Monday, September 14, 2009

This Week in Yankees History (9/13-9/19)

This Week in Yankees History

September 13th - September 19th


September 13th

1893 - Former Yankees P Walter "Dutch" Ruether (1926-27) was born (1893-1970). Dutch went 15-9 for the Yankees (1926-1927), including winning 13 games in 1927.

1893 - Former Yankees reserve INF/OF Mike McNally (1921-1924) was born (1893-1965). On December 15,1920, Mike was traded by the Red Sox along with P Harry Harper, P Waite Hoyt and C Wally Schang to the Yankees for 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen and OF Sammy Vick. He appeared in 202 games for the Yankees, hitting .252 for the Yankees. On December 10,1924, Mike was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for INF Howie Shanks.

1893 - Former Yankees C Pat Collins (1926-1928) was born (1893-1966). In 1925, Pat was traded by the St. Paul (American Association) to the Yankees. He shared catching duties with Benny Bengough. In winter of 1928, he was sold to the Braves.

1920 - The Yankees hurler Carl Mays, who had started yesterday's game, he starts again today for the Yankees in Detroit. This time he is more effective, stopping the Tigers on 2 runs. Babe Ruth hits his 49th HR and Carl Mays drives in the final run of a 4-2 win.

1927 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 2-HRs, as the Yankees win a pair from the Indians to clinch the 1927 AL pennant with a 98-41 record with a 17-game lead. It is Miller Huggins' 5th AL pennant, tying him with A's Manager Connie Mack.

1931 - Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri steals 2B, reaches 3B, and then steals home in the 12th inning to give Lefty Gomez, a 2-1 win over the Tigers in the opener. Yankees edges the Tigers, by the score of 4-3, in nightcap although Earl Whitehill holds them to just 6 hits. One of the 6 Yankees hits is a 2-run HR by Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig in the 6th inning.

1932 - The Yankees clinched their 7th AL pennant by defeating the Indians by the score of 9-3 behind veteran starter George Pipgras.

1934 - Yankees starter Lefty Gomez pitches a 3-hitter against the Indians for his 25th win of the 1934 AL season.

1949 - Former Yankees reserve C Rick Dempsey (1973-1976) was born. Rick was the back up catcher for Thurman Munson before he was traded to the Orioles on June 15, 1976. The Yankees had obtained him from the Twins for OF/1B Danny Walton in 1972. Rick appeared in 141 games with the Yankees, hitting .231.

1951 - Yankees leadoff hitter Mickey Mantle drives a Virgil Truck's pitch deep into the RF upper deck to start the Yankee scoring. Witnesses say that if Mantle had hit it more to CF, the ball would've traveled 600 feet. Mantle then K's 3-times in the game, as Trucks drives over the Yankees for a 9-2 Tigers victory

1955 - Former Yankees reserve INF Mike Fischlin (1986) was born. The Yankees in the 7th round of the 1975 MLB amateur player draft drafted Mike. Mike was part of a trade with the Astros that bought OF/1B/DH Cliff Johnson to the Yankees. On December 11, 1985, Mike was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees sent minor league player Kevin Trudeau on April 11, 1986 to the Indians to complete the trade. He appeared in 71 games for the 1986 Yankees, just hitting .206. He left the Yankees for free agency after the 1986 AL season, signing with the Braves.

1959 - The Yankees sweep a pair from the Indians at Yankee Stadium. In 1st game, Yankees starter Bob Turley goes 10 innings, but doesn't get the decision as the Yankees win the game in the 11th inning on a Mickey Mantle HR. Eli Grba picks up the victory for the Yankees. In the 2nd game, the Yankees win by the score of 1-0, as Hank Bauer drives in Yogi Berra for the only run of the game. Yankees starter Duke Maas pitches a 6-hit shutout for his 13th win of the 1959 AL season. Jim Perry is the losing pitcher for the Indians; he is now at the 11-8 mark.

1963 - Yankees starter Jim Bouton's 20th win of the 1963 AL season, is a 2-0 shutout victory at Minnesota, clinches the Yankees 28th AL pennant.

1968 - Former Yankees P Danny Neagle (2000) was born. Danny was obtained from the Reds along with OF Mike Frank for Yankees minor leaguers P Ed Yarnall, 3B Drew Henson, Brian Reeth and OF Jackson Melian. Danny went 7-7 for the Yankees before leaving the team for free agency in the fall of 2000, signing with the Rockies.

1968 - Former Yankees All Star OF/DH Bernie Williams (1991-2006) was born. Bernie was signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 1985. His 1st year with the Yankees was in 1991. As a Yankee centerfielder, Bernie has been a 5-time AL All Star team member, won 4 Golden Gloves, a 2002 Silver Slugger Award winner. In 1998, he won the AL batting crown with a .339 BA. Bernie finished his Yankee career with a lifetime BA of .297 in 2,026 games.

1969 - Former Yankees reserve INF Russ Davis (1994-1995) was born. The Yankees in the 29th round of the 1988 MLB player amateur draft drafted Russ. He appeared in 44 games for the Yankees, hitting .259. Russ was traded to the Mariners after the 1995 AL season along with P Sterling Hitchcock for 1B Tino Martinez, pitchers Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir.

1977 - Mickey Rivers 2-run HR in the 5th inning is the game winner, as starter Ron Guidry throws a 5-hitter as the Yankees defeat the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 55,269 fans.

1978 - The Yankees defeat the Tigers by the score of 7-3 and move into 1st place, 1/2 game ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East.

1980 - The Yankees score 4 runs in the 4th inning to beat the Red Sox by the score of 4-3. Yankees starter Tommy John picks up his 21st victory of the 1980 AL season, his 288 MLB career win.

1996 - Blue Jays Charlie O'Brien unveils a hockey-style catcher's mask in the game against the Yankees. The mask is a success, but the Blue Jays lose to the Yankees by a score of 4-1. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte wins his 21st game of the 1996 AL season.

2000 - The Yankees edged the Blue Jays by the score of 3-2 at Yankee Stadium as Yankees starter Roger Clemens picks up his 13th win as closer Mo Rivera gets his 34th save of the 2000 AL season. Esteban Loaiza takes the loss for the Blue Jays.

September 14th

1884 - Former Yankees P Andy O'Connor (1908) was born. Andy went 0-1 in 1-game with the Yankees, before being sold to Rochester (IL).

1904 -The Pilgrims (aka the Red Sox) with a half-game lead over the Highlanders send Bill Dineen to the mound. Patsy Dougherty leads off with a single off of Bill Dineen then Willie Keeler follows with a bunt that C Lou Criger fires into the crowd to allow Patsy to score. Keeler scores a play later. The Red Sox only tally comes in the 9th inning on a 2-base error and a wild pitch. Yankees win the game by a score of 3-1. The nightcap is called after 5 innings with a 1-1 tie score.

