This Week in Yankees History
July 18th - July 24th
July 18th
1916 - Former Yankees OF/1B Johnny “Hippity” Hopp (1950-1952) was born. On September 5, 1950, John was purchased by the Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He would hit .333 in 19 games for the Yankees. In 1951, he faded to a .206 mark. He was only hitting .160 in 1952, when the Yankees released him. The Detroit Tigers would pick him up finishing his MLB playing career with them.
1918 - Former Yankees pitcher AL Lyons (1944, 1946-1947) was born. Al went 1-1 in 19 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947.
1933 -The Yankees win their 9th straight game taking the AL lead from the Washington Senators, by beating the Chicago White Sox by a score of 5-4.
1934 - Twenty-two players hit safely in the Cleveland Indians’s 15-14 win over the Yankees. Babe Ruth is hit in the leg by the ball and will be out for 10 days. It is the 2nd time an injury has sidelined him this 1934 AL season.
1940 - Happy Birthday to former Yankees manager Joe Torre (1996-2007)! Joe Torre served as the New York Yankees manager under the controversial owner George Steinbrenner, who was famous for frequently firing his team's managers. Torre lasted 12 full seasons, managing 1,942 regular season games (with a won-loss record of 1173–767). He took the team to the post-season playoffs every 1 of his 12 seasons with the club, winning 6 AL pennants and 4 World Series. This was by far the longest tenure for a New York Yankees skipper in the Steinbrenner era. Joe Torre's era was the 2nd-longest managerial tenure in the club's history: only Joe McCarthy lasted longer (1931-1946).
1944 - Former Yankees P Rudy May (1974-1976, 1980-1983) was born. On June 15,1974, Rudy was purchased by the Yankees from the California Angels for cash. Rudy posted 26-19mark in 60 games with the Yankees. On June 15,1976, he was traded along with C Rick Dempsey, pitchers Tippy Martinez, Scott McGregor, and Dave Pagan to the Baltimore Orioles for pitchers Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Grant Jackson, P Jimmy Freeman and reserve C Ellie Hendricks. Rudy would return to the Yankees in 1980, posting a 15-5 mark with an AL leading ERA of 2.46. He will go 28-27 in 124 games with the Yankees from 1980-1983.
1947- The New York Yankees 19-game winning streak comes to an end, when Detroit Tigers starter Fred Hutchinson shuts out the Yankees by a score of 2-0.
1954 - After winning 13 in a row, the Yankees lose the 2nd game of a doubleheader to the Detroit Tigers by the score of 8-6. They now trail the Cleveland Indians in the AL by 1/2 game.
1957 - In what will later be revealed as false testimony, Kansas City A's owner Arnold Johnson denies before the Celler Committee that he had any ties to the New York Yankees ownership or has favored them in any MLB baseball trades made by the A’s. This committee was looking into MLB legal activities including anti-trust laws and the MLB players reserve clause.
1960 - The Yankees score 5 runs in the 3rd inning off of Tribe starter Richard Stigman, as Whitey Ford coasts to a complete game 9-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
1961 - Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle poles 2 HRs, off of rookie P Joe McLain, to pace the Yankees to a 5-3 win over the expansion Washington Senators. In pre-game ceremonies, Mickey Mantle teamed with New York Congressman Eddie Dooley to win the HR-hitting contest against other Congressional-player duos.
1985 - Current Yankees INF Ramiro Pena (2009-2010) was born. Ramiro appeared in 46 games in 2009 season hitting .267 before being sent back to Scranton (AAA).
1987 - Yankees Don Mattingly hits a HR in his 8th consecutive game, tying the MLB record set by former NL slugger Dale Long in 1956, but the Yankees lose to the Texas Rangers by a score of 7-2. His streak will end tomorrow when he goes 2-for-4, but hits no HRs.
1995 - The Chicago White Sox blast Yankees starter Jack McDowell for 13 hits and 9-runs in 4 2/3 innings in their 11-4 win in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. McDowell makes an obscene gesture to the fans as he is booed walking off the field.
1999 - On “Yogi Berra Day” at Yankee Stadium, David Cone becomes the 16th pitcher in MLB history and the 3rd Yankees starter in team history to toss a perfect game beating the Montreal Expos, by a score of 6-0. In pre-game ceremonies former Yankees P Don Larsen threw out the ceremonial 1st pitch to his former catcher Yogi Berra commemorating his 1956 World Series perfect game against the Dodgers at Yankee Stadium.
