This Week in Yankees History
January 3rd – January 9th
January 3rd
January 3rd – January 9th
January 3rd
1891 - Former Yankees reserve INF John Dowd (1912) was born. John appeared in only 10 games in 1912 for the Yankees, hitting just .194.
1912 - Former Yankees OF Stanley “Frenchy” Bordagaray (1941) was born. On January 27, 1940, he was sent by the Reds to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 5, 1939. The Reds sent players to be named later and $40,000 to the Yankees for 1B Vince DiMaggio. The Reds would send OF Frenchy Bordagaray and Nino Bongiovanni on January 27, 1940 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He hit .260 in 36 games for the Yankees in 1941. On March 23, 1942, Frenchy was purchased by the Dodgers from the Yankees.
1920 - The secret deal made on December 26, 1919 to sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $125,000 (twice the amount ever paid previously for a player) is announced publicly. Red Sox owner Harry Frazee also secures a $350,000 loan from the Yankees as part of the deal.
1923 - The Yankees pluck 2 rookies from the Red Sox in two separate deals, P George Pipgras and OF Harvey Hendrick. Yankees received P George Pipgras in exchange for backup C Al DeVormer. George Pipgras would win 93 games as a starter for the Yankees. Hendrick would be a reserve OF for the Yankees.
1965 - Former Yankees INF and MLB Coach Louis Sojo (1996-1999, 2001, 2003) was born. On August 22, 1996, Louie was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Mariners. He would prove to a valuable reserve INF for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1997, when he hit .307 in 77 games. After leaving the Yankees thru MLB free agency, he returned to the team on August 7, 2000, Luis was traded by the Pirates for minor league P Chris Spurling. After retiring as an MLB active player in 2003, he was minor league manager in the Yankees farm system; later he would be a MLB 3B coach for the Yankees.
1973 - A group of investors headed by Cleveland, Ohio shipbuilder George Steinbrenner, purchases the Yankees from CBS, Inc. for $10 million. Mike Burke and Gabe Paul are among the limited partners in the group acquiring the Yankees. Former Indians GM Gabe Paul would replace Mike Burke as President of the Yankees.
1974 - After the Yankees was denied by the MLB Commissioner’s office, the signing of former A’s Manager Richard Williams as their new manager for the 1974 AL season. The Yankees signed former minor league OF Bill Virdon as their new manager. Although the former Pirates skipper will manage for 2 years in New York, he will never win a game at Yankee Stadium because the Yankees will play home games at Shea Stadium due to renovations of their stadium. The Yankees originally signed Bill, but he was traded to the Cardinals in the Enos Slaughter trade in 1954. Bill went 142-123 as Yankees Manager before being replaced by Billy Martin during the 1975 AL season.
1977 - Current Yankees starter A.J. Burnett (2009) was born. On December 18, 2008, Burnett signed a 5 year $82.5 million contract with the Yankees. A.J. Burnett posted a 13-9 record in 33 games for the 2009 Yankees. In 2009 World Series, A.J. went 1-1 against the Phillies.
1997 - Yankees signed MLB free agent P Willie Banks. Willie had been a #1 draft pick of the Twins and a former New Jersey All State High School pitcher at St. Anthony HS. He will go 4-1 in 14 games before being traded on June 3,1998, by the Yankees to the Diamondbacks for minor league players Scott Brow and Joe Lisio.
2001 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent P Todd Williams. Todd will appear in 15 games with the 2001 Yankees with a 1-0 record.
2001 - The Yankees traded reliever Jay Tessmer and minor league player Seth Taylor to the Rockies for P David Lee.
2003 - Former Yankees P Joe “Professor” Ostrowski (1950-1952) passed away (1916-2003) Joe was originally signed by the Red Sox in 1941. After serving in WWII, he was traded by the Red Sox to the Browns in 1947. On June 15,1950, Joe was traded by the Browns along with pitchers Tom Ferrick, Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas to the Yankees for OF Jim Delsing, Pitchers Don Johnson, Duane Pillette, INF George “ Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000. Joe was used primarily out of the bullpen for the Yankees World Championship teams of 1950 and 1952. Joe, who contributed a 6-4 record plus 5 saves in 1951 AL season. He appeared in 1 game in the 1951 World Series, pitching 2 innings with no decision. He did not appear in the 1950 or 1952 World Series games for the Yankees. Ostrowski was 2-2 with a 5.62 ERA for the 1952 Yankees. He ended his 5-year MLB career with a 23-25 record and 15 saves overall. As a Yankee, Joe went 9-7 in 75 games with 10 saves. He was nicknamed “Professor” because he had a teacher’s degree and taught high school before becoming an MLB player. After retiring from MLB, he returned to teaching and retired in 1978.
