1878 - Former Yankees P Tom “Long Tom” Hughes (1904) was born. On December 20, 1903, Tom was traded by the Americans (Red Sox) to the Yankees for P Jesse Tannehill. Tom went 14-16 in 32 games for the 1904 Yankees. On July 20, 1904, Tom was traded by the Yankees along with P Barney Wolfe to the Senators for starter Al Orth.
1924 - Former Yankees All Star OF Irv Noren (1952-1956) was born. Irv had 3 good out of 4 seasons with the Yankees, including hitting .314 in 1954, despite being troubled with bad knees. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Bombers with the 1952 World Series being his best, hitting .300 against the Dodgers. Irv was on the 1954 AL All Star team. On May 3, 1952, Irv was traded by the Senators along with OF Tom Upton to the Yankees for OF Jackie Jensen, P Spec Shea, INF Jerry Snyder, and OF Archie Wilson. On February 12,1957, after hitting just .216 in 1956, Irv was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later, P Rip Coleman, INF Milt Graff, INF Billy Hunter, Pitchers Mickey McDermott and Tom Morgan to the A’s for players to be named later, Pitchers Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, Jack McMahan, and INF Wayne Belardi. Yankees would send P Jack Urban on April 5, 1957 to the A’s to complete the trade. The A’s sent INF Curt Roberts on April 4, 1957. The A’s send INF Clete Boyer on June 4, 1957 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1950 - Former Yankees DH/1B/OF Mike Easler (1986-1987) was born. On March 28, 1986, Mike was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for DH/1B Don Baylor. Mike hit .297 with 18 HRs, 99 RBIs in 211 games with the Yankees. On December 11, 1986, Mike was traded by the Yankees along with INF Tom Barrett to the Phillies for minor league INF Jeff Knox and P Charles Hudson. On June 10, 1987, Mike was traded by the Phillies back to the Yankees for OF Keith Hughes and INF/OF Shane Turner. On December 21, 1987, Mike was released by the Yankees.
1950 - Former Yankees DH/OF/1B Otto Velez (1973-1976) was born. In 1969, the Yankees signed Otto as an MLB amateur free agent. Otto appeared in a total of 105 games with the Yankees He hit .266 in 49 games in 1976 season playing 1B, OF and DH. Otto appeared in the 1976 AL Playoffs and World Series with 4 at bats and no hits. On November 5, 1976, Otto was drafted by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as the 53rd pick in the 1976 AL Player Expansion draft (the Blue Jays and Mariners).
1965 - The Yankees traded utility player Phil “Super Sub” Linz to the Phillies for shortstop Ruben Amaro. The Yankees hoped that Amaro would replace the retiring Tony Kubek in the shortstop job in the 1966 Yankees infield, he proved to be a major disappointment.
1966 - The Yankees traded 3B Clete Boyer to the Braves for rookie OF Bill Robinson and 39-year-old P Chi Chi Olivo. The trade of Clete Boyer will leaves a defensive gap at 3B for the Yankees, which will not be solved until the arrival of Graig Nettles from the Indians in winter of 1972. Rookie OF Bill Robinson was a failure for the Yankees, but later reappeared in the NL, having successful seasons with the Pirates and Phillies, meanwhile Boyer would have 5 more good MLB seasons with the Braves, before going to Japan to play baseball. Olivo never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1969 - Current Yankees AL All Star Closer Mariano “Mo” Rivera (1995-current) was born. In 1990, Mariano Rivera was signed as by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Mo is the greatest Yankee closer in the team’s history (1903-2000). Mo Rivera Yankees career stats are currently at 71-52 with a .577 WP, 2.25 ERA in 917 games with 526 saves. Mariano’s AL All Star record is 0-0 in 6 games with 3 saves. His AL Divisional series record is 2-0 in 34 games 0.35 ERA with 16 saves. His ALCS record is 4-0 with 0.99 ERA in 30 games and 12 saves. His World Series record is 2-1, with a 0.99 ERA in 24 games with 11 saves. He has won the AL Rolaids Award in 1999, 2004-2005, the 1999 AL Babe Ruth Award and MLB World Series MVP Award. He has been named to the AL All Star team 10 times.
