This Week in Yankees History
February 28th - March 6th
February 28th
1947 - Former Yankees reserve INF Marty Perez (1977) was born. On March 14, 1977, Marty was traded by the Giants to the Yankees for OF Terry Whitfield. He appeared in 1 game with the team before being traded on April 27, 1977 by the Yankees along with P Dock Ellis and OF Larry Murray to the A’s for starter Mike Torrez.
1959 - AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the Yankees ends his MLB player contract holdout after one day. Mantle agrees to a salary of $72,000 and a bonus of $2,000. He had been asking the Yankees for $85,000, after batting .304, hitting 42 HRs and 97 RBIs in 1958.
1970 - The Yankees acquired veteran INF Ron Hansen (1970-1971) from the White Sox. Ron was at the end of his MLB career battling with back problems. He batted .297 in 59 games, before fading in 1971 to .207 in 61 games and being released by the Yankees. Ron originally came up to the MLB with the Orioles in 1960.
1973 - The Yankees traded minor league slugger 1B Tony Solaita to the Pirates for 1B George Kopacz, who never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1983 - The Yankees signed free agent OF Rowland Office. He appear in 2 games for the 1983 Yankees with 2 at bats and no hits, he spent majority of the year at Columbus (AAA). On November 9, 1983, Rowland was released by the Yankees.
1983 - The Yankees signed free agent INF Bert Campaneris. Bert appeared in 60 games as a Yankee reserve INF, hitting .322 in his final MLB season. Bert played in the MLB for 19 seasons starting with the A’s, Rangers and the Yankees. On November 7, 1983, Bert was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
2003 - Former Yankees minor league OF Jim Fridley passed away. On December 1, 1954, Jim was sent by the Orioles to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on November 17, 1954. The Orioles sent players to be named later, INF Billy Hunter, P Don Larsen and P Bob Turley to the Yankees for players to be named later, P Harry Byrd, P Jim McDonald, INF Willy Miranda, Catchers Hal Smith and Gus Triandos and OF Gene Woodling. Jim never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 30, 1957, Jim was purchased by the Dodgers from the Yankees organization.
2009 - Former Yankees P Tom “Snake” Sturdivant (1955-1959) passed away. After attending Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Tom Sturdivant signed with the Yankees in 1948 and began his pro career that summer. Originally an infielder, he hit in the .240-.250 range through 1950 minor league season. Tom missed the 1951 season due to military service. He returned to baseball in 1952. On advice of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds, he was converted to a pitcher in the Texas League. He reached the majors with the 1955 Yankees, appearing in 2 World Series games that year, as Yankees lost to the Dodgers.
In 1956, he posted 16 wins for the Yankees. He pitched a complete game in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers. In 1957, he won 16 games for the Yankees again. Tom led the AL pitchers with a .727 winning percentage. Sturdivant developed a sore arm during the 1958 AL season, losing his effectiveness of his sinkerball pitch. On May 26, 1959, Tom was traded by the Yankees along with P Johnny Kucks and INF Jerry Lumpe to the A’s for INF/OF Hector Lopez and P Ralph Terry. His final Yankees pitching career totals were 36-25 in 115 games with 13 complete games, 4 shutouts and 5 saves. Tom appeared in 3 World Series (1955-1957) for the Yankees with a 1-0 record, 4.34 ERA in 6 games. He never again won 10 games in a MLB season. He later went on to play for the Red Sox, 1961 expansion Senators, Pirates, Tigers and finishing up his MLB career with Casey Stengel’s 1964 Mets. Following his professional baseball career, Tom Sturdivant was an executive for a trucking company in Oklahoma. Tom passed away in 2009.
February 29th… It only happens every 4 years
1924 - Former Yankees President/General Manager and MLB Player Al Rosen (1978-1979) was born. Al Rosen took over the Yankees President and General Manager duties after Gabe Paul left the Yankees in the winter of 1977 to return to the Cleveland Indians. His personnel moves including bringing in Bob Lemon as Manager during the 1978 AL East race, allowed the Yankees to catch the Red Sox and win the AL flag. He played parts of 10 seasons in the MLB with the Indians and was their regular 3B for 7 of them. His finest MLB season was in 1953, when he hit .336 BA with 43 HRs and 145 RBIs to be named AL MVP. After his playing days, Rosen moved into MLB front office positions, serving as President of the Yankees from 1978-1979. He was GM of the Astros from 1980-1985. Al held the same post with the Giants from 1985-1992.