2003 - The Yankees released P Brandon Knight. On December 13, 1999, Brandon was traded by the Rangers along with P Sam Marsonek to the Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. In 2 seasons with the Yankees, Brandon appeared in only 11 games with no record.
2005 - MLB Commissioner Bud Selig approves the potential trade of the Diamondbacks NL All Star starter Randy Johnson to the Yankees in exchange for pitchers Javier Vazquez and Brad Halsey, minor league C Dioner Navarro, and $9 million dollars.
2006 - The Yankees signed former Red Sox CF Johnny Damon as a MLB free agent. In 4 seasons with the Yankees, Johnny has hit .285 in 575 games with 77 HRs and 296 RBIs. In the 2009 World Series against the Phillies, he hit .364 (8 for 22).
2006 - The Yankees resigned MLB free agent AL All Star CF Bernie Williams. In 2005, he had hit .249 in 141 games with 12 HRs with 64 RBI’s for the Yankees. In 2006, Bernie will hit .281 with 12 HRs with 61 RBI’s in his final season for the Yankees.
2007 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent P Ben Kozlowski. Ben will not appear with the 2008 Yankees at the MLB level.
January 4th
1890 - Former MLB player and long-time Yankees minor league manager Oscar Vitt was born. He was the manager of the Newark Bears of the International League (AAA) in the 1930’s, when they were the top farm club of the New York Yankees. Oscar fielded one of the best minor league teams ever seen in 1937. His success with the Newark Bears lead to a MLB manager’s job with the Indians from 1938-1940. After being let go by the Indians, he manage in the PCL (AAA) with the Hollywood Stars.
1904 - The Highlanders announce plans to play on Sundays at Ridgewood Park in Queens, NY, but the Brooklyn Superbas objects. Sunday baseball games are legal in Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago and Cincinnati.
1906 - Former Yankees reserve INF John “Blondy” Ryan (1935) was born. On August 6, 1935, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Phillies. John appeared in 30 games for the Yankees, hitting .238. On December 18, 1935, John was purchased by the Indians from the Yankees.
1908 - Former Yankees All Star OF and MLB Executive George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk (1934-1942) was born (1908-1987). George Selkirk succeeded Babe Ruth as the Yankees right fielder, after Ruth was sent to the Braves following the 1934 AL season. George played for 9 seasons with the Yankees finishing with lifetime BA of .290. He was a member of AL All Star team twice (1936 and 1939). George hit .265 in 6 World Series. He served in the military during WWII. When he was released by the Yankees in May of 1946, he would become a minor league manager. During the 1950’s, he worked in the A’s front office as their GM. Then he would become the GM of new Senators expansion team in 1961, holding the position until 1968.
1910 - Former Yankees President and General Manager Gabe Paul (1973-1977) was born (1910-1998). Gabe Paul was part of a group of investors headed by George Steinnbrenner that bought the team from CBS in 1973. Gabe Paul’s trades in the early 1970’s helped rebuild the Yankees into championship teams. Gabe spent bulk of his MLB executive career with the Indians. In the 1950’s, he worked as the GM for the Reds.
1925 - Former Yankees reliever Tom Gorman (1952-1954) was born (1925-1992). In 1946, Tom was signed by the Yankees as a MLB amateur free agent. He pitched in the World Series for the Yankees in 1952 and 1953 with no record in 2 games. As a Yankee, Tom went 10-7 in 75 games with 9 saves for the Yankees before being sold to the A’s in the spring of 1955. He would stay with the A’s until 1959. Tom finished his MLB career with a 36-36 record with 33 saves.
1928 - The Yankees buy shortstop Lyn Lary and INF Jimmie Reese from the Oakland Oaks (PCL) for a reported $150,000 in cash. Lary would give the Yankees, 3 strong seasons at shortstop before slipping in 1934; Jimmie Reese would be shipped off to the Cardinals in 1931.
1940 - In a trade of pitchers, the Reds send Lee Grissom to the Yankees for Joe Beggs, who had to clear waivers from all 7 AL teams. This is due to the new rule voted last month barring the AL pennant winner from any trades within the AL. Joe Beggs will go 1-3 for the Reds, while Lee Grissom will be sold to the Dodgers on May 15,1940.