1976 - The Yankees signed All Star MLB free-agent Reggie Jackson to 5-year, $3.5 million dollar contract. During Mr. October's tenure, the Bronx Bombers will win 4 AL East divisions, 3-AL pennants and 2 World Series Championships, before leaving in 1981 as a free agent signing with the Angels.
1979 - MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn lets Billy Martin off with a warning, following the October 23rd incident in which he is involved in a barroom altercation with Joseph Cooper, a Minnesota marshmallow salesman. Cooper requires 15 stitches to close a gash in his lip.
1982 - Former Yankees P Al “Bozo” Cicotte (1957) passed away (1929-1982). Before the 1948 AL Season, the Yankees signed Al as an MLB amateur free agent. Al went 2-2 in 20 games with 2 saves in 1957. On May 14, 1958, Al was purchased by the Senators from the Yankees. Al would pitch in MLB for 5 seasons finishing with a 10-13 mark in 102 games with the Yankees, Senators, Tigers, Indians, Cardinals and the Colt 45’s. He was a grandnephew of HOF P Eddie Cicotte.
1992 - Former Yankees reserve OF George “Tuck” Stainback (1942-1945) passed away. On December 4, 1941, Tuck was purchased by the Yankees from the Tigers. He appeared in 211 games with the Yankees hitting .252 with 5 HRs with 47 RBIs. George appeared in 7 World Series games (1942-1943) with the Yankees, hitting just .176. On April 26, 1946, Tuck was released by the Yankees. He would play for the A’s in 1946, hitting .244 in 91 games.
1995 - Former 3B Charlie Smith, the player traded to Yankees from the Cardinals for former AL MVP and All Star OF Roger Maris in 1966, dies at age 57. Charley hit .224 (1967) and .229 (1968) for the Yankees before being traded to the Giants. While Roger Maris hit .261 and .255 for the St. Louis Cardinals and playing in the 1967-1968 World Series, while the Yankees finished 9th and 5th place in the AL.
1998 - Former Yankees hurler and long time Pitching Coach for Manager Casey Stengel, Jim “The Milkman” Turner passed away (1903-1998). Jim went 11-9 in 88 games with 19 saves for the Yankees (1942-1945). He led the AL in 1945 with 10 saves. He would be Casey Stengel’s pitching coach during the 1949-1959 dynasty seasons. After the 1959 AL 3rd place finish, Jim was replaced by former Yankees P Eddie Lopat as Yankees MLB pitching coach. Jim would work in the Reds organization from 1960-1965. He would return to the Yankees in 1966, being the Yankees MLB pitching coach until 1973, under Manager Ralph Houk.
2005 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Vic Power passed away (1927-2005). Before 1951 AL Season, Vic was purchased by the Yankees from the Drummondville (Provincial). On December 16, 1953, Vic was traded by the Yankees along with INF Don Bollweg, 3B Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, OF Bill Renna, and C Jim Robertson to the A’s for P Harry Byrd, 1B Eddie Robinson, outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro, and INF Loren Babe. Vic Power was considered to be too flashy by Yankees GM George Weiss to be the 1st black Yankees MLB player. GM Weiss traded away the black players in the Yankees farm system, keeping only OF/C Elston Howard. Vic Power was a better 1B than Bill “Moose” Skowron, who admitted that Vic was the best 1st Baseman that he had ever played against during his long MLB career. Vic won AL Golden Glove 1B Award in the AL from 1958-1964.
2006 - Former Yankee P Pete Mikkelsen (1964-1965) passed away (1939-2006). Before the 1958 AL Season, Pete was signed by the Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent. Primarily used as a reliever by Manager Yogi Berra, he reached the World Series in 1964, his rookie season with the Yankees. His rookie season bullpen work for the Bronx Bombers was instrumental in helping the team squeeze out an AL pennant, the last for the old Yankees dynasty (1949-1964). In 1964, Pete went 7-4 in 50 games with 12 saves. In 1965, he slipped to a 4-9 mark in 41 games with only 1 save. On December 10, 1965, Pete was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates and cash for veteran starter Bob Friend. His trade was another bad deal done by the Yankees front office along with the deals of Clete Boyer and Roger Maris, which in all truth were salary dumps made by CBS management.