1907 - Senators rookie hurler Lew Lanford, 21, in one of the worst MLB debuts any pitcher ever endures. Lanford walks 2 Yankee batters, hits 2 others, including Frank LaPorte in the head, throw's a wild pitch, and balks-all in the 1st inning, 6 runs score, but it is not all Lanford's fault. Two errors and a passed ball add to his pitching woes.

1920 - The Yankees increase their AL lead to 11/2 games by topping the Tigers by a score of 13-3. The Indians and the White Sox are both shut out; the A's beating the Indians by the score of 8-0 and the Senators whitewashing the White Sox by a score of 7-0. The White Sox are now 2 1/2 games back.

1924 - Former Yankees INF and HOF Broadcaster Jerry Coleman was born (1949-1957). The Yankees signed Jerry as an MLB amateur free agent in 1942. Jerry lost MLB career playing time while serving as a Marine fighter pilot in WW II and in the Korean War. He was an AL All Star 2B in 1950, the same year he won the AL Babe Ruth Award. Jerry played in 6 World Series with the Yankees with a .275 BA. As a Yankee player for 9 seasons, Jerry had a lifetime MLB BA of .263. After retiring as an active MLB player after the 1957 AL season, Jerry worked in the Yankees front office as an assistant to Yankees GM George Weiss. Then he joined the Yankees broadcasting team working with former Yankee teammate Phil Rizzuto on the radio. Jerry left the Yankees, when San Diego Padres joined the NL in 1968. He worked as a broadcaster for the Padres. Jerry even managed the Padres for 1 NL season going 73-89, before returning to the broadcasting booth.

1935 -The Yankees split a doubleheader with the AL-leading Tigers, winning the 1st game by the score of 2-1, and then losing the nightcap by the score of 5-1. Yankees starter Johnny Broaca is the winner in the opener over Crowder, while Lawson tops Brown in game 2. The Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg, leading the AL in hitting with a .346 mark, is 0-for-the afternoon, with 5-strikeouts. "The hooting and jeering which some of the fans turned loose against Hank wasn't much of a tribute to the sportsmanship of his home town," writes a sportswriter from the New York American.

1935 - Yankees INF Frankie Crosetti returns to New York City after an operation at Baltimore's John Hopkins Hospital to remove floating cartilage in his right knee. He'll soon return to his home in California to rest and recover for the 1936 AL season.

1935 - Former Yankees hurler and MLB Pitching Coach Stan Williams (1963-1964) was born. Stan was obtained by the Yankees from the Dodgers in winter of 1962 for veteran Yankees 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron. Stan went 10-14 for the Yankees. Stan was sold to the Indians in 1965. Later Stan became a successful relief pitcher for the Twins. After retiring as an MLB player, he became a pitching coach for several MLB teams, including the Yankees.

1938 - Former Yankees minor league pitcher Frank Carpin was born. The Yankees signed Frank, as an MLB amateur free agent in 1959. He never appeared in a MLB game with the Yankees. On November 30, 1964, Frank was drafted by the Pirates from the Yankees organization in the 1964 MLB minor league player draft.

1942 - The Yankees clinch their 13th AL pennant behind the hitting of Joe DiMaggio and the pitching of starter Tiny Bonham. The Yankee Clipper hits a HR and 3 singles to lead the Yankees to an 8-3 win. Yankees starter Tiny Bonham picks up his 20th victory of the 1942 AL season.

1950 - At Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Vic Raschi posts his 20th win of the 1950 AL season to give the Yankees a hard-fought 7-5 victory. Raschi walks in 2 runs in the opening inning as the Tigers tallies for 4-runs, but Yankees come back as Joe DiMaggio cracks his 29th HR of the 1950 AL season, while Johnny Mize follows a walk to Hank Bauer with his 10th HR. Yankees will take over 1st place in the AL by a half game.

1951 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees move into 1st place with a 5-1 win over the Indians. Joe DiMaggio triples in the 5th inning with 2 men on to send the Yankees on their way.

1952 -The Yankees win a crucial showdown with the Indians, as Yankees starter Eddie Lopat out-pitches Yankees nemesis Mike Garcia, who had been 4-0 against the team during the 1952 AL season. The Indians had closed the gap to 1/2 game behind the front-running Yankees. The 1952 AL season ends with the Yankees finishing in 1st place, 2 games ahead of the Indians.

1953 - The Yankees clinch their 5th straight AL pennant (1949-1953) with an 8-5 win over the Indians. Yankees 2B Billy Martin has 4 RBI's with 2 doubles and a single.

1958 - The Yankees win their 24th AL pennant, and 9th pennant under Manager Casey Stengel, winning Game 1 against the A's, by the score of 5-3. This victory ties Casey for 1st with HOF A's Manager Connie Mack for the most AL pennants won. Yankees completes the sweep of the A's with a 12-7 victory, 14-inning win in game 2. Yankees veteran starter Virgil Trucks allows 2 hits over the last 6 innings for the win.

1965 - In Washington, D.C., the Yankees behind rookie starter Rick Beck wins his 1st MLB victory defeating the Senators by the score of 3-1. Yankees closer Pedro Ramos picks up his 17th save of the season. Bobby Murcer hits a HR for the Yankees. Rick Beck would appear in 3 games for the Yankees in 1965, going 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA. After the 1965 AL season, Rick was drafted into the military, he never returned to pitch in the MLB.

1974 - The Yankees 3B Graig Nettles HRs in the 1st inning, while his brother OF Jim Nettles HRs for the Tigers in the 2nd inning. This is the 2nd time that the 2 brothers have HR in the same game for different teams, having done it on June 11, 1972, when Graig was with the Indians while Jim was with the Twins. Graig's Yankees win the game by a score of 10-7.

1977 - Reggie Jackson's 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning off of Red Sox starter Reggie Cleveland gives the Yankees, a 2-0 win, putting the Yankees 3 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East. Yankees starter Ed Figueroa went the distance, scattering just 7 hits, as he picked up his 15th win of the 1977 AL season.

1978 - The Yankees defeat the Tigers by the score of 4-2 to take a 1 1/2 game lead into their weekend series with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

1980 - The Yankees beat the Red Sox at Fenway Park by a score of 5-3. Ron Davis relieves starter Gaylord Perry in the 4th inning and picks up the victory, allowing no hits in 4 innings. Yankees hitting attack is led by Bucky Dent and Eric Soderholm, who both hit HRs. Red Sox starter Dennis Eckersley takes the loss.

1999 - The Yankees rally with a pair of grand slam HRs, just the 3rd time in club history, to beat the Blue Jays, by the score of 10-6. Bernie Williams ties the game with a grand slam HR in the 8th inning. Paul O'Neill wins it in the 9th inning with another grand slam HR.

2002 - The Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 8-4, in a rain-shortened affair. White Sox C Miguel Olivo hits a 3-run HR in his 1st MLB at bat.