1943 - A wartime tone for the 1943 MLB season is set, when Yankees starter Red Ruffing, just months short of his 38th birthday, and minus 4 toes, is drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps.
1963 - Former Yankees reserve OF Daryl Boston (1994) was born. On January 13, 1994, Daryl was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. In 1994, he played for the Yankees, appearing in 52 games with 77 at-bats, just hitting .182.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league Manager Trey Hillman (1989-2002) was born. Hillman spent 13 years in the Yankees organization primarily as a manager at every level. He won three Manager of the Year awards and guided his teams to three 1st-place finishes. He left the Yankees organization to manage in Japan. He is currently the manager of the Royals.
1966 - Yankees obtained OF Lou Clinton from the Indians for C Doc Edwards. Lou batted .220 for the Yankees, as a reserve OF in 1966.
1976 - Former Yankees P Ted Lilly (2000-2001) was born. Ted came to the Yankees from Expos in the Hideki Irabu trade in the winter of 1999. He went 8-12 as a Yankee pitcher in 38 games. He had trouble throwing strikes. On July 5, 2002, he was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Yankees along with P Jason Arnold and OF John Ford-Griffin to the A’s. The A’s sent a player to be named later, 1B Carlos Pena, and P Franklyn German to the Tigers. The Tigers sent P Jeff Weaver to the Yankees. The Tigers sent cash to the A’s. The A’s sent P Jeremy Bonderman to the Tigers to complete the trade.
1987 - Former Yankees reserve C Tony Rensa (1933) passed away. Tony appeared in only 8 games for the 1933 Yankees hitting .310.
2005 - Former Yankees 3B Wade Boggs becomes the 41st player elected to the Hall of Fame in his 1st year of eligibility, while receiving 474 of the record number of 516 votes cast (92%).
January 5th
1885 - Former Yankees MLB Coach and Manager Art Fletcher was born (1885-1950). Art was a longtime Yankees coach from 1927 to 1945. He spent 11 games as the club's skipper in 1929, before Bob Shawkey took over the team, following Manager Miller Higgins death.
1890 - Former Yankees reserve OF Benjamin “Benny” Kauff (1912). Benny only appeared in 5 games for the Yankees during the 1912 AL season hitting .273.
1914 - The Yankees buy P Boardwalk Brown from the A’s for cash. He went 3-6 and was released during the 1914 AL season.
1915 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Kramer (1951) was born. On May 28, 1951, Jack was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He went 1-3 in 19 games for the Yankees, before being released on August 30, 1951. He had started the 1951 MLB season with the Giants. The Yankees and Giants would meet in the 1951 World Series without Jack.
1928 - Former Yankees minor league C Bob Oldis was born. In October of 1956, Bob was purchased by the Yankees from the Senators. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 30, 1959, Bob was drafted by the Pirates from the Yankees in the 1959 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He appeared in 2 games against the Yankees with the Pirates in 1960 World Series with no hits.
1934 - The Yankees released 2 veteran players: P Herb Pennock and 3B Joe Sewell. Their MLB playing careers were over. Both players would be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1943 - The MLB Teams agree to start the 1943 season later than usual and prepare to train in northern areas of the country because of World War II travel restrictions. Resorts, armories, and university facilities are chosen for spring training sites. The Yankees will try the seashore resort city of Atlantic City, NJ, for their 1943 spring training camp.
1944 - Former Yankees minor league INF Charlie Vinson was born. Charlie was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1963. On December 2, 1963, he was drafted by the Angels from the Yankees in the 1963 MLB 1st year player draft.
1951 - Former Yankees minor league P Ed Ricks (1977) was born. Ed Ricks was drafted in the 6th round of the 1972 MLB amateur player draft by the Yankees. He led the 1972 Appalachian League with 97 IP, 100 H, 72 R, and 56 ER. Ricks spent 1975-1976 seasons with the Syracuse Chiefs (IL). He was on the Yankees 1977 spring roster, but never appeared in a game at the MLB level. However, he appeared on the Yankees active MLB roster in September of 1977.
1958 - Former Yankees OF/DH Ron Kittle (1986-1987) was born. On July 30, 1986, he was traded by White Sox along with C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson to the Yankees for a player to be named later, C Ron Hassey, and OF Carlos Martinez. The Yankees would later send C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade. Ron hit .277 in 1987, before leaving the team for free agency, signing with the Indians.