2007 - The Yankees officially announced that catcher Jorge Posada's 4-year, $52.4-million deal that will most likely keep him in pinstripes for the remainder of his MLB baseball career or at least through 2011 AL season.
November 30th
1909 - Former Yankees P Jimmy DeShong (1934-1935) was born. Jimmy went 10-8 in 60 games with the Yankees. On January 17, 1936, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jesse Hill to the Senators for P Bump Hadley and OF Roy Johnson.
1936 - Former Yankees reliever Steve Hamilton (1963-1970) was born (1936-1997). Steve was obtained from the Senators for P Jim Coates in April of 1963. Steve worked mostly out of the Yankees bullpen until September of 1970, going 34-20 in 312 games with 36 saves. His one complete game shutout was on August 5, 1966, against the Indians, while pitching for the Yankees. He gave up 5 hits, walked 1 and struck out 3. It was one of only 3 starts that he had in the 1966 AL season. Late in his career, Hamilton threw the famed "folly-floater," a high, slow lob pitch. On September 9, 1970, Steve was selected off waivers by the White Sox from the Yankees. During the late 1950’s, Steve had played for the NBA with old Lakers team in Minnesota, as a reserve player.
1952 - On a local TV program, Brooklyn Dodgers All Star INF Jackie Robinson charges that the Yankees management is racist for its failure to bring up a black player. Yankees General Manager George Weiss denies Robinson’s allegations of racism. In reality, GM Weiss will release or trade away all minority players in the Yankees farm system except for OF/C Elston Howard, who will become the 1st black Yankee MLB player in 1955. Among those minority players, who were traded away or released by the Yankees were future AL All Star 1B Vic Power and MLB P Ruben Gomez.
1960 - Former Yankees P Bob Tewksbury (1986-1987) was born. The Yankees in the 19th round of the 1981 MLB amateur player draft drafted Bob. In 1986, Bob went 9-5 in 23 games with 2 complete games. Bob was 1-4 in 8 games with the team, when on July 13, 1987; he was traded by the Yankees along with minor league hurlers Rich Scheid and Dean Wilkins to the Cubs for starter Steve Trout.
1964 - The Yankees drafted C Ellie Rodriguez from the A’s organization in the 1964 MLB 1st-year player draft. Ellie appeared in 9 games for the 1968 Yankees hitting just .208. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1968 AL expansion team player draft (the Royals and Pilots).
1964 - 1B/OF Duke Carmel was drafted by the Yankees from the Mets organization in the 1964 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. Duke appeared in 6 games for the 1965 Yankees with no hits.
1967 - The Yankees purchased shortstop Gene “Stick” Michael from the Dodgers for cash. He will be the Yankees starting shortstop until the 1975 AL season. After retiring as a MLB player, he will return to the Yankees organization to be a coach, Manager (MLB and minor leagues), General Manager. Currently Gene is serving as a Special Consultant in the Yankees front office.
1976 - The Yankees purchased OF/DH Jimmy “Toy Cannon” Wynn from the Braves for $100,000. He hit a disappointing .133 in 43 games for the Yankees before being released by the Yankees on July 14, 1977. He hit the game winning hit in the 1977 home opener, which was the highlight of his Yankee career.
1976 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/OF Craig Wilson (2006) was born. After being traded by the Pirates for P Shawn Chacon, Craig only hit .212 in 40 games in pinstripes. He left the Yankees for free agency in the fall of 2006, signing with the Braves.
1981 - Yankees rookie left-handed starter Dave Righetti, who had of 8-4 record with a 2.06 ERA in 1981, wins the 1981 AL Rookie of the Year Award. The Yankees had obtained him from the Rangers in the winter of 1978 in the Sparky Lyle trade.
2000 - MLB Free agent starter Mike Mussina inks an $88.5 million, 6-year contract with the Yankees. The 10-year veteran compiled a 147-81 record with a 3.53 ERA as an Orioles hurler. Mike Mussina tells the NYC media that a deciding factor to sign with the Yankees was a telephone call from Yankees Manager Joe Torre.
