This Week in Yankees History
March 15th - March 21st
March 15th - March 21st
March 15th
1889 - Former Yankees INF/OF Charley Mullen (1914-1916) was born. Charley hit .264 in 192 games for the Yankees.
1898 - Former Yankees P Wilfred “Rosy” Ryan (1928) was born. Rosy appeared in only 3 games for the Yankees with no record in 1928.
1919 - Yankees sell veteran P Ray Fisher to the Reds for undisclosed amount of cash. Before 1910 AL Season, Ray was purchased by the Highlanders from Hartford (Connecticut). Ray went 76-78 in 214 games with 5 saves for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1915, when he posted an 18-11 mark. On March 15, 1919, Ray was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Yankees. He appeared in 1919 World Series, losing 1 game to the White Sox.
1944 - Former Yankees P Wayne Granger (1973) was born. Wayne was was obtained from the Cardinals for minor league P Ken Crosby. He went 0-1 in 7 games for the Yankees.
1946 - Former Yankees All Star OF Bobby Bonds (1975) was born. In 1974, Bobby was traded by the Giants to Yankees for All Star OF Bobby Mercer. Bobby hit .270 with 32 HRS with 85 RBIs in 145 games. On December 11, 1975, he was traded to the Angels for OF Mickey Rivers and P Ed Figueroa.
1960 - Former Yankees 3B Mike Pagliarulo (1984-89) was born. Mike was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 1981 MLB amateur player draft. Mike was the Yankees regular 3B from 1985-1989, hitting 95 HRS, with 337 RBIs in 703 games. On July 22, 1989, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Don Schulze to the Padres for P Walt Terrell and a player to be named later, which would be P Freddie Toliver. Mike is currently a baseball sports writer.
March 16th
1927 - Former Yankees reserve C Clint “Scraps” Courtney (1951) was born (1927-1976). In 1947, Clint was signed by the Yankees, as an amateur free agent. Clint appeared in 1 game with the Yankees before being traded to the Browns for P Jim McDonald. Clint’s MLB career with the Yankees was blocked by presence of All Star C Yogi Berra. He was one of the 1st modern MLB catchers to wear glasses behind the catcher’s mask. On June 16, 1976, he died of a massive heart attack, while as the manager of the Richmond Braves (AAA) in the Braves organization.
1932 - In St. Petersburg training camp, Babe Ruth signs a 1-year contract for $75,000 and a percentage of the exhibition gate. Legend has it the Bambino signed a blank player’s contract with the amount filled in later by Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert.
1956 - Former Yankees reserve C Juan Espino (1982-83, 1984-86) was born. On December 26, 1974, he was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He batted .219 appearing in only 49 games. On March 31, 1984, Juan was purchased by the Indians. On January 8, 1985, he was reacquired by the Yankees from the Indians.
1959 - Former Yankees P Charlie Hudson (1987-88) was born. On December 11, 1986, Charlie was traded by the Phillies along with P Jeff Knox to the Yankees for INF Tom Barrett and OF/DH Mike Easler. He went 17-13 in 63 games with 2 saves. On March 23, 1989, he was traded to the Tigers for INF Tom Brookens.
1978 - High-priced free agent hurler Andy Messersmith separates his shoulder in an exhibition game for the Yankees. A 20-game winner both for the Angels and Dodgers, Messersmith will never win a game for the Yankees. He ran into 1B Cliff Johnson during a play at first.
March 17th - Happy Saint Patty’s Day
1888 - Former Yankees P Edward “Big Ed” Klepfer (1911, 1913) was born. Ed went 0-1 in 10 games for the Yankees.
1921 - With Spring training in Shreveport, Louisiana, the Yankees journey to Lake Charles to play a game against the Cardinals, who are based in Orange, Texas. The game was proclaimed "Ruth-Hornsby Day," but Hornsby hits only a single while Babe Ruth lofts a HR over the short RF fence. The Yankees win the game by a score of 14-5.
