This Week in Yankees History
July 19th - July 25th
July 19th - July 25th
July 19th
1887 - Former Yankees P Charles “Butch” Schmidt (1909) was born. On September 1, 1908, Butch was drafted by the Highlanders from Baltimore (Eastern) in the 1908 MLB Rule 5 player draft. Butch appeared in 1 game with the Yankees with no record.
1888 - Former Yankees C/1B/OF Eddie Sweeny (1908-1915) was born. Ed appeared in 627 games with the Yankees, hitting .235.
1896 - Former Yankees OF Bob “Long Bob” Meusel (1920-1929) was born. Bob played in 1,294 games for the Yankees, finishing with a .311 BA. He was known for his strong throwing arm in the OF. In 1925, he was the AL HR king (33) and RBI leader (138). He played in 6 World Series for the Yankees, appearing 34 games with a .225 BA. During his Yankees playing career, he hit for the cycle 3 times. His brother Irish Meusel played for the NL cross-town rivals the Giants. On October 17,1929, Bob was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees.
1904 - Former Yankees INF Mark Koenig (1925-1930) was born. During May of 1925, Mark was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the Yankees for Oscar Roettger and cash. The Yankees would send Fred Hofmann on May 15, 1925 and Ernie Johnson October 28, 1925 to St. Paul to complete the trade. Mark was the starting shortstop for the 1927 World Champion Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he hit .319 in 132 games. As a Yankees player, he appeared in 567 games, hitting .285. He appeared in 15 World Series games for the Yankees hitting .261. On May 30, 1930, Mark was traded by the Yankees along with veteran starter Waite Hoyt to the Tigers for P Owens Carroll, OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling. In 12 MLB seasons, Mark played for the Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, Reds and finishing with the Giants in 1936. He appeared in the 1932 World Series with the Cubs and 1936 Series with the Giants; both times he faced his old Yankee teammates and lost.
1914 - Former Yankees P Marius Russo (1939-1943, 1946) was born. Marius went 45-34 in 120 games for the Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1941, when he posted a 14-10 mark and being named to the AL All Star team. He appeared in 2 World Series for the Yankees posting a 2-0 mark. In 1940 he posted a 14-8 mark for the Yankees.
1927 - Former Yankees reserve INF Billy Gardner (1961-62) was born. On June 14, 1961, Billy was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for veteran P Danny McDevitt. Billy appeared in 45 games for the Yankees, hitting just .210. On June 12, 1962, Billy was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for OF Tom Umphlett and cash.
1937 - Yankees hurler Johnny Broaca is fined $250 and suspended indefinitely by the team for jumping the club. He jumped the Yankees during the 1937 season and sat out the rest of the year, as well as all of 1938 AL season.
1940 - Yankees Catcher Buddy Rosar hits for the cycle; Red Sox shortstop Joe Cronin will do it on August 2nd and the Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon, on September 8th.
1942 - The Yankees signed free agent C Rollie Hemsley (1942-1944). Rollie appeared in 174 games with the Yankees, hitting .262. On March 25, 1946, Rollie was purchased by the Phillies from the Yankees.
1949 - Former Yankees OF/1B Gene Locklear (1976-77) was born. On July 10,1976, Gene was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for a player to be named later. Gene only appeared in 14 games with the Yankees, hitting .270. The Yankees would send P Rick Sawyer on July 31, 1976 to the Padres to complete the trade.
1950 - The Yankees obtained their 1st black players, OF Elston Howard and Pitcher Frank Barnes. They purchase them from the Kansas City Monarchs and assign them to Muskegon (Central League).
1950 - The Yankees southpaw Eddie Lopat wins by the score of 16-1 over the Browns, throwing a 2-hitter in the 1st game of a doubleheader.
1957 - Former Yankees P Kurt Kaufman (1982-83) was born. The Yankees signed Kurt as an MLB amateur free agent in 1979. He went 1-0 in 11 games for the Yankees. On December 7, 1983, Kurt was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Angels for veteran INF Tim Foli.
1958 - The Yankees LF Norm Siebern has his 2nd 5-hit game of the month, against the A’s, as the Yankees lose the game by a score of 6-4.
1959 - Before 57,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees sweep a pair from the visiting White Sox, winning the nightcap 6-4 on Mickey Mantle's HR off of reliever Turk Lown. In the 1st game, Yankee veteran OF Enos Slaughter belts a pair of HRs: at age 43, he is the oldest player this century to accomplish the feat. Carlton Fisk, a few months older, will top Enos Slaughter’s mark in 1991.
