstop until 1921, when he was traded to the Red Sox. In 1914, he briefly managed the team for 17 games, posting a 9-8 mark.
1921 - The Yankees purchase 10 acres of land in the Bronx. The Yankees will use the land as the site for their new park, which will be called Yankee Stadium.
1935 - At the age of 39, MLB HR king and AL All Star OF Babe Ruth is released by the Yankees. He will finish his long MLB career with the Boston Braves in 1935.
1936 - Former Yankee OF/1B James “Leroy” Thomas (1961) was born. Lee was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1954. Lee was unable to break into the Yankees regular outfield. He was traded to the Angeles in the Ryne Duren-Bob Cerv trade in May of 1961. After retiring as a MLB player he went in front office management, later becoming a General Manager, most recently with the Phillies.
1942 - The Braves obtained OF Tommy Holmes from the Yankees for 1B Buddy Hassett and OF Gene Moore in one of the best trades in Braves history. Buddy Hassett will hit .284, then join the Navy and never make it back to the MLB. The much-traveled Moore will never play for the Yankees. Tommy Holmes couldn't break into Yankees All-Star OF, but he will be a .302 MLB career hitter. He will win the NL MVP Award in 1948, after leading the Braves to the NL pennant.
1955 - Former Yankees C Mike Heath (1978) was born. Mike was drafted by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1973 MLB amateur player draft. Mike was originally an INF, who was converted to a catcher. He appeared in 33 games hitting .238 in 1978. He was being groomed to be Thurman Munson’s replacement until he was traded to the Rangers in the Sparky Lyle-Dave Righetti trade in the fall of 1978. After retiring as an active MLB player, Mike became a MLB coach.
2002 - Luis (Tite) Arroyo is inducted into the Latin American Baseball Hall Of Fame Museum. The Puerto Rican reliever, who made the NL All Star squad as a rookie with the Cardinals in 1955, posted a 40-32 MLB career record with 36 saves and a 3.93 ERA in 8 MLB seasons. Arroyo is best remembered for his 1961 season with the Yankees, when he went 15-5 with 29 saves. He would later become a Latin American scout for the Yankees.
February 6th
1896 - Yankees HOF OF/P Babe Ruth is born in Baltimore, Maryland. Babe Ruth will amass 714 HRs with 2,217 RBIs with a lifetime batting average of .342 on his way to Hall of Fame election in 1936. Babe Ruth originally signed with the Red Sox, as a pitcher and then was converted to an outfielder by his Red Sox Manager Edward Barrow. His trade by the Red Sox to the Yankees in January of 1920 will start the rise of the Yankees as one of the most dominant teams in MLB history. He will play for the Yankees from 1920 to 1934. Babe Ruth will be released by the Yankees in 1935, he will finish out his long MLB career with the Braves.
1926 - The Browns acquired veteran C Wally Schang from the Yankees for P George Mogridge and cash. Although Schang is 36 years old, he will hold the job as starting catcher for the Browns for 4 seasons.
1926 - Former Yankees 1B Dale Long (1960, 1962-63) was born (1926-1991). On December 5,1949, Dale was drafted by the Yankees from the Tigers in the 1949 MLB minor league player draft. Don will not appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 16, 1950, Dale was drafted by the Pirates from the Yankees in the 1950 MLB rule 5 player draft. In 1956, Don was a NL All Star 1B with the Cubs, during that season Don set a MLB record of hitting 7 HRs in 7 straight games. During the 1958 NL season with the Pirates, he caught 2 games as a left-handed catcher. Don was obtained from the Giants in August of 1960. Don hit .366 in 26 games for the Yankees. He was lost in the 1960 AL Expansion draft to the new Senators. On July 11, 1962, Dale was re-obtained from the Senators for minor league OF Don Lock (Richmond AAA). He hit .298 in 41 games. The Yankees released Dale during the 1963 AL season. He was only hitting .200, while appearing in only 14 games. He appeared in 2 World Series with the Yankees in 1960 and 1962 hitting .250.