1936 - Much-heralded Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio makes his debut with the team, collecting 4 hits including a triple. The day is marred when the Cardinals win the game by a score of 8-7.
1938 - Former Yankees OF Jimmy Hall (1969) was born. After he was obtained from the Indians, he hit .236 in 80 games, before being sent to the Cubs.
1956 - Former Yankees P Tim Lollar (1980) was born. Tim was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1978 MLB amateur player draft. Tim appeared in 14 games with the Yankees in 1980 with a 1-0 mark and 2 saves. On March 31, 1981, Chris was traded by the Yankees along with OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre, and P Chris Welsh to the Padres for OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Pacella.
1980 - Former MLB Pitcher Bob Hooper (1950-1955) passed away (1922-1980). Clippers Note: He was my High School Gym teacher and the 1st MLB player that I ever met.
He spoke very highly of the Yankee players that he had played against during the early 1950’s. In 1969, when he spoke at the Senior Sports Dinner, saying how proud he was to be MLB player, when there were only 16 teams. He felt that expansion and big money was corrupting the game. We talked many times about baseball, it was an honor to meet and know such a man.
Bob Hooper served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He pitched 6 years in the MLB for the A's, Indians and Reds and another 10 years in the minor leagues. Bob was originally signed by the Giants before the 1940 MLB season. As a 28 year old rookie in 1950, he was the Philadelphia A’s closer, posting a 15-10 mark with 5 saves. In 1951, he became a starter for the A’s, posting a 12-10 record. With the Indians, he was Early Wynn’s roommate. He was on the 1954 Indians, but he didn’t appear in the World Series against the Giants. His final MLB career record was 40-41. Bob Hooper managed in the Orioles chain from 1957 to 1960. Then he scouted for the Mets in 1963. One of his Orioles teams in the minors included future MLB players Brooks Robinson, Dean Chance and John “Boog” Powell. He was a physical education teacher at New Brunswick Senior High School in Central New Jersey until his retirement in 1979. He died at age 57 from a heart attack in his home.
1985 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Taylor Mattingly was born. The son of former Yankees captain Don Mattingly and brother of Preston Mattingly was drafted by the Yankees in the 42nd round of the 2003 MLB amateur player draft. He hit .224 in 24 games, half of them at 1st base.
1988 - Recently acquired slugger Jack Clark tears a calf tendon while hitting a HR for the Yankees in an exhibition game. The oft-injured Clark had signed a free agent contract during the winter. He will miss the start of the 1988 AL season, but will return to hit only .242 with 27 HRs and 93 RBIs.
March 18th
1901 - Former Yankees OF John Cooney (1944) was born. On June 17, 1944, John was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. John only appeared in 10 games with the Yankees, hitting .125 before being released by the team.
1928 - Former Yankees minor league P Chi-Chi Olivo was born. On November 29, 1966, he was traded by the Braves along with OF Bill Robinson to the Yankees for 3B Clete Boyer. He never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level,
1943 - Due to wartime travel restrictions, MLB spring training camps begin opening in northern locations. Some of the locales include Bear Mountain, New York (Dodgers), French Lick Springs, Indiana (Cubs and White Sox), Asbury Park, New Jersey (Yankees), Medford, Massachusetts (Red Sox) and Wallingford, Connecticut (Braves).
1960 - Former Yankees minor league OF Matt Winters was born. On June 6, 1978, Matt was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1978 MLB amateur player draft. On November 12, 1985, he was released by the team. On December 22, 1985, Matt was signed as a free agent by the White Sox. On February 13, 1986, he was traded by the White Sox along with Chris Alvarez, Eric Schmidt, and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for P Neil Allen, C Scott Bradley, Glen Braxton and cash. He played at Columbus (AAA) that season. On October 15, 1986, he was granted free agency by the Yankees. Matt would later play baseball in Japan.