2008 - The Yankees signed MLB free agent 1B/DH Richie Sexton, who had been released by the Seattle Mariners. He would only appear in 22 games with the Yankees. He hit .250 before being released by the team in August of 2008.
July 19th
1887 - Former Yankees P Charles “Butch” Schmidt (1909) was born. On September 1,1908, Butch was drafted by the Highlanders from Baltimore Orioles (Eastern) in the 1908 MLB Rule 5 player draft. Butch appeared in 1 game with the Yankees with no record.
1888 - Former Yankees C/1B/OF Eddie Sweeny (1908-1915) was born. Ed appeared in 627 games with the New York Yankees, hitting .235.
1896 - Former Yankees OF Bob “Long Bob” Meusel (1920-1929) was born. Bob played in 1,294 games for the Yankees, finishing with a .311 BA. He was known for his strong throwing arm in the outfield. In 1925, he was the AL HR king with 33 HRs and RBI leader with 138. He played in 6 World Series for the Yankees, appearing 34 games with a .225 BA. During his Yankees playing career, he hit for the cycle 3 times. His brother Irish Meusel played for the NL cross-town rivals the New York Giants. On October 17,1929, Bob was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Yankees.
1904 - Former Yankees INF Mark Koenig (1925-1930) was born. During May of 1925, Mark was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the Yankees for Oscar Roettger and cash. The Yankees would send Fred Hofmann on May 15, 1925 and Ernie Johnson October 28, 1925 to St. Paul to complete the trade. Mark was the starting shortstop for the 1927 World Champion Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he hit .319 in 132 games. As a Yankees player, he appeared in 567 games, hitting .285. He appeared in 15 World Series games for the Yankees hitting .261. On May 30,1930, Mark was traded by the Yankees along with veteran starter Waite Hoyt to the Detroit Tigers for P Owens Carroll, OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling. In 12 MLB seasons, Mark played for the Yankees, Tigers, Cubs, Reds and finishing with the Giants in 1936. He appeared in the 1932 World Series with the Cubs and 1936 Series with the Giants, both times he faced his old Yankee teammates and lost.
1914 - Former Yankees P Marius Russo (1939-1943, 1946) was born. Marius went 45-34 in 120 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1941, when he posted a 14-10 mark and being named to the AL All Star team. He appeared in 2 World Series for the Yankees posting a 2-0 mark. In 1940 he posted a 14-8 mark for the Yankees.
1927 - Former Yankees reserve INF Billy Gardner (1961-1962) was born. On June 14,1961, Billy was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Yankees for veteran P Danny McDevitt. Billy appeared in 45 games for the Yankees, hitting just .210. On June 12,1962, Billy was traded by the Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for OF Tom Umphlett and cash. After retiring as MLB player, Billy became a MLB coach for the Boston Red Sox. Later he managed the Minnesota Twins and the Kansas City Royals.
1937 - New York Yankees hurler Johnny Broaca is fined $250 and suspended indefinitely by the team for jumping the club. He jumped the Yankees during the 1937 AL season and sat out the rest of the year, as well as all of 1938.
1940 - Yankees Catcher Buddy Rosar hits for the cycle; Red Sox shortstop Joe Cronin will do it on August 2nd, and the Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon, on September 8th.
1942- The Yankees signed free agent C Rollie Hemsley (1942-1944). Rollie appeared in 174 games with the Yankees, hitting .262. On March 25,1946, Rollie was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the Yankees.
1949 - Former Yankees OF/1B Gene Locklear (1976-1977) was born. On July 10,1976, Gene was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees for a player to be named later. Gene only appeared in 14 games with the Yankees, hitting .270. The Yankees would send P Rick Sawyer on July 31, 1976 to the Padres to complete the trade.
1950 - The Yankees obtained their 1st black players, OF Elston Howard and Pitcher Frank Barnes. They purchase them from the Kansas City Monarchs and assign them to Muskegon (Central League). The Yankees would release Frank Barnes. He would make it to MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals, while Elston Howard became the 1st black MLB Yankees player in 1955.
1950 - The Yankees southpaw Eddie Lopat wins by the score of 16-1 over the St. Louis Browns, throwing a 2-hitter in the 1st game of a doubleheader.
1957 - Former Yankees P Kurt Kaufman (1982-1983) was born. The Yankees signed Kurt as an MLB amateur free agent in 1979. He went 1-0 in 11 games for the Yankees. On December 7,1983, Kurt was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the California Angels for veteran INF Tim Foli.
1958 - The Yankees LF Norm Siebern has his 2nd 5-hit game of the month, against the Kansas City A’s, as the Yankees lose the game by a score of 6-4.
