This Week in Yankees History
May 16th - May 22nd
May 16th
May 16th - May 22nd
May 16th
1907 - The New York Highlanders traded P Walter Clarkson and OF Frank Delahanty, both siblings of future Hall of Famer’s to Cleveland for P Earl Moore. New York is hoping that Moore will return to the form, he showed before a Highlander line drive injured his foot last season, limiting him to 6 games.
1919 - Former Yankees P Frank “Stubby” Overmire (1951) was born (1919-1977). On June 15, 1951, Stubby was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees for P Tommy Byrne and $25,000. Frank appeared in 15 games for the Yankees, posting a 1-1 record. On May 12, 1952, Stubby was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Browns from the New York Yankees.
1926 - Former Yankees INF (1950-1957) and Manager Billy Martin (1975-1978, 1983, 1985, and 1988) was born (1926-1989). Billy Martin was an AL All Star and World Series hero for the New York Yankees in 1953. He was Casey Stengel’s favorite Yankees player, who was hated by Yankees GM George Weiss, who traded him away on June 15, 1957 to the Kansas City A’s, after the fight at the Copacabana Night Club. His Yankees Manager record was 941-556, with a WP of .591. He won AL flags in 1976 and 1977. His only World Series Championship was in 1977. He was fired during the 1978 AL season, being replaced by Bob Lemon. Also Billy managed the Detroit Tigers, Minnesota Twins, Texas Rangers and Oakland A’s during MLB manager career.
1927 - New York Yankees OF Bob Meusel swipes 2B, 3B, and home in the 3rd inning as New York tops the Detroit Tigers, by the score of 6-2. Lou Gehrig contributes a HR and 2 doubles to back Dutch Ruether's pitching.
1931 - At Detroit, Tommy Bridges gives up 3 hits in stopping the Yankees, by the score of 3-1, dropping the Bombers to 2nd place, as they will not retake 1st place in AL.
1932 - The New York Yankees record their 4th straight shutout to equal the record set by Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox in 1903 and 1906. Johnny Allen, George Pipgras, Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez were the Yankee hurlers. Lefty stops the Indians on 5 hits to win, by the score of 8-0, it is the Yankees 5th shutout in 7 games.
1941 - The Yankees bench top infield prospects Phil Rizzuto and Jerry Priddy, putting back in veterans Joe Gordon and Frankie Crosetti into the Yankees starting lineup. New York then rallies in the 9th inning to beat the Chicago White Sox, by the score of 5-4.
1944 - The Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees by the score of 10-4 to stop Hank Borowy's 2-year winning streak at 11 games.
1946 - The New York Yankees released OF Bud Metheny (1943-1946). Bud appeared in 376 games for the Yankees, hitting .247.
1949 - Former Yankees P Rick Reuschel (1981) was born. On June 12, 1981, Rick was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Yankees for a player to be named later, Doug Bird, and $400,000. The Yankees sent P Mike Griffin on August 5, 1981 to the Cubs to complete the trade. Rick went 4-4 in 12 games for the Yankees before arm injury ended his season, he didn’t pitch in 1982. The Yankees would release him during the 1983 AL season.
1951 - At Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle drives in 4 runs and scores 3 as Yankees rout the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11-3. Mantle connects for the 1st of his 206 homers at the Stadium, the blast coming off of Tribe hurler Richard Rozek.
1953 - At Yankee Stadium, Chicago White Sox lefty P Tommy Byrne pinch-hits for slugger Vern Stephens and hits a grand slam HR off of Yankees reliever Ewell Blackwell to climax a 5-run 9th inning and give White Sox, a 5-3 win. Stephens has 10 career grand slams: Byrne now has 2.
1953 - Former Yankees P Rick Rhoden (1987-1988) was born. On November 26, 1986, Rick was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates along with pitchers Pat Clements and Cecilio Guante to the Yankees for pitchers Doug Drabek, Brian Fisher, and Logan Easley. Rick went 28-22 in 60 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Houston Astros for 2 minor league pitchers.
1954 - The Baltimore Orioles draw a record 46,796 fans at Memorial Stadium for a doubleheader with the Yankees. Allie Reynolds wins the opener for Yankees, by the score of 2-0 on a 3-hitter, before Orioles starter Don Larsen stops the Yankees with a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.
1956 - On a blustery day in Cleveland, the Yankees top the Indians, by the score of 4-1. Mickey Mantle hits a HR, off of Tribe starter Bud Daley, while his pal Billy Martin is benched for the 1st time by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel. Bobby Richardson takes his place at 2B.