December 1st
1940 - Former Yankees P Cecil Perkins (1967) was born. Before the 1962 AL Season, the Yankees signed Cecil Perkins as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 0-1 in 2 games with the Yankees in 1967.
1951 - Yankees released former player Tommy “Old Reliable” Henrich as an MLB coach.
1954 - The Yankees and Orioles complete the largest trade in MLB history as 17 players, including stars P Don Larsen, OF Gene Woodling, and P Bob Turley change teams. The 1st phase of the transaction began on November 18th and will conclude today after the 1954 MLB player draft. The Yankees obtained 1B Richard Kryhoski, P Mike Blayzka, C Darrell Johnson, and outfielders Jim Fridley and Tel Del Guercio from the Orioles, with the Yankees sending them P Bill Miller, 3B Kal Segrist, 2B Don Leppert and 2 minor leaguers to be named later. Only C Darrell Johnson remained with the Yankees as a back-up catcher for Yogi Berra in 1958-1959, before he was traded to the Cardinals organization after the 1959 AL season. The rest of the players involved in the trade were traded away or never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. OF Ted del Guercio was the only player in the 17-player trade, who didn’t play in a MLB game during his 12-year career.
1956 - Former Yankees minor league P Tom Filer was born. The Yankees signed Tom, as an MLB amateur free agent in 1978. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 8, 1980, Tom was drafted by the A’s from the Yankees organization in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 player draft. On April 9, 1981, he was returned by the A’s to the Yankees. On April 27, 1981, Tom was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Cubs for veteran C Barry Foote. After retiring as an active player, Tom Filer was a coach in the Yankees' minor league system from 1994-2002: 1994 Pitching coach for the Oneonta Yankees (A), 1999-2001 Pitching coach for the Norwich Navigators (AA) and 2002 Pitching coach for the Columbus Clippers (AAA). Then Tom moved to the Blue Jays' minor league system in 2003. Tom has been with the Phillies' farm system since 2005.
1969 - The Yankees reserve OF/1B Tom Shopay was drafted by the Orioles from the Yankees organization in the 1969 MLB Rule 5 player draft. Tom appeared in 36 games for the Yankees (1967 and 1969) hitting just .189.
1971 - The Yankees obtained veteran INF Bernie Allen from the Rangers for pitchers Terry Ley and Gary Jones. Bernie Allen would be a successful pinch hitter for the Yankees during the 1972 AL season.
1978 - The Yankees assigned the contract of left-handed reliever Paul Linblad to the Mariners for future considerations. Paul went 0-0 in 7 games with the Yankees after joining them from the Rangers in August of 1978.
1982 - The Yankees signed onetime AL MVP Don Baylor to a free agent contract. Don Baylor won the AL MVP Award in 1979 when he hit 24 HRs with 93 RBI’s for the Angels. He signs a reported 5-year, $5 million contract. After hitting .303, 21 HRS with 85 RBIs in 1982, Don dropped off in his next 2 seasons with the Yankees just hitting only .262 and .231. On March 28, 1986, Don was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for OF/DH/1B Mike Easler.
1991 - Former Yankees reserve OF (1940) and MLB Manager Buster Mills passed away. (1908-1991). On October 26, 1938, Buster was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Oral Hildebrand to the Yankees for C Joe Glenn and OF Myril Hoag. Buster hit .397 in 14 games for the Yankees in 1940. During the 1953 NL season, Buster managed the Reds for 8 games, posting a 4-4 mark.
December 2nd
1889- Former Yankees INF Ray Morehart (1927) was born. On January 13, 1927, Ray was traded by the White Sox along with C Johnny Grabowski to the Yankees for INF Aaron Ward. Ray was a reserve INF on the 1927 Yankees bench, appearing in 73 games and hitting .256. He retired from MLB after the 1927 World Series.
1903 - Former Yankees P Don Brennan (1933) was born. Don went 5-1 in 18 games with 3 saves for the Yankees in 1933. On March 5, 1934, the Reds purchased Don from the Yankees.