1962 - Former Yankees P Brian Fisher (1985-86) was born. On December 5, 1984, Brian was traded by the Braves to the Yankees for veteran C Rick Cerone. He went 13-9 with the Yankees with 20 saves. On November 26, 1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Doug Drabek and Logan Easley to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements.
1984 - Former Yankees Batting Coach Charlie Lau, a renowned MLB batting instructor, dies in Key Colony Beach, FL, at age 50, after a long bout with cancer. Lau, whose MLB career batting average was .255, earned his fame as the Royals batting coach from 1971-78, where his star pupil was George Brett. Lau also served as a batting coach for the Orioles, A’s, Yankees and the White Sox.
1985 - MLB Commissioner Peter Ueberroth reinstates HOF members Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, who had been banned from association with organized baseball by former commissioner Bowie Kuhn due to their employment by Atlantic City casinos. Ueberroth's ruling will allow both men to pursue employment with MLB teams.
2004 - Former Yankees minor league P Gene Bearden passed away. Before the 1939 MLB season, Gene was signed by the Phillies. In June of 1942, Gene was sent from the Savannah (South Atlantic) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 6, 1946, Gene was traded by the Yankees along with Al Gettel and Hal Peck to the Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack. He would have one good season with the Indians in 1948, posting a 20-7 mark.
March 19th
1884 - Former Yankees OF Clyde “Hack” Engle (1909-10) was born. Clyde appeared in 140 games for the Yankees, hitting .275. On May 10, 1910, Hack was purchased by the Red Sox from the Yankees.
1935 - Former Yankees reserve INF Fritz “Fritzie” Brickell (1958-1959) was born (1935-1965). He batted .256 in 20 games with the Yankees in 1958-59, as a reserve infielder. On April 4, 1961, Fritz was traded to the expansion Angels for former Yankees P Duke Maas. He was the son of former MLB OF Fritz Brickell, who played for the Pirates and Phillies (1926-1933). Fritz passed away in the fall of 1965 from injuries in an auto accident.
1974 - In a 5-player, 3-team deal involving the Indians, Tigers, and Yankees, P Jim Perry joins his pitching brother, Gaylord in Cleveland. The Tigers send Perry to Indians and P Ed Farmer to the Yankees, who sent C Jerry Moses to Tigers, and the Indians send P Rick Sawyer and OF Walt Williams to the Yankees. The 1974 MLB season will mark the Perry’s 1st season as teammates during their MLB careers.
1989 - With All Star OF Dave Winfield sidelined the Yankees trade C Joel Skinner and minor leaguer OF Turner Ward to the Indians for OF Mel Hall (1989-1992). Winfield will miss all of the 1989 AL season after undergoing back surgery next week for central disc herination.
2003 - Former Yankees shortstop and long time Minor League Team Owner Joe Buzas (1945) died. Joe Buzas owned 82 minor league teams at some point in a 47-year period. At the time of his death, he owned the Salt Lake Stingers. He was the opening day shortstop for the New York Yankees in 1945; he badly injured his shoulder during the season, ending his MLB playing career. The 1st minor league team that he owned was the Syracuse Chiefs (IL). Joe Buzas was known for turning a profit when times were poor financially in the minors.
March 20th
1875 - Former Yankees INF Patrick “Willie” Greene (1903) was born. Paddy appeared in four games for the Yankees, hitting .308 in 1903. On July 16, 1903, he was traded by the Highlanders to the Tigers for P John Deering.
1944 - Former Yankees P Steve Blateric (1972) was born. Steve was acquired in a conditional deal with the Reds. He appeared in only 1 game with the Yankees with no record. He was returned to the Reds in 1973.
1954 - Former Yankees P Paul Mirabella (1979) was born. On November 10, 1978, Paul was traded by the Rangers along with Greg Jemison (minors), OF Juan Beniquez, Pitchers Mike Griffin, and Dave Righetti to the Yankees for INF Domingo Ramos, C Mike Heath, Pitchers Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich, and cash. Paul was 0-4 in 10 games with the team during the 1979 AL season. On November 1,1979, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and INF Damaso Garcia to the Blue Jays for P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn.