1961 - Former Yankees reserve OF Henry Cotto (1985-1987) was born. On December 4, 1984, Henry was traded by the Cubs along with P Porfi Altamirano, P Rich Bordi, and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for P Ray Fontenot and OF/INF Brian Dayett. Henry would be a reserve OF for the Yankees. On December 22, 1987, Henry was traded by the Yankees, along with starter Steve Trout to the Mariners for 3 pitchers: Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker, and Wade Taylor.
1983 - Current Yankees minor league P Alan Horne was born. The Yankees in the 11th round of the 2005 MLB amateur player draft selected Alan Horne. He made his pro debut in 2006 with the Tampa Yankees, going 6-9 with a 4.84 ERA and 122 strikeouts. He played for the Trenton Thunder in 2007, going 12-4 with a league-leading 3.11 ERA with 165 strikeouts. Alan was named the 2007 Eastern League Pitcher of the Year. He began 2008 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (AAA). He was 1-0 in 2 starts before going on the disabled list with Tommy John surgery in April of 2008. In 2009, he pitched for 3 minor league teams posting a 4-4 record.
1984 - The Yankees signed future HOF P Phil Niekro to a 2-year contract. Niekro, who went 11-10 with a 3.97 ERA for the Braves in 1983, will fill a void in the Yankees starting rotation, allowing the team to move starter Dave Righetti to the bullpen to be a closer.
1993 - Former Yankees OF Reggie Jackson is the lone player elected by the BWAA to the HOF. Jackson, whose .262 lifetime batting average is the lowest of any outfielder in the HOF, receives 93.6 percent of the vote. His 563 MLB career HRs make him a hit with voters in his 1st year of eligibility.
1999 - HOF Yankees catcher Yogi Berra received an apology from Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner about his dismissal as Yankees manager in 1985 after only 16 games into the season. Berra says he will end his self-exile from Yankee Stadium and the Yankees organization. He is expected to participate in future Opening Day and Old Timer's Day ceremonies at Yankee Stadium.
2008 - The Yankees finalize their deal with MLB free agent All Star 1B Mark Teixeira for $180 million over 8 years. Mark joins AL All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, starter CC Sabathia, All Star shortstop Derek Jeter and starter A.J. Burnett on the payroll-heavy 2009 Yankees. Tex will provide the 2009 with a .292 BA with a league leading 39 HRs, with 122 RBI’s in 156 games. He was named to the 2009 AL All Star team. Tex won the AL 1B Golden Glove award as well as the AL 1B Silver Slugger Award.
January 6th
1915 - Former Yankees P Tom Ferrick (1950-1951) was born. (1915-1996) On June 15, 1950, Tom was traded by the Browns along with P Joe Ostrowski and 3B Leo Thomas to the Yankees for Jim Delsing, Don Johnson, Duane Pillette, Snuffy Stirnweiss, and $50,000. In 1950, Tom posted an 8-4 record with 9 saves. In 1951, he went 1-1 in 9 games with 1 save before being traded on June 15, 1951, along with hurlers Bob Porterfield and Fred Sanford to the Senators for P Bob Kuzava. He would later become a MLB pitching coach with the Tigers.
1926 - Future All-Star pitcher Ralph Branca (1954) is born in Mount Vernon, NY. Although Branca will win 21 games in 1947 for the Dodgers, he will become best known for giving up the Giants Bobby Thomson's pennant-winning HR in 1951 NL playoff-game. In July of 1954 the Yankees picked up Ralph Branca, he will appear in 5 games for the team, posting a 1-0 record. On October 19, 1954, Ralph was released by the Yankees. He would return to the MLB in September of 1956 for 1 game with the Dodgers.
1931 - The Yankees signed veteran INF Joe Sewell after his release by the Indians. He will be the Yankees regular 3B for the 1932-1933 AL seasons.
1936 - Former Yankees INF Ruben Amaro Sr. (1966-1968) was born. On November 29, 1965, he was traded by the Phillies to the Yankees for INF Phil Linz. The Yankees had high hopes for Ruben Amaro, a former MLB Golden Glover (1964) to take over starting shortstop position after Tony Kubek was forced to retire from MLB with back injuries. He was a failure with the bat and getting Tom Treshseriously hurt didn’t help out matters any. In 1968, he was sold to the Angels.