1976 - Former Yankees reserve OF Terrance Long (2006) was born. Terrance Long was a former No. 1 1994 amateur draft pick of the Mets. On May 18, 2006, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in only 12 games for the Yankees, hitting just .167. On October 31, 2006, Terrance was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1992 - The Yankees traded P Alan Mills to the Orioles for players to be named later. The Orioles would send minor league players Francisco de la Rosa and Mark Carper to the Yankees to complete the trade.
2000 - After being suspended yesterday by MLB for 1 year for testing positive for the use cocaine, Yankees OF/DH Darryl Strawberry is invited to join the Newark Bears during his suspension. The New Jersey franchise, which is a member of the Atlantic League, which is independent from organized baseball, is located near Strawberry's Fort Lee, N.J. home.
March 1st
1944 - Former Yankees P Ron Klimkowski (1969-1970, 1972) was born (1944-2009). Ron came to the Yankees during the 1967 AL season in the Elston Howard trade with the Red Sox. He appeared in 48 games for the Yankees, going 6-8 with 1 save before being traded to the A’s for veteran OF/DH Felipe Alou. He would return to the Yankees in 1972, going 0-3 in 16 games with 1 save. Ron passed away in 2009.
1947 - New MLB managers in spring training camps are Billy Herman with the Pirates, Muddy Ruel with the Browns, Bucky Harris with the Yankees, and Johnny Neun with Reds. Johnny Neun had ended the 1946 AL season as manager of the Yankees, after both Joe McCarthy and Bill Dickey had quit during the season.
195 3- Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Murray (1974-1976) was born. Larry was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1971 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 12, before being traded to the A’s in the Mike Torrez trade during the 1977 AL season.
1969 - The Yankees long time All Star OF/1B Mickey Mantle announces his retirement as a MLB player (1951-1968) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at the Yankees spring training camp. He is the last of the Yankee stars from the dynasty teams of 1949-1964 to retire from MLB. Mantle, who had slumped to a .237 BA in 1968, finishes his 18-season MLB career with 536 HRs and a .298 BA, numbers that would have certainly been higher if not for persistent knee injuries. The Yankees offer Mantle a MLB coaching position on Manager Ralph Houk’s staff.
1993 - Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner of the team. Commissioner Fay Vincent had banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day activities with the Yankees because of his relationship with convicted gambler Howard Spira.
1998 - The Yankees christen Legends Field their new $30 million 31-acre complex in Tampa, Fla. The field has the exact dimensions of Yankee Stadium. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the 1st ball are former Yankees Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the new Yankees beat the AL Champions Indians, by the score of 5-2.
2003 - The Yankees signed C Francisco Cervelli as an MLB amateur free agent.
2004 - The Yankees released veteran 3B Aaron Boone. Aaron had injured his leg during the off-season playing basketball. The Yankees had obtained A-Rod from the Rangers in a trade, so Aaron became expendable.
March 2nd
1917 - Former Yankees P James “Jim“ Konstanty (1954-1956) was born. On August 22, 1954, Jim was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Phillies. Jim helped out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, with 7 wins and 11 saves. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who won the NL pennant. Jim started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Vic Raschi, losing 1-0, only giving up 5 hits in 8 innings. He was the 1950 NL MVP, posting a 16-7 mark with 22 saves for the Phillies. His final Yankee pitching career totals were 8-3 record in 62 games with 15 saves. On May 18, 1956, Jim was released by the Yankees. He would be picked up by the Cardinals, finishing the 1956 NL season with them.
1918 - Former Yankees reserve OF Frank Colman (1946-1947) was born. After being purchased from the Pirates in 1946, Frank appeared in 63 games hitting just .187.
1921 - Former Yankees P Richard Starr (1947-1948) was born. In 1941, the Yankees signed Richard Starr as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 1-0 in 5 games before being traded on December 13, 1948, by the Yankees along with P Red Embree, C Sherman Lollar, and $100,000 to the Browns for C Roy Partee and P Fred Sanford.