September 15th

1881 - Former Yankees P Judd "Slow Joe" Doyle (1906-1911) was born (1881-1947), Judd went 22-21 during his Yankees pitching career (1906-1911).

1904 - The Red Sox edge the Highlanders by the score of 3-2, to move back into 1st place in the AL. Red Sox hurler Jesse Tannehill only allows 9 hits in besting the Highlanders hurler Al Orth. The nightcap is called after 9 innings with the score tied at 1-1.

1908 - The Highlanders rookie starter Pete Wilson makes his MLB debut by shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0.

1917 - At the Polo Grounds, Red Sox starter Babe Ruth takes an 8-0 lead into the 9th inning before allowing 3 Yankee runs. He finishes with a complete game with 8-3 win and slugs his 2nd and last HR of the 1917 AL season.

1921 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits HR No. 55 during the Yankees 10-6 win over the Browns. The Yankees take the 2nd game of the doubleheader by a score of 13-5.

1924 - Former Yankees Player/Manager and HOF Frank Chance (1913-1914) passed away (1898-1924). Frank came to the Yankees at the end of his fine HOF MLB career. He was a player/manager during the 1913-14 AL seasons. In 1913, Chance finished in 7th place with a 57-94 record. In 1914, he finished in 6th place with a 60-74 record. He was elected to the Baseball's Hall Of Fame in 1946. Frank spent most of his MLB career with the Cubs in the NL, Frank was part of the Cubs famous "Evers to Tinker to Chance" DP trio.

1925 - The Yankees acquired P Herb McQuad from St. Paul (American Association) for cash. Herb went 1-0 in 17 games for the 1925 Yankees.

1926 - The Yankees beat the Indians, by the score of 6-4. As Bob Meusel drives home 3 runs with 3 sacrifice flies. This ties the MLB record set by Harry Steinfeldt in 1909. Bob Shawkey is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.

1937 - AL President Will Harridge upholds Indian's protest of the August 6th Yankees win, and the entire game is replayed as the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The protested game is called a tie with all game stats retained except those following the disputed call.

1937 - Former Yankees 3B Charlie Smith (1967-1968) was born (1937-1994). Charlie came to the Yankees from the Cardinals in a trade for All Star OF Roger Maris. It is considered to be one of the worst trades made in Yankees history. Charlie appeared in 181 games for the Yankees, hitting .224. He was traded for reserve INF Nate Oliver of Giants in December of 1968. A classic "nothing for nothing" baseball trade.

1938 - Former Yankees P Gaylord Perry (1980) was born. He was obtained from the Rangers for P Ken Clay and Marvin Thompson in April of 1980. He went 4-4 in 10 games, before leaving the Yankees as a free agent in the fall of 1980. His older brother Jim Perry pitched in MLB.

1947 - The Yankees clinch their 15th AL pennant when the White Sox beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-3, while the Yankees are idled by rain.

1949 - Former Yankees P Dave Pagan (1973-1976) was born. The Yankees signed Dave as a MLB free agent in 1970. He appeared in 40 games for the Yankees, posting a 2-4 record before being traded to the Orioles on June 15, 1976, as part of the Doyle Alexander trade.

1949 - Former Yankees P Ernest "Tiny" Bonham (1940-1946) passes away at the age of 36. (1913-1949) Tiny joined the Yankees in 1940 as a 26 year-old rookie going 9-3. His best season for the Yankees was in1942, when he went 21-5 with 2.27 ERA, with 6 shutouts and 22 complete games. He was 1942 AL All Star team member. Tiny finished his Yankee pitching career record with a 79-50 mark (WP.612). He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, going 1-2 before being traded to the Pirates after the 1946 baseball season. After a 1-4 start in 1949, Tiny Bonham won 6 straight games for a floundering Pirates club, including an 8-2 victory over the Phillies on August 28th, his final MLB game. Eighteen days later, Bonham died in a Pittsburgh hospital at the age of 36, following an appendectomy and stomach surgery.

1950 - For an MLB-record 6th time, Johnny Mize hits 3-HRs in 1 game, but the Yankees lose the game by the score of a 9-7 at Detroit. Johnny Mize matches Babe Ruth's mark of doing it in both leagues, but the Babe only had two 3-HR games. With the victory, the Tigers recapture 1st place in the AL from the Yankees.

1959 - At Yankee Stadium, Whitey Ford makes a rare relief appearance against the White Sox, going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning as the Sox score 2 runs in the 8th inning and 1 run in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees by the score of 4-3. Mickey Mantle hits 2 HRs in the Yankees lost, a 2-run shot in 1st inning off of veteran starter Billy Pierce and a solo HR shot in the 9th inning off of reliever Bob Shaw, who gets his 3rd save, while lefty starter Billy Pierce picks up his 14th victory of the 1959 AL season. Ralph Terry started for the Yankees, going 7 innings giving up 8-hits and allowing only 1-run.

1961 - The Yankees set a new AL record for most HRs in a season (222), as they split a doubleheader in Detroit, winning the opener by the score of 11-1 and losing the nightcap by the score of 4-2. Yankee HR blows by Bill Skowron and Yogi Berra in the opener, help starter Whitey Ford win his 24th victory and increase the Yankees homer total to 222. This breaks the old mark set by the 1947 Giants and later tied by the 1956 Reds. Norm Cash and Steve Boros homer in the nightcap to back Tigers starter Ron Kline's 7-hitter.

1963 - Yankees Ace Whitey Ford throws a 2-hitter defeating the Twins 2-1 at Metropolitan Stadium. Twins Starter Lee Stange takes the loss, giving up 8-hits and 2 runs. Yankees 3B Clete Boyer gets the key hit of the game, scoring both Yankees runs. The victory is the 23rd for Whitey Ford, who is now at 23-7 mark.

1969 - Tigers starter Denny McLain records his 9th shutout of the 1969 AL season, a Tiger club pitching record beating the Yankees by a score of 2-0 at Yankee Stadium.

1978 - Yankees are now 1 1/2 games in front of the Red Sox; open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Yankee starter Ron Guidry again gives up only 2-Red Sox hits and wins a 4-0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive HRs, off of Red Sox starter Luis Tiant, in the Yankees 4-run 4th inning.

1985 - The Yankees traded minor league P Jim Deshaies and 2 other minor leaguers to be named later to the Astros for 40-year-old veteran hurler Joe Niekro. This move reunites the Niekro brothers as teammates for the 1st time since the 1974 ML season, when they were both with the Braves.

1999 - At the Sky Dome, the Yankees defeat the Blue Jays as Andy Pettitte picks up his 13th victory by going 8 innings, while Yankees closer Mo Rivera gets his 41st save of the 1999 AL season. The Blue Jays starter Pat Hentgen take the loss. The Yankees offensive is led by HRs by Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams.