1950 - Former long-time Yankees MLB Coach (1929-1945) and NL player Art Fletcher (1902-1922) passed away. Art was an INF for the Giants and Phillies. He finished his MLB career in 1922 with a .277 BA with 32 HRs with 675 RBIs. Art briefly managed the Yankees for 11 games, posting a 6-5 record after Manager Miller Higgins had died in 1929. Yankees pitching coach Bob Shawkey would take over the team from him.
1969 - Former Yankees P Bob Wickman (1992-96) was born. Bob was obtained from the White Sox in the Steve Sax trade. He went 31-14 in 223 games with 11 saves, for the Yankees. On August 23, 1996, Bob traded by the Yankees along with OF Gerald Williams to the Brewers for a player to be named later, INF Pat Listach, and P Graeme Lloyd. The Brewers would send P Ricky Bones on August 29, 1996 to the Yankees to complete the trade. On October 2, 1996, INF Pat Listach was returned to Brewers because injury issues.
1970 - Former Yankees P Mark Hutton (1993-94,1996) was born. Mark was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1988. He went 1-3 in 19 games with the team, before being traded on July 31, 1996, to the Marlins for veteran P Dave Weathers.
1986 - The Yankees signed veteran free agent reliever Al Holland (1986-87). Al went 1-0 in 28 games with 10 saves before being released by the team.
1996 - Former Yankees P Bob Muncrief (1951) passed away. On November 16, 1950, Bob was drafted by the Yankees from the Cubs in the 1950 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He went 0-0 in 2 games in 1951.
1998 - The Yankees acquired All-Star 2B Chuck Knoblauch from the Twins for P Eric Milton, INF Cristian Guzman and minor leaguers OF/1B Brian Buchanan and Danny Mota, plus $3 million in cash. Chuck Knoblauch will bat .265 with 17 HRs in 1998, helping the Yankees win the World Championship.
2007 - Former Yankees P Lew Burdette (1950) passed away (1926-2007). Lew was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1947. During the 1950 AL season, he appeared in 2 games with the Yankees with no record. On August 29, 1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $50,000 to the Braves for veteran hurler Johnny Sain. Lew would come back to haunt the Yankees in 1957 World Series, winning 3 games for the Braves against his old team. If Lew had stayed with the Yankees, he could have won 300 games. He finished his MLB career in 1967 with a 203-144 mark. He pitched in the MLB for the Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and Angels.
February 7th
1936 - Former Yankees 1B Frank Leja (1954-55) was born (1936-1991). On October 1, 1953, Frank was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent (bonus baby). He was required to be on the MLB roster for 2 years, because of his bonus status. He appeared in only 19 games for the Yankees, getting 1 hit in 7 at bats. He would stay in the Yankees organization until 1961. Frank was traded on October 4, 1961, by the Yankees to the Cardinals for minor league player Ben Mateosky. In 1962, he would make a brief MLB appearance with the expansion Angles, after being acquired from the Cardinals.
1949 - The Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio signs a 1-year player contract worth $100,000, becoming the 1st player to earn a 6-figure deal in MLB history. In 1948, DiMaggio batted .320, while leading the AL with 39 HRs with 155 RBIs.
1955 - Former Yankees INF Damaso Garcia (1978-79) was born. The Yankees signed Damaso as an amateur free agent in 1975. He appeared in 29 games during the 1978 AL season, hitting .229 before being traded to the Blue Jays on November 1, 1979. He was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and P Paul Mirabella for P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn.
1967 - The Yankees obtained P Joe Verbanic from the Phillies for veteran reliever Pedro Ramos. Joe went 11-10 in 3 years with the Yankees.
1995 - Former MLB and Yankees P Cecil Upshaw (1974) died from a heart attack at the age of 52. The side-arming Upshaw saved 27 games in 1969, helping the Braves win the NL West Division. In 9 seasons, Upshaw made 348 appearances, all in relief. On April 26, 1974, he was traded by the Indians to the Yankees in the Chris Chambliss trade. Cecil went 1-5 in 36 games with 6 saves for the Yankees in 1974. On December 5, 1974, Cecil was traded to the White Sox by the Yankees for veteran reserve INF Eddie Leon.
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