This Week in Yankees History (4/12-4/18)

This Week in Yankees History

April 12th - April 18th

April 12th

1895 - Former Yankees OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) was born. On December 15, 1920, Sammy was traded by the Yankees along with INF Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, and Hank Thormahlen to the Red Sox for P Waite Hoyt, P Harry Harper, C Wally Schang and INF Mike McNally. Sammy was a weak-hitting outfielder.

1927 - The Yankees beat the A’s, by a score of 8-3, before the largest confirmed paid opening day attendance in baseball history, at that time (73,206 fans) as Yankees starter Waite Hoyt out-dueled A’s Ace Lefty Grove.

1933 - Former Yankees MLB Batting Coach Charlie Lau (1979-1981) was born.

1942 - Former Yankees P Dale Roberts (1967) was born. In 1963, Dale was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He would appear in only 2 games in 1967 for the Yankees with no record. On December 7, 1967, Dale was traded by the Yankees along with C Bob Tillman to the Braves for INF Bobby Cox.

1948 - The Yankees released veteran AL All Star starter Surgeon “Spud“ Chandler (1937-1947). Spud had retired from MLB. Spud went 109–43, .717 WP, with a 2.84 ERA, in 211 games for the Yankees. He completed 109 games with 26 shutouts. He won 20 games twice for the Yankees in 1943 (20-4) and 1946 (20-8). He won the AL MVP in 1943. He was named to the AL All Star team In 1942-43 and 1946 AL seasons.

1953 - Former Yankees minor league OF Mickey Mantle Jr. was born. Mickey played in the Yankees and Rangers minor league systems. He never appeared in the MLB. He was a switch-hitting CF like his father. He passed away on December 23, 2000 from cancer.

1959 - The Yankees obtained OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes from the A’s for minor league OF Russ Snyder and shortstop Tommy Carroll. Russ Snyder was a rare Yankees mistake, who would play 12 years in the MLB. Russ would hit .300 for the A’s and the Orioles. Martyn and Baxes never made it with the Yankees at the MLB level. Tommy Carroll was one the Yankees bonus baby signings of the 1950’s. He left MLB after the 1959 AL season with the A’s. He had hit .300 in 64 games. He had attended Notre Dame University. He left baseball to have a long career in U.S. Foreign Services agency.

1960 - Former Yankees minor league C Bill Lindsey was born. In 1981, Bill was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 24, 1986, Bill was sent by the Yankees to the White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on July 30,1986. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, C Ron Hassey and OF Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for a player to be named later, OF/1B/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. The Yankees would send C Bill Lindsey on December 24, 1986 to the White Sox to complete the trade.

1970 - Plaques honoring former Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium. The plaques are located in center field and will eventually be moved to "Monument Park" beyond the LF fence, when Yankee Stadium is renovated in 1974-75.

1973 - Former Yankees reliever Antonio Osuna (2003) was born. He came to the Yankees from the White Sox in the Orlando Hernandez trade. He went 2-5 in 48 games for the Yankees, working out of the bullpen.

April 13th

1866 - Former Yankees INF Herman “Germany” Long (1903) was born. Herman appeared in 22 games for the 1903 Yankees, just hitting .188.

1879 - Former Yankees INF/OF Garland “Jake” Stahl (1908) was born. He appeared in 75 games for the 1908 Yankees, hitting .255.

1915 - Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes (1943-46) was born. On December 17, 1942, Oscar was traded by the Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar. Oscar would hit .212 in 281 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the A’s.

1919 - The Yankees released outfielders Ham Hyatt and Hugh High and P Ed Monroe.

1921 - In the 1921 season opener for the Yankees, Babe Ruth goes 5-for-5, as Yankees starter Carl Mays beat the A’s by the score of 11-1.

1926 - The Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 12-11 at Fenway Park in one of the wildest opening games in the history of both clubs.

1973 - Former Yankees P Mark Leiter (1990) was born. Mark was signed as a free agent by the Yankees. Mark went 1-1 in 8 games with Yankees. He is the older brother of former Yankees P Al Leiter. On March 19, 1991, Mark was traded by the Yankees to the Tigers for INF Torey Lovullo.

April 14th

1910 - In the season opener before 25,000 fans at New York's Hilltop Park, Red Sox sport laced collars, the last MLB team to wear a collar. Boston sends Yankees into extra innings before the game is called at the end of 14 innings with the score, 4-4. Ed Cicotte starts for Red Sox, with Joe Wood relieving in the 8th inning. Yankees starter Hippo Vaughn goes all the way, retiring Red Sox batters in the 4th and 12th innings on 4 pitches. He needs just 3 pitches in the 10th inning.