1960 - The Yankees out-slug the Indians, by a score of 13-11, behind the slugging of Bill “Moose” Skowron. “The Moose” follows, a Yogi Berra blast with his 2nd HR in the 8th inning, but the Tribe answers back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning for an 11-8 lead. Moose then hits a bases-loaded double in the 9th inning to win the game. Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 30th HR, while CF Jimmy Piersall HRs for the Tribe.
1961 - MLB Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick, an old friend of Babe Ruth's, announces that should Ruth's record be beaten after 154 games, the record will carry an asterisk. When asked about the ruling, Yankees All Star slugger Roger Maris replies, "A season is a season." New York sportswriter Richard Young suggests an asterisk, which is later claimed to be Frick's idea. No such designation is ever used in the MLB record books, though, but the incident leads to a myth that an "official record book" lists Roger Maris HR record with an asterisk. The myth is still popularly believed over 45 years later.
1961 - The Yankees and the new expansion Senators split a doubleheader, with the Nats winning the nightcap by a score of 12-2. Nats veteran hurler Richard Donovan is the winner. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle belts a 500 FT HR in the 4th inning over the RF wall.
1962 - John W. Cox, owner of Yankee Stadium property, donates the facility to Rice University.
1964 - Tribe rookie starter Luis Tiant debuts with a 4-hit, 11-strikeout, 3-0 victory for the Indians at Yankee Stadium. The losing pitcher is Yankees ace Whitey Ford. Tiant was brought up yesterday after posting a 15-1 record at Portland (AAA).
1975 - Yankees C Thurman Munson's 1st-inning single and RBI against the Twins are nullified because the tar on his bat handle exceeds the 18-inch limit. Twins C Glenn Borgmann gets the credit for the putout. The Yankees lose the game by a score of 2-1.
1977 - At Yankee Stadium, the NL scores 4 times in the opening inning off of Orioles starter Jim Palmer, en route to a 7-5 All-Star Game victory. The Dodgers hurler Don Sutton, throwing 3 scoreless innings, is named the game's MVP. A crowd of 56,683 fans attended the 1977 All Star game.
1978 - Yankees starter Ed Figueroa limits the Twins to 6-hits, as the Yankees open a 5-game winning streak. This winning streak starts the remarkable comeback of the 1978 Yankees to catch the Red Sox in the AL East and win the AL Championship.
1982 - Current Yankees reliever Phil Coke (2008-2009) was born. The Yankees in the 26th round of the 2002 MLB amateur player draft drafted Phil Coke. Currently Phil has a Yankee career pitching record of 2-3 in 54 games with 1 save.
1983 - Former Yankees reliever Joe Beggs (1938) passed away. Before coming to the majors, Beggs had pitched for the 1937 Newark Bears team (AAA) that won 109 games. He came close to pitching a no-hitter, with the only hit being a smash that caromed off his leg. Beggs went 21-4 that year, on a Bears team that also featured future Yankees OF Charlie Keller hitting .353. In 1938, Beggs pitched 12 more games for the Bears, going 6-3, but pitched 14 games at the MLB level with the Yankees. He was 27 years old that season; he went 3-2 for the Yankees. Joe Beggs did not appear in the 1938 World Series. On January 4,1940, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Reds for P Lee Grissom.
1987 - The Rangers win a 20-3 laugher over the Yankees. Steve Buechele has 2-HRs to pace the Rangers offense. In the 9th inning, Yankees C Rick Cerone takes the mound and walks 1, but allows no runs.
1998 - Former Yankees reserve OF Elmer Valo (1960) passed away (1921-1998). The veteran outfielder will appear in 8 games with no hits before being waived to the Senators during the 1960 AL season. Elmer spent 20 seasons in MLB, starting out with the A’s and finishing up with the Phillies in 1961.
2002 - Former Yankees AL All Star starter Frank “Spec” Shea (1947-1951) passed away (1920-2002). He was signed as an MLB amateur free agent in 1940. He went 29-21 with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1947, when he went 14-5 for the Yankees. He was named to the 1947 AL All Star team. On May 3, 1952, Spec was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jackie Jensen, Jerry Snyder, and Archie Wilson to the Senators for outfielders Irv Noren and Tom Upton.
2007 - Shelley Duncan hits his 25th HR for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (AAA) to break Wendell Magee's franchise record for HRs. Duncan will be called up to the Yankees and he will hit 3 HRs in his 1st three days in majors.
2008 - Confusion erupts in a New York-Penn League game between the Staten Island Yankees and Brooklyn Cyclones. Switch-hitting Brooklyn DH Ralph Henriquez Jr. steps to the plate from the right side against Pat Venditte, the minor leagues' first ambidextrous pitcher of the century. Henriquez then decided he would hit left-handed and Venditte promptly switched his glove to the right hand. Henriquez again called time and switched sides. The shuffle continued several times before the umpires and managers decided that the batter must declare first from which side he will bat and that players can only switch once per at-bat. Venditte, throwing from the right side, winds up whiffing Henriquez on 4 pitches.