2002 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees score 4 runs to break a 4-4 tie with the White Sox in the 6th inning. The Yankees win the game by the score of 8-4 with Andy Pettitte picking up his 11th victory of the season. The Yankees hitting attack is led by HRs by Jason Giambi with 1 on and solo HR shots by Bernie Williams and Alfonso Soriano

2008 - Yankees All Star closer Mo Rivera passes Lee Smith for 2nd on the all-time save list behind Trevor Hoffman as the Yankees top the White Sox by the score of 4-2 to try to keep their playoff hopes alive; The White Sox lead in the AL Central falls to a game and a half.

September 16th

1877 - Former Yankees P George McConnell (1909, 1912-1913) was born (1877-1964). George went 12-28 in 61 games for the Yankees.

1905 - The Highlanders find themselves a little short on infielders, so RF Willie Keeler, who is left-handed, plays 2B in both games of a twin bill. The talented Keeler played 2 games at shortstop for the Highlanders in 1903.

1905 - Former Yankees P Joseph " Sandy" Vance (1937-38) was born (1905-1978). Sandy went 1-0 in 5 games for the Yankees.

1908 - Yankees reserve OF Colonel "Buster" Mills (1940) was born (1908-1991). Buster was obtained in a trade with the Browns. He played 34 games in 1940, with the Yankees hitting .397 (25 for 63.)

1914 - At the age of 23, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) is hired as the manager of the Yankees to finish out the 1914 AL season. He would go 10-10 in the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. The Yankees would finish in 6th place. Roger would return to playing shortstop, as William "Wild Bill" Donovan would be named Yankees Manager for the 1915 AL season. Roger was traded to the Red Sox in December of 1921, as part of the Joe Bush-Sam Jones trade. Everett Scott, who was obtained in the trade, would replace him at shortstop.

1920 - White Sox starter Richard Kerr tops the Yankees by the score of 8-3. This loss drops Yankees to 2nd place behind the Indians in the AL pennant race.

1922 - Pennant fever rages in St. Louis, as the Yankees come to town with a half-game lead. Bob Shawkey beats former Yankees starter Urban Shocker by the score of 2-1. The Brown's George Sisler ties Ty Cobb's 1911 record by hitting in his 40th straight game. While chasing a fly ball in the 9th inning, Yankees OF Whitey Witt is hit in the head and knocked cold by a soda bottle thrown from the bleachers. AL League President Ban Johnson will initially offer a $1,000 reward for the name of the bottle-thrower. Then, to calm the crowds, the AL offers the theory that Witt stepped on the bottle and it flew up and hit him. The incident leads to a ban on the sale of bottled drinks in all AL ballparks.

1939 - The Yankees clinch their 4th AL successive pennant with an 8-5 victory over the Tigers. Yankees starter Marius Russo picks up the win.

1940 - Rookie Johnny Lucadello of the Browns hits HRs from each side of the plate against the Yankees in a 16-4 Browns win. Only Wally Schang of the A's, in 1916, had accomplished the same feat in the AL. Yankees Mickey Mantle in 1955, will be the next AL player to do it. These are the only HRs that Lucadello will hit all season for the Browns.

1948 - Joe DiMaggio hits his 300th MLB career HR joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein and Hank Greenberg, as the only MLB players to reach this MLB career hitting milestone.

1950 - Rookie starter Whitey Ford tosses a 6-hitter to give the Yankees the rubber game in Detroit, winning by the score of 8-1 and move them back into 1st place. Joe DiMaggio hits his 30th HR as the Yankees score 7 runs in the 9th inning as Ford drives to his 7th win without a loss. The Red Sox will follow the Yankees into Detroit and sweep 3 games from the Tigers.

1951 - At Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio's long triple off of Tribe starter Bob Feller scores 2 runs in the 5th inning, while Yankees starter Allie Reynolds holds on for a 5-1, Yankees victory. The Yankees take over 1st place in the AL for good by a margin of .003 points over the Tribe.

1955 - The Yankees open a key series with Red Sox. The day starts with the Yankees trailing 1st place Indians by 1/2 game with 11 games remaining in the 1955 AL season. The Indians supposedly had the easier schedule because they did not have to play the Red Sox. In game #1 of the series, Yankees open with an early 3-0 lead, only to fall behind by the score of 4-3 to the Sox in the 8th inning. Addition to losing their lead, the Yankees lose 1B Bill "Moose" Skowron, after he breaks a toe kicking a water cooler in the dugout after a close call out. Mickey Mantle gets hurt after running out a bunt. In the bottom of the 9th inning with 1 out, Hank Bauer hits a HR off of Red Sox reliever Ellis Kinder to tie the score at 4-4. One out later Yankees Yogi Berra hits a game winning HR. Meanwhile the Indians lose to the Tigers and the Yankees were in 1st place for the rest of the 1955 AL season.

1955 - Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle pulls a hamstring muscle while running out a bunt. He will make just 2 pinch-hit appearances for the Yankees in September of 1955. Mickey will go to bat in the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers, just 10 times, including a HR in Game 3.

1956 - Former Yankees P John Pacella (1982) was born. On March 31, 1981, John was traded by the Padres along with OF Jerry Mumphrey to the Yankees for OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre and hurlers Tim Lollar and Chris Welch. John appeared in 3 games for the Yankees, posting a 0-1 record. On May 12, 1982, John was traded by the Yankees along with P Pete Filson, INF Larry Milbourne and cash to the Twins for P Roger Erickson and C Butch Wynegar.

1958 - Former 1945 AL batting champion and Yankees INF George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss (1943-1950) is killed in a train wreck in New Jersey. (1918-1958) George Stirnweiss was killed at age 39 when the passenger train he was on plunged off the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge between Elizabethport and Bayonne, New Jersey.

1958 - Yankees killer Frank Lary is the 3rd pitcher to beat them 7 times in the same AL season, as the Tiger star defeats them by the score of 4-2. Ed Walsh (9-1 in 1908) and Ed Cicotte (7-1 in 1916) were the other pitchers. Frank Lary would finish with a MLB lifetime pitching record of 28-13 (.683) against the Yankees, which would allow him to have an overall .500 MLB career winning percentage.

1960 - The Orioles (83-58) and Yankees (82-57) open a crucial 4 games series with the O's just .002 in back of New York. Yankees outfielders Hector Lopez and Roger Maris crack HRs to back Whitey Ford's 4 -2 victory over the Birds. The 2 runs off of Ford were the 1st the Birds have scored off him at Yankee Stadium in 33.2 innings. Veteran reliever Bobby Shantz rescues Whitey Ford in the 9th inning for his 10th save of the 1960 AL season.

1961 - At Briggs Stadium, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for HR #57, off of Yankee killer Tiger starter Frank Lary, to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 HR pace. But Lary wins his 21st game of the 1961 AL season, a 10-4 victory, over the Yankees starting pitcher Ralph Terry.