1931 - Former Yankees INF Kal Segrist (1951) was born. In 1951, Kal was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He only appeared in 13 games during the 1951 AL Season, just hitting .043. Kal would be sent to the Orioles in the huge 17-player trade in December of 1954.

1955 - Elston Howard becomes the 1st black MLB player in Yankees team history. The 26-year-old C/OF makes his MLB debut against the Red Sox at Fenway Park, as he hit a single with 1 RBI in the Yankees' 8-4 loss.

1955 - Former Yankees minor league P Chris Welsh was born. Chris was drafted by the Yankees in the 21st round of the 1977 MLB amateur player draft. Chris never pitched for the Yankees at MLB level. He was traded to the Padres in the Ruppert Jones-Jerry Mumphrey trade. This trade also included young Yankees P Tim Lollar and OF Joe Lefebve.

1966 - Former Yankees OF/DH David Justice (2000-01) was born. Dave came over from the Indians in mid-season trade that saw the Yankees give up pitchers Zack Day, Jake Westbrook and OF Ricky Ledee. He hit .305 in 78 games for the Yankees. In 2001, he dropped to a .241 mark in 111 games. Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Mets for 3B Robin Ventura in December of 2001.

1967 - Red Sox rookie P Billy Rohr makes a memorable debut by no-hitting the Yankees for 8th -two-thirds innings. Yankees C Elston Howard spoils Rohr's masterpiece with a 2-out single in the 9th inning, but the Red Sox still win the game, by a score of 3-0. Despite his impressive debut, Rohr will win only 2 more games in his MLB career.

1969 - Former Yankees minor leaguer and MLB player C Brad Ausmus was born. Brad was drafted by the Yankees in the 48th round of the 1987 MLB amateur player draft. Brad was drafted from the Yankees farm system by the Rockies in MLB expansion player draft of 1992 (Rockies and Marlins). It has never been stated, why he was let go by the Yankees in the 1992 MLB expansion player draft.

1969 - The Yankees purchased veteran OF Jimmie Hall from the Indians. He would hit .236 in 80 games for the Yankees, before being sent to the Cubs.

1976 - Former Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth (2006-2008) was born. Kyle posted an 8-12 mark with 7 saves in 242 games for the Yankees.

1978 - Former Yankees AL All Star INF Joe “Flash“ Gordon (1938-1943,1946) passes away. (1915-1978). Former MLB Manager: Indians (1958-60), Tigers (1960), A’s (1961) and Royals (1969). In 1936, Joe was signed by the Yankees. 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 of 1946, Joe was traded to the Indians for starter Allie Reynolds. After retiring as an active player, he later became a MLB manager in the AL during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of MLB managers in 1960. Joe was traded by the Indians to the Tigers for Jimmy D#y*k*e#s by Tribe’s GM Frank “Trader” Lane. Joe was elected to baseball’s HOF in 2008 by the Veteran’s committee.

2001 - Former Yankees OF/1B Frenchy Bordagaray (1941) passed away. On January 27, 1940, he was sent by the Reds to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 5, 1939. The Reds sent players to be named later and $40,000 to the Yankees for players to be named later and 1B Vince DiMaggio. The Reds sent OF Frenchy Bordagaray and P Nino Bongiovanni on January 27, 1940 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Frenchy would appear in 36 games for the Yankees, hitting .260. On March 23, 1942, he was purchased by the Dodgers from the Yankees.

2004 - A day after Yankees teammate Mike Mussina earns his 200th MLB career victory; Kevin Brown reaches the same plateau beating the Devil Rays, by the score of 5-1. It is the 1st time in MLB history that members of the same pitching staff have won their 200th MLB career victory in consecutive starts.

2008 - Yankees All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez moves up to a tie for 15th on the all-time MLB HR leader list, even with Ted Williams and Willie McCovey. Rodriguez hits his 521st MLB career HR as part of a 4-for-5 day; Rays’ hurler Andy Sonnanstine allows the shot. The Yankees top the Rays, by the score of 8-7.

2008 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tommy Holmes passed away. In 1937, Tommy was signed by Yankees scout Paul Krichell. Holmes began his pro career in 1937 with the Norfolk Tars, hitting .320 with 25 HRs and 111 RBIs. The next summer, he hit .368 with the Binghamton Triplets to win the Eastern League batting crown. He then spent the next 3 seasons with the Newark Bears (IL), hitting over .300 each year, but found his path to the majors blocked by a talent-laden Yankees outfield that included Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich, Charlie Keller, and George Selkirk. Following the 1941 MLB season, Holmes was traded to the Braves for 1B Buddy Hassett and OF Gene Moore. He soon became a regular in the outfield and spent the next decade playing for the Braves.