1959 - Before 57,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees sweep a pair from the visiting Chicago White Sox, winning the nightcap 6-4 on Mickey Mantle's HR off of reliever Turk Lown. In the 1st game, Yankee veteran OF Enos Slaughter belts a pair of HRs: at age 43, he is the oldest player this century to accomplish the feat. Carlton Fisk, a few months older, will top Enos Slaughter’s mark in 1991.
1960 - The Yankees out-slug the Cleveland Indians by a score of 13-11, behind the slugging of Bill “Moose” Skowron. “The Moose” follows, a Yogi Berra blast with his 2nd HR in the 8th inning, but the Tribe answers back with 2 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning for an 11-8 lead. Moose then hits a bases-loaded double in the 9th inning to win the game. Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 30th HR, while CF Jimmy Piersall HRs for the Tribe.
1961 - MLB Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick, an old friend of Babe Ruth's, announces that should Ruth's record be beaten after 154 games, the record will carry an asterisk. When asked about the ruling, Yankees All Star slugger Roger Maris replies, "A season is a season." New York sportswriter Dick Young suggests an asterisk, which is later claimed to be Frick's idea. No such designation is ever used in the MLB record books, though, but the incident leads to a myth that an "official record book" lists Roger Maris HR record with an asterisk. The myth is still popularly believed over 45 years later.
1961 - The Yankees and Washington Senators split a doubleheader, with the Nats winning the nightcap by a score of 12-2. Nats veteran hurler Richard Donovan is the winner. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle belts a 500 FT HR in the 4th inning over the RF wall.
1962 - John W. Cox, owner of Yankee Stadium property, donates the facility to Rice University.
1964 - Tribe rookie starter Luis Tiant debuts with a 4-hit, 11-strikeout, 3-0 victory for the Indians at Yankee Stadium. The losing pitcher is Yankees ace Whitey Ford. Tiant was brought up yesterday after posting a 15-1 record at Portland (AAA).
1975 - Yankees C Thurman Munson's 1st-inning single and RBI against the Minnesota Twins are nullified because the tar on his bat handle exceeds the 18-inch limit. Twins C Glenn Borgmann gets the credit for the putout. The Yankees lose the game by a score of 2-1.
1977 - At Yankee Stadium, the NL scores 4 times in the opening inning off of Baltimore Orioles starter Jim Palmer, en route to a 7-5 All-Star Game victory. The Dodgers hurler Don Sutton, throwing 3 scoreless innings, is named the game's MVP. A crowd of 56,683 fans attended the 1977 All Star game.
1978 - Yankees starter Ed Figueroa limits the Minnesota Twins to 6-hits, as the Yankees open a 5-game winning streak. This winning streak starts the remarkable comeback of the 1978 Yankees to catch the Boston Red Sox in the AL East and win the AL Championship.
1982 - Former Yankees reliever Phil Coke (2008-2009) was born. Phil Coke was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 26th round (786th overall) of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He began his baseball career with the GCL Yankees in 2003. By 2007, Coke had also pitched for the short season Staten Island Yankees, Class-A Charleston RiverDogs, and Class-A Advanced Tampa Yankees. He made his Double-A debut with the Trenton Thunder in 2008, going 9–4 with a 2.54 ERA in 23 games (20 starts). Later that year in Triple-A with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, he pitched in 13 games (starting one) and went 2–2 with a 4.67 ERA. He made his MLB debut on September 1,2008, for the Yankees against the Detroit Tigers with a scoreless inning and strikeouts of Curtis Granderson and Miguel Cabrera. He finished the 2008 AL season with a 1-0 record in 12 games for the Yankees. In 2009, Phil went 4-3 in 72 games with 2 saves. On December 8, 2009, Phil was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the New York Yankees with minor league OF Austin Jackson to the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers sent OF Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees. The Detroit Tigers sent P Edwin Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees sent P Ian Kennedy to the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks sent Max Scherzer and Daniel Schlereth to the Tigers.
1983 - Former Yankees reliever Joe Beggs (1938) passed away. Before coming to the majors, Beggs had pitched for the 1937 Newark Bears team (AAA) that won 109 games. He came close to pitching a no-hitter, with the only hit being a smash that caromed off his leg. Beggs went 21-4 that year, on a Bears team that also featured future Yankees OF Charlie Keller hitting .353. In 1938, Beggs pitched 12 more games for the Bears, going 6-3, but pitched 14 games at the MLB level with the Yankees. He was 27 years old that season; he went 3-2 for the Yankees. Joe Beggs did not appear in the 1938 World Series. On January 4,1940, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds for P Lee Grissom.