1950 - Former Yankees P Robert “Bob” Kammeyer (1978-1979) was born (1950-2003). Bob was drafted by the Yankees in the 21st round of the 1972 MLB amateur player draft. He attended Dartmouth University, majoring in Economics. Bob went 0-0 in 8 games for the Yankees during the 1978-1979 AL seasons. In 1980, Bob was named International League Pitcher of the Year, while pitching with the Columbus Clippers. Bob passed away in 2003.
1952 - Brooklyn Dodgers executive Buzzie Bavasi dismisses the Yankees front office’s reaction to Jackie Robinson's charges of racism. MLB Commissioner Ford Frick plans to take no action against Jackie Robinson for his remarks to the NYC media. Two days earlier Jackie Robinson had called the Yankees, a racist organization for its failure to promote a black player to the parent club. The 1st black Yankees MLB player would be C Elston Howard in 1955.
1967 - The Yankees purchased C John Boccabella from Cubs for cash. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. He would be sold to the Expos.
1971 - The Yankees traded former AL ROY P Stan Bahnsen to the White Sox for INF Rich McKinney. This deal failed for the Yankees when McKinney couldn’t handle the transition from 2B to 3B. Meanwhile Bahnsen would win 20 games for the White Sox in 1972. McKinney’s failure at 3B, leading to the Graig Nettles trade with the Indians in the fall of 1972.
1974 - The Yankees purchased OF/1B/DH Bob Oliver from the Orioles for cash. Bob hit only .132 in 18 games before being released by the Yankees on July 15, 1975.
1997 - Former Yankees P Steve Hamilton (1963-1969) passed away from cancer (1936-1997). Steve was obtained from the Senators for P Jim Coates in April of 1963. Steve worked mostly out of the Yankees bullpen until September of 1970, going 34-20 in 312 games with 36 saves. On September 9, 1970, Steve was selected off waivers by the White Sox from the Yankees.
December 3rd
1915 - Former Yankees P Charles “Butch” Wensloff (1943, 1947) was born. Butch Wensloff pitched for 3 seasons in the majors. All 3-years were on a World Series championship team. He was a star with the Yankees as a rookie in 1943, going 13-11. Then, after missing several years of a career to World War II, he came back to win again with the Yankees in 1947, going 3-1. His ERA was well under 3.00 both years. In the 1947 World Series, which the Yankees won, Wensloff pitched a couple scoreless innings in the 6th game. He pitched 1 game for the 1948 Indians, who went on to win the 1948 World Series. He led the American Association in 1942 with 21 victories. On March 27, 1948, he was sent to the Phillies by the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On April 10, 1948, he was returned by the Phillies to the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On April 12, 1948, he was purchased by the Indians from the Yankees.
1922 - Former Yankees 1B/OF Joe Collins (1948-1957) was born. Before 1939 AL Season, Joe was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. In 10 seasons with the Yankees, Joe hit .256, never really living up to the hitting promise that the Yankees had hoped for. Joe appeared in 7 World Series with the Yankees. During the 1957 AL season Joe was replaced by Bill Skowron as the regular Yankees 1B. On March 20, 1958, Joe was purchased by the Phillies from the Yankees. Joe retired from MLB, turning down a $100,000 player contract offer from the Phillies. He told the NYC media that he wanted to be remembered as a Yankee.
1925 - Former Yankees OF Harry “The Suitcase” Simpson was born (1925-1979). On June 15, 1957, Harry was traded by the A’s along with P Ryne Duren and OF Jim Pisoni to the Yankees for INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held, and OF Bob Martyn. In 1957, Harry hit .270 in 75 games for the Yankees. In 1958, he hit only .216 in 24 games, before being traded back to the A’s along with P Bob Grim for A’s P Duke Maas and P Virgil Trucks.
1947- Former Yankees P Gerry Pirtle was born. Gerry was drafted by the Yankees in the 7th round of the 1967 MLB amateur player draft (June Secondary). He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On January 23, 1976, he was traded by the Yankees to the Cubs for C Rick Stelmaszek.