1947- Former Yankees minor league OF Jim Nettles was born. On January 24, 1980, Jim was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He was the younger brother of Yankees 3B Graig Nettles. Jim spent the 1980 season with Columbus (AAA). Later he became a minor league manager.
1949 - The Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio leaves the Yankees spring training camp in St. Petersburg to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida, but the heel will continue to bother him. The AL All Star Yankees CF is hitting just 7-for-31 in the Grapefruit League.
1956 - Former Yankees MLB Coach and player (1925-1926) passed away. On June 17, 1925, Fred was purchased by the Yankees from Rochester (IL) for $6,000. Fred joined the Yankees as a MLB Coach, briefly appeared as a player in 8 games hitting .333. He was star player for the Giants (1907-1915), later playing with the Dodgers and Cubs. He appeared in 5 World Series as a NL player.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Tim Layana was born (1964-1999). Tim was drafted by the Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. Tim never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 4, 1989 Tim was drafted by the Reds from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB Rule 5 player draft. While playing in the MLB, he pitched for the Reds and Giants. In 1999, Tim died in an auto accident.
1998 - Larry Doby, the 1st black to play in the AL, is elected to the Hall of Fame along with former AL President Lee MacPhail. Also chosen by the Veterans Committee are Negro League P Bullet Joe Rogan and turn-of-the-century shortstop Gorgeous George Davis. Lee MacPhail had been the Yankees GM from 1969-1973 before becoming the AL President replacing the retiring Joe Cornin. He previously worked with the Orioles.
2004 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent OF/1B/DH Travis Lee. He appeared in only 7 games for the Yankees in 2004, after injuring his shoulder during spring training, hitting just .105.
March 3rd
1867 - Former Yankees C/1B Jack “Peach Pie” O’Connor (1903) was born. Before the 1903 AL Season, Jack jumped from the Pirates to the Highlanders. Jack appeared in 64 games for the Yankees, hitting just .203. On October 6, 1903, Jack was traded by the Highlanders to the Browns for OF John Anderson.
1872 - Future Yankee HOF INF/OF William “Wee Willie” Keeler (1903-1909) was born. Willie had a .295 lifetime BA as a Yankees player. From 1903-1906, he hit over .300 each MLB season. A remarkable hitter, Willie Keeler will hit over .300 16 times in 19 MLB seasons, hit over .400 once, and will finish with a .341 BA over his career, currently 14th in all time list. Keeler will be selected to the Hall of Fame in 1939 with 75.55% of the vote.
1918 - The Yankees purchased 1B George “Tigoa” Burns from the Tigers for cash, then traded him to the A’s for OF Ping Bodie.
1956 - Former Yankees INF Dennis Sherrill (1978, 1980) was born. Dennis was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1974 MLB amateur player draft. Dennis only appeared in 5 games with the Yankees, hitting just .200. He was blocked at the Yankees starting shortstop position by AL All Star shortstop Bucky Dent.
1960 - Former Yankees P Chuck Cary (1989-1991) was born. On January 26,1989, he signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Cary stayed with the Yankees from 1989 through 1991, but was released by the team on October 28, 1991, following elbow surgery in September. His Yankees career pitching record was 11-22 in 60 games.
1960 - Former Yankees P Neal Heaton (1993) was born. On February 2, 1993, Neal was signed as an MLB free agent with the Yankees. He posted a 1-0 record in 18 games, before being released by the team on July 27, 1993.
1968 - Former Yankees P Bobby Munoz (1993) was born. The Yankees in the 15th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft drafted Bobby. Bobby went 3-3 in 38 games for the Yankees in 1993. On February 9, 1994, Bobby was traded by the Yankees along with minor league INF Kevin Jordan and P Ryan Karp to the Phillies for a player to be named later and veteran starter Terry Mulholland. The Phillies would send Jeff Patterson on November 8, 1994 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1977 - Former Yankees P Frank “Stubby” Overmire (1951) passed away. After being obtained from the Browns, for P Tommy Byrne and $2,500, Stubby went 1-1 in 15 games for the Yankees in 1951. He did not appear in the 1951 World Series with the Yankees. In 1952, the Yankees traded him back to the Browns, where he finished out his MLB career.
