This Week in Yankees History
April 11th-17th
April 11th
1878 - Former Yankees P Frank Kitson (1907) was born. On May 30, 1907, Frank was purchased by the New York Highlanders from the Washington Senators. In 12 games with the Yankees, Frank went 4-0. In August of 1907, he was purchased by Kansas City (American Association) from the New York Highlanders.
1917 - Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox pitches a 3-hitter in shutting down the New York Yankees on Opening Day. Ruth's performance marks the start of good things to come. He will win 24 games in 1917, while leading the American League with 35 complete games.
1954 - To make room for promising rookie OF Wally Moon, the St. Louis Cardinals trade longtime OF great Enos Slaughter to the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league OF Bill Vidron, pitcher Mel Wright, C Hal Smith, and OF Emil Tellinger. Bill Vidron would become the NL Rookie of the Year in 1955, later starting OF for the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 1950-1960’s. Hal Smith was another in a string of young Yankee catchers, who were traded away because of the presence of All Star starting catcher Yogi Berra. He would hit a crucial HR for the Pirates in game #7 of the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. Bill Virdon and Mel Wright would return to the Yankees in 1974 as Manager and MLB pitching coach. Enos Slaughter would play 5 seasons with the Yankees in between a brief stay with the Kansas City A’s, before retiring after the 1959 MLB season finishing with the Milwaukee Braves.
1965 - Former Yankees minor league OF Turner Ward was born. The New York Yankees in the 18th round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft drafted Turner Ward. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On March 19, 1989, Turner was Traded by the New York Yankees along with C Joel Skinner to the Cleveland Indians for OF/DH Mel Hall.
1980 - Current Yankees AL All Star 1B Mark Teixeira (2009) was born. On December 23, 2008, Mark Teixeira was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. In 2009, Mark hit .290 with 39 HRs with 122 RBIs for the World Champion Yankees.
April 12th
1895 - Former Yankees OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) was born. On December 15, 1920, Sammy was traded by the Yankees with INF Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, and Hank Thormahlen to the Boston Red Sox for P Waite Hoyt, P Harry Harper, C Wally Schang, and INF Mike McNally. Sammy Vick was a weak-hitting outfielder, which had hit .246 in 169 games for the Yankees.
1927 - The New York Yankees beat the Philadelphia A’s by a score of 8-3, before the largest confirmed paid opening day attendance in baseball history, at that time (73,206 fans) as Yankees starter Waite Hoyt out-dueled A’s Ace Lefty Grove.
1933 - Former Yankees MLB Batting Coach Charlie Lau (1979) was born. Charlie was the Yankees MLB batting coach in 1979. He had been with the Kansas City Royals. He would finish his MLB coaching career with the Chicago White Sox. In 1984, Charlie passed away from cancer. As a player he came up with the Baltimore Orioles. He began his coaching career with the Orioles then moved to the Oakland A’s before joining the Kansas City Royals. He was the author of the book “The Art of Hitting .300.”
1942 - Former Yankees P Dale Roberts (1967) was born. In 1963, the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent signed Dale Roberts. In 1967, he appeared in 2 games for the Yankees with no record. On December 7, 1967, Dale was traded by the New York Yankees along with C Bob Tillman to the Atlanta Braves for INF Bobby Cox.
1948 - The New York Yankees released veteran All Star P Surgeon “Spud” Chandler (1937-1947), he had retired from MLB. Spud went 109–43, .717 WP, with a 2.84 ERA, in 211 games for the Yankees. He completed 109 games with 26 shutouts. He won 20 games twice for the Yankees in 1943 (20-4) and 1946 (20-8). He won the AL MVP in 1943. He was named to the AL All Star team in 1942-1943 and 1946 seasons.
1953 - Former Yankees minor league OF Mickey Mantle Jr. was born (1953-2000). Mickey Mantle Jr. is the son of Hall Of Fame Yankees OF/1B Mickey Mantle and nephew of Ray Mantle and Roy Mantle, who played in the Yankees farm system in the 1950’s. He played for the 1978 Alexandria Dukes, going a miserable 4 for 57 for a .070 average, with 26 strikeouts. He had 3 walks, 3 runs, 2 RBI, no extra-base hits and no steals. In the outfield, he fielded .947 with one assist in 17 games. He would play one more season in the Texas Rangers organization before leaving professional baseball. Mickey passed away in 2000 from cancer of the neck.