1987 - The Texas Rangers win a 20-3 laugher over the Yankees. Steve Buechele has 2-HRs to pace the Rangers offense. In the 9th inning, Yankees C Rick Cerone takes the mound and walks 1, but allows no runs.
1998 - Former Yankees reserve OF Elmer Valo (1960) passed away (1921-1998). The veteran outfielder will appear in 8 games with no hits before being waived to the Washington Senators during the 1960 AL season. Elmer spent 20 seasons in MLB, starting out with the Philadelphia A’s and finishing up with the Phillies in 1961.
2002 - Former Yankees AL All Star starter Frank “Spec” Shea (1947-1951) passed away (1920-2002). In 1940, the Yankees signed Frank “Spec” Shea as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 29-21 with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1947, when he went 14-5 for the Yankees. He was named to the 1947 AL All Star team. On May 3,1952, Spec was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jackie Jensen, Jerry Snyder, and Archie Wilson to the Washington Senators for outfielders Irv Noren and Tom Upton.
2007 - Yankees minor league OF Shelley Duncan hits his 25th HR for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (AAA) to break Wendell Magee's franchise record for HRs. Duncan will be called up to the Yankees and he will hit 3 HRs in his 1st three days in majors.
July 20th
1904 - The Yankees traded pitchers Long Tom Hughes (7-11) and Barney Wolfe (0-3) to the Washington Senators for starter Al Orth (3-4). Orth will regain his form in New York, going 11-6 this season. He will win 27 games for the Yankees in 1906.
1912 - Pitcher Ray Caldwell of the Highlanders, inserted as a pinch runner, steals home for the tying run in an eventual 4-3 win over the Indians. He then pitches a 4-0 victory in the 2nd game.
1923 - The Yankees hit into a triple play, but still beat the Philadelphia A’s by the score of 9-2 behind starter Carl Mays, who threw a 4-hitter.
1936 - In an exhibition game in Pittsburgh, former Yankees starter Waite Hoyt stops his old New York teammates by a score of 7-2. Lou Gehrig's 6th inning HR is the 1st score for the Yankees. Ted Kleinhaus is cuffed in his 8-innings. While Hoyt wins, another old pitcher loses as the Pirates hand veteran hurler Guy Bush his release. The Bees (Boston Braves) will sign him.
1941 - The Yankees end a 17-inning game with the Detroit Tigers, by scoring 6 runs in the last inning to win the game by a score of 12-6.
1956 - Yankees starter Whitey Ford ties an AL record for consecutive strikeouts by fanning 6 straight Kansas City A’s batters. Ford will finish the game with 8 strikeouts in a 6-3 win over the A’s.
1960 - Former Yankees P Mike Witt (1991-93) was born. On May 11, 1990, Mike was traded by the California Angels to the Yankees for All Star OF Dave Winfield. Mike went 8-9 in 26 games for the Yankees.
1960 - At Municipal Stadium, with the Cleveland Indians in the lead by the score of 8-2, Mickey Mantle hits a Gary Bell pitch over the auxiliary scoreboard into the distant upper deck in RF, matching Luke Easter as the only MLB players to reach that spot. The Indians hold on for an 8-6 win.
1962 - Mickey Mantle HRs in the 1st inning off Washington Senators starter Steve Hamilton to propel the Yankees to a 3-2 victory. Mantle goes 3-for-4 at the plate and his on-base percentage is now at .516.
1965 - Mel Stottlemyre of the Yankees becomes the 1st pitcher to hit an inside-the-park grand slam since Deacon Phillippe did it for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1910. Stottlemyre's bases-loaded drive in the 5th off of Boston starter Bill Monbouquette assures him a 6-3 victory over the Red Sox.
1970 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran starter Mike McCormick from the San Francisco Giants for P John Cumberland. Mike posted a 2-0 mark in 9 games for the Yankees before being released in March of 1971.
1973 - Chicago White Sox starter Wilbur Wood starts and loses both games of a doubleheader against the Yankees by scores of 12-2 and 7-0.
1985 - Scattering 7-hits, Yankees starter Ron Guidry wins his 12th straight game, beating the Minnesota Twins by the score of 8-3. Don Mattingly has a 2-run HR and a 2-run double for the Yankees.
