March 1st - March 7th
March 1st
1944 - Former Yankees P Ron Klimkowski (1969-70,1972) was born. Ron came to the Yankees during the 1967 season in the Elston Howard trade with the Red Sox. He appeared in 48 games for the Yankees, going 6-8 with 1 save before being traded to the A’s for OF/DH Felipe Alou. He would return to the Yankees in 1972, going 0-3 in 16 games with 1 save.
1947 - New managers in spring training camps are Billy Herman with the Pirates, Muddy Ruel with the Browns, Bucky Harris with the Yankees, and Johnny Neun with Reds. Johnny Neun had ended the 1946 AL season as manager of the Yankees, after both Joe McCarthy and Bill Dickey had quit during the season.
1953 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Murray (1974-76) was born. Larry was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1971 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 12, before being traded to the A’s in the Mike Torrez trade during the 1977 AL season.
1969 -The Yankees long time All Star OF/1B Mickey Mantle announces his retirement as a MLB player (1951-1968) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at the Yankees spring training camp. He is the last of the Yankee stars from the dynasty teams of 1949-1964 to retire from MLB.
1993 - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner of the team. MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent had banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day activities with the Yankees because of his relationship with convicted gambler Howard Spira.
1998 - The Yankees christen Legends Field their new $30 million 31-acre complex in Tampa, Fla. The field has the exact dimensions of Yankee Stadium. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the 1st ball are former Yankees Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the new Yankees beat the AL Champions Indians, by the score of 5-2.
2003 - The Yankees signed C Francisco Cervelli as an amateur free agent.
2004 - The Yankees released veteran 3B Aaron Boone. Aaron had injured his leg during the off-season playing basketball. The Yankees had obtained A-Rod from the Rangers in a trade, so Aaron became expendable.
March 2nd
1917 - Former Yankees P James “Jim“ Konstanty (1954-56) was born. Jim helped out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, with 7 wins and 11 saves. Jim was 8-3 in 62 games as a Yankee pitcher. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who won the NL pennant. Jim started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Vic Raschi, losing 1-0 only giving up 5 hits in 8 innings. He was the 1950 NL MVP, posting a 16-7 mark with 22 saves for the Phillies.
1918 - Former Yankees reserve OF Frank Colman (1946-47) was born. After being purchased from the Pirates in 1946, Frank appeared in 63 games hitting just .187.
1921 - Former Yankees P Richard Starr (1947-48) was born. Richard was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1941. He went 1-0 in 5 games before being traded on December 13, 1948, by the Yankees along with P Red Embree, C Sherman Lollar, and $100,000 to the Browns for C Roy Partee and P Fred Sanford.
1947 - Former Yankees minor league OF Jim Nettles was born. On January 24, 1980, Jim was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He was the younger brother of Yankees 3B Graig Nettles. Jim spent the 1980 season with Columbus (AAA). He would later become a minor league manager.
1949 - AL All Star CF Joe DiMaggio leaves the Yankees spring training camp to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida, but the heel will continue to bother him. The AL All Star CF is hitting just 7-for-31 in the Grapefruit League.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Tim Layana was born (1964-1999). Tim Drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. Tim never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 4, 1989 Tim was drafted by the Reds from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB Rule 5 player draft. While playing in the MLB, he pitched for the Reds and Giants. In 1999, Tim died in an auto accident.
2004 - The Yankees signed free agent 1B/DH Travis Lee. He appeared in only 7 games for the Yankees in 2004, after injuring his shoulder during spring training, hitting just .105.
March 3rd
1867 - Former Yankees C/1B Jack “Peach Pie” O’Connor (1903) was born. Before the 1903 AL Season, Jack jumped from the Pirates to the Highlanders. Jack appeared in 64 games for the Yankees, hitting just .203. On October 6, 1903, Jack was traded by the Highlanders to the Browns for OF John Anderson.
1872 - Future Yankee HOF INF/OF William “Wee Willie” Keeler (1903-1909) was born. Willie had a .295 lifetime BA as a Yankee. From 1903-1906, he hit over .300 each season. A remarkable hitter, Willie Keeler will hit over .300 16 times in 19 seasons, hit over .400 once, and will finish with a .341 batting average over his career, currently 14th in all time list. Keeler will be selected to the Hall of Fame in 1939 with 75.55% of the vote.
1918 - The Yankees purchased 1B George “Tigoa” Burns from the Tigers for cash, then traded him to the A’s for OF Ping Bodie.
1956 - Former Yankees INF Dennis Sherrill (1978,1980) was born. Dennis was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1974 MLB amateur player draft. Dennis only appeared in 5 games with the Yankees, hitting just .200. He was blocked at the Yankees starting shortstop position by AL All Star shortstop Bucky Dent.