July 20th
1904 - The Yankees traded pitchers Long Tom Hughes (7-11) and Barney Wolfe (0-3) to the Senators for Al Orth (3-4). Orth will regain his form in New York, going 11-6 this season. He will win 27 games for the Yankees in 1906.
1912 - Pitcher Ray Caldwell of the Highlanders, in serted as a pinch runner, steals home for the tying run in an eventual 4-3 win over the Indians. He then pitches a 4-0 victory in the 2nd game.
1923 - The Yankees hit into a triple play, but still beat the A’s by the score of 9-2 behind starter Carl Mays, who threw a 4-hitter.
1936 - In an exhibition game in Pittsburgh, former Yankees starter Waite Hoyt stops his old Yankee teammates, by a score of 7-2. Lou Gehrig's 6th inning HR is the 1st score for the Yankees. Ted Kleinhaus is cuffed in his 8-innings. While Hoyt wins, another old pitcher loses as the Pirates hand veteran hurler Guy Bush his release. The Bees (Boston Braves) will sign him.
1941 - The Yankees end a 17-inning game with the Tigers, by scoring 6 runs in the last inning to win the game by a score of 12-6.
1956 - Yankees starter Whitey Ford ties an AL record for consecutive strikeouts by fanning 6 straight A’s batters. Ford will finish the game with 8 strikeouts in a 6-3 win over the A’s.
1960 - Former Yankees P Mike Witt (1991-93) was born. On May 11, 1990, Mike was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for All Star OF Dave Winfield. Mike went 8-9 in 26 games for the Yankees.
1960 - At Municipal Stadium, with the Indians in the lead 8-2, Mickey Mantle hits a Gary Bell pitch over the auxiliary scoreboard into the distant upper deck in RF, matching Luke Easter as the only MLB players to reach that spot. The Indians hold on for an 8-6 win.
1962 - Mickey Mantle HRs in the 1st inning off Senators starter Steve Hamilton to propel the Yankees to a 3-2 victory. Mantle goes 3-for-4 at the plate and his on-base percentage is now at .516.
1965 - Mel Stottlemyre of the Yankees becomes the 1st pitcher to hit an inside-the-park grand slam since Deacon Phillippe did it for the Pirates in 1910. Stottlemyre's bases-loaded drive in the 5th off of Boston starter Bill Monbouquette assures him a 6-3 victory over the Red Sox.
1970 - Yankees obtained veteran starter Mike McCormick from the Giants for P John Cumberland. Mike posted a 2-0 mark in 9 games for the Yankees before being released in March of 1971.
1973 - White Sox starter Wilbur Wood starts and loses both games of a doubleheader against the Yankees by scores of 12-2 and 7-0.
1985 - Scattering 7-hits, Yankees starter Ron Guidry wins his 12th straight game, beating the Twins by the score of 8-3. Don Mattingly has a 2-run HR and a 2-run double for the Yankees.
1987 - Don Mattingly ties another MLB record, this time in the field, as he makes 22 putouts in the Yankees 7-1 win over the Twins. This fielding feat was last accomplished in the AL by 1B Hal Chase for the Highlanders in 1906.
1998 - The Tigers take the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Yankees by a 4-3 score in 17 innings, and then the Yankees bounce back to take the nightcap by the identical score. The doubleheader of 26 innings takes nearly 9 hours to play.
July 21st
1890 - Former Yankees INF/OF Howard “Hank” Shanks (1925) was born. On December 10, 1924, Hank was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for Mike McNally. Hank appeared in 66 games for the Yankees, hitting .258.
1891 - Former Yankees P Ray Keating (1912-16, 1918) was born. Ray went 23-40 for the Yankees in 108 games. On March 6, 1919, Ray was purchased by the Braves from the Yankees.
1910 - The Yankees take advantage of 8 Browns errors to down St. Louis by the score of 19-2.
1921 - The Indians bang out 9 doubles, while the Yankees hit 7 doubles for an AL record 16 doubles in the Indian's 17-8 win. The Indians cling to a 2-game lead in the AL.
1941 - Former Yankees P Gary Waslewski (1970-71) was born. On May 15, 1970, Gary was traded by the Expos to the Yankees for 1B/OF Dave McDonald. Gary went 2-3 with 1 save in 50 games for the Yankees.