1964 - The White Sox move into a 1st-place tie (88-61) with the Orioles by besting the Tigers by the score of 4-1, while the Orioles lose to Twins by the score of 2-1. The Yankees are 1 percentage point behind in the AL standings.

1966 - Former Yankees minor league P Mike Draper was born. On June 1, 1988, Mike was drafted by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Mike never appeared in a MLB game with the Yankees. On December 7, 1992, Mike was drafted by the Mets from the Yankees in the 1992 MLB Rule 5 player draft.

1972 - Yankees purchased P Steve Blateric (1972) from the Reds for waiver price. Steve appeared in 1 game with the Yankees with no record. In March of 1973, he was returned to the Reds.

1977 - The Yankees rally for 4 runs in the 8th inning to come-from-behind win over the Tigers by the score of 5-4. Paul Blair's 2-run HR provided the margin of victory. Yankees starter Don Gullett went the distance for his 12th win of the 1977 AL season.

1978 - With 55,091 fans looking on, the Yankees snap a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning triple by Willie Randolph and a sacrifice fly by Thurman Munson to beat the Red Sox, by the score of 3-2. The Yankees, now lead by 3 1/2 games in the AL East. The Yankees first score on a Reggie Jackson 2-run HR blast in the 5th inning. Both teams' starters, Catfish Hunter and former Yankees pitcher Mike Torrez, go the distance for their teams.

1979 - At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold "Catfish Hunter Day" to honor their future HOF pitcher, who will be retiring at the end of the1979 AL season at the age of 33. A 20-year-old left-hander rookie pitcher named Dave Righetti makes his MLB debut for the Yankees.

1980 - At Yankee Stadium, The Yankees behind the pitching of starter Ron Guidry and closer Goose Gossage beat the Blue Jays by a score of 5-4. The Gator picks up his 14th win of the season, going 6-innings, allowing 8-hits, 4-runs, and 4 strikeouts. Yankees closer Rich Gossage gets his 28th save of the 1980 AL season, pitching 2 innings allowing only 1-hit with 5 strikeouts.

1992 - White Sox 1B Frank Thomas gets 5 hits, all singles in Chicago's 9-6 win over the Yankees. The Yankees rookie starter Sterling Hitchcock loses his 1st MLB decision.

1996 - Backed by 2 three run HRs from Tim Raines, celebrating his 37th birthday, Yankees starter Jimmy Key stops the Blue Jays by the score of 10-0. Raines 2nd HR, is a 457 FT blast to the Stadium CF, is the longest hit by a Yankee player this season. The Yankees are now 3 games up in the AL East.

1997 - The Yankees sweep a doubleheader from the Red Sox, winning by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Andy Pettitte pitches 8 innings in the opener, striking out career-high of 12 batters. Willie Banks is the winner for the Yankees in the nightcap with 6 2/3 innings performance.

2000 - Before a crowd of 55,097 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees defeat the Indians by a score of 6-3. Yankees starter Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez goes the distance to pick up his 12th victory of the season, giving up 4-hits, 3-runs with 6-strikeouts. The Yankees hitting attack was led by solo HRs by DH Glenallen Hill and C Jorge Posada.

2008 - In the last home stand at Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter passes HOF Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at the storied stadium. He collects his 1,270th hit in the ballpark, a single past Juan Uribe while facing Gavin Floyd. The Yankees still lose the game by the score of 6-2 to the White Sox.

September 17th

1887 - Former Yankees P Nick Cullop (1916-1917) was born. On January 21, 1916, Nick was purchased by the Yankees from the Kansas City Packers. Nick went 18-15 in 58 games for the Yankees. On January 22,1918, Nick was traded by the Yankees along with INF Joe Gedeon, P Urban Shocker, 2B Fritz Maisel, C Les Nunamaker and $15,000 to the Browns for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.

1904 - More than 23,000 fans, reputedly the largest crowd in Red Sox history, show up for the showdown twin bill with the Highlanders. New York scores 3 runs in each of the 1st 2 innings against Red Sox starter Bill Dineen. Jack Chesbro (35-8) holds on for a 6-4 win, his 7th win in a row. Highlanders briefly take over 1st place. Veteran starter Cy Young tops the Highlanders by the score of 4-2 in the nightcap, beating starter Ned Garvin, recently acquired from the Dodgers. The 2 teams complete their 3 doubleheaders with a 2-2-2 mark.

1917 - Former Yankees P Allen Gettel (1945-46) was born. The Yankees signed Al as an amateur free agent in 1936. Al went 15-15 in 53 games with 3 saves. On January 22, 1943, Al was traded by the Yankees along with Ed Levy and $10,000 to the Blue Jays (Phillies) for 1B Nick Etten. Al Gettel and Ed Levy returned to original teams on March 26, 1943. The Yankees sent Tom Padden and Al Gerheauser on March 26, 1943 to the Blue Jays to complete the trade. On December 6,1946, Al was traded by the Yankees along with P Gene Bearden and OF Hal Peck to the Indians for C Sherm Lollar and 2B Ray Mack.

1917 - The Yankees Fritz Maisel's 7th inning single breaks up Indians starter Stan Coveleski's no-hit bid during a 2-0 loss to the Indians.

1922 - The Browns southpaw Hub Pruett, who has fanned Babe Ruth 9 of 10 times over the 1922 season, is reached for a HR by the Bambino, but he still beats the Yankees, by the score of 5-1. Whitey Witt receives an ovation but the partisan crowd is CF is quick to wave white hankies in the 8th inning for Yankees pinch-hitter McMillan. Police make them stop. Browns George Sisler has a single to extend his hitting streak to 41 games.

1928 - Wilcy Moore, the Yankees pitching hero of 1927 World Championship season, goes home with an ailing arm after working just 60 innings for the Yankees during the 1928 AL season. He posted a 4-4 record with 3 saves with a 4.18 ERA.

1931 - In the 1st of 2 games, the Yankees and Red Ruffing rough up the Browns and their starter George Blaeholder by the score of 17-0. Bill Dickey's Grand Slam HR is the big blow. The Yankees take the nightcap, by the score of 6-1 behind Lefty Gomez's 3-hitter with Babe Ruth's 41st and 42nd HRs of the 1931 AL season.

1934 - The Yankees reach Detroit for a last-chance series with the Tigers and lose the opening game, as veteran Al Crowder beats Lefty Gomez with a 3-0 shutout.

1936 - Former Yankees INF Tommy Carroll (1955-1956) was born. Tommy was a Yankee bonus baby signing in 1955. Tom had played college baseball at Notre Dame. He played shortstop and 3B for the Yankees in 50 games, hitting .287. He spent 2 years in the Army. During the 1959 AL season, he was traded to the A's. Tom will retire from MLB after the 1959 AL season, to become a member of the U.S. Diplomat Services for the State Department.