1959 - Yankees obtained OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes from the Kansas City A’s for minor league OF Russ Snyder and shortstop Tommy Carroll. Russ Snyder was a rare Yankees mistake, who would play 12 years in the MLB. Russ would hit .300 for the Kansas City A’s and the Baltimore Orioles. Bob Martyn and Mike Baxes never made it with the Yankees at the MLB level. Tommy Carroll was one the Yankees bonus baby signings of the 1950’s. He left MLB after the 1959 AL season with the Kansas City A’s. He had hit .300 in 64 games. He had attended Notre Dame University. He left baseball to have a long successful career with the US Foreign Services agency.
1960 - Former Yankees minor league catcher Bill Lindsey was born. In 1981, the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent signed Bill Lindsey. Bill never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 24, 1986, Bill was sent by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on July 30,1986. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, C/DH/1B Ron Hassey and INF/OF Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for OF/DH/1B Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson.
1970 - Plaques honoring former New York Yankees centerfielders Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle are dedicated at Yankee Stadium. The plaques are located in center field and will eventually be moved to "Monument Park" beyond the LF fence, when Yankee Stadium is renovated during the 1974-1975 AL seasons.
1973 - Former Yankees reliever Antonio Osuna (2003) was born. He came to the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox in the Orlando Hernandez trade. He went 2-5 in 48 games for the Yankees, working out of the bullpen.
April 13th
1866 - Former Yankees INF Herman “Germany” Long (1903) was born. Herman appeared in 22 games for the Yankees in 1903, hitting .188.
1879 - Former Yankees INF/OF Garland “Jake” Stahl (1908) was born. Jake Stahl appeared in 75 games for the Yankees in 1908, hitting .255.
1915 - Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes (1943-1946) was born. On December 17, 1942, Oscar was traded by the Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar. Oscar hit .212 in 281 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the A’s.
1919 - Yankees released veteran outfielders Ham Hyatt and Hugh High and P Ed Monroe.
1921 - In the 1921 AL season opener for the New York Yankees, Babe Ruth goes 5-for-5, as New York starter Carl Mays beat the Philadelphia Athletics by the score of 11-1.
1973 - Former Yankees P Mark Leiter (1990) was born. On September 29, 1988, Mark was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. Mark went 1-1 in 8 games with Yankees. He is the older brother of former Yankees P Al Leiter. On March 19, 1991, Mark was traded by the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for INF Torey Lovullo.
1995 - Former Yankees OF Hal Peck (1946) passed away. On June 19, 1946, Hal Peck was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia A’s. Hal never played for the 1946 Yankees at the MLB level. On December 6, 1946, Hal Peck was traded by the New York Yankees along with pitchers Gene Bearden and Al Gettel to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack.
2000 - Former Yankees OF/3B Frenchy Bordagaray (1941) passed away. On January 27, 1940, Frenchy was sent by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 5, 1939. The Cincinnati Reds sent players to be named later and $40,000 to the New York Yankees for 1B Vince DiMaggio, who was on the Kansas City Blues (AAA) roster. He appeared in 36 games for the 1941 Yankees, hitting .260. He appeared in 2 World Series games for the Yankees with no hits. On March 23, 1942, Frenchy was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the New York Yankees.
April 14th
1910 - In the season opener before 25,000 fans at New York's Hilltop Park, Boston Red Sox, sport laced collars, the last MLB team to wear a collar uniform. The Red Sox sends Yankees into extra innings before the game is called at the end of 14 innings with the score, 4-4. Ed Cicotte starts for the Red Sox, with Joe Wood relieving in the 8th inning. Hippo Vaughn goes all the way for Yankees, retiring Red Sox batters in the 4th and 12th innings on 4 pitches. He needs just 3 pitches in the 10th inning.
1931 - Former Yankees INF Kal Segrist (1951) was born. In 1951, the Yankees signed Kal Segrist as an MLB amateur free agent. He only appeared in 13 games for the Yankees during the 1951 AL Season, just hitting .043. Kal would be sent to the Baltimore Orioles in the huge 17-player trade in December of 1954.