1960 - Former Yankees P Chuck Cary (1989-1991) was born. On January 26, 1989, he signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Cary stayed with the Yankees from 1989 through 1991, but was released by them on October 28, 1991, following elbow surgery in September. His Yankee career pitching record was 11-22 in 60 games.
1960 - Former Yankees P Neal Heaton (1993) was born. On February 2, 1993, Neal was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He posted a 1-0 record in 18 games, before being released by the team on July 27, 1993.
1968 - Former Yankees P Bobby Munoz (1993) was born. Bobby was drafted by the Yankees in the 15th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Bobby went 3-3 in 38 games for the Yankees in 1993. On February 9, 1994, Bobby was traded by the Yankees along with minor league INF Kevin Jordan and P Ryan Karp to the Phillies for a player to be named later and starter Terry Mulholland. The Phillies would send Jeff Patterson on November 8, 1994 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1977 - Former Yankees P Frank “Stubby” Overmire (1951) passed away. After being obtained from the Browns for P Tommy Byrne and $2,500 Stubby went 1-1 in 15 games for the Yankees in 1951. He did not appear in the 1951 World Series with the Yankees. In 1952 the Yankees traded him back to the Browns, where he finished out his MLB career.
1980 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-1942) passed away. Jerry was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1937. Jerry appeared in 115 games for the Yankees, hitting just .246. On January 29, 1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash. Jerry was expendable because the Yankees had AL All Star 2B Joe Gordon and future 2B Jerry Coleman in the minors.
1997 - The Yankees offer the Padres a choice of one from a list of players or the negotiating rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu. The list includes P Brian Boehringer, P David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, INF Andy Fox and OF Matt Luke. The Yankees also offer one player from a list of 5 minor leaguers, plus $3 million. The Padres are talking to several other MLB teams beside the Yankees.
March 4th
1897 - Former Yankees P Lefty O’Doul (1919-20, 1922) was born. Lefty went 1-1 as pitcher before being sent the Red Sox in a trade. In NL, he would become a outfielder, finishing his MLB career with a lifetime BA of .346. Later he would become a successful minor league manager.
1897 - Former Yankees P Neal Brady (1915, 1918) was born. Neal went 1-0 in 4 games for the Yankees.
1913 - The Yankees become the 1st MLB to conduct spring training outside of the US, when they begin the spring in Bermuda, where is projected a series of exhibition games.
1918 - Former Yankees P Mel Queen Sr. (1942, 44, 1946-47) was born. Mel was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1938. Mel went 8-4 in 33 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Pirates in 1947. His son, Mel Jr. played for the Reds during the 1960’s.
1962 - Former Yankees P George Mogridge (1915-1920) passed away (1889-1962). With the Yankees, he pitched a no-hitter, and had his best year in 1918 when he went 16-13 and also had 7 saves. His last year with the Yankees was in 1920 when Babe Ruth’s 1st season for the team. Mogridge's 2.73 ERA in his 6 years with the Yankees is one of the 5 best ERA's for a Yankee pitcher in the 20th century.
2004 - The Yankees signed two free agents: Hansel Izuierdo and OF John Rodriguez. Neither player appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level in 2004.
March 5th
1891 - Former Yankees P and HOF Arthur “ Dazzy” Vance (1915-18) was born. Dazzy went 0-3 in 10 games with the Yankees, while battling arm problems. He would recover, after being picked up by the Dodgers in 1922. Dazzy was named the NL MVP in 1924; he pitched a no-hitter in 1925, led the NL in wins twice, in earned run average 3 times, and is the only pitcher to top the NL in strikeouts 7 consecutive seasons. Vance will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the BWAA in 1955, with 205 votes on 251 ballots. He posted a 197-140 record during a 16-year MLB career.
1891 -Former Yankees C Walter “Walt” Alexander (1915-1917) was born. Walt hit .221 in 81 games for the Yankees.
1903 - Former Yankees C Martin Autry (1924) was born. Martin appeared in only 2 games for the Yankees with no hits in 1924.
1912 - Former Yankees Coach Jimmy “Gee Gee” Gleeson was born. Jimmy was a manager in the Yankee farm league system in the 1940-50’s. He never played for the team at MLB level. He was a member of the 1938 Newark Bears, the Yankees top AAA team.
1919 - Former Yankees 3B/OF Don Savage (1944-45) was born. Don hit .256 in 105 games for the Yankees during the 1944-45 AL seasons.
1921 - Former Yankees reserve OF Elmer Valo (1960) was born. Elmer was signed as free agent in December of 1959. Elmer only appeared in 8 games with the team before being released in May of 1960. Elmer was at the end of a fine MLB career. The return of veteran OF Bob Cerv from the A’s made him expendable.
1922 - The Yankees OF Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in MLB history, when he signs a 3-year contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Ruth led the AL with 59 HRs and 171 RBIs. The next-highest-paid Yankees player is 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker, at $16,000.