1951 - Pitcher Rubén Gómez was drafted by theYankees from the St. Jean Canadians in the 1951 MLB minor league player draft. Ruben will be released by the Yankees organization in June of 1952. Ruben will be signed by the Giants, making his MLB debut in 1953, posting a 13-11 mark. In 1954 he will have his best MLB season posting a 17-9 record for the NL Champion Giants. He won 1 game for the Giants in the 1954 World Series. He will pitch in the MLB for 10 seasons, posting a 76-86 record with the Giants, Phillies, Indians, and Twins.
1960 - Former Yankees P Gene Nelson (1981) was born. On October 8, 1979, Gene was sent to the Yankees by the Rangers to complete the Oscar Gamble-Mickey Rivers trade made earlier in August of 1979. Gene would go 3-1 in 8 games in 1981. In 1982 spring training camp, he made the Yankees starting rotation, but once again the Yankees front office decided to bring in a veteran pitcher rather than go with a young pitcher. On April 1, 1982, Gene was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later, P Bill Caudill to the Mariners for starter Shane Rawley. At 1st report of the trade, the Mariners inform Nelson that he would be pitching for their AAA team. Nelson balks telling them that he had just made the Yankees starting rotation, he will not report to their AAA team, finally both sides reached an agreement. The Yankees would later send reserve OF Bobby Brown on April 6, 1982, to the Mariners to complete the trade. Gene would go 6-9 in 22 starts for the Mariners during the 1982 AL season.
1962 - Former MLB players Frank Crosetti (Yankees) and Johnny Schulte (Cubs and Phillies) file suit to halt any increased MLB pension benefits that fail to include old-time MLB players.
1968 - The MLB Rules Committee adopts a series of changes designed to increase the amount of offensive run production in both leagues. In the most significant alterations, the committee agrees to decrease the size of the strike zone and lower the height of the pitcher's mound from 15 inches to 10 inches. The rules changes will result in increased run scoring in 1969.
1974 - The Yankees obtained P Skip Lockwood from the Angels for C/INF Bill Sudakis. The Yankees would release Skip Lockwood during spring training, he would sign on with the Mets.
1988 - MLB free agent P Dave LaPoint signs a 3-year contract with the Yankees. Dave would go 14-19 in 48 games with the Yankees. On February 17,1991, Dave was released by the Yankees.
2005 - Former Yankees set-up man Tom “Flash” Gordon agreed to terms with the Phillies on a 3-year contract.
December 4th
1890 - Former Yankees P Bob “Sailor Bob” Shawkey (1915-1927) was born. Bob Shawkey finished his Yankee pitching career with a record of 168-131. A 4-time 20 game winner for the Yankees after being obtained from the A’s In 1915 for $85,000. Bob will manage the Yankees in 1930 to an 86-68 record before being replaced by veteran NL Cubs Manager Joe McCarthy.
1893 - Former Yankees P Luke Nelson (1919) was born. Luke Nelson pitched 24.3 innings for the 1919 Yankees, while posting a 3-0 record in 9 games.
1938 - Former Yankees reserve C/1B Bill Bryan (1966-1967) was born. On June 10, 1966, Bill was traded by the A’s along with P Fred Talbot to the Yankees for OF Roger Repoz, pitchers Gil Blanco and Bill Stafford. Bill hit .217 and .166 for the 1966-1967 Yankees. On November 28, 1967, Bill was drafted by the Senators from the Yankees organization in the 1967 MLB Rule 5 player draft.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve INF Tucker Ashford (1981) was born. On October 24, 1980, Tucker was traded by the Rangers with cash to the Yankees for INF Roger Holt. In 1981, Tucker will appear in only 3 games with the Yankees with no hits. On October 27, 1982, he was purchased by the Blue Jays from the Yankees. On April 5, 1983, Tucker is returned to the Yankees by the Blue Jays. On April 18, 1983, Tucker is traded by the Yankees to the Mets for a player to be named later and Steve Ray (minors). The Mets would send minor leaguer Felix Perdomo on May 3, 1983 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1957 - MLB baseball kills the bonus rule and raises the minimum MLB player salary to $7,000. Yankees GM George Weiss stayed away from the bonus rule type players after the signings of 1B Frank Leja and INF Tommy Carroll. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel did not play the bonus players, who had to stay with the MLB team for 2 years.