1957 - The New York Yankees top the Kansas City A’s, by the score of 3-0 behind Bob Turley's 4-hit shutout. Mickey Mantle has a homer off of P Alex Kellner, the 11th time in his last 12 at bats he's reached base safely. That night a group of Yankees celebrate Billy Martin's 29th birthday in a raucous fashion. An ensuing fight at Manhattan's Copacabana Night Club leads to $5,500 in fines and the eventual trade of Billy to the Kansas City A’s on June 15th. Hank Bauer allegedly starts the fight by hitting a patron, although Bauer denies it. The Yankees fine Whitey Ford, Bauer, Yogi Berra, Mantle and Martin $1,000 each and rookie P Johnny Kucks $500.
1965 - Baltimore Orioles teenager starter Jim Palmer picks up his 1st MLB win, topping the Yankees, by the score of 7- 5. Palmer also bangs his 1st MLB homer, a 2-run drive off of Yankee P Jim Bouton, to give him the victory margin.
1967 - Former Yankees minor league P Frank Seminara was born. On June 1, 1988, Frank was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 12th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Frank never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. In 1990, while playing for the Prince William Cannons, he led the Carolina League with 16 wins and a 1.90 ERA and was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. On December 3, 1990, Frank was drafted by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees in the 1990 MLB Rule 5 player draft.
1970 - Former Yankees P Dutch Ruether (1926-1927) passed away. Dutch Ruether pitched 11 seasons in the MLB, winning 59% of his games. He went 19-6 for the 1919 Cincinnati Reds who opposed the Chicago Black Sox in the 1919 World Series. Dutch went 21-12 for the 1922 Brooklyn Robins. He went 18-7 for the 1925 Washington Senators. He appeared in 1925 World Series for the Senators as a pinch hitter. On August 27, 1926, Dutch was traded by the Washington Senators to the Yankees for players to be named later. The Yankees send pitchers Nick Cullop and Garland Braxton on October 19, 1926 to the Washington Senators to complete the trade. Dutch closed out his MLB career with a 13-6 record for the famous 1927 New York Yankees. His final Yankee pitching career totals was 15-9 in 32 games. He appeared in 1 game of the 1926 World Series, losing 1 game to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1970 - Former Yankees P Jim Mecir (1996-1997) was born. Jim came to the Yankees from the Seattle Mariners in the Tino Martinez trade. He went 1-5 in 51 games before being traded to the Boston Red Sox.
1976 - The New York Yankees send P Larry Gura to Kansas City Royals for back-up C Fran Healy. Healy's best moment will come in the broadcast booth, while Gura will help the Royals to the 1976 AL playoffs with a 16-4 record. Larry Gura did not get along with Yankees manager Billy Martin.
1983 - Former Yankees minor league P and MLB Pitching Coach Mel Wright (1974-1975) passes away. Mel Wright was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954 as part of the Enos “Country” Slaughter trade. He would serve as Yankees Manager Bill Vidron’s MLB pitching coach during the 1974-1975 AL seasons.
1985 - Former Yankees P Johnny Broca (1933-1937) passed away. (1909-1985). Johnny went 39-23 in 99 games for the New York Yankees. On November 19,1938, John was purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Yankees.
May 17th
1920 - Former Yankees P James “Hot Rod” McDonald (1952-1954, 1955) was born. On November 23, 1951, Jim was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Yankees for reserve C Clint Courtney. Jim went 16-12 in 69 games for the Yankees. In December of 1954, he was traded by the Yankees to the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade. On July 30, 1955, he was traded by the Orioles to the Yankees for veteran starter Ed Lopat. He would go 4-1 in 16 games for the Yankees in 1955. Before the start of 1956 AL Season started, Jim was sent from the Yankees to the Orioles in an unknown transaction.
1957 - Former Yankees P Pascual Perez (1990-1991) was born. On November 21, 1989, Pascual was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 17 games for the Yankees, posting a 3-6 record.
1961 - 1960 AL MVP Roger Maris hit his 1st HR of the 1961 AL season at Yankee Stadium (4th overall) on his way to a MLB season-record HR of 61.
1975 - Former Yankees INF Scott Seabol (2001) was born. In 1996, the New York Yankees in the 88th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Scott Seabol. He appeared in 1 game with 1 at bat and no hits. On October 15, 2002, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. The St. Louis Cardinals would sign him.
1977 - After dropping 2 games to the Oakland A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle, who hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.
1982 - Former Yankees OF Dixie Walker (1931-1936) passes away (1910-1982). Dixie Walker was unable to break into the New York Yankees starting outfield of the 1930’s. He was waived to the Chicago White Sox. Later in the NL, he would have a successful MLB career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1998 - David Wells pitched the 13th perfect game in modern MLB history, as the Yankees beat the Twins by a score of 4-0. Wells, whose perfecto was the 1st by a Yankees pitcher since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, also set an AL record by retiring 37 batters in a row, dating back to his last start on May 12th against the Kansas C Royals. The Twins shortstop Pat Meares flied out to RF Paul O'Neill to complete the perfect game afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
2007 - Former Yankees P Bill Wright (1946-1947) passed away. Before the 1941 AL Season, Bill Wright was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He posted a 3-2 record in 15 games for the Yankees. On February 24, 1948, Bill was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Fred Bradley and C Aaron Robinson to the Chicago White Sox for P Eddie Lopat.