1958 - The Phillies acquired veteran 1B/OF Joe Collins (1948-1957) from the Yankees. Opting not to report to the Phillies Clearwater, Fla spring training camp, Joe Collins decides to retire from MLB, thereby canceling the deal. Joe was quoted by the NYC media saying that, “I want to be remembered as a Yankee.”
He turns down a player contract offered by the Phillies of $100,000. Joe batted .258 in 908 games with the Yankees (1948-1957), never becoming the player that the Yankees had projected him to be. Manager Casey Stengel used him against right hand pitching. Joe appeared in 7 World Series with the Yankees. During the 1955 World Series opener, Joe hit 2 HRs in a Yankees 6-5 win. Casey Stengel often referred to Joe Collins as “My meal ticket.” He was replaced as the Yankees regular 1B by Bill “Moose” Skowron during the 1956 AL season. Joe was a life along resident of New Jersey.
1961 - Yankees announced that the team will oppose any plan that would enable the new NL expansion franchise to use Yankee Stadium. This decision leaves the only the old Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the NL new team, the Mets.
1984 - Former Yankees and HOF P Stan Coveleski dies in South Bend, Indiana, at the age of 94. Stan pitched for the A’s, Indians, Senators and Yankees (1928) over a 14-season MLB career, winning 215 games, which include five 20-win seasons. On December 21, 1927, Stan was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. In 1928, he went 5-1 in 12 games for the team.
2006 - Two-time All-Star P Al Leiter (1987-89, 2005) announces his retirement after a 19-season MLB career at the Yankees spring training camp in Tampa, Fla. Al was originally signed by the Yankees, later he was traded to the Blue Jays for OF Jesse Barfield. He also pitched for the cross-town rivals Mets and the Marlins.
March 21st
1892 - Former Yankees INF Bill Stumpf (1912-13) was born. At the age of 20, he played for the Yankees appearing in 54 games and hitting .234. On May 25, 1913, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with INF Jack Lelivelt to the Cleveland Naps for INF Roger Peckinpaugh.
1897 - Former Yankees OF William “Goodtime Bill” Lamar (1917-1919) was born. He hit .219 in 50 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Red Sox during the 1919 AL season.
1936 - Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio runs his spring training hitting record to 12-for-20, in an 11-2 Yankees victory over the newly named Boston Bees, formerly the Braves. Before the next game is played, the prize rookie is left unattended with his foot in a diathermy machine. The resulting burn ends his spring training and delays his MLB debut with the Yankees until May.
1957 - Former Yankees Minor League coach and Manager Oscar Acosta was born. Oscar managed in the Yankees farm system for the Columbus Clippers (1996-98) and the Lansing Lugnuts (1999). In 2004, he became manager of the GCL Yankees and Latin American Coordinator, positions he held when he was killed in a car accident in 2006.
1978 - Former Yankees minor league INF Cristian Guzman was born. Cristian was signed by the Yankees, as an amateur free agent in 1994. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On February 6, 1998, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B/OF Brian Buchanan, P Eric Milton, P Danny Mota, and cash to the Twins for 2B Chuck Knoblauch.
1986 - The Yankees announced that their most celebrated off-season acquisition, 26-year-old P Britt Burns, will not pitch at all this season because of a chronic deteriorating hip condition. He never again pitches in the MLB. On December 12, 1985, Britt was traded by the White Sox along with Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to the Yankees for C Ron Hassey and P Joe Cowley. The Yankees front office had advised Yankees Owner George Steinnbrenner not to make the deal because of Burns major health concerns, but he ignored their advice.
2001 - In a trade of highly touted prospects, the Yankees re-obtained 3B Drew Henson along with OF Michael Coleman from the Reds for OF Wily Mo Peña and cash consideration.
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