April 15th

1886 - Former Yankees P Leonard “King” Cole (1914-15) was born. “King Cole” would go 14-12 in 43 games with the Yankees.

1913 - The Yankees purchased INF Bill McKechnie from the Braves for cash. Bill hit .145 in 45 games for the Yankees. In 1962, he would be elected to HOF for his long time MLB Manager career in the NL with the Pirates, Cardinals and Reds. In 1925, he won a World Championship against the Senators with the Pirates. In 1928, he led the Cardinals to a NL flag. With the Reds, Bill won NL pennants in 1939-1940.

1934 - The Yankees released P Charles Devens (1932-34). In 1932, Charles was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He had played college baseball at Harvard University. He went 5-3 in 16 games with the Yankees.

1945 - Former Yankees INF Chick Fewster (1917-1922) passed away. Chick appeared in 228 games for the Yankees, hitting .259. In 1923, as a member of the Red Sox, Chick became the 1st official batter at Yankee Stadium.

1968 - Former Yankees reliever Billy Brewer (1996) was born. On June 22, 1996, Billy was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Mike Judd. Billy posted a 1-0 mark with the 1996 Yankees in 4 games.

1976 - The Yankees defeat Twins, by the score of 11-4, in the 1st game at the newly renovated Yankee Stadium. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and the widows of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth take part in pre-game ceremonies at the Stadium, which had been closed for remodeling the 1974 and 1975 AL seasons. The opening day attendance for the Yankees was 52,613 fans.

1998 - The 1st-ever AL-NL doubleheader ends up a good day for New York City baseball fans. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13th. The Yankees earn their 1st victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels by the score of 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time HR leader at Shea Stadium, adds to his total HR with a shot into the LF bleachers. In the regularly scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Cubs by the score of 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea Stadium in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, drew a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 fans, who showed up for the Mets game at night.

April 16th

1929 - The Yankees are the 1st team in MLB history to permanently feature numbers on the backs of their uniforms. The numbers correspond to each player's position in the batting order. The numbers also allow fans and broadcasters to more easily identify the players.

1937 - Yankee Stadium opened for its 15th season with a new enlarged RF stand. Prior to the 1937 AL season, the triple decked seating area ended at the foul poles, and the bleachers extended across the outfield from pole to pole. The extended decks included new box and reserved seats, and thereby reduced the Stadium’s seating capacity below the 72,000, it once allegedly held.

1939 - Former Yankees reserve INF Bernie Allen (1972-73) was born. Bernie was obtained from the Rangers in 1972 for 2 Yankee minor league players, P Terry Ley and P Gary Jones. During the 1973 AL season, he was sold to the Expos.

1943 - Former Yankees reserve C Frank Fernandez (1967-69) was born. In 1961, Frank was signed by the Yankees, as an amateur free agent. Frank was weak hitting catcher, who hit .204 in 149 games with 20 HRs and 63 RBIs. On December 5, 1969, Frank was traded by the Yankees along with veteran starter Al Downing to the A’s for 1B Danny Cater and INF/OF Ossie Chavarria.

1954 - Former Yankees reserve C Bruce Robinson (1979-1980) was born. Bruce was purchased from A’s for $400,000 in February of 1979. He only appeared in 10 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 17 with a .118 BA.

1959 - The Yankees unveil the 1st message scoreboard in Stadium History. It listed the lineups, out of town scores, and a wide expanse for paragraph-type messages, posted via electronic devices.

1961 - Beginning his historic HR chase of Babe Ruth's 60 HR season-record, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for 1st HR in the 12th game of the 1961 AL season. The 5th-inning solo shot is off Tigers veteran starter pitcher Paul Foytack.

1967 - The Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 7-6 in 18 innings. The 5-hour, 50-minute marathon ended when Jake Gibbs walked, stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Joe Pepitone.

1973 -The Yankees purchased veteran 3B/1B Jim Ray Hart from the Giants for over $50,000. Jim would hit .254 for the Yankees in 1973.

April 17th

1888 - Former Yankees INF Thomas “Rebel” McMillian (1912) was born. On August 12, 1912, Tom was traded by the Rochester (International) to the Highlanders for Jack Quinn and Jack Martin. He hit .228 in 14 games in 1912.

1912 - At the Polo Grounds in New York City, the Giants and Yankees play a charity game to raise money for the survivors of the Titanic, which sunk on April 14th. The Giants belt the Yankees, now clad in their new pinstriped uniforms, to win the game by a score of 11-2.