2008 - The New York Yankees 1B Jason Giambi hits his 185th MLB career HR as a Yankee in a 7-4 loss, during a inter league game against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. He had been tied with former Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller at 184. Now he is tied at 185 with former Yankees OF Paul O’Neill.
May 18th
1885 - Former Yankees P Eros “Cy” Barger (1906-1907) was born. Cy went 0-0 in 3 games with 1 save with the Yankees.
1905 - Former Yankees reserve C Art Jorgens (1929-1939) was born. On August 24, 1928, Art was purchased by the Yankees from the Oklahoma City (Western League). Art was a back up catcher for the Yankees for 11 seasons for AL All Star C Bill Dickey, appearing in only 307 games and hitting .238.
1930 - New York Yankees Starter George Pipgras tossed his 3rd shutout of the 1930 AL season as the Yankees again, supported his pitching by bombing the host Red Sox, by a score of 11-0. Babe Ruth hit an Ed Morris pitch over the RF bleachers, for one of the longest HRs ever hit at Fenway Park.
1935 - Cleveland Indians batter Earl Averill ruins starter Lefty Gomez’s bid for a no-hitter, by hitting 2 singles, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 3-0.
1946 - Former Yankees Hall of Fame OF/DH Reggie Jackson (1977-1981) was born. Jackson will make his MLB debut in 1967 with the Kansas City A’s. His stay in Yankees pinstripes was a wild one with filled the fights with Manager Billy Martin and disagreements with Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner. His greatest Yankees moment was in the 1977 World Series, when he hit 3 HR’s in 1 game against the Dodgers. He will finish his MLB career with 563 HRs, 6th on the all-time MLB career HR list. His final Yankees career totals were a lifetime BA of .281 with 144 HRs with 461 RBIs in 653 games. Reggie appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees hitting .391 with 8 HRs, 17 RBIs in 13 games. Reggie was elected to Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1993. He currently serves as a Special Advisor to the New York Yankees front office.
1947 - Former Yankees 1B and Manager Hal “Prince Hal” Chase (1905-1913) passes away at the age of 64 (1883-1947). On October 4, 1904, Hal was drafted by the New York Highlanders from Los Angeles (PCL) in the 1904 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He hit .284 in 1,061 games as Yankee from 1905-1913. Hal Chase managed the Yankees in 1910-1911, posting an 85-78 record. On June 1, 1913, Hal was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for INF Rollie Zeider and 1B Babe Borton. Yankees Manager Frank Chance had suspected Chase of betting on Yankee games and had him traded away. Many of the MLB players and baseball writers from his playing days, didn’t rate Hal Chase as being an “honest” player, Hal was a great defensive 1B and hitter. His gambling problems would later cost him his MLB career and a chance to be voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1956 - AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit HR’s from both sides of the plate for the 3rd time in his MLB career, setting a MLB record. Mantle included a perfect 4-for-4 day, helping the Yankees to an 8-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1958 - The New York Yankees sweep the Washington Senators in a doubleheader at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C, winning by scores of 5-2 and 3-0 before 27,704 fans. This doubleheader sweep brings the Yankees record to a 19-5 for 1958 AL season. In the opener, former NL veteran starter Sal “The Barber” Maglie goes 8 innings for the Yankees, allowing only 8 hits and 2 runs. In the 9th inning, Yankees bullpen ace Ryne Duren closes out the game for his 6th save of the 1958 AL season. Sal Maglie hits a 2-run HR shot off of Senators starter Pedro Ramous in the 4th inning. Mickey Mantle had hit a solo HR in the 3rd inning. In the nightcap, “Bullet Bob” Turley throws a 3-0 shutout, allowing only 5 hits and striking out 6 Senator batters. Yankees Tony Kubek and Mickey Mantle provided the Yankees offense driving in 3 runs. Yankees rookie 1B Marv Throneberry gets a rare start at 1st base, going 1 for 2 in the game.
1968 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran closer John Wyatt from the Boston Red Sox for cash. He was obtained from the Red Sox, appearing in only 7 games posting a 0-2 mark, before being sold to the Detroit Tigers. John had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before being signed by the Kansas City A’s.
1974 - Former Co-Owner of New York Yankees Dan Topping (1945-1964) passes away (1912-1974). Along with business partners Del Webb and Larry McPhail, they brought the Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert estate in 1945. After the 1947 AL season, they bought out partner Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping would sell the New York Yankees to CBS, Inc. in 1964.