1940 - Former Yankees OF Elvio Jimenez (1964) was born. Elvio Jimenez played 1 game in October of 1964 for the Yankees, getting 6 at-bats with 2 hits.
1950 - Former Yankees reserve INF Ray Staiger (1979) was born. On December 9, 1977, Roy was traded by the Mets to the Yankees for INF Sergio Ferrer. Roy only appeared in 4 games with the Yankees in 1979, hitting .273.
1951 - Former Yankees P Don Gullet (1977-1980) was born. On November 18, 1976, Don was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Don went 14-4 in 1977, then 4-2 in 1978 before arm injuries ended his MLB career in 1980.
1967 - Former Yankees Manager Johnny Keane (1965-1966) dies in Chicago from a heart attack at the age of 55. Keane guided the Cardinals to the 1964 World Series, but left to become the manager of the Yankees, whom the Cardinals had beaten in the World Series, replacing the popular Yogi Berra. After an unsuccessful stint with the Yankees (81-101), Keane became a MLB scout with the Angels. In all fairness to Keane during the 1965 AL season, he was only able to field the Yankees regulars together for only for 20 games due to injuries.
1970 - Former Yankees P Dan Naulty (1999) was born. On November 16, 1998, Dan was traded by Twins to the Yankees for Allen Butler (minors). Dan went 1-0 in 33 games before being traded on December 14, 1999 to the Dodgers for Nicholas Leach (minors).
1970 - On January 6, 1970, OF Rich Bladt was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on September 11,1969. The Cubs sent a player to be named later, minor league player Terry Bongiovanni and cash to the Yankees for veteran OF Jimmie Hall. Rich would appear in 75 games as a reserve OF for the 1975 Yankees, hitting just .222. On January 20, 1977, he was traded by the Yankees along with OF Elliott Maddox to the Orioles for veteran golden glove winner OF Paul Blair.
1988 - MLB free agent slugger Jack Clark signs with the Yankees. Jack Clark will hit .242 with 27 HRs, 93 RBIs in 1988, before being traded by the Yankees to the Padres on October 24, 1988, along with P Pat Clements for Pitchers Lance McCullers, Jimmy Jones, and OF Stanley Jefferson.
1992 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent OF/DH Danny Tartabull to a 5-year contract after losing the chase to sign MLB free agent OF Barry Bonds to the Giants. He will hit .252 in 424 games for the Yankees with 81 HRs with 282 RBI’s. On July 28,1995, he was traded by the Yankees to the A’s for P Jason Beverlin and OF/DH Ruben Sierra. He was the son of former MLB OF Jose Tartabull and the brother of minor league outfielder Jose Tartabull Jr.
January 7th
1900 - Former Yankees reserve C John ‘Nig” Grabowski (1927-1929) was born. On January 13, 1927, John was traded by the White Sox along with Ray Morehart to the Yankees for shortstop Aaron Ward. John hit .272 in 167 games for the Yankees. In 1946, John was killed in a house fire in Albany, NY.
1913 - Future HOF Yankees 1B/PH Johnny Mize (1949-1953) is born in Demorest, GA. Known as "The Big Cat," Mize will hit 359 HRs and will gain election to the Hall Of Fame in 1981. On August 22, 1949, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Giants for $40,000. With the Yankees, Johnny would be PH and reserve 1B, leading the AL in PH for 3 years, finishing with a lifetime PH BA of .283, as a Yankee Johnny will hit 44 HRs with 179 RBIs. John appeared in 5 World Series for the Yankees hitting .286 with 3 HRs, 18 RBIs in 18 games. His Yankees Manager Casey Stengel called Mize as “the greatest pinch hitter I’ve ever seen, and I’ve been around long enough to have seen everything and some things which was never seen.”
1915 - The Tigers waived 1B Wally Pipp to the Yankees. Pipp hit .161 in 12 games for the 1914 Tigers, but he'll anchor 1st base for the Yankees for a decade until Lou Gehrig's appearance, because of Pipp’s headache during the 1925 AL season. He will finish his Yankees career with a .282 BA in 1,488 games, while hitting 80 HRs with 827 RBI’s. On January 15, 1926, Wally was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $7,500.
1920 - The newly acquired Yankees OF/P Babe Ruth reacts to the trade in the Boston Evening Standard saying, "Frazee is not good enough to own any ball club, especially one in Boston."