1980 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-1942) passed away. In 1937, the Yankees signed Jerry Priddy as an MLB amateur free agent. Jerry appeared in 115 games for the Yankees, hitting just .246. On January 29,1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash. Jerry was expendable because the Yankees had AL All Star 2B Joe Gordon and future 2B Jerry Coleman in their minor league system.
1997 - The Yankees offer the Padres a choice of one from a list of players or the negotiating rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu. The list includes P Brian Boehringer, P David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, INF Andy Fox and OF Matt Luke. The Yankees also offer one player from a list of 5 minor leaguers, plus $3 million. The Padres are talking to several other MLB teams beside the Yankees.
March 4th
1891 - Former Yankees P Dazzy Vance (1915, 1918) was born. In April of 1915, the Yankees purchased Dazzy Vance from the Pirates. While with the Yankees, Dazzy suffered with arm problems. He only appeared in 10 games, posting a 0-3 record. The Yankees would release him. Vance would be picked up by the Dodgers. Once his arm problems were over, he posted a 190-131 mark for the Dodgers. He won 20 games or more 3 times for the Dodgers. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955.
1897 - Former Yankees P Lefty O’Doul (1919-1920, 1922) was born. Lefty went 1-1 as pitcher before being sent the Red Sox in a trade. In NL, he would become a OF, finishing his MLB career with a lifetime BA of .346. Later he would become a successful minor league manager in the PCL, most notably with the San Francisco Seals.
1897 - Former Yankees P Neal Brady (1915, 1918) was born. Neal went 1-0 in 4 games for the Yankees.
1913 - The Yankees become the 1st MLB team to conduct spring training outside of the US, when they begin the spring in Bermuda, where is projected a series of exhibition games.
1918 - Former Yankees P Mel Queen Sr. (1942, 1944, 1946-1947) was born. In 1938, the Yankees signed Mel, as an MLB amateur free agent. Mel went 8-4 in 33 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Pirates in 1947. His son, Mel Queen Jr. played for the Reds during the 1960’s.
1962 - Former Yankees P George Mogridge (1915-1920) passed away (1889-1962). With the Yankees, he pitched a no-hitter against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 24, 1917. He had his Yankee career year in 1918, when he went 16-13 and he had 7 saves. George Mogridge's 2.73 ERA in his 6 years with the Yankees is one of the 5 best ERA's for a Yankees pitcher in the 20th century.
2004 - The Yankees signed two free agents: Hansel Izuierdo and OF John Rodriguez. Neither player appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level in 2004.
March 5th
1891 - Former Yankees P and HOF Arthur “ Dazzy” Vance (1915-1918) was born. He went 0-3 in 10 games with the Yankees, while battling arm problems. He would recover, after being picked up by the Dodgers in 1922. He was named the NL MVP in 1924, he pitched a no-hitter in 1925, led the NL in wins twice, in earned run average 3 times, and is the only pitcher to top the NL in strikeouts 7 consecutive seasons. Vance will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the BWAA in 1955, with 205 votes on 251 ballots. He posted a 197-140 record during a 16-year MLB career.
1891 - Former Yankees C Walter “Walt” Alexander (1915-1917) was born. Walt hit .221 in 81 games for the Yankees.
1903 - Former Yankees reserve C Martin Autry (1924) was born. Martin appeared in only 2 games for the 1924 Yankees with no hits.
1912 - Former Yankees MLB Coach Jimmy “Gee Gee” Gleeson was born. Jimmy was a manager in the Yankee farm league system in the 1940-1950’s He never played for the Yankees at MLB level. He was a member of the 1938 Newark Bears, the Yankees top AAA team.
1919 - Former Yankees 3B/OF Don Savage (1944-1945) was born. Don hit .256 in 105 games for the Yankees during the 1944-1945 seasons.
1921 - Former Yankees reserve OF Elmer Valo (1960) was born. Elmer was signed as MLB free agent in December of 1959. Elmer only appeared in 8 games with the team before being released in May of 1960. Elmer was at the end of a very fine MLB career. The return of veteran OF Bob Cerv from the A’s made him expendable. He retired in 1961 after finishing the season with the Phillies. He spent 2 years with the Indians as a MLB coach. Elmer became a long-time MLB scout for the Phillies (1969-1982).