1976 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Carlos May from the Chicago White Sox for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos will hit .287 in 87 games in 1976 for the Yankees before fading in 1977 and being sold to the California Angels in September.
1995 - Former Yankees P Jack Kramer (1951) passed away. On May 28, 1951, Jack was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Jack had started the 1951 MLB with the New York Giants. With the Yankees, he appeared in 19 games, posting a 1-3 record. On August 30, 1951, Jack was released by the New York Yankees.
1999 - The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees, by the score of 6-3, in the return of Yankees Manager Joe Torre, after being treated for prostate cancer. Yankees Bench Coach Don Zimmer had been handling the Yankees manager duties, while Joe Torre was away.
2003 - The Texas Rangers swept 3 games at Yankee Stadium from the Yankees, for the 1st time in the franchise's 43-year MLB existence.
May 19th
1891 - Former Yankees P George Clark (1913) was born. George went 0-1 in 11 games for the Yankees in 1913.
1903 - Due to Sunday restrictions in Cleveland, a major league game is played in Columbus, Ohio with the 'hometown' Cleveland Naps defeating the New York Highlanders, by the score of 9 - 2.
1928 - Former Yankees INF Gil McDougald (1951-1960) was born. In 1948, Gil McDougald was signed by the New York Yankees, as an amateur MLB free agent. Gil was a versatile infielder for the Yankees. In 1951, he won the AL ROY award. He would hit a Grand Slam HR in the 1951 World Series against the Giants. Gil would make AL All Star team several times during the 1950’s. In 1957, a tragic line drive hit by Gil off of Indians starter Herb Score in the face affected the rest of his MLB career. Gil had lost his aggressive approach at the plate. In December of 1960, Gil had been drafted by the new Washington Senators in the 1960 AL expansion player draft. He refused to go to the new club. Also Gil turned down a $100,000 player-manager job offer from the new LA Angels team. His former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had recommended him to the Angels Owner Gene Autry for the job. Gil retired from the Yankees. He would later become the baseball coach for Fordham University. Gil finished his fine Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .276, 112 HRs with 576 RBI’s in 1,336 games. He appeared in 8 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .237 with 7 HRs and 24 RBIs.
1948 - Former Yankees DH/OF Carlos May (1976-1977) was born. On May 18, 1976, Carlos was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Yankees for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos hit .287 in 87 games in 1976. In 1977, he only hit .227 in 65 games. On September 16, 1977, he purchased by the California Angels from the Yankees.
1954 - Former Yankees C Rick Cerone (1980-1985, 1987, 1990) was born. Rick never lived up to his potential as hitting catcher after replacing Thurman Munson as the Yankees regular catcher in 1980, after Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. Rick was obtained in the Chris Chambliss trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
1955 - Former Yankees P Ed Whitson (1985-1986) was born. Ed went 17-10 in 44 games with the Yankees. He was a major disappointment for the Yankees as a MLB free agent signing.
1957- Former Yankees minor league P Ben Callahan was born. On June 3, 1980, Ben was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 31st round of the 1980 MLB amateur player draft. Ben never appeared with the Yankees at MLB debut. On June 15, 1983, Ben was traded by the New York Yankees along with DH/1B Marshall Brant and cash to the Oakland A's for P Matt Keough.
1960 - The New York Yankees re-obtained veteran OF Bob Cerv from the Kansas City A’s for 3B Andy Carey. Andy had lost his Yankees 3B starting job to Clete Boyer. Bob Cerv will provide power off the bench and outfield defense for the Yankees for the rest of 1960 AL season, before being lost to the LA Angels in the AL player expansion team draft in December of 1960. He would be re-obtained by the Yankees from the Angels in May of 1961 in the Ryne Duren trade.
1969 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Jose Vidal from the Seattle Pilots for OF Richard Simpson. Jose Vidal never plays for the Yankees at MLB level.
1977 - After dropping 2 games to the Oakland A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle for hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.
1977 - Former Yankees P Dan Giese (2008) was born. On November 24, 2007, Dan was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, posting a 1-3 record. On April 8, 2009, Dan was selected off waivers by the Oakland Athletics from the New York Yankees.
1993 - Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes Jr. (1943-1946) passed away. On December 17,1942, Oscar was traded by the Cleveland Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the New York Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar. Oscar appeared in 281 games for the Yankees, hitting .266. On July 11, 1946, Oscar was purchased by the Philadelphia A’s from the New York Yankees.
May 20th
1890 - Former Yankees P Jesse ‘”Jim” Buckles (1916) was born. He appeared in two games with no record for the Yankees in 1916.
1893 - Former Yankees P Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born. Walt appeared in 1 game with no record for the Yankees in 1918.
1897 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-29, 1932-33) was born. He was the relief ace of the 1927 Yankees, posting a 19-7 record with 13 saves. His Yankees pitching career totals were 36-20 in 142 games with 27 saves. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.