1942 - Former Yankees 1B/DH Mike Hegan (1964, 1966-67, 1973-74) was born. The Yankees signed Mike Hegan as an MLB amateur free agent in 1961. He appeared in 5 games in 1964 with no hits. He appeared in 3 games in the 1964 World Series with 3 at bats with no-hits. Mike hit .205 in 13 games in 1966 and .136 in 68 games in 1967. On June 14, 1968, he was purchased by the expansion Seattle Pilots from the Yankees. On August 18, 1973, Mike was sent to the Yankees by the A’s as part of a conditional deal. Mike hit .275 in 37 games for the rest of the 1973 AL season. He was hitting only .226 in 18 games, when the Yankees sent him to the Brewers. With the arrival of 1B Chris Chambliss from the Indians made Mike expendable. Mike’s Dad was former Yankees bullpen catcher and MLB player Jim Hegan. In 1964, they were the 1st MLB father and son to appear in a World Series together.
1947 - The Braves edge the Yankees in the annual Baseball Hall of Fame game held at Doubleday Field at Cooperstown, NY by a score of 4-3.
1961 - All Star sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris slam back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning for the Yankees, but it takes a 2-out, 9th-inning pinch-hit grand slam by Johnny Blanchard to finally subdue the Red Sox, by a score of 11-8 at Fenway Park. The pinch slam is the AL 6th of the 1961 AL season, a new league record.
1969 - A gala All-Star Game banquet in Washington, D.C. is one of baseball's great events. An all-time team and all-time living team are announced. Babe Ruth is selected as the Greatest All-Time MLB Player, and while the Yankees HOF CF Joe DiMaggio, as the Greatest Living MLB Player.
1972 - The Yankees sweep doubleheader from the Angels, winning by scores of 6-0 and 3-0 over the Angels. Yankees starters Fritz Peterson and Mel Stottlemyre apply the whitewash of the Angels.
1973 - Former Yankees minor league OF/1B Brian Buchanan was born. Brian was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1994 MLB amateur player draft. On February 6,1998, he was traded along with Yankee minor leaguers INF Cristian Guzman, Pitchers Eric Milton, and Danny Mota along with cash to the Twins for 2B Chuck Knoblauch.
1976 - Former Yankees HOF Earl “The Kentucky Colonel” Combs (1924-1935) passes away (1899-1976). Earl was the 1st of the great Yankee center fielders, and was a lifetime .325 hitter as a Yankees. His Yankees career was cut short by serious injuries suffered while making desperation catch in 1933. He batted .340 in 4 World Series, 8th highest BA in MLB history.
1977 - Yankees starter Catfish Hunter tosses a 7-0 shut out against the Brewers to snap a Yankees 3-game losing streak. The Brewers come back in the nightcap to win by a score of 5-4, in 10 innings.
1988 - The Mariners send DH/1B Ken Phelps to the Yankees for OF Jay Buhner and minor leaguer pitchers Rich Balabon and Troy Evers. Phelps would hit .244 in 1988 and .249 for the Yankees before being traded on August 30, 1989, to the A’s for minor league hurler Scott Holcomb.
1993 - Former Yankee, now a Mariner OF Jay Buhner collects 5 hits in Mariners 10-3 win over the Yankees. Mariners’ starter Erik Hanson goes all the allowing no earned runs to beat Yankees starter Jimmy Key (12-3).
1997 - Four days after the birth of his 2nd child, Yankees' OF Mark Whiten is arrested in Milwaukee, he is charged with 2nd-degree sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman.
2000 - Wasting no time in his new capacity as GM, Cubs president Andy MacPhail sends the popular OF Glenallen Hill to the Yankees for minor league pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena. Hill would hit .333 for the Yankees in 30 games, before being traded on March 28, 2001 to the Angels for minor league P Darren Blakely.
July 22nd
1918 - The Yankees and Browns battle to a 15-inning, 4-4 tie.
1925 - The Yankees buy shortstop Leo “Lip” Durocher from Hartford (Eastern League) for $12,000. Leo appeared in 210 games with the Yankees, hitting .261. The Yankees waived him after the 1929 AL season, because he had a fight with his Yankee roommate, Babe Ruth for allegedly for stealing the Babe’s watch. Reports say that the Babe really smacked Leo around their hotel room. On February 5, 1930, he was selected off waivers by the Reds from the Yankees.
1926 - The Yankees obtained veteran C Hank Severeid on waivers from the Senators. Hank hit .268 in 41 games for the Yankees, before retiring as an active MLB player.
1928 - White Sox P Red Faber comes up to bat in the 8th inning with 2 runners on base and the game with the Yankees tied at 4-4. He swings twice right-handed against righty reliever Wilcy Moore and misses. He then switches to the left side of the plate and knocks in the winning runs with a single to centerfield.