1955 - Elston Howard becomes the 1st MLB black player in New York Yankees history. The 26-year-old C/OF makes his debut against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park, as he hit a single with 1 RBI in the Yankees' 8-4 loss. Elston will play for the Yankees from 1955 to 1967, finishing his career with the Red Sox in 1968. In 1969, he would become the Yankees 1st MLB black coach. In 1980, Elston Howard passed away from a fatal heart attack.
1955 - Former Yankees minor league P Chris Welsh was born. The New York Yankees in the 21st round of the 1977 MLB amateur player draft drafted Chris Welsh. Chris never pitched for the Yankees at MLB level. On March 31, 1981, Chris was traded by the New York Yankees along with OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre and P Tim Lollar to the San Diego Padres for OF Jerry Mumphrey and P John Pacella.
1966 - Former Yankees OF/DH David Justice (2000-2001) was born. Dave came over from the Cleveland Indians in 2000 mid-season trade that saw the Yankees gave up pitchers Zack Day, Jake Westbrook and OF Ricky Ledee. He appeared in 189 games for the Yankees, hitting .268 with 38 HRs with 111 RBI’s. Dave was traded by the Yankees to the New York Mets for veteran 3B Robin Ventura in December of 2001. Currently Dave works for the Yes Network.
1967 - Boston Red Sox rookie P Billy Rohr makes a memorable debut by no-hitting the Yankees for 8th -two-thirds innings. Yankees C Elston Howard spoils Rohr's masterpiece with a 2-out single in the 9th, but the Red Sox still win the game by a score of 3-0. Despite his impressive debut, Rohr will win only 2 more games in his MLB career. Elston Howard will be traded to the Boston Red Sox later in the 1967 AL season.
1969 - Former Yankees minor league and current MLB player C Brad Ausmus was born. Brad Ausmus was drafted from the New York Yankees farm system by the Colorado Rockies in the 1992 MLB expansion player draft. It has never been stated why he was let go by the Yankees organization in the expansion player draft.
1969 - The New York Yankees purchased veteran OF Jimmie Hall from the Cleveland Indians. He would hit .236 in 80 games before being sent to the Chicago Cubs.
1976 - Former Yankees relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth (2006-2008) was born. On December 5, 2005, Kyle was signed as an MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He went 6-9 on 41 games with 7 saves for the Yankees. On July 30, 2008, Kyle was traded by the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for veteran All Star C Ivan Rodriguez.
1978 - Former Yankees AL All Star INF Joe “Flash” Gordon (1938-1943, 1946) passes away (1915-1978). Former MLB Manager: Cleveland Indians (1958-1960), Detroit Tigers (1960), Kansas City A’s (1961) and Royals (1969). In 1936, the New York Yankees signed Joe Gordon as an MLB amateur free agent. In 1938, he joined the Yankees as a 2B. He made the AL All Star team in from 1939 to 1943, 1946. In 1942, he won AL MVP award hitting .342. In October of 1946, Joe was traded to the Cleveland Indians for P Allie Reynolds. After retiring as an active player, he later became a MLB manager during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of MLB managers in 1960, when he was traded from the Cleveland Indians to Detroit Tigers for Jimmy Dykes. In 2008, the Veteran’s Committee elected Joe “Flash” Gordon to the baseball’s Hall Of Fame.
2004 - A day after New York Yankees teammate Mike Mussina earns his 200th MLB career victory, Kevin Brown reaches the same plateau beating the Tampa Bay Devil Rays by the score of 5 -1. It is the 1st time in MLB history that members of the same MLB pitching staff have won their 200th MLB career victory in consecutive starts.
2008 - Yankees All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez moves up to a tie for 15th on the all-time MLB HR leader list, even with Red Sox slugger Ted Williams and Giants’ Willie McCovey. Rodriguez hits his 521st career homer as part of a 4-for-5 day; Tampa Bay pitcher Andy Sonnanstine allows the shot. The Yankees top the Rays by the score of 8-7.
2008 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tommy Holmes passed away (1917-2008). In 1937, the Yankees signed Tommy Holmes as an MLB amateur free agent. Unable to crack the Yankees starting outfield of Charlie Keller, Tommy Henrich and Joe DiMaggio, he was traded to the Boston Braves in 1942 for 1B Buddy Hassett, OF Gene Moore and cash. He would have a successful MLB career with the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers in the NL, finishing with a lifetime BA of .302 in 11 seasons.