1987 - Don Mattingly ties another MLB record, this time in the field, as he makes 22 putouts in the Yankees 7-1 win over the Minnesota Twins. This fielding feat was last accomplished in the AL by 1B Hal Chase for the Highlanders in 1906.
1998 - The Detroit Tigers take the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Yankees by a 4-3 score in 17 innings. The Yankees bounce back to take the nightcap by the identical score. The doubleheader of 26 innings takes nearly 9 hours to play.
July 21st
1890 - Former Yankees INF/OF Howard “Hank” Shanks (1925) was born. On December 10, 1924, Hank was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Yankees for Mike McNally. Hank appeared in 66 games for the 1925 Yankees, hitting .258.
1891 - Former Yankees P Ray Keating (1912-1916, 1918) was born. Ray went 23-40 for the Yankees in 108 games. On March 6,1919, Ray was purchased by the Boston Braves from the New York Yankees.
1910 - The Yankees take advantage of 8 Browns errors to down St. Louis by the score of 19-2.
1921 - The Cleveland Indians bang out 9 doubles, while the Yankees hit 7 doubles for an AL record 16 doubles in the Indian's 17-8 win. The Indians cling to a 2-game lead in the AL.
1941 - Former Yankees P Gary Waslewski (1970-1971) was born. On May 15, 1970, Gary was traded by the Montreal Expos to the Yankees for 1B/OF Dave McDonald. Gary went 2-3 with 1 save in 50 games for the Yankees.
1942 - Former Yankees 1B/DH Mike Hegan (1964, 1966-1967, 1973-1974) was born. The Yankees signed Mike Hegan as an MLB amateur free agent in 1961. He appeared in 5 games in 1964 with no hits. He appeared in 3 games in the 1964 World Series with 3 at bats with no-hits. Mike hit .205 in 13 games in 1966 and .136 in 68 games in 1967. On June 14, 1968, he was purchased by the expansion Seattle Pilots from the Yankees. On August 18, 1973, Mike was sent to the Yankees by the A’s as part of a conditional deal. Mike hit .275 in 37 games for the rest of the 1973 AL season. He was hitting only .226 in 18 games, when the Yankees sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers. With the arrival of 1B Chris Chambliss from the Cleveland Indians made Mike expendable. Mike’s Dad was former Yankees bullpen catcher and MLB player Jim Hegan. In 1964, they were the 1st MLB father and son to appear in a World Series together.
1947 - The Boston Braves edge the Yankees in the annual Baseball Hall of Fame game held at Doubleday Field at Cooperstown, NY by a score of 4-3.
1961 - All Star sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris slam back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning for the Yankees, but it takes a 2-out, 9th-inning pinch-hit grand slam by Johnny Blanchard to finally subdue the Boston Red Sox by a score of 11-8 at Fenway Park. The pinch slam is the AL 6th of the 1961 AL season, a new AL record.
1969 - A gala All-Star Game banquet in Washington, D.C. is one of baseball's great events. An all-time team and all-time living team are announced. Babe Ruth is selected as the Greatest All-Time MLB Player, and while the Yankees Hall Of Fame CF Joe DiMaggio, as the Greatest Living MLB Player.
1972 - The Yankees sweep doubleheader from the California Angels, winning by scores of 6-0 and 3-0 over the Angels. Yankees starters Fritz Peterson and Mel Stottlemyre apply the whitewash of the Angels.
1973 - Former Yankees minor league OF/1B Brian Buchanan was born. Brian was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (24th pick) of the 1994 MLB amateur player draft. On February 6,1998, he was traded along with Yankee minor leaguers INF Cristian Guzman, Pitchers Eric Milton, and Danny Mota along with cash to the Minnesota Twins for 2B Chuck Knoblauch.
1976- Former Yankees Hall Of Fame Earl “The Kentucky Colonel” Combs (1924-1935) passes away (1899-1976). Earl Combs was the 1st of the great New York Yankee center fielders. He was a lifetime .325 hitter, who hit in the leadoff spot for the Yankees lineup. Combs hit .380 for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association in 1923. He had his contract purchased by the Yankees prior to the following season for $50,000, a huge sum at the time. He quickly became the Yankees regular centerfielder, but a broken ankle caused him to miss most of his 1924 rookie season. He came back the next year and scored over 100 runs in each season from 1925-1932, also leading the AL in triples 3 times during that span. At the same time, he managed to hit under .300 in just once while playing fulltime in the MLB (and at that, he was just under, hitting .299 in 1926.