1944 - Former Yankees Cy Young Award Winner reliever Sparky Lyle (1973-1978) was born. On March 22, 1972, Sparky was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for a player to be named later and 1B Danny Cater. The Yankees would send INF Mario Guerrero on June 30, 1972, to the Red Sox to complete the trade. Sparky won the 1977 Cy Young Award with a 13-5 record appearing in 72 games with 26 saves. He was a 3-time AL All Star team member. With the arrival of free agent closer Rich Goosage in 1978, Sparky was no longer the team’s closer. He would finish his Yankees career with a 57-40 record in 384 games with 151 saves. On November 10, 1978, he was traded by the Yankees along with C Mike Heath, Pitchers Larry McCall and Dave Rajsich, INF Domingo Ramos, and cash to the Rangers for P Dave Righetti, OF Juan Beniquez, Pitchers Mike Griffin and Paul Mirabella, and Greg Jemison (minors). Sparky is the manager of the Springfield Cardinals minor league team in New Jersey.
1947 - Former Yankees C/DH/1B Clifford “Heathcliff” Johnson (1977-79) was born. On June 15, 1977, Cliff was traded by the Astros to the Yankees for a player to be named later, along with P Randy Niemann, and INF Mike Fischlin. The Yankees would send 1B/OF Dave Bergman on November 23, 1977 to the Astros to complete the trade. Cliff was a power bat off the bench for the Yankees during his stay with the team. After a clubhouse fight with Yankees closer Rich Gossage, the team traded him. On June 15, 1979, Cliff was traded by the Yankees to the Indians for P Don Hood.
1948 - The Yankees take the rubber game of the series with the Indians as Vic Raschi earns the 6-5 decision over Bob Feller. Joe DiMaggio's grand slam is the big blow for the Bombers: he has hit 4 HRs and a triple in Feller's 4 starts against the Yankees. His 8 RBIs in the 3 games against the Indians gives him a league-leading 82.
1954 - In an attempt to put more pop in the Yankees starting lineup, Yankees skipper Casey Stengel inserts Mickey Mantle in the infield as the shortstop, while Phil Rizzuto plays 2B. The experiment works as the “Commerce Comet” HR’s in the 10th inning giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the White Sox.
1956 - Former Yankees P Scott Sanderson (1991-92) was born. After being purchased from A’s, Scott went 28-22 in 77 games for the Yankees.
1960 - The Yankees purchased veteran 33-year-old P Luis Arroyo from Jersey City (IL). He will be a key to New York's 1960 pennant run and an AL All Star closer in 1961 with 15 wins and 29 saves. He will eventually replace Ryne Duren as the Yankee closer out off the bullpen in the spring of 1961.
1961 - The Yankees super-sub John Blanchard does it again with a solo pinch-hit HR to start a 3-run 9th-inning Yankees rally to tumble the Red Sox by a score of 11-9.
1980 - Current Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia was born. C. C. Sabathia was signed by the Yankees as free agent to a 7-year 161 million dollar contract in the winter of 2008.
1989 - The Yankees traded the popular 3B Mike “Pags” Pagliarulo and P Don Schulz to the Padres for pitchers Walt Terrell and Fred Toliver. Toliver won't report to the Yankees until September 27th. Walt Terrell will sign with the Pirates, as a free agent after the 1989 AL season is over. Toliver was originally signed by the Yankees and was traded to the Reds in the Ken Griffey Sr. trade.
1998 - The Yankees deflate the Tigers by the score of 13-2, to run their record to 71-25, a MLB record percentage after 96 games.
July 23rd
1880 - Former Yankees P Lew Brockett (1907, 1909, and 1911) was born. In August of 1906, Lew was purchased by the Yankees from Buffalo (Eastern). He appeared in 50 games for the Yankees posting a13-14 pitching record.
1901 - Former Yankees 2B Malcolm “Mack” Hillis (1924) was born. Hillis appeared in 1 game with the 1924 Yankees, coming up from the Atlanta Crackers. In 1925-26, he was involved in a 2-part trade that sent INF Tony Lazzeri to the Yankees organization. Hillis was sent to Salt Lake City (PCL).
1917 - Former Yankees P Ray Scarborough (1952-53) was born. After being obtained from the Red Sox, Ray went 7-3 in 33 games for the Yankees during the 1952-53 AL seasons.
1922 - The Yankees start planning for the 1922 World Series, when they pick up 3B Joe Dugan and one-time Indians World Series hero Elmer Smith from the Red Sox, giving up OF Elmer Miller, Shortstops Chick Fewster and John Mitchell, and, later, Pitcher Lefty O'Doul. The contending Browns and other western clubs howl in protest and this deal will lead to a rule barring non-waiver trades after June 15th by MLB Commissioner Judge Landis. Joe Dugan will replace the aging Frank Baker at 3B.
1925 - The Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits the 1st of his record 23 MLB career grand slams as Yankees beat the Senators, by the score of 11-7.