1957 - Former Yankees P Lee Smith (1993) was born. The former NL All Star Cardinals closer Lee appeared in 8 games with a 0-0 record with 3 saves in September of 1993, before leaving the Yankees for free agency. He would sign with the Orioles.
1957 - Former Yankees reserve OF Pat Sheridan (1991) was born. On January 24, 1991, Pat was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He would bat only .204 in 62 games for the Yankees during the 1991 AL season.
1962 - Former Yankees reserve OF Stanley “Stan” Jefferson (1989) was born. On October 24, 1988, Stan was traded by the Padres along with P Jimmy Jones and P Lance McCullers to the Yankees for 1B Jack Clark and P Pat Clements. Stan appeared in only 10 games with the Yankees, just hitting only .083. On July 20, 1989, Stan was traded by the Yankees to the Orioles for P John Habyan
1964 - The MLB restore to the commissioner's office all powers rescinded after Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's death in 1944. Principally, they waived their right to take legal action in the event of disagreements with the MLB Commissioner and grant him authority to judge whether actions taken by the owners in concert are, automatically "in the best interests of baseball." Voting for the annual MLB All-Star teams is turned back to the fans.
1964 - MLB approves a free-agent draft. At their winter meetings in Houston, the minor league and major league organizations establish a system, basically like that of professional football, which will take effect in January of 1965 and be held every 4 months thereafter. Choices will be exercised by clubs in reverse order of their previous year's league standings. Draftees must be included in their club's 40-man roster or be susceptible to claim at the waiver price the following season. This move by the MLB owners would end the dominance of the Yankees and Dodgers from spending big money to sign young players, giving the poorer teams a chance to sign young talented players.
1968 - The Yankees obtained reserve OF Richard Simpson from the Astros for reliever Dooley Womack. Simpson hit .273 in 6 games for the 1969 Yankees before being sent to the Pilots. Dooley Womack was never effective pitcher after leaving the Yankees.
1968 - The Dodgers traded P Mike Kekich to the Yankees for OF Andy Kosco. Kosco never really showed the promise of being a power hitter, while playing for the Yankees. Mike Kelich is more known for his wife trade with fellow Yankees teammate P Fritz Peterson than for his pitching with the Yankees.
1969 - The Yankees send veteran starter Al Downing and C Frank Fernandez to A’s for 1B Danny Cater and C Ossie Chavarria. Al Downing was still coming back from pitching arm problems. Frank Fernandez was a weak hitting catcher. Danny Cater would be traded to the Red Sox for reliever Sparky Lyle in March of 1972.
1969 - The Yankees traded former AL Golden Glove winner 1B/OF Joe Pepitone to the Astros for 1B/OF/C Curt Blefary. Curt returns to the Yankees, the MLB team that he originally signed with in the early 1960’s. He was lost by the Yankees in a 40-man roster move made during the 1963 AL season, adding veteran INF Harry Bright. The Orioles immediately claimed Curt, who was playing at Greensboro (AA). Curt will be a major disappointment for the Yankees, never showing the power hitting that he had with the Orioles during the mid 1960’s. Joe Pepitone had worn out his welcome with the Yankees front office with his disputes with the team.
1975 - Former Yankees P Ed Yarnell (1999-2000) was born. On February 1, 1999, Ed was traded by the Marlins along with Todd Noel (minors) and Mark J. Johnson to the Yankees for INF Mike Lowell. Ed went 1-0 in 7 games with the Yankees. On July 12, 2000, Ed was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jackson Melian (minors), 3B Drew Henson, and Brian Reith to the Reds for OF Mike Frank and veteran starter Denny Neagle.
1985 - Yankees minor league P Andrew Brackman was born. Andrew Brackman is a 6' 11" right-handed Minor League Baseball pitcher with the Yankees organization. He signed a 4 year $4.55 million dollar deal with $3.35 million signing bonus as the 30th overall pick of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. In 2009, he pitched for Charleston River Dogs. He is still recovering from arm surgery.
1990 - Former Yankees closer Dave Righetti signs as a MLB free agent with the Giants.