Combs' best season came with the 1927 Yankees, with whom he hit .356, scored 137 runs, and led the AL with 231 hits. He also starred in the postseason, hitting .350 over the course of four World Series from 1926-1932, with the Yankees winning 3 World Championships. A broken finger limited him to one plate appearance in the 1928 World Series, but he made the most of it, hitting a sacrifice fly that drove in a run.
In 1934, Combs suffered a serious injury that could have cost him his life, fracturing his skull after running into the wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. He was carried unconscious from the field and remained in the hospital for 2 months afterwards, but miraculously returned to the field in 1935. However, his MLB career was shortly thereafter ended by another injury, a broken collarbone. He was replaced in 1936 as the Yankees centerfielder by future another Hall of Famer, Joe DiMaggio. As a Yankees MLB coach, Earl taught Joe DiMaggio how to handle centerfield at Yankee Stadium. Although he was a very good player, Combs was famous for his weak-throwing arm. After his playing days were over, Combs was a Yankees MLB coach from 1936-1944. He was a member of the 1947 St. Louis Browns MLB coaching staff. He later coached for the Boston Red Sox from 1948-1952. He spent 1954 NL season with the Philadelphia Phillies.
1977 - Yankees starter Catfish Hunter tosses a 7-0 shut out against the Milwaukee Brewers to snap a Yankees 3-game losing streak. The Brewers come back in the nightcap to win by a score of 5-4, in 10 innings.
1988 - The Seattle Mariners send DH/1B Ken Phelps to the Yankees for OF Jay Buhner and minor leaguer pitchers Rich Balabon and Troy Evers. Phelps would hit .244 in 1988 and .249 for the Yankees before being traded on August 30,1989, to the Oakland A’s for minor league hurler Scott Holcomb.
1993 - Former Yankee, now a Seattle Mariner OF Jay Buhner collects 5 hits in Mariners 10-3 win over the Yankees. Mariners starter Erik Hanson goes all the allowing no earned runs to beat Yankees starter Jimmy Key (12-3).
1997- Four days after the birth of his 2nd child, Yankees' OF Mark Whiten is arrested in Milwaukee, he is charged with 2nd-degree sexual assault of a 31-year-old woman.
2000 - Wasting no time in his new capacity as GM, Cubs president Andy MacPhail sends the popular OF Glenallen Hill to the Yankees for minor league pitchers Ben Ford and Ozwaldo Mairena. Hill would hit .333 for the Yankees in 30 games, before being traded on March 28, 2001 to the California Angels for minor league P Darren Blakely.
2009 - Sergio Mitre earns his 1st MLB win since 2007 as the Yankees beat Baltimore Orioles by the score of 6-4. Mitre underwent Tommy John surgery in 2008, then was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for a banned substance; he allows 4 runs in 5 2/3 innings in his 1st start after being called up from AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to replace the injured Chien-Ming Wang. A two-run homer by Robinson Cano off of P Rich Hill and a 2-run single by Alex Rodriguez are the big blows for the Bronx Bombers. Combined with Boston's 4-2 loss at Texas, the win gives the Yankees sole possession of 1st place in the AL East for the 1st time this season.
July 22nd
1918 - The New York Yankees and the St. Louis Browns battle to a 15-inning, 4-4 tie.
1925 - The New York Yankees buy shortstop Leo “Lip” Durocher from Hartford (Eastern League) for $12,000. Leo appeared in 210 games with the Yankees, hitting .261. The Yankees waived him after the 1929 AL season, because he had a fight with his Yankee roommate, Babe Ruth for allegedly for stealing the Babe’s watch. Reports say that the Babe really smacked Leo around their hotel room. On February 5,1930, he was selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the Yankees.
1926 - The Yankees obtained veteran C Hank Severeid on waivers from the Washington Senators. Hank hit .268 in 41 games for the Yankees, before retiring as an active MLB player.
1928 - Chicago White Sox P Red Faber comes up to bat in the 8th inning with 2 runners on base and the game with the Yankees tied at 4-4. He swings twice right-handed against righty reliever Wilcy Moore and misses. He then switches to the left side of the plate and knocks in the winning runs with a single to centerfield.
1944 - Former Yankees Cy Young Award Winner reliever Sparky Lyle (1973-1978) was born.