1933 - Former Yankees P Johnny James (1958, 1960-61) was born. Johnny went 5-1 in 67 games for the Yankees. On May 8,1961, he was traded by the Yankees along with veteran P Ryne Duren and rookie OF Lee Thomas for Angels veteran reliever Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv. Johnny would injure his arm before the start of the 1962 AL season started and never pitch in the MLB again.
1950 - Tigers hurler Saul Rogovin hits a 2nd inning grand slam HR off of starter Eddie Lopat as the 1st-place Bengals nip onrushing Yankees, by the score of 6-5.
1957 - Yankees All Star CF Mickey Mantle hits for the cycle, and adds a stolen base, against White Sox pitchers Bob Keegan, Paul LaPalme, Dixie Howell, Jack Harshman and Gary Staley. The Yankees win the game by a score of 10-6. Don Larsen started for the Yankees followed by Tommy Byrne; Art Ditmar picks up his 7th win of the 1957 AL season going 1.1 innings, when Bob Grim pitches 2 scoreless innings of relief gaining his 11th save of the 1957 AL season.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees celebrate Old-timers' Day but lose to the Angels, by a score of 7-6, despite a grand slam HR from Mickey Mantle. The grand slam HR, off of P Marcelino Lopez, is Mickey's 9th. He ties Babe Ruth -- not in HRs, but in games played as a Yankee player.
1969 - The Giants Willie McCovey hits 2 HRs as the NL squad beats the AL team by the score of 9-3 for its 7th straight All-Star Game win. Mel Stottlemyre Sr. of the Yankees starts for the AL when Tigers starter Denny McLain is late arriving from a dental appointment.
1977 - Yankees veteran reserve OF Paul Blair hits a 9th inning 3-run HR to give the Yankees starter Ron Guidry a 3-1 victory over the Brewers.
1978 - Reggie Jackson returns to the team and the Yankees win their 5th game straight, by the score of 3-1 over the White Sox. The next day, Yankees Manager Billy Martin will resign under pressure, giving way to veteran manager Bob Lemon. At the Chicago airport, Martin, reacting to reporters' questions about Yankees star Reggie Jackson and owner George Steinbrenner, replies, "The two deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." His public remarks to the media will cost Billy his Yankees Manager’s job.
July 24th
1922 - Former Yankees P Duane Pillette (1949-1950) was born. Before the AL 1946 Season, Duane was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Duane went 5-9 in 40 games for the Yankees. On June 15, 1950, he was traded by the Yankees along with Jim Delsing, Don Johnson, George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the Browns for hurlers Tom Ferrick, Joe Ostrowski, and Leo Thomas.
1923 - Yankees starter Carl Mays wins his 23rd consecutive game against the A’s.
1926 - Yankee sluggers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth demonstrate that power hitting is not the only thing they can do when Lou scores on a double steal with the Babe in a victory over the White Sox. They had pulled the same double steal against the Red Sox on April 13th.
1933 - Yankees sign free agent veteran P George Uhle after his release by the Giants. He will go 6-1 for the Yankees in 1933 before fading.
1934 - Yankees CF Earle Combs crashes into the wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis and suffers a fractured skull. The Yankees calls up OF George Selkirk but learns he broke his arm the same day playing for Newark Bears (IL). This injury will eventually end Earl Combs’ great Yankee HOF career in 1935. He was the 1st of the great Yankee centerfielders.
1935 - The Tigers shut out the Yankees by the score of 4-2 to go ahead by one-half game, but are a fraction of a percentage point behind in AL.
1954 - After Yankee Manager Casey Stengel pulls starting shortstop Phil Rizzuto in the 8th inning for a pinch-hitter, he brings in Mickey Mantle again to play shortstop with Willie Miranda at 2B against left-handed hitters. Against right-handed batters, Miranda and Mantle switch their infield positions. The Indians win the game by a score of 5-4 to go 2 ½ games up on the Yankees in the AL pennant race.
1960 - White Sox 3rd straight win at Yankee Stadium and 8th straight overall, 6-3 victory behind veteran starter Billy Pierce, gives the White Sox a 2-game lead atop the AL. Yankees starter Eli Grba beats White Sox hurler Herb Score in the 2nd game by the score of 8-2 to give Yankees, a twin-bill split.
1961 - In an unusual mid-season exhibition match at Yankee Stadium, the Giants beat their former cross-town rivals, by the score of 4-1. Mickey Mantle's HR accounts for the only Bronx Bombers run, while Willie Mays has 2 RBIs for the visiting "Jints.”
1964 - Tigers starter Hank Aguirre gives up 5 runs on 3 HRs to the Yankees in the 1st 4 innings, but the Tigers overcome a 5-2 deficit to win the game by a score of 10-5.