1904 - Former Yankees P (1933) Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski) was born. Pete appeared in 1 game with Yankees, posting no record in 1933.
1913 - The New York Yankees obtained shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Cleveland Indians for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would help stabilized the 1913 Yankees infield.
1923 - Babe Ruth’s 15th inning 2-run HR gives New York Yankees starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees allowing only 4 hits in 15 innings.
1925 - The Cleveland Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Yankees, by a score of 10-9. Indians Tris Speaker scored the winning run from 1st base on a single.
1930 - Former Yankees reliever and Pitching Coach Tom “Plowboy” Morgan (1951-1952, 1954-56) was born (1930-1987). The New York Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent signed Tom Morgan before the 1949 AL season. Tom was a relief pitcher for the Yankees during the early 1950’s. His Yankee pitching career totals were 38-22 in 156 games with 26 saves. Tom was traded to the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, posting a 0-1 mark in 5 games. Later, Tom would become a Yankees pitching coach during the 1980’s. He finished his MLB pitching career in 1963 with the LA Angels, working for the team as a pitching coach in their farm system.
1943 - Former Yankees 1B David McDonald (1969) was born. In 1962, the Yankees signed David McDonald as an amateur MLB free agent. He only appeared in 9 games for the Yankees, just hitting only .217 in 1969. On May 15, 1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for reliever Gary Waslewski.
1945 - One-armed OF Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoyed an incredible day against the Yankees. Gray made 3 outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBI, and scored the game-winning run during the Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.
1946 - Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, Coach and Yankees broadcast announcer Robert “Bobby “ Murcer (1965-66, 1969-1974,1979-1983) was born (1946-2008). Bobby was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, he still had a very good career with the Yankees. He made the AL All Star team in 1971-74. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331. In the winter of 1974, he was traded to the Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees during the 1979 MLB season. Finishing out his Yankees playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees announcer. Bobby passed away in 2008, after batting brain cancer.
1946 - Former Yankees OF Jim Lyttle (1969-1971) was born. Jim Lyttle was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1966 amateur MLB player draft. Jim’s best season with the Yankees was in 1970, when he hit .310. In 1971, he missed most of the season being sick with mono. On October 13, 1971, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for P Rich Hinton.
1948 - Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and collected 6 RBIs in the 13-2 Yankees victory over the Chicago White Sox. DiMaggio hit 2 HRs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly missed another extra-base hit, when Chicago LF Ralph Hodgin made a spectacular catch at the outfield wall.
1959 - The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees by a score of 13-6 to place the Yankees in last place in the AL for the 1st time in 19 years, since May of 1940. The team was plagued by injuries to virtually every starting player in the Yankees regular starting line up, plus the pitching staff had several arm injuries, including 1958 Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley. The 1959 Yankees would finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record, behind the 2nd place Cleveland Indians and the 1959 AL Champion’s Chicago White Sox.
1960 - Former Yankees C Pat Collins (1926-1928) passed away. On August 30, 1925, Pat was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later and $25000 and 3 players to be named. The New York Yankees sent Pee-Wee Wanninger on December 16, 1925 to St. Paul to complete the trade. He appeared in 264 games for the Yankees, hitting .269, also appeared in 11 World Series games for the Yankees (1926-1928), hitting .500. On December 13, 1928, Pat was purchased by the Boston Braves from the New York Yankees.
1963 - Former Yankees P David “Boomer” Wells (1997-1998, 2002-2003) was born. On December 24, 1996, Dave was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Dave pitched a perfect game for the Yankees. His final Yankees pitching career record was 66-28. Dave’s best Yankees season was in 2002, when he went 19-7. In 1998, he went 18-4 and won the ALCS MVP Award. Dave was named to the 1998 AL All Star team. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 1-1. In ALCS play, he went 6-1 for the Yankees. On February 18, 1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with INF Homer Bush and P Graeme Lloyd to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2002, he would return to the Yankees as a MLB free agent.
1969 - The New York Yankees acquired veteran reliever Jack Aker (1969-1972) from the Seattle Pilots for Yankees P Fred Talbot. Jack helped stabilized the Yankees bullpen for 3 seasons. He went 16-10 with 59 saves in 164 games.
1976 - Another Yankee-Red Sox brawl took place at Yankee Stadium, in which resulted in Boston Red Sox starter Bill “Spaceman” Lee seriously injuring his pitching arm. It all started when Yankees OF Lou Piniella, crashed into Red Sox C Carlton Fisk while trying to score from 2nd on a single by Graig Nettles. Red Sox RF Dwight Evans throw had Lou out at the plate, but he barreled into Fisk resulting in a fight between them, which emptied both team benches.