April 15th
1886- Former Yankees P Leonard “King” Cole (1914-1915) was born. “King Cole” would go 14-12 in 43 games with the Yankees.
1913 - The Yankees purchased INF Bill McKechnie from the Boston Braves for cash. Bill hit .145 in 45 games for the Yankees. In 1962, he would be elected to Hall Of Fame for his long time MLB Manager career.
1934 - The New York Yankees released P Charles Devens (1932-1934). In 1932, the Yankees signed pitcher Charles Devens as an MLB amateur free agent. He played college baseball at Harvard University. He went 5-3 in 16 games with the Yankees.
1961- Former Yankees P Nick Cullop (1916-1917) passed away. On January 21, 1916, Nick Cullop was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League). He went 13-6 for the 1916 New York Yankees. Nick posted a18-15 record in 58 games with 2 saves with the Yankees. On January 22,1918, Nick was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Joe Gedeon, INF Fritz Maisel, C Les Nunamaker, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 to the St. Louis Browns for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.
1968- Former Yankees P Billy Brewer (1996) was born. On June 22, 1996, Billy was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Yankees for P Mike Judd. Billy appeared in 4 games for the Yankees posting a 1-0 record. On December 20, 1996, Billy was granted free agency by the Yankees.
1976 - Former Yankees P Floyd Newkirk (1934) passed away. Floyd went 0-0 in 1 game for the 1934 Yankees. On December 19, 1934, Floyd was sent by the New York Yankees to San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete an earlier deal made on November 21, 1934. The New York Yankees sent players to be named later and cash to San Francisco (PCL) for Joe DiMaggio. Doc Farrell refused to report to his new team on 1935.
1976 - The New York Yankees defeat the Minnesota Twins by the score of 11-4, in the 1st game at the newly renovated Yankee Stadium. Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and the widows of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth take part in pre-game ceremonies at the Stadium, which had been closed for remodeling the 1974 and 1975 AL seasons. The opening day crowd was 52,613 fans.
1998 - The 1st-ever AL-NL doubleheader ends up a good day for New York. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13th. The Yankees earn their 1st victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the Angels by the score of 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time HR leader at Shea Stadium, adds to his total HR with a shot into the LF bleachers. In the regularly scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Chicago Cubs by the score of 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea Stadium in 1974-75 while Yankee Stadium was renovated, drew a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 fans, who showed up for the Mets game at night.
April 16th
1892 - Former Yankees P Dutch Leonard was born. On December 18, 1918, Dutch was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with OF Duffy Lewis and P Ernie Shore to the New York Yankees for P Ray Caldwell, OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, C Roxy Walters and $15,000. Dutch was involved in a salary dispute with the Yankees front office. He did not pitch for the 1919 New York Yankees. On May 17, 1919, Dutch was purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the New York Yankees for $12,000.
1902 - Former Hall Of Fame and Yankees reserve OF Paul Waner (1944-1945) was born. Paul came to the Yankees at the end of his HOF career spent in NL with the Pirates and Dodgers. He only appeared in 10 games for the Yankees, hitting just .143. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1952. He had finished his MLB career with a lifetime BA of .333 with 113 HRs and 1,309 RBI’s in 20 MLB seasons.
1929 - New York Yankees are the 1st team in MLB history to permanently feature numbers on the backs of their uniforms. The numbers correspond to each player's position in the batting order. The numbers also allow fans and broadcasters to more easily identify the players.
1937 - Yankee Stadium opened for its 15th season with a new enlarged RF stand. Prior to the 1937 AL season, the triple decked seating area ended at the foul poles, and the bleachers extended across the outfield from pole to pole. The extended decks included new box and reserved seats, and thereby reduced the Stadium’s seating capacity below the 72,000 it once allegedly held.
1939 - Former Yankees reserve INF Bernie Allen (1972-1973) was born. Bernie was obtained from the Texas Rangers in 1972 for 2 Yankee minor league players, P Terry Ley and Gary Jones. During the 1973 AL season, he was sold to the Montreal Expos.
1943 - Former Yankees reserve C Frank Fernandez (1967-1969) was born. Frank was weak hitting catcher for the Yankees, who was traded along with veteran pitcher Al Downing to the Oakland A’s for 1B Danny Cater. He appeared in 149 games for the Yankees hitting just .204.