1922 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in MLB history, when he signs a 3-year contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Ruth led the AL with 59 HRs and 171 RBIs. The next-highest-paid Yankees player is 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker, at $16,000.
1950 - Former Yankees P Doug Bird (1980-1981) was born. On April 29, 1980, Doug was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He went 8-1 in 39 games with 1 save. On June 12, 1981, Doug was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later and $400,000 to the Cubs for veteran starter Rick Reuschel. The Yankees would send P Mike Griffin on August 5, 1981, to the Cubs to complete the trade.
1973 - Yankees Pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and the family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the MLB world.
1975 -The Yankees released reserve INF Fernando Gonzalez. He appeared in 51 games for the Yankees hitting just .215.
2003 - The Yankees signed P Ramon Ramirez as a free agent. Ramon never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On July 28, 2005, he was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Eduardo Sierra to the Rockies for P Shawn Chacon.
March 6th
1919 - Yankees sell P Ray Keating (1912-1916, 1918) to Braves for cash. Ray had career record of 23-40 in 108 games with the Yankees.
1965 - Former Yankees C Wally Schang (1921-1925) passed away. After being obtained from the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade, Wally hit .316 and .319 for the Yankees, before being traded to the Browns in 1926.
1977 - Yankees reserve OF Marcus Thames (2000) was born. The Yankees in the 30th round of the 1996 MLB amateur player draft drafted Marcus Thames. He appeared in 13 games with the 2000 Yankees, hitting .231. Marcus broke into the MLB by hitting a HR for the Yankees off of Diamondbacks starter Randy Johnson. On June 6, 2003, he was traded to the Rangers for veteran OF/DH Ruben Rivera. In June of 2008, while Marcus Thames was playing for the Tigers, he had 8 HRs in a span of 8 hits. He is in the Yankees 2010 spring training camp, trying to make the team as a reserve outfielder. From 2006-2009, he had played for the Tigers.
1985 - Former Yankees OF Enos “Country” Slaughter (1954-1955,1956-1959) and Arky Vaughan are elected to the Hall Of Fame. Slaughter, known for his hustling style of play with the Cardinals and later with the Yankees, gained fame for his celebrated "Mad Dash" home during the 1946 World Series against the Red Sox. Arky Vaughan batted .318 over a 14-year MLB career with the Pirates and Dodgers.
1986 - Current Yankees reserve C Francisco Cervelli was born. Catcher Francisco Cervelli was seriously injured in a collision at home plate during spring training 2008 in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was a top Yankees prospect at that point after hitting .279 with an OBP 100 points higher for the Tampa Yankees (A) in 2007. However, the injury shortened his 2008 season to 27 games for 3 different minor league teams. Still, he showed that he remained on track for the MLB during his time with the Trenton Thunder (AA), where he put up a line of .315 in 21 games. That earned him a late-season call-up to the big leagues in September, and he went 0 for 5 in 3 games in his cup of coffee in pinstripes. The Yankees called him up early in the 2009 AL season, when regular ML catchers Jorge Posada and Jose Molina were sidelined in turn by injuries. He appeared in 42 games for the Yankees hitting .298 with 1 HR with 11 RBI’s. He appeared in the AL playoffs in 1 game, but did not play in the 2009 World Series against the Phillies.
1990 - Former Yankees and Hall Of Fame INF Joe Sewell (1931-1933) passed away. Joe spent most of his 14 year MLB career with the Indians. He finished out with the Yankees in 1931-1933. In 1931, he hit .302 and played on the 1932 Yankees. His lifetime BA mark was .312. He was the toughest player to fan in MLB history, only 114 times in his 14-year MLB career. He was elected to Hall Of Fame in 1977.
2005 - Suzyn Waldman becomes the 1st woman to be a full-time color commentator in MLB history, making her debut with John Sterling on WCBS-AM 880, the radio flagship of the New York Yankees. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the 1st all-sports radio station in US, was also the 1st female to broadcast on a nationally baseball telecast as well as the 1st to provide local TV (Yankees) MLB play-by-play.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