2006 - A New York Yankees uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series (1951) was sold for $195,500 during the 2nd day of an auction of his memorabilia. Yesterday, DiMaggio's 1947 AL MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 percent buyer's premium. It was his 3rd AL MVP award, but it was the only plaque. The 2-day auction featured more than 1,000 items of Joe DiMaggio memorabilia also included a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio's Yankees teammates and members of the Red Sox, a typed note signed by entertainer Frank Sinatra, an a signed photograph of DiMaggio's one-time wife, actress Marilyn Monroe. This Joe DiMaggio memorabilia auction was held by Hunt's Auctions Inc. in New York City. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
May 21st
1906 - Former Yankees P Henry ‘”Hank” Johnson (1925-1926, 1928-1932) was born. Hank went 37-36 in 157 games with 7 saves as Yankee. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he went 14-9 in 31 games. On June 5, 1932, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ivy Andrews and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Danny Mac Fayden.
1912 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) was born. Larry appeared in only 36 games for the 1944 Yankees, just hitting .198.
1923 - The formal transfer of T.L. Huston's interest in the New York Yankees ownership to his partner, Jacob Ruppert is completed for $1.5 million. Ten days later, Ruppert buys 2 more sets of uniforms so his players can wear a clean outfit every day, an unprecedented move.
1930 - Babe Ruth hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A's, then batting against Jack Quinn in the 9th inning. Ruth decides to hit right-handed. After 2 strikes, he switches to lefty, but he strikes out. This is the 1st of 2 career 3-HR games for the Babe. Max Bishop draws 5 walks for the 2nd time in his career (he is the only player to do this twice), and Jimmie Foxx homers to help the A's to a 15-7 victory. Ruth is homer-less in the 2nd game, a 4-1 Yankee loss, but Bishop has 3 more walks. Bishop will also walk 8 times in a doubleheader in 1934, the only player to collect more than 6 walks in an afternoon.
1932 - Before 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees roll over the Washington Senators, by scores of 14-2 and 8-0. Washington collects just 11 hits off of Yankees starters Herb Pennock and Johnny Allen. In the opener, Babe Ruth homers in the 5th inning off of P Lloyd Brown. Babe and Lou Gehrig connect in the 6th inning off of P Frank Ragland. Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri is 6-for-7 on the afternoon, including a HR, 2 doubles and a triple.
1934 - Former Yankees minor league C Moe Thacker was born. Moe Thacker was another of the many players who began their careers in the New York Yankees organization, who reached the MLB with a different team. In 1952, the Yankees signed Moe as an amateur MLB free agent. The young catcher would make it as high as the American Association with the Denver Bears (AAA) in 1956 and the New Orleans Pelicans (AA) of the Southern Association in 1957, where he hit .240 while catching 136 games. All that got him was being traded to the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 1958 MLB season in an unknown transaction.
1938 - The power-laden New York Yankees give little hitting or run support to their starter Spud Chandler, but he hits a HR in the 8th inning to gain a 1-0 victory over Chicago White Sox starter Thornton Lee.
1941 - Former Yankees INF (1968-1969) and MLB Coach Bobby Cox (1969-1976) was born. On December 7, 1967, Bobby was traded by the Braves to the Yankees for C Bob Tillman and P Dale Roberts. Bobby was the Yankees 3B in 1968-69 seasons, he batted .229 and .218. In 1970-71, he would play for the Yankees AAA club in Syracuse (IL). The LA Dodgers originally signed Bobby Cox in 1959. He was more successful as a MLB manager with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays than as a MLB player.
1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1971) was born. Rich was acquired from the Chicago White Sox for Yankees OF Jim Lyttle in 1971. He went 1-0 before being traded to the Texas Rangers.
1947 - ALL Star CF Joe DiMaggio and 5 other players are slapped with $100 fines for not fulfilling their player contract requirements to do promotional duties for the New York Yankees.
1948 - Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle as he delivers two home runs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 13-2.
1954 - Boston Red Sox rookie starter Frank Sullivan makes his 1st MLB start beating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, by a score of 6-3. Sullivan strikes out Mickey Mantle 3-times before Mickey clocks one over the auxiliary scoreboard into the RF-CF bleachers.
1956 - At Kansas City, Mickey Mantle clouts a drive over the 2nd and more distance fence in RF to help the Yankees win the game by the score of 8-5. The drive, off of P Moe Burtschy, matches HRs to that spot hit by AL hitters Larry Doby and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.