1939 - AL President Will Harridge overturns the umpires' decision to call the September 2nd, Yankee-Red Sox game, and a forfeit. He orders the contest to be replayed from the 7th inning, as a 5-5 tie. After the Red Sox fans had thrown a barrage of garbage onto playing field at Fenway Park due to the Yankees making deliberate outs to take advantage of the 6:30 PM Sunday curfew, Umpire Cal Hubbard ruled that the Boston crowd's action made it impossible to continue the game and awarded the game to the Yankees, by the forfeit score of 9-0.

1950 - Newly acquired NL veteran hitter Johnny Hopp pinch-hits a Grand Slam HR off of Browns hurler Al Widmar during a 5-run, 9th inning Yankees rally which carried the team to a 6-1 win.

1951 - The Yankees break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 9th inning when, with the bases loaded, Phil Rizzuto squeezes home Joe DiMaggio with the winning run. The run scored off of Indian's Bob Lemon, gives Yankees starter Eddie Lopat his 20th win of the season. The Yankees, now lead the Indians by 1 game and the Red Sox by 2 1/2 games.

1955 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/DH Marshall Brant (1980) was born. On April 1, 1980, Marshall was purchased by the Yankees from the Mets. Marshall appeared in 3 games for the Yankees with no hits. On November 4, 1980, he was released by the team. On February 3, 1981, Brant was signed as a free agent with the Yankees; he would play for Columbus (AAA). On June 15, 1983, Marshall was traded by the Yankees along with minor league P Ben Callahan and cash to the A's for hurler Matt Keough.

1956 - The Yankees clinch their 22nd AL pennant, when Mickey Mantle hits his 50th HR of the season to end an 11-inning tie with the White Sox to win the game by a score of 3-2.

1958 - Despite a wind blowing in at Briggs Stadium, Mickey Mantle poles a Jim Bunning pitch down the RF line over the roof onto Trumbull Avenue, some 500 feet away. The 2-run HR is all that Jim Bunning allows the Yankee hitters as the Tigers win the game by a score of 5-2.

1960 - With HOF Ty Cobb among the 49,055 fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle cracks a 2-run HR, his 35th of the 1960 AL season, off of the O's starter Chuck Estrada to give the Yankees, a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Yogi Berra adds a HR. In the last of the 8th inning, Bobby Richardson's hit off of Orioles hurler Chuck Estrada's glove drives in 2 runs for a 5-3 Yankees win.

1961 - In Detroit, Roger Maris triples off of reliever Terry Fox in the 7th inning to put the Yankees ahead, the Tigers tie it, and then in the 12th inning, Roger Maris faces Terry Fox again with Tony Kubek on 2B. Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then he steps back in and belts the 1st pitch from Fox for his 58th HR of the season.

1964 - The Yankees whip the Angels by the score of 6-2 to lock on to 1st place in the AL for good with a 2-percentage-point lead over the idle White Sox and Orioles. Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle each have 3 hits. Mantle's include his 2,000th MLB career hit and his 450th MLB career HR, his 31st HR of the year. The Yankees have won 2 in a row and will run their winning streak to 11 games.

1968 - The Tigers clinch the 1968 AL pennant with a 2-1 victory over the Yankees.

1976 - At Milwaukee's County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate "Hank Aaron Day." Among those gathered are MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father, President Gerald Ford. Hank goes hitless in 5 at-bats, and the 1st-place Yankees spoil the night by winning the game by a score of 5-3, in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo HR in the 11th inning for the game winner, an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Yankees starter Ed Figueroa tallies for his 19th win of the 1976 AL season, as the Yankees pad their AL East lead to 11 games.

1977 - The Yankees slam 5 HR's (2 by Reggie Jackson and 1 by newly acquired Dave Kingman) and make 17 hits in route to a 9-4 win against the Tigers.

1978 - The Red Sox finally wins against the Yankees, taking a 7-3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees on 4 hits. The Yankees score 2 unearned runs in 8th inning on Butch Hobson's 2nd error of the game (and his 42nd of the year). Yaz playing CF in place of the injured Fred Lynn collects his 14th HR of the year in the 9th inning.

1990 - The Blue Jays 6-4 win over the Yankees with 49,902 fans at the Sky Dome giving Toronto a MLB season attendance record watch. The Blue Jays will finish the 1990 AL season with 58 consecutive sellouts and a total attendance of 3,885,284 fans.

1993 - In a last try for the pennant, the Yankees obtained 40-year-old veteran starter Frank Tanana from the Mets for minor league hurler Kenny Greer. Frank Tanana will go 0-2 with the Yankees to finish out his MLB career with a 240-236 record, and setting a MLB record for most wins without racking up a 20-win season.

1998 - Red Huff, the oldest ex-MLB player, dies at the age of 107. Huff pitched for the Yankees and the Browns in 1911-13 and 1915. Red struck out the 1st MLB batter, he ever faced, the Tigers Ty Cobb.

2002 - Yankees All Star 2B Alfonso Soriano gets 5 hits, including a 2B and HR, as the Yankees fall to the Devil Rays by a score of 9-7. CF Bernie Williams scores his 100th run in the loss to reach that mark for the 7th straight season. He is the 4th Yankee to score 100 runs this year, the 1st Yankee team to do so since 1941. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter combine to tie the MLB record for consecutive years for teammates both having 100+ runs.

September 18th

1911 - With a triple steal on, the Highlanders Cozy Dolan singles in 3 runs in a 9-4 loss at Detroit. The 3 RBIs are half of Cozy's 1911 AL season total.

1898 - Former Yankees P George "The Bull" Uhle (1933-34) was born (1898-1985). George went 8-5 for the Yankees during the 1933-1934 AL seasons, before finishing his MLB career with the Indians.

1909 - Former Yankees reserve C Robert Collins (1944) was born. (1909-1969) ,In 1944, Bob appeared in 3 games as a catcher batting .333 (1-3).

1920 - NL directors meet in New York, joined by Jacob Ruppert, Cap Huston, Charles Comiskey, and Harry Frazee of the AL. They name a committee to draw up an agreement along the lines of Albert Lasker's proposal, and give the 5 AL clubs still backing Ban Johnson an ultimatum: come in by November 1st or the Yankees, White Sox, and Red Sox will pull out of the AL and join a 12-team NL (with a team in Detroit to complete the roster). The AL 5 team owners turn it down, and bluff and counterbluff blow through the autumn air.

1922 - Yankees OF Whitey Witt, his head bandaged from being hit by a bottle, drives in 2 in the 9th inning for a 3-2 Yankees win The Yankees leave St. Louis with 1 1/2 games in front. They will finish 1 game on top, clinching the pennant on the 30th with a 3-1 win over the Red Sox. The Brown's George Sisler's 41-game hitting streak is stopped by Yankees starter Joe Bush, the same pitcher that he had started the hitting streak against on July 27th.