1992 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent shortstop Spike Owen (1993) to a 3-year contract. Spike hit .234 in 103 games with the Yankees, before being traded on December 9, 1993, along with cash to the Angels for minor league player Jose Musset.
December 5th
1871 - Former Yankees P Lewis “Snake” Wiltse (1902-1903) was born. He went 7-14 in 21 games for the Yankees.
1928 - Former Yankees minor league P Jack Urban was born. In 1949, the Yankees signed Jack as an MLB amateur free agent. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On April 5, 1957, Jack was sent by the Yankees to the A’s to complete an earlier deal made on February 19, 1957. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, along with OF Irv Noren, INF Milt Graff, P Mickey McDermott, P Tom Morgan, P Rip Coleman, and INF Billy Hunter to the A’s for players to be named later, along with P Art Ditmar, P Bobby Shantz, P Jack McMahan, and INF Wayne Belardi. The Yankees would send P Jack Urban on April 5, 1957 to the A’s to complete the trade. The Athletics would send INF Curt Roberts on April 4, 1957. The A’s would send INF Clete Boyer on June 4, 1957 to the Yankees to complete the trade. On April 8, 1959, Jack was traded by the A’s back to the Yankees for P Mark Freeman. On May 12, 1959, Jack was purchased by the Cardinals from the Yankees. Despite of all of this MLB trade activity, Jack managed to have MLB career record of 15-15 in 69 games with the A’s and the Cardinals. His best MLB season was in 1957, posting a 7-4 record with the A’s.
1958 - The Phillies, hoping to fill the NL void in New York City caused by departure of the Giants and Dodgers to California, drop any plans for 1959 regular season broadcasts into New York City after the Yankees threaten to broadcast their 1959 AL season games into Philadelphia TV market.
1959 - Representing MLB, the Yankees' AL All Star C and MVP Yogi Berra visits Italy to present baseball equipment and aid in the sport's development.
1964 - Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Roenicke (1986) was born. On December 12, 1985, Gary was traded by the Orioles with a player to be named later to the Yankees for P Rich Bordi and INF Rex Hudler. The Orioles would send Leo Hernandez on December 16, 1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Gary would hit .265 in 69 games with the Yankees, before leaving the team for free agency.
1974 -The Yankees obtained reserve INF Eddie Leon from the White Sox for reliever Cecil Upshaw. Ed would only appear in 1 game for the Yankees before being released by the team on May 5, 1975. Upshaw, who was obtained from the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade in 1974, was a major disappointment for the Yankees.
1984 -The A's send All Star base stealing OF Rickey Henderson and P Bert Bradley to the Yankees in exchange for P Jay Howell and P Jose Rijo, OF Stanley Javier, and minor leaguer pitchers Tim Birtsas and Eric Plunk.
1984 - The Yankees traded veteran C Rick Cerone to the Braves for minor league P Brian Fisher. Rick had only played in 38 games for the 1984 Yankees hitting just .208. Brian Fisher would work out of the Yankees bullpen in 1985.
1996 - Two days after signing C Joe Girardi, the Yankees send back-up C Jim Leyritz to the Angels in exchange for minor leaguer players Ryan Kane and Jeremy Blevins. Jim Leyritz, the Yankee player with the longest tenure of 5 years, 126 days was vulnerable because of his $1.75 million yearly contract.
1996 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cliff Mapes (1948-1951) passed away (1922-1996). On November 1, 1946, Cliff was drafted by the Yankees from the Indians organization in the 1946 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He was the last active Yankee player to wear Babe Ruth’s No. 3 Yankees uniform. Also he wore No. 7 during the 1951 AL season; the number that rookie OF Mickey Mantle would get after returning from Kansas City Blues (AAA). On July 31, 1951, Cliff was purchased by the Browns from the Yankees.
2001 - New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces he wants to complete new stadium deals for the Mets and Yankees before he leaves office at the end of the month. Before the September 11 attacks, which dramatically changed the city's financial stature, the mayor thought an arrangement in which the city, the state and the owners agreed to pay one-third of the cost of the new stadiums might complete the negotiations with the teams.