1957 - For his part in the Copacabana nightclub fight incident, Yankees OF Hank Bauer is arraigned in NYC court. He is eventually cleared and threatens to sue the alleged victim, Edward Jones, who suffered a concussion and a broken jaw. In today's game, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford are benched, while Hank Bauer bats 8th in the Yankees starting batting order. Mickey Mantle has a single, 2 walks, and a HR to back starter Bob Turley's 4-hit, 3-0 shutout over the Kansas City A's. Bob Turley helps his cause by starting a triple play. The Yankees now trail the Chicago White Sox by a half game
1962 - The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran starter Robin Roberts, who was released by the Yankees on April 30th. Roberts will go on to win 42 games for Orioles before going to Houston Astros and then finishing his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees management had decided that veteran Bob Turley was better choice than Robin Roberts; it proved to be a big mistake. Many feel that Robin Roberts would have made the 300 wins MLB career mark, if he had stayed as a Yankee. Turley was 3-3 in 24 games in 1962, before finishing up his MLB career in 1963 splitting time with LA Angels and the Boston Red Sox.
1967- Detroit Tigers starter Earl Wilson gives the Tigers their 3rd straight win over the Yankees, with a 9-4 victory. Mickey Mantle hits his 5th HR in 6 games but it's not enough for Yankees starter Whitey Ford, who appears in his last MLB game for the Yankees.
1970 - A generous Yankees starter Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in 8 1/3 innings, but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last 2 outs to preserve the 2-0 win. The 11 walks in a shutout ties Lefty Gomez, who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater's 2-run HR in the 5th inning, accounts for the scoring off of Nats P Richard Such, making his 1st MLB start.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Widger (2002) was born. Chris hit .297 in 24 games with the Yankees during the 2002 AL season.
1997 - Roger Clemens fires the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees, by the score of 4-1, for his 8th win of the 1997 AL season against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200 MLB career game, the 94th MLB pitcher to reach 200 wins mark.
2004 - On his 1st return visit to Texas, former AL All Star Texas Ranger, now a Yankee player, Alex Rodriguez is roundly booed by Ranger fans at The Ballpark in Arlington. The fans continue to show their displeasure as the Yankees' 3B drives a 2-1 pitch over the fence during his 1st inning at-bat.
2005 - As Dae-Sung Koo stands in against New York Yankees starter Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza confides to David Wright in the dugout, "If he gets a hit, I'll donate a million dollars to charity." The Korean reliever, batting lefty off the Yankee fire-balling southpaw, was afraid to stand in the batter box in a previous game, but promptly hits a 91-mph fastball to the wall in center for a double causing the Mets catcher to say he will be making a significant donation to a charity over the next 20 years.
2009 - Joba Chamberlain is knocked out of the game in the 1st inning with a bruised right knee after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore Orioles batter Adam Jones. The Yankees still defeat the Orioles, 7-4, as Robinson Cano drives in 3 runs. Alfredo Aceves pitches 3 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Chamberlain to earn the Bronx Bombers' 9th straight win.
May 22nd
1913 - St. Louis Browns rookie P Dwight Stone gives up 6 hits, 7 walks and plunks 3 batters, but still beats the New York Yankees by the score of 7-0. The visiting Yankees strand a modern-MLB record of 15 runners in the shutout by Stone, who will win just 1 more game in 1913. Ed Klepfer is the losing pitcher in his only decision of the year. The record will be matched 3 times and finally topped, in 1994. The NL record of 14 runners stranded in a shutout was set less than 2 weeks ago by Pittsburgh Pirates against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1923 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox by clouting a 2-run HR in the 15th inning. The blow breaks up a tense pitching duel between little Mike Cvengros and Herb Pennock, who goes all the way giving up just 4 hits. The Yankees have now won 12 of 13 contests in their western road trip.
1930 - At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees and the A’s continue the HR barrage as the Yankees take both games of a 2nd straight doubleheader, by the scores of 10-1 and 20-13. Babe Ruth hits a pair of HRs in the opener, as does Ben Chapman and winning pitcher George Pipgras. The Yankees score 9 runs in the 1st two innings of the 2nd game, but the A's come back to tie it at 12 apiece. The Yankees win the assault 20-13 as Tony Lazzeri is 4-for-4, scores 5 runs, and knocks in 4 runs. Babe Ruth hits another HR in the 2nd game, while Lou Gehrig powers 3 HRs to drive in 8 runs. On the A's side, Jimmie Foxx has 2-HRs to drive in 6 runs. For the afternoon, the teams combine to hit 14 HRs, a then record 10 HRs in game 2.
1933 - INF Joe Sewell of the New York Yankees fans for the 1st time for the 1933 AL season, in a 3-0 Yankees victory, behind starter Lefty Gomez over the Cleveland Indians. Sewell will strike out only 3 more times in 524 at bats during the 1933 AL season.
1934 – The Cleveland Indians stop the Yankees by the score of 5-1, with Lou Gehrig driving in the lone run for New York. For the 2nd time in his MLB career, Lou has driven in at least 1-run a game for 10 straight games.
1944 - Former Yankees P Tommy John (1979-1982, 1986-1989) was born. On November 21, 1978, Tommy signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Tommy John won 21 and 20 games in 1979 and 1980 for the Yankees. On August 31, 1982, Tommy was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for a player to be named later. The Angels would send P Dennis Rasmussen on November 24, 1982 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He would return to the Yankees in 1986, he played with the team until 1989. His final Yankees pitching career record was 91-60.