1966 - The Yankees beat the Angels by the score of 9-1, in game 1, as Mickey Mantle hits his 2nd HR in 2 days. The Mantle HR, his 493rd MLB career shot, ties him with HOF Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig for 6th place on the all-time MLB HR leaders list.
1978 - In Kansas City, a sobbing Billy Martin reads a prepared statement in which he resigns as the Yankees manager. Yankees MLB Coach Richard Howser will fill in that night as acting Manager, as the Yankees lose the game to the Royals by a score of 5-2. The new Yankees skipper Bob Lemon will take over the next day, he will pilot the Yankees to the 1978 World Championship, which included the 14-game come-back for the Yankees to catch the Red Sox to win the AL East division crown and eventually the AL crown and 1978 World Series.
1983 - In the memorable "Pine Tar Game" at Yankee Stadium, George Brett hits an apparent 2-run HR off of Yankees closer Rich Gossage to give the Royals a 5-4 lead with 2 outs in the 9th inning, only to have it taken away when Yankees manager Billy Martin, at the urging of coach Don Zimmer, points out that the pine tar on Brett's bat handle exceeds the 17 inches allowed in the MLB rules. As a result, Brett is called out for illegally batting the ball, giving New York, a 4-3 victory. George Brett goes ballistic and the Royals immediately protest, and AL President Lee MacPhail overrules his umpires for the 1st time saying that, while the rules should certainly be rewritten and clarified, the HR will stand and the game will be resumed from that point on August 18th.
1991 - In a game against the Mariners, the Yankees score 3 runs on a ground ball hit back to the pitcher. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 4th inning, Pat Kelly hits a come-backer to P Erik Hanson. The Seattle hurler traps Yankees Kevin Maas in a rundown between 3B and home, but Kevin Maas scores, when 3B Edgar Martinez's throw hits him in the back. The ball rolls up the 1B line in foul territory, where C Dave Cochrane, who throws home to head off Yankees runner Alvaro Espinoza, who is also attempting to score, recovers it. The throw goes into the Mariners' dugout allowing Espinoza and Kelly to cross the plate with the 2nd and 3rd runs of the inning.
1992 - MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent announces that Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner can resume active control of the Yankees on March 1, 1993.
1999 - The Yankees pound the Indians by the score of 21-1. The Bronx Bombers are led by DH Chili Davis, who bangs out 5 hits, including a double and HRs, while driving home 6 runs.
2001 - The Yankees edge the Tigers, by the score of 6-5, despite an 8th inning moon shot by Tiger's Juan Encarnacion, off of Yankees P Ramiro Mendoza, that lands in the 2nd row of the empty blue bleacher seats in left centerfield. It is believed to be the 1st ball hit into that area since Yankee Stadium was remodeled in 1976.
2004 - Another saga is added to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as a bench-clearing brawl breaks out after Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo hits Alex Rodriguez, who hit last night's game-winning HR, with a pitch. As A-rod stares out at the mound on his way to 1B, Boston's C Jason Varitek, after a verbal exchange, pushes the All-star 3B in the face causing a series of fights with players in both team's dugouts and bullpens involved.
July 25th
1903 - At New York, the Pilgrims (Red Sox) bang 7 doubles while beating the Highlanders by the score of 7-5. Freeman and Parent each have 2 doubles.
1904 - Before 1,522 fans at Hill Top Park in New York City, veteran hurler Al Orth makes his 1st start for the Highlanders and matches zeroes with White Sox starter Yip Owen. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Patsy Dougherty leads off with a triple and scores on Willie Keeler's bouncer through the infield.
1908 - With the Highlanders leading the Tigers 3-2 in the 8th inning, Detroit scores 2 runs on a Ty Cobb triple. With lefty Claude Rossman the next hitter, New York's new manager Kid Elberfeld moves righty P Jack Chesbro to 1B and replaces him with 1B Hal Chase. Chase allows a fly ball that scores Cobb, then goes back to 1B and Jack Chesbro resumes his spot on the mound. It is Hal Chase's only Yankee pitching appearance as the Tigers win the game by a score of 5-3.
1920 - The Red Sox turn a triple play against the Yankees, who win the game by a score of 8-2. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits his 35th HR of the 1920 AL season.
1939 - Yankees rookie starter Atley Donald sets the AL rookie record for consecutive wins. "Swampy” beats the Browns for his 12th straight victory, winning the game by a score of 5-1.
1947 - Current Yankees MLB 1st base Coach Mick Kelleher was born.
1947 - Former Yankees minor league P Mickey Scott was born. Mickey Scott was drafted by the Yankees in the 17th round of the 1965 MLB amateur player draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 18, 1969, Mickey was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the White Sox for veteran INF Pete Ward.