On March 22,1972, Sparky was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the Yankees for a player to be named later and 1B Danny Cater. The Yankees would send INF Mario Guerrero on June 30,1972, to the Red Sox to complete the trade. Sparky won the 1977 Cy Young Award with a 13-5 record appearing in 72 games with 26 saves. He was a 3-time AL All Star team member. With the arrival of free agent closer Rich Goosage in 1978, Sparky was no longer the team’s closer. He would finish his Yankees career with a 57-40 record in 384 games with 151 saves. On November 10,1978, he was traded by the Yankees along with C Mike Heath, Pitchers Larry McCall and Dave Rajsich, INF Domingo Ramos, and cash to the Texas Rangers for P Dave Righetti, OF Juan Beniquez, Pitchers Mike Griffin and Paul Mirabella, and Greg Jemison (minors). In 1998, he became the manager of the Somerset Patriots, a minor league team based in Bridgewater, New Jersey. He managed the team to Atlantic League pennants in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2008. He remains the only manager in club history.
1947 - Former Yankees C/DH/1B Clifford “Heathcliff” Johnson (1977-1979) was born. On June 15, 1977, Cliff was traded by the Houston Astros to the Yankees for a player to be named later, along with P Randy Niemann, and INF Mike Fischlin. The Yankees would send 1B/OF Dave Bergman on November 23,1977 to the Astros to complete the trade. Cliff was a power bat off the bench for the Yankees during his stay with the team. After a clubhouse fight with Yankees closer Rich Gossage, the team traded him. On June 15,1979, Cliff was traded by the Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for P Don Hood.
1948 - The Yankees take the rubber game of the series with the Cleveland Indians as Vic Raschi earns the 6-5 decision over Tribe Ace Bob Feller. Joe DiMaggio's grand slam is the big blow for the Bronx Bombers: he has hit 4 HRs and a triple in Feller's 4 starts against the Yankees. His 8 RBIs in the 3 games against the Indians gives him a league-leading 82.
1954 - In an attempt to put more pop in the Yankees starting lineup, Yankees skipper Casey Stengel inserts Mickey Mantle in the infield as the shortstop, while Phil Rizzuto plays 2B. The experiment works as the “Commerce Comet” HR’s in the 10th inning giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1956 - Former Yankees P Scott Sanderson (1991-1992) was born. After being purchased from Oakland A’s, Scott went 28-22 in 77 games for the Yankees.
1960 - The New York Yankees purchased veteran 33-year-old P Luis Arroyo from Jersey City (IL). He will be a key to New York's 1960 pennant run and an AL All Star closer in 1961 with 15 wins with 29 saves. He will eventually replace Ryne Duren as the Yankee closer out off the bullpen in the spring of 1961.
1961 - The Yankees super-sub John Blanchard does it again with a solo pinch-hit HR to start a
3-run 9th-inning Yankees rally to tumble the Boston Red Sox by a score of 11-9.
1980 - Current Yankees starter C.C. Sabathia (2009-2010) was born. CC Sabathia was signed by the Yankees as a MLB free agent to a 7-year 161 million dollar contract in the winter of 2008. He posted a 19-8 record in 34 games for the 2009 Yankees.
1989 - The Yankees traded the popular 3B Mike “Pags” Pagliarulo and P Don Schulz to the San Diego Padres for pitchers Walt Terrell and Fred Toliver. Toliver won't report to the Yankees until September 27th. Walt Terrell will sign with the Pittsburgh Pirates, as a MLB free agent after the 1989 AL season is over. Freddie Toliver was originally signed by the Yankees and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in the Ken Griffey Sr. trade.
1998 - The Yankees deflate the Detroit Tigers by the score of 13-2, to run their record to 71-25, a MLB record percentage after 96 games.
July 23rd
1880 - Former Yankees P Lew Brockett (1907, 1909, 1911) was born. In August of 1906, Lew Brockett was purchased by the Yankees from Buffalo (Eastern League). He appeared in 50 games for the Yankees posting a13-14 pitching record.
1901 - Former Yankees 2B Malcolm “Mack” Hillis (1924) was born. Mack Hillis appeared in 1 game with the 1924 Yankees, coming up from the Atlanta Crackers. In 1925-26, he was involved in a 2-part trade that sent INF Tony Lazzeri to the Yankees organization. Hillis was sent to Salt Lake City (PCL).
1917 - Former Yankees P Ray Scarborough (1952-1953) was born. After being obtained from the Boston Red Sox, Ray went 7-3 in 33 games for the Yankees during the 1952-1953 AL seasons.
1922 - The Yankees start planning for the 1922 World Series, when they pick up 3B Joe Dugan and one-time Indians World Series hero Elmer Smith from the Boston Red Sox, giving up OF Elmer Miller, Shortstops Chick Fewster and John Mitchell, and, later, Pitcher Lefty O'Doul. The contending St. Louis Browns and other western clubs howl in protest and this deal will lead to a rule barring non-waiver trades after June 15th by MLB Commissioner Judge Landis. Joe Dugan will replace the aging Frank Baker at 3B.