1945 - Former Yankees INF/OF Chick Fewster (1917-1922) passed away. On August 14, 1917, Chick was purchased by the New York Yankees from Baltimore Orioles (International League) for $20,000. Chick hit .271 for the Yankees in 228 games. On July 23, 1922, Chick was traded by the New York Yankees along with OF Elmer Miller, INF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for INF Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith. In 1923, he was the 1st batter for the Boston Red Sox in the 1923 Yankee Stadium home opener game. In 1945, Chick died of coronary occlusion at age 49.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve C Bruce Robinson (1979-1980) was born. Bruce was purchased from Oakland A’s for $400,000 in February of 1979. He only appeared in 10 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 17. In 1980, Bruce Robinson, along with New York Yankee pitching star, Dave Righetti, were involved in a car accident in which Robinson's right shoulder sustained a career impacting injury, necessitating shoulder reconstruction in May of 1981. A drunken driver rear-ended Robinson and Righetti in Robinson's car that was stopped in a left hand turn lane. Robinson could not take advantage of being handed the left-handed platoon side of a starting role with the Yankees. Robinson missed the 1981 and 1982 AL seasons on the disable list and never made it back to the major leagues. In 1984 he became a minor league coach for the Oakland A’s.
1959 - The Yankees unveil the 1st message scoreboard in Yankee Stadium History. It listed the lineups, out of town scores, and a wide expanse for paragraph-type messages, posted via electronic devices.
1960 - Former Yankees P Curt Young (1990) was born. On June 16, 1992, Curt was signed as a MLB Free Agent with the New York Yankees. He went 3-0 in 13 games for the 1990 Yankees. On November 6, 1992, Curt was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1961 - Beginning his historic HR chase of Babe Ruth's 60 HR season-record, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for 1st HR in the 12th game of the 1961 AL season. The 5th-inning solo shot HR is off Tigers veteran Detroit starter Paul Foytack.
1967 - The Yankees edge the Red Sox 7-6 in 18 innings. The 5-hour, 50-minute marathon ended when Jake Gibbs walked, stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Joe Pepitone.
1973 - The Yankees purchased veteran 3B/1B Jim Ray Hart from the San Francisco Giants for over $50,000.
2009 - The Cleveland Indians spoil the opening of New Yankee Stadium with a 10-2 win over the New York Yankees. Jhonny Peralta hits a 2-run double off of reliever Jose Veras to break a 1-1 tie, and then Grady Sizemore delivers the KO with a grand slam HR off of reliever Damaso Marte. Jorge Posada is the 1st batter to hit a HR in the Yankees' new ballpark with a solo shot off winning P Cliff Lee in the 5th inning. New York had won 16 of their final 17 home openers at the old Yankee Stadium.
April 17th
1888 - Former Yankees INF Thomas “Rebel” McMillian (1912) was born. On August 12, 1912, Tom was traded by the Rochester (IL) to the Highlanders for Jack Quinn and Jack Martin. He hit .228 in 14 games in 1912.
1912 - At the Polo Grounds in New York City, the Giants and Yankees play a charity game to raise money for the survivors of the Titanic, which sunk on April 14th. The Giants belt the Yankees, now clad in their new pinstriped uniforms, to win the game by a score of 11-2.
1929 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth marries actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson. The ceremony is held at 5 o' clock in the morning on Opening Day to avoid crowds. Playing the next day, at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hits a HR against P Red Ruffing of the Red Sox and tips his cap in the direction of Claire, who is seated in the stands. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-3.
1939 - On the morning of Opening Day in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Yankees visited Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Also Roosevelt is scheduled to throw out the 1st pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out and Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors 4 days later.
1953 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-FT HR off of P Chuck Stobbs. The shot came in the 5th inning of a 7-3 Yankees victory over the Washington Senators. It is believed to be the longest HR hit in Griffith Stadium history.
1956 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a pair of tape measure HRS against the Washington Senators starter Camilo Pascual at Griffith Stadium. Both long balls are estimated at over 500 FT. The 2 teams combine for 6 HRs in a 10-4 Opening Day victory for the Yankees.
1973 - The Yankees released veteran P Casey Cox (1972-1973). On August 30, 1972, Casey was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Yankees for P Jim Roland. He went 0-1 in 6 games for the Yankees before being released by the team.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