1948 - In the tight 4-team AL race, Joe DiMaggio leads the Yankees to a sweep over the White Sox, by scores of 5-3 and 7-3. Yankee Clipper is 3-for-3 in Game 1 to back Yankees starter Eddie Lopat, then adds a triple and 2 doubles in the nightcap. His 3-RBIs in the nightcap, gives him an AL-high 86 RBIs.
1959 - Against Detroit, Yankee 1B Bill “ Moose “ Skowron reaching for a wide throw collides with Tigers runner Coot Veale. Bill Skowron's arm is broken in 2 places and he is out for the rest of the 1959 AL season. Marv Throneberry will fill in at 1B, hitting .241 for the Yankees. The Yankees win the game by a score of 9-8, when Yogi Berra hits a HR in the 9th inning with Mickey Mantle on. Prior to the Yogi’s HR, Infielders Bobby Richardson and Fritz Brickell hit their 1st MLB HRs for the Yankees. Yogi Berra’s HR erases 5 Yankee errors, including 3 by 3B Hector Lopez. Hector will eventually be moved to OF with Clete Boyer playing 3B with Andy Carey. Bill Skowron’s injury will be costly for the Yankees, who will finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record behind the 2nd place Indians and 1959 AL Champions White Sox.
1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris hits 4 HRs, tying the AL record for a twin bill (at least 1 in each game), as the Yankees beat the White Sox by the scores of 5-1 and 12-0. Mickey Mantle also homers off of Frank Baumann in the 1st game. He ends the day with 38 HRs to 40 HRs for Roger Maris. With his 4 HR performance in the doubleheader sweep over the White Sox, Roger Maris moves 25 games ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 60 HR pace. The Yankee slugger now has 40 for the year and will finish the 1961 AL season with a MLB record 61 HRs.
1962 - Former Yankees P Doug Drabek (1986) was born. On August 13, 1984, he was sent by the White Sox to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on July 18,1984. The White Sox sent players to be named later to the Yankees for INF Roy Smalley. The White Sox sent hurlers Doug Drabek and Kevin Hickey on August 13, 1984 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Doug went 7-8 in 27 games for the Yankees. On November 26, 1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with pitchers Logan Easley and Brian Fisher to the Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements.
1965 - Former Yankees reserve INF Torey Lovullo (1991) was born. On March 19, 1991, Torey was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for P Mark Leiter. He appeared in only 22 games for the Yankees, hitting just .176, spending most of his season with Columbus (AAA).
1966 - Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is elected to the Baseball HOF by a special vote of the MLB Writers Association and the Old Timer’s Committee. The purpose was the special election vote was due to Casey Stengel being seriously injured in accident. The Press wanted him elected to the Hall of Fame, while he was still alive.
1967 - At Yankee Stadium, AL HR leader Harmon Killebrew gives the Twins an 1-0 lead with a 1st inning HR off of Yankees starter Al Downing. Twins starter Jim Kaat holds the Yankees scoreless until 2-outs in the 9th inning when Mickey Mantle clocks a ball over the 457 FT mark to tie the score. The game is rained out with the score tie at 1-1 and will be replayed on August 18th. The Yankees will win the replay by a score of 1-0.
1976 - Former Yankees P Javier Vazquez (2004) was born. On December 16, 2003, he was traded by the Expos to the Yankees for 1B Nick Johnson, OF Juan Rivera, and LHP Randy Choate. He went 14-10 in 32 games for the Yankees. On January 11, 2005, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Brad Halsey, C Dioner Navarro, and cash to the Diamondbacks for All Star starter Randy Johnson.
1978 - The Yankees named HOF Bob Lemon as their new manager, his Yankees debut is a 4-0 win against the Royals.
1991 - A Yankees baseball jersey once worn by Yankees HOF Mickey Mantle is sold for $71,500 at an auction in Manhattan.
1995 - Yankees' 2B Randy Velarde strokes 5 hits in Yankees 8-1 win over the Royals. Velarde's 5 hits in the game included 4 singles and a HR.
1996 - Royals rookie starter Jose Rosado wins his 1st MLB game, by the score of 7-0, shutting down the Yankees on 4-hits at Yankee Stadium.
1998 - Former Yankees P Jim Bouton makes his 1st appearance at Yankee Stadium since 1970 at Old Timer’s Day and is greeted with cheers all around. Bouton had been persona non grata in New York since writing his book, "Ball Four," which broke a long-standing taboo in sports by taking readers into the locker room and revealing players' extracurricular escapades. The Yankees invited the Bulldog back after his son wrote a Father's Day article in the New York Times suggesting it.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
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