1929 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth marries actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson. The ceremony is held at 5 o' clock in the morning on Opening Day to avoid crowds. Playing the next day, at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hits a HR against P Red Ruffing of the Red Sox and tips his cap in the direction of Claire, who is seated in the stands. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-3.

1939 - On the morning of Opening Day in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Yankees visited Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Also President Roosevelt is scheduled to throw out the 1st pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out. Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors 4 days later.

1953 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-FT HR off of Senators P Chuck Stobbs. The HR shot came in the 5th inning of a 7-3 Yankees victory over the Senators. It is believed to be the longest HR hit in Griffith Stadium history.

1956 - The Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a pair of tape measure HRS against the Senators starter Camilo Pascual at Griffith Stadium. Both long balls are estimated at over 500 FT. The 2 teams combine for 6 HRs in a 10-4 Opening Day victory for the Yankees.

1973 - The Yankees released veteran reliever Casey Cox (1972-73). On August 30, 1972, Casey was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for P Jim Roland. He went 0-1 in 6 games for the Yankees before being released.

April 18th

1888 - Former Yankees OF George “Duffy” Lewis (1919-20) was born. On December 18, 1918, Duffy was traded by the Red Sox, along with P Dutch Leonard and Ernie Shore to the Yankees for OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, P Ray Caldwell, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000 cash. He would hit .271 for the Yankees in 2 seasons, before being traded on December 31, 1920, along with P George Mogridge to the Senators for OF Braggo Roth.

1923 - The debut of Yankee Stadium is a huge success with an announced attendance of 74,217 fans. Yankees starter Bob Shawkey is aided by a 3-run HR by Babe Ruth, beating the Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke by a score of 4-1.

1933 - Former Yankees P Steve “Lefty” Kraly (1953) was born. In 1949, Steve was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. In 1953, Steve went 0-2 in 5 games with the Yankees.

1950 - At Fenway Park, Commissioner Happy Chandler gives Ted Williams his 1949 AL MVP award. Then Mass. Governor Paul Dever tosses out the 1st ball. To the delight of 31,822 fans, Boston rips Yankees starter Allie Reynolds with a 5-run 4th inning to drive him from the game and take a 9-0 margin. But the Yankees score 4 runs in the 6th inning off of starter Mel Parnell and then, down 10-4, New York unloads for 9 runs in the 8th inning. Yankees Rookie INF Billy Martin becomes the 1st player in MLB history to get 2 base hits in 1 inning in his 1st MLB game. He doubles against Parnell on his 1st at bat in the 8th inning, and then singles off of P Al Papai. Walt Masterson gives up Tommy Henrich's 2nd triple of the game before giving way to 4 more Boston pitchers. Boo Ferriss, pitching in his last MLB game, allows the last 2 runs in the 9th inning as the Yankees chalk up a 15-10 victory, the biggest blown lead the Red Sox have ever had at Fenway Park (on June 4,1989, they'll blow a 10-run lead at home). Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerr each had 3 hits. Don Johnson is the winning pitcher, his last victory for the Yankees, with closer Joe Page pitching a perfect 8th and 9th innings in relief.

1951 - Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle makes his MLB debut. Mantle picks up 1 hit in 2 official at-bats, as the Yankees defeat the rival Red Sox by a score of 6-1, behind the pitching of Eddie Lopat.

1956 - AL Umpire Ed Rommel becomes the 1st MLB umpire to wear glasses during a game, as he arbitrates a contest between the Yankees and Senators.

1959 - Former Yankees reliever Rich Bordi (1987) was born. On December 4, 1984, Rich was traded by the Cubs along with P Porfi Altamirano, OF Henry Cotto and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for INF/OF Brian Dayett and P Ray Fontenot. He appeared in 16 games during the 1985 AL season, going 3-1 out of the Yankees bullpen. On December 12, 1985, Gary was traded by the Yankees along with INF Rex Hudler to the Orioles for OF Gary Roenicke. The Orioles would send INF Leo Hernandez on December 16, 1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade

1959 - Former Yankees P Dennis Rasmussen (1982-1987) was born. Dennis was obtained by the Yankees in the Tommy John trade in 1982. He went 39-24 in 103 games for the Yankees, with his best Yankees season being in 1987, going 18-6 in 31 games. In August of 1983, he was traded to Padres in the John Montefusco trade. In March 1984, Dennis was reacquired by the Yankees in the Graig Nettles trade to the Padres. He left the Yankees in August of 1987, going to the Reds for veteran starter Bill Gullickson.

2005 - The Yankees scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning of a 19-8 victory over the Devil Rays. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was on June 21, 1945, in the 5th inning of a 14-4 victory against Red Sox.

previous week

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