1926 - At Dunn Field in Cleveland, the Indians win their 4th game in a row, defeating the Yankees by a score of 3-1, behind starter George Uhle. The victory cuts the Yankees AL lead to 2 1/2 games over the Tribe.

1927 - Former Yankees Closer Luis "Yo-Yo" Arroyo (1960-63) was born.The Yankees acquired Luis from the Reds during the 1960 AL season, helping out in the bullpen, eventually replacing Ryne Duren as the Yankees bullpen closer. The 1961 AL season was his best MLB and Yankees career season, when he went 15-5 with 29 saves in 65 games. He was selected for the AL All Star team. He won 1 game in the 1961 World Series against the Reds. In the winter of 1961, Louie did not pitch in winter baseball for the 1st time in his MLB career, which resulted in him having pitching arm problems in the 1962 and 1963 AL seasons. He finished his Yankees career with a 22-10 record. Louie would later become a Yankees scout in Latin America.

1930 - The Yankees edge the Browns by a score of 7-6 in 10 innings as Yankees starter Red Ruffing hits 2 HRs in the winning effort.

1933 - The 2nd-place Yankees split with the White Sox, winning by the score of 6-1 on Johnny Allen's 2-hitter, before falling in the nightcap by the score of 4-3. Les Tietje, in his MLB pitching debut, stops the Bombers in the nightcap. Lou Gehrig clubs HRs #28 and #29; the A's slugger Jimmie Foxx leads the AL with 45 HRs.

1938 - Although, they drop a doubleheader to the Browns, the Yankees clinch the 1938 AL pennant. The Red Sox are rained out in Chicago; their doubleheader with the White Sox will not be played, because rain outs were not made up at that time.

1948 - Former Yankees P Ken Brett (1976) was born (1948-2003). Ken came to the Yankees from the Pirates in the Willie Randolph trade. He only appeared in 2 games for the Yankees going 0-0 before being traded to the White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May. He was the older brother of Royals All Star 3B George Brett.

1951 - The Indians beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4, as Mike Garcia wins his 20th game of the 1951 AL season, with the Yankees losing to White Sox starter Billy Pierce by the score of 7-1. The Indians and Yankees now are tied for 1st place. This is the 10th time the 2 teams have been in a tie for 1st place in AL, surpassing the MLB record of 9 set in the NL race of 1889 and the Federal League race of 1914.

1956 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits his 50th HR, only the 8th MLB player to do so, in the 11th inning off of White Sox veteran hurler Billy Pierce, as Yankees win the game by a score of 3-2 to clinch another AL pennant for Manager Casey Stengel.

1960 - Before 53,876 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees sweep the Orioles, winning by the scores of 7-3 and 2-0. The Yankees sweep the 4-game series and the faltering Birds, are now 4 games back, will end up in 2nd place in the AL, 8 games back. Ralph Terry's 2-hitter in the nightcap beats O's starter Milt Pappas.

1962 - At Washington's new ballpark "D.C. Stadium", Mickey Mantle clouts the 1st HR there, and adds another HR, both off of Senators starter Tom Cheney, to pace Yankees to a 7-1 win. Mickey has 5 RBIs in the game. Yankees starter Ralph Terry picks up his 22nd win, the most by a Yankee right-hander since the 1928 AL season. The Yankees victory, combined with a Twins loss, leaves the Yankees (90-63) in 1st place in the AL by 4 games.

1965- On "Mickey Mantle Day" at Yankee Stadium, 50,180 fans see Mantle play his 2,000th MLB game. HOF Joe DiMaggio and US Senator Bobby Kennedy are on hand as Mickey Mantle is given a barbecue grill in the shape of a prairie schooner and a 6-foot kosher salami weighing 100 LBS. In Mantle's 1st at bat, Tiger hurler Joe Sparma comes off the mound to shake his hand. Mickey then flies out. Tigers win the game by score of 4-3, with Tigers reliever Denny McLain getting the win.

1966 - The Twins beat the Yankees by the score of 5-3 in 10 innings on Bob Allison's pinch-hit 3-run HR, sending the Yankees to the cellar (10th place) in the AL. In his last plate appearance of the 1966 AL season, Mickey Mantle whiffs and becomes the 1st MLB player to strike out 1,500 times in his MLB career.

1967 - The Yankees and Reds swap players, the Yankees send rookie P Bill Henry (1966) to the Reds for INF/1B Len Boehmer (1969, 1971).

1977 - The Yankees survive a 5-run Tiger 9th inning rally to edge the Tigers by the score of 6-5. The Tigers proven to be a stubborn opponent down the stretch, perhaps egged on by former Yankees skipper Ralph Houk, who never really forgave the Yankees for what most observers called a "forced" resignation. Actually Ralph resigned at the end of the 1973 AL season. Rather than be fired as Yankees Manager by new Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. He had spent over 30 years in the Yankee organization as a player, coach, manager and General Manager.

1979 - Yankees manager Billy Martin reportedly pays rookie P Bob Kammeyer $100 to hit former Yankees player Cliff Johnson with a pitch in Indians's 16-3 rout of the Yankees. Johnson belts 2 HRs as does Toby Harrah and the two players combine for 9 RBIs in the game. The loss goes to Yankees starter Paul Mirabella, but Bob Kammeyer gives up all 8 Tribe runs in the 4th inning without recording an out.

1981 - At Fenway Park, the Yankees defeat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4 behind the pitching of starter Rick Reuschel and Ron Davis. The Yankees hitting attack is led by HRs by Dave Winfield, Lou Piniella and Bob Watson.

1993 - The Yankees defeat the Red Sox by the score of 4-3, because of a fan who runs out on the playing field. With the Yankees trailing by the score of 3-1, with 2 outs and a man on 1st in the 9th inning, Mike Stanley hits a fly ball to left field that apparently ends the game. Umpire Tim Welke, however, had called time, when the fan bolted onto the field, giving Mike Stanley, a 2nd chance to bat. He singled on the next pitch. That hit was followed by a hit by Wade Boggs, then a walk to Dion James, followed a single by Don Mattingly, which drove home the tying and winning runs for the Yankees.

2000 - Pitching a 1-hitter against the Yankees, Indians hurler Bartolo Colon nearly ends the longest streak in MLB history of a team being held hitless by its opponents. Luis Polonia's 8th inning single is the only Yankees hit. The Bronx Bombers have not been denied a hit in a game since the Orioles starter Hoyt Wilhelm did it with a no-hitter on September 9, 1958, spanning total of 6,637 contests.

September 19th

1890 - Former Yankees reserve INF Ralph Young (1913) was born. Ralph appeared in 7 games for the Yankees, hitting .067.

1909 - Former Yankees OF Hersh Martin (1944-45) was born. Hersh hit .284 in 202 games for the Yankees after being obtained from the Phillies.