1924 - The Yankees buy the player contract of Louisville Colonels star OF Earle Combs, who hit .380 in 1923. The Colonels owner Bill Kneblekamp gets $50,000, OF Elmer Smith and another player, and he demands that the Yankees play an exhibition game in Louisville with a guarantee that Babe Ruth is in the starting lineup. This reportedly nets Kneblekamp an additional $5,000. Earle Combs will become the 1st of the great Yankee Center Fielders to play for the team.
1935 - Former Yankees INF Richard “Ducky” Schofield Sr. (1966) was born. He is the Father of former MBL player Richard Schofield Jr. and the Grandfather of Jayson Werth of the Phillies. On May 11, 1966, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Giants to fill in for injured Ruben Amaro. He hit .155 in 25 games before being traded to the Dodgers on September 10, 1966 for P Thad Tillotson and cash.
1976 - Former All Star 2B Yankees Alfonso Soriano (1999-2003) was born. On September 29, 1998, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Hiroshima Toyo Carp (Japan Central). He was the AL All Star 2B in 2002-2003. His best Yankees season was in 2002, hitting .300 with 39 HRs and 102 RBIs. On February 16, 2004, he was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later to the Rangers for AL All Star INF Alex Rodriguez and cash.
1978 - Former Yankees 1B George “Tioga” Burns (1928-1929) passed away (1914-1978). George played in 13 games in 1928-1929 before being sent to the A’s. With the Yankees, George was blocked at 1st base with the Yankees by Lou Gehrig.
1980 - Former Yankees minor league OF Jackson Melian was born. Jackson Melián was signed as a free agent on July 3, 1996 at the age of 16 by the Yankees. He received a $1.6 million signing bonus, which was a record at the time for an international free agent. He was named the Yankees #3 prospect by tools-focused Baseball America before he even played a professional baseball game. Jackson was named after Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, as his father Vincent was a longtime Yankee fan. He was compared to Ruben Rivera, and then considered the top prospect in the Yankee system by Baseball America. Jackson never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent to the Reds in the Danny Neagle trade. He was traded several times to the Cubs, he returned to the Yankees organization then he was traded to the Braves. He is currently in the Tigers organization, yet to play at the MLB level.
2006 - The final 2005 MLB teams payrolls are released, the Yankees finished last year with a record $207.2 million payroll, more than $90 million ahead of any other MLB team, according to final figures compiled by the commissioner's office.
January 8th
1913 - The Highlanders signed Frank Chance to be their next manager. Chance previously won 2 World Series and 4 pennants as the manager of the Cubs. His Yankees managing record would be 118-170. (1913-1914)
1941 - The BWAA in The Sporting News poll names the 1940 MLB All Star team: Hank Greenberg (LF), Yankees Joe DiMaggio (CF), Ted Williams (RF), Frank McCormick (1B), Yankees Joe Gordon (2B), Luke Appling (SS), Stan Hack (3B) and Harry Danning (C) are the position players, while Bob Feller, Bucky Walters, and Paul Derringer are the pitchers.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league OF Shane Turner was born. Shane was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at MLB level. On June 10, 1987, Shane was traded by the Yankees along with OF Keith Hughes to the Phillies for OF Mike Easler.
1969 - Former Yankees P Brian Boehringer (1995-1997) was born. On December 14, 2000, Brian was signed as a MLB free agent by the Yankees. He went 5-9 in 56 games before being traded on July 4, 2001 to the Giants for C Bobby Estalella and Joe Smith (minors). He was signed as a MLB free agent by the Yankees in July of 2005, but was released at the end of the month with no appearances with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1971 - Former Yankees DH/1B Jason Giambi (2002-2008) was born. Jason’s best Yankees season was in 2002, when he hit .314 with 34 HRs and 122 RBIs. Jason was named to the AL All Star team in 2002-2004. He appeared in 897 games for the Yankees, while hitting .260 with 209 HRs and 604 RBI’s.
1976 - Former Yankees P Carl Pavano (2005-2007) was born. Carl was 9-8 in limited action (26 games) for the Yankees due to various injuries.
1985 - The Yankees reacquired reserve C Juan Espino from the Indians.
1988 - Faced with a midnight deadline to re-sign with the Yankees, P Bill Gullickson agrees to a 2-year contract with Yomiuri Giants instead. Clipper’s Note: The Yankees front office really dropped the ball on Bill Gullickson; the team should have resigned him.