1946 - The Yankees turn a triple play during a 5-3 win at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers had runners on 1st and 3rd, when Richard Wakefield hit a ground ball to Yankees 1B Nick Etten, who threw home to get the lead runner. Yankees C Bill Dickey chased that lead runner back towards 3B, and then he threw to 3B George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, who made the tag. Meanwhile, the runner on 1B had foolishly strayed beyond 2B, apparently undecided whether or not to attempt to advance to 3B during the rundown. A throw to shortstop trapped this runner between 2B and 3B, Phil Rizzuto, eventually tagged him out. During this rundown, Wakefield attempted to reach 2B, Phil Rizzuto’s quick flip to 2B Joe Gordon, completed the triple play.
1947 - The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 9-0, as starter Allie Reynolds fires his second 2-hit shutout over the Red Sox in a month. Red Sox starter Harry Dorish is the loser.
1953 - New York Yankees' OF Irv Noren ends the game by lining back to Washington hurler Bob Porterfield, who starts a triple play, as the Senators beat the Yankees by a score of 12-4. The Senators score 5-runs in the 1st inning off of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds. Washington tallies 18 hits including a 3-run HR and 2-run double by Clyde Vollmer. Yankees veteran Johnny Mize hits pinch single in the 9th inning, his 5th pinch single in a row, breaking a mark set by Cleveland's Les Fleming in 1947. Johnny Mize has had a walk and been hit by a pitch in his last 7 pinch-hitting appearances.
1954 - At Yankee Stadium, Allie Reynolds tosses a 7-hit shutout over the Boston Red Sox to win 7-0. Mickey Mantle is the Yankees main offense, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Mickey will knock in 10 runs in the 3-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
1956 - Detroit's Red Wilson belts a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees. The loss goes to Whitey Ford, his 1st following 6 straight wins. Ford had given up just 5 earned runs through 54 innings before today’s game.
1959 - Baltimore Orioles' starter Hoyt Wilhelm 1-hits the Yankees winning the game by the score of 1-0, with Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe's single in the 8th inning as the spoiler. Yankees All Star switch-hitter Mickey Mantle hits righty against Wilhelm and does no better than he has been lefty. On May 28th, Hoyt Wilhelm, who is a veteran knuckleball pitcher, will beat the Yankees again, this time by a score of 5-0.
1962 - The Yankees RF Roger Maris, who went all of the 1961 AL season without receiving an intentional walk, collects 4 walks in a 12-inning, in a 2-1 win against the LA Angels to set an AL record. Maris receives 5 walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley and Bob Turley) combine to give up just 1 hit in 12 innings. Yankees starter Whitey Ford leaves after 7 innings, because of back spasms, Jim Coates gives up the lone Angels hit, a 1-out 9th-inning single to rookie catcher Buck Rodgers.
1963 - At Yankee Stadium, Yankees blow a 7-0 lead and allows the Kansas City A’s to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Mickey Mantle, leading off the 11th inning, is fooled by Bill Fischer on a slow curve, then cannons a 2-2 pitch that almost clears the Yankee Stadium RF roof. "The hardest ball I ever hit," Mantle later comments, a ball that, by some accounts, was still rising when it struck a foot below the top. It is conservatively estimated by Dr. James McDonald, a physicist who studies long-ball trajectories, that the ball would have traveled 620 feet if it had not struck the facade. "That was the only homer I ever hit that the bat actually bent in my hands," Mantle tells his Yankees teammate Dale Long, from whom he borrowed the bat.
1977 - After 3 straight losses to the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees give the starting assignment to lefthander Ron Guidry, who throws a 4-hitter defeating the O’s by a score of 8-2.
1996 - The Oakland A’s spoil “Dwight Gooden Day” at Yankee Stadium, by hitting 5 solo HRs, including 3 by Yankees-killer Geronimo Berroa to beat the Yankees by the score of 5-1. The A’s 5 runs, all coming on HRs, ties the MLB mark.
1997 - The visiting Boston Red Sox collect 19 hits, but strand 16 base runners, while beating the Yankees, by the score of 8-2. Former Yankee Mike Stanley hits a 3-run HR, and Wil Cordero adds 5 hits; Tim Naehring has 4 hits and Mo Vaughn belts his 10th HR of the 1997 AL season in the 8th inning.
1999 - The New York Yankees defeat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 10-2, in the 1st game of a double header. Roger Clemens gets the win for the Yankees, giving him an AL record 19 consecutive victories over the course of 2 seasons; he will extend the streak by 1 game before losing. This win was delayed by a stint on the Disabled List and a rainout. The White Sox come back to take the nightcap by a score of 2-1.