1913 - Former Yankees 1B Nick Etten (1943-1946) was born (1913-1990). Nick was obtained from the Phillies in 1942. In 1945, he made the AL All Star team. His best season as a Yankee was in 1944, when he hit .293 and led the AL in HRs with 22. In 1947, he was sold back to the Phillies.

1920 - In New York City, Babe Ruth's movie opens at Madison Square Garden. It has been re-titled “Heading Home." At Sportmans' Park in St. Louis, the Browns beat the Yankees by the score of 6-1.

1926 - At Cleveland's League Park, a crowd of 31,000 fans watch the Yankees hold back the Indians by the score of 8-3, in the final game of a 6-game series. In the 7th inning, Babe Ruth parks his 43rd HR of the year and Lou Gehrig follows with another HR, both off of Tribe hurler Emil Levsen. Lou Gehrig adds 3 doubles and 5 RBIs to lead the Yankees batting charge. Yankees veteran starter Dutch Ruether picks up the win.

1930 - Former Yankees P Robert "Bullet Bob" Turley (1955-1962) was born. The Yankees obtained Bob in November of 1954 from the Orioles along with P Don Larsen in the huge 17-player trade. He went 17-13 in 1955 with 210 strikeouts and made the AL All Star team. His best Yankees season was in 1958, with Bob going 21-7, winning the MLB Cy Young Award. Bob appeared in 5 World Series for the Yankees, posting a 4-3 mark with an ERA of 3.19. After the 1958 AL season, Bob battled with pitching arm troubles, with the 1960 AL season being his best, posting a 9-3 mark. After the 1962 AL season, Bob was sold to the Angels. Bob finished with an 82-52 Yankees career mark (WP .612) with 909 strikeouts with the Yankees.

1933 - The Yankees pile up 34 hits in a doubleheader as they drub the White Sox twice, by scores of 10-1 and 10-3. Yankee starters George Uhle and Charley Devans are the recipients of the huge Yankees offensive attack. Joe Sewell has 6 hits for the afternoon, while Lou Gehrig has 6 RBIs. Gehrig hits HR #30 in game #1, following immediately after OF Dixie Walker hits a HR. Lou is now even with Yankees teammate Babe Ruth, who sat out the afternoon game.

1937 - Hank Greenberg's HR in the Tiger's 8-1 win over the Yankees is the 1st ever hit into the CF stands at Yankee Stadium.

1951 - The Yankees are victorious when rookie OF Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run HR off of White Sox hurler Lou Kretlow to win the game by a score of 5-3. A small crowd of only 12,127 fans watch the game at Yankee Stadium. The 2 teams have been tied now for 11 days. The Yankees now have 9 games left in the 1951 AL season, with 8 games against the Red Sox.

1964 - The Yankees move a half game ahead of the rained-out Orioles by defeating the A's, by the score of 8-3. Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris hit HRs, while Ralph Terry pitches effectively in relief of Yankees starter Al Downing.

1966 - Former Yankees co-owner Dan Topping sells his 10% stock interest in the Yankees to CBS and resigns as the club president. CBS executive Mike Burke succeeds him as the team's club president.

1967 - Former Yankees P Jim Abbott (1993-1994) was born.Jim went 20-22 for the Yankees. The Yankees obtained Jim from the Angels for 1B J. T. Snow, pitchers Jerry Nielsen and Russ Springer. On September 4, 1993, he threw a no-hitter for the Yankees. In the fall of 1994, he left the team for free agency.

1968 - Tigers starter Denny McLain's 31st win of the 1968 AL season is overshadowed by Mickey Mantle's 535th MLB career HR. McLain allegedly calls C Jim Price out to the mound, tells him to inform Mickey Mantle, that he's throwing the slugger nothing but fastballs. The HR gives Mantle undisputed hold of 3rd place on the all-time MLB HR leaders list. Mickey Mantle tips his cap to Denny as he rounds 3B. Joe Pepitone, the next Yankees batter, signals where he would like the ball thrown to him, Danny McLain immediately dusts him. The Tigers win the game, by the score of 6-2, for their 12th straight complete game for the 1968 Tigers pitching staff.

1976 - Catfish Hunter notches his 200th MLB career victory as the Yankees stop the Brewers by the score of 2-1. Since 1901,only Christy Mathewson and Pete Alexander have hit the 200-win mark before their 31st birthday, but arm trouble will limit Catfish to a total of 224 MLB career wins. He'll win 17 games for the Yankees this season, after 5 straight 20-win seasons.

1978 - Former Yankees DH/1B Nick Johnson (2001-2003) was born. Nick was a 3rd round draft pick by the Yankees in 1996. He played for the Yankees from 2001-2003, but Nick had trouble staying healthy. In the winter of 2003, he was traded to the Expos along with OF Juan Rivera, P Randy Choate for Expos starter Javier Vazquez.

1980 - At Fenway Park, the Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 2-1 on CF Bobby Brown's 7th inning HR. Yankees starter Louis Tiant picks up his 7th win, pitching 7 innings, giving up only 5 hits and allowing only 1 run. Yankees closer Goose Gossage gets his 29th save of the 1980 AL season.

2000 - After a 16-3 loss to the Blue Jays, Yankees Manager Joe Torre has a team clubhouse meeting, and blisters the Yankees players for poor play. It won't help as they lose their next 7 games by scores of 15-4, 2-1, 11-1, 11-3, 13-2, 9-1, and 7-3.

2001 - Defeating the White Sox, by the score of 6-3, Yankees starter Roger Clemens becomes the 1st MLB pitcher to have season won-loss record of 20-1. The 5-time Cy Young Award winner has won his last 16 decisions.

2001 - Former Yankees P William "Bill" Stafford (1960-1965) passes away at age of 62 due to heart problems (1939-2001). The Yankees signed Bill as free agent in 1957. He came up to the Yankees in 1960, going 3-0. He appeared in relief in 2 games in 1960 World Series against the Pirates. In 1961, he went 14-9 as a starter. He was the winning pitcher of the Roger Maris #61 HR Game, shutting out the Red Sox by the score of 1-0. He started game # 3 of the 1961 World Series, but he did not get the win. In 1962, he went 14-9 again as a starter. Bill won game #3 of the 1962 World Series, throwing a 4-hitter against the Giants. In 1963, on opening day in Kansas City, he hurt his pitching arm in cold weather, finishing the 1963 AL season with a 4-8 mark. In 1964, he bounced back to a 5-0 record. In 1965, he went only 3-8. In 1966, Bill was 5-0 at Richmond (AAA), when he was traded by the Yankees along with P Gil Blanco, OF Roger Repoz to the A's for P Fred Talbot and C Bill Bryan. He finished up with a 0-5 mark with the A's, before retiring as an MLB player. His son, Mike was a minor league pitcher in the Blue Jays organization, now is a pitching coach in the Blue Jays minor league system.

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

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