1950 - Former Yankees P Doug Bird (1980-1981) was born. On April 29, 1980, Doug was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He went 8-1 in 39 games with 1 save. On June 12, 1981, Doug was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later and $400,000 to the Cubs for veteran starter Rick Reuschel. The Yankees would send P Mike Griffin on August 5, 1981, to the Cubs to complete the trade.
1973 - Yankees Pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and the family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the MLB world.
1975 - The Yankees released reserve INF Fernando Gonzalez. He appeared in 51 games for the Yankees hitting just .215.
2003 - The Yankees signed P Ramon Ramirez as a free agent. Ramon never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On July 28, 2005, he was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Eduardo Sierra to the Rockies for P Shawn Chacon.
March 6th
1919 - The Yankees sell P Ray Keating to Braves for cash. Ray had career record of 23-40 in 108 games with the Yankees.
1965 - Former Yankees C Wally Schang (1921-1925) passed away. After being obtained from the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade, Wally hit .316 and .319 for the Yankees, before being traded to the Browns in 1926.
1977 - Former Yankees reserve OF Marcus Thames (2002) was born. Marcus broke into the MLB by hitting a HR off of D-Backs starter Randy Johnson. In 2003, he was traded to the Rangers for OF/DH Ruben Rivera. He is currently playing for the Tigers.
1985 - Former Yankees OF Enos “Country” Slaughter (1954-55, 1956-59) and Arky Vaughan are elected to the HOF. Slaughter, known for his hustling style of play with the Cardinals and later with the Yankees, gained fame for his celebrated "Mad Dash" home during the 1946 World Series. Arky Vaughan batted .318 over a 14-year MLB career with the Pirates and Dodgers.
1990 - Former Yankees and HOF INF Joe Sewell (1931-1933) passed away. Joe spent most of his 14 year MLB career with the Indians. He finished out with the Yankees in 1931-1933. In 1931, he hit .302 and played on the 1932 Yankees. His lifetime BA mark was .312. He was the toughest player to fan in MLB history, only 114 times in his 14-year MLB career. He was elected to HOF in 1977.
2005 - Suzyn Waldman becomes the 1st woman to be a full-time color commentator in MLB history, making her debut with John Sterling on WCBS-AM 880, the radio flagship of the Yankees. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the 1st all-sports radio station in US, was also the 1st female to broadcast on a nationally baseball telecast as well as the 1st to provide local TV (Yankees) MLB play-by-play.
March 7th
1914 - Former Yankees OF Joseph “Muscles” Gallagher (1939) was born. Joe appeared in 14 games, hitting .244, before being traded on June 13, 1939, to the Browns for INF Roy Hughes and cash.
1954 - Former Yankees P Mike Armstrong (1983-1986) was born. Mike came to the Yankees in the trade that sent 1B Steve Balboni to the Royals. Mike went 3-3 with the Yankees before finishing up his MLB career with the Indians.
1962 - Former Yankees minor leaguer P Jose Cano was born. He is the father of current Yankees 2B Robinson Cano. Jose appeared in the MLB with Astros going 1-1 in 6 games. He originally signed by the Yankees in 1980, but Jose was released by the team being picked up by the Astros organization.
1981 - Former Yankees shortstop Paul “Pee Wee” Wanninger (1925) passed away. “Pee-Wee” Wanninger was the regular shortstop for the 1925 Yankees. Paul hit .236 in 117 games for the Yankees. He had replaced Everett Scott at shortstop in May 1925 to end his then-record consecutive games streak at 1,307. Less than a month later, on June 1st, he would make way for another record-long consecutive streak to start, when a Yankee rookie named Lou Gehrig pinch-hit for him. After the 1925 AL season, the Yankees traded Wanninger to St. Paul (American Association) to complete the earlier trade made for C Pat Collins. He went on to play many years for St. Paul (1926-32) and other teams, through 1940. He also managed 4 seasons in the minor leagues.
1998 -The Yankees signed P Orlando Hernandez, brother of the 1997 World Series hero Livan Hernandez, to a 4-year, $6.6 million contract. “El Duque” would go on to post a 61-40 record for the Yankees (1998-2004). He was 2-0 in World Series play and 7-2 in AL post-season games.
2006 - World Baseball Classic: Pool C Game: Yankees All Star CF Bernie Williams drove in a 6th-inning run to hand Puerto Rico, a 2-1 victory over Panama.
2006 - Former Yankees backup catcher, now with the Red Sox, John “Flash” Flaherty announces his MLB retirement, ending his 14-year MLB career with the team he started out with. He signed in December of 2005 as a free agent after 3 seasons with the Yankees, as a reserve catcher to Jorge Posada. Also John had played for the Tigers, Padres, and Devil Rays, John posted a lifetime .252 BA with 80 HRs and 395 RBIs in 1,047 games played.
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