2008 - Former Yankees Closer Rich “Goose“ Gossage is voted into the Hall of Fame by the BBWAA on the 9th try. Gossage had a 126 ERA+ and was a 9-time All-Star while saving over 300 games. He is the 5th reliever voted into the Hall, but the 3rd in the past 5 years. He joins Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Dennis Eckersley and Bruce Sutter as relief pitchers enshrined in Cooperstown.
January 9th
1903 - The defunct Baltimore Orioles AL franchise is purchased by Frank Farrell and Bill Devery for $18,000 and is moved to Manhattan, where they will become the New York Highlanders, which marked the genesis of the Yankees.
1936 - Former Yankees P Ralph Terry (1956-1957, 1959-1964) was born. In 1953, the Yankees signed Ralph Terry as an MLB amateur free agent. He pitched in 10 games for the Yankees during the 1956-1957 AL seasons, going 2-3 before being traded on June 15, 1957 in the Billy Martin trade. Ralph would return to the Yankees on May 26, 1959, being traded by the A’s along with INF Hector Lopez for Pitchers Johnny Kucks, Tom Sturdivant, and INF Jerry Lumpe. Ralph would become a starter in 1960, going 10-8 in 35 games. He gave up the 9th inning HR to Maz in 1960 World Series loss to the Pirates. In 1961, he went 16-3 in 31 games. The 1962 season was Ralph’s best MLB season going 23-12 in 43 starts. He was named to AL All Star team. He won the AL Babe Ruth Award and MLB WS MVP award, going 2-1 in the World Series against the Giants. In 1963, he went 17-13. In 1964, he was slowed down by arm injuries slipping to a 7-11 mark and working out of the bullpen. Ralph appeared in 5 World Series for the Yankees with a 2-4 mark, 2.93 ERA with 31 K’s. After the 1964 World Series, he was sent along with P Bud Daley to complete the Pedro Ramos September trade with the Indians.
1953 - Former Yankees reserve INF Ivan DeJesus (1986) was born. On May 1, 1986, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He only appeared in 7 games with the Yankees, before being released by the team on June 24, 1986.
1959 - Former Yankees OF Otis Nixon (1983) was born. Otis Nixon was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (3rd pick) of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). He appeared in only 13 games for the Yankees, batting .143 in 1983. On February 5, 1984, Otis was traded by the Yankees with a player to be named later (Guy Elston) and P George Frazier to the Indians for a player to be named later (Rick Browne) and INF Toby Harrah.
1964 - Former Yankees OF Stan Javier (1984) was born. After being obtained from the Cardinals, he hit .143 in 7 games in 1984, before being sent to the A’s in the Rickey Henderson trade.
1969 - Former Yankees P Domingo Jean (1993) was born. On January 10, 1992, he was traded by the White Sox along with P Melido Perez and Bob Wickman to the Yankees for INF Steve Sax. He would go 1-1 in 10 games for the Yankees before being traded on November 27, 1993, along with INF Andy Stankiewicz to the Astros for reliever Xavier Hernandez.
1973 - Former Yankees INF Lynn Lary (1929-34) passed away (1906-1973). Lyn was purchased from Oakland Oaks (PCL) in 1928. He had 3 good seasons with the Yankees, before slipping in 1932. In 1934, he would be sent to the Red Sox.
1990 - Former Yankees All Star P Spud Chandler (1937-1947) passed away (1907-1990). Spud Chandler pitched for the Yankees from 1937 to 1947, with a pitching career record of 109-43 (.717). His best season was in 1943, when Spud went 20-1 (.833) with a 1.64 ERA. He was named to the AL All Star team and was the winner of the AL MVP and ML MVP awards. He appeared in the 1941-43 and 1947 World Series with the Yankees going 2-2 with 1.62 ERA. At the age of 38 in 1946, he went 20-8 for the Yankees. He retired as a active player after the 1947 AL season.
1997 - MLB free agent OF/DH Mark Whiten was signed by the Yankees. Mark would hit .265 in 67 games for the 1997 Yankees.
2007 - Former Yankees minor league P Ben Callahan passed away (1957-2007). The Yankees in the 31st round of the 1980 MLB amateur player draft drafted Ben. He never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. On June 15, 1983, Ben was traded by the Yankees with 1B/DH Marshall Brant and cash to the A’s for P Matt Keough.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