1925 - The New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits the 1st of his record 23 MLB career grand slams as Yankees beat the Washington Senators by the score of 11-7.
1933 - Former Yankees P Johnny James (1958, 1960-1961) was born. Johnny went 5-1 in 67 games for the Yankees. On May 8,1961, he was traded by the Yankees along with veteran P Ryne Duren and rookie OF Lee Thomas for Angels veteran reliever Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv. Johnny would injure his arm before the start of the 1962 AL season started and never pitch in the MLB again.
1950 - Detroit Tigers hurler Saul Rogovin hits a 2nd inning grand slam HR off of starter Eddie Lopat as the 1st-place Bengals nip onrushing Yankees by the score of 6-5.
1957 - Yankees All Star CF Mickey Mantle hits for the cycle, and adds a stolen base, against Chicago White Sox pitchers Bob Keegan, Paul LaPalme, Dixie Howell, Jack Harshman and Gary Staley. The Yankees win the game by a score of 10-6. Don Larsen started for the Yankees followed by Tommy Byrne; Art Ditmar picks up his 7th win of the 1957 AL season going 1.1 innings, when Bob Grim pitches 2 scoreless innings of relief gaining his 11th save of the 1957 AL season.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees celebrate Old-timers' Day but lose to the Angels, by a score of 7-6, despite a grand slam HR from Mickey Mantle. The grand slam HR, off of P Marcelino Lopez, is Mickey's 9th. He ties Babe Ruth -- not in HRs, but in games played as a Yankee player.
1969 - The San Francisco Giants Willie McCovey hits 2 HRs as the NL squad beats the AL team by the score of 9-3 for its 7th straight All-Star Game win. Mel Stottlemyre Sr. of the Yankees starts for the AL, when Detroit Tigers starter Denny McLain is late arriving from a dental appointment.
1977 - Yankees veteran reserve OF Paul Blair hits a 9th inning 3-run HR to give the Yankees starter Ron Guidry a 3-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.
1978 - Reggie Jackson returns to the team and the Yankees win their 5th game straight, by the score of 3-1 over the Chicago White Sox. The next day, Yankees Manager Billy Martin will resign under pressure, giving way to veteran manager Bob Lemon. At the Chicago airport, Martin, reacting to reporters' questions about Yankees star Reggie Jackson and owner George Steinbrenner, replies, "The two deserve each other. One's a born liar; the other's convicted." His public remarks to the media will cost Billy his Yankees Manager’s job.
July 24th
1922 - Former Yankees P Duane Pillette (1949-1950) was born. Before the AL 1946 Season, Duane was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Duane went 5-9 in 40 games for the Yankees. On June 15,1950, he was traded by the Yankees along with Jim Delsing, Don Johnson, George “Snuffy Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the St. Louis Browns for hurlers Tom Ferrick, Joe Ostrowski, and Leo Thomas.
1923 - New York Yankees starter Carl Mays wins his 23rd consecutive game against the Philadelphia A’s.
1926 - New York Yankee sluggers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth demonstrate that power hitting is not the only thing they can do when Lou scores on a double steal with the Babe in a victory over the Chicago White Sox. They had pulled the same double steal against the Boston Red Sox on April 13th.
1933 - The Yankees sign free agent veteran P George Uhle after his release by the New York Giants. He will go 6-1 for the Yankees in 1933 before fading.
1934 - New York Yankees CF Earle Combs crashes into the wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis and suffers a fractured skull. The Yankees calls up OF George Selkirk, but learns he broke his arm the same day playing for Newark Bears (IL). This injury will eventually ends Earl Combs great Yankee HOF career in 1935. He was the 1st of the great Yankee centerfielders.
1935 - The Detroit Tigers shut out the Yankees by the score of 4-2 to go ahead by one-half game, but are a fraction of a percentage point behind in AL.
1954 - After Yankee Manager Casey Stengel pulls starting shortstop Phil Rizzuto in the 8th inning for a pinch-hitter, he brings in Mickey Mantle again to play shortstop with Willie Miranda at 2B against left-handed hitters. Against right-handed batters, Miranda and Mantle switch their infield positions. The Cleveland Indians win the game by a score of 5-4 to go 2 ½ games up on the Yankees in the AL pennant race.
1960 - Chicago White Sox 3rd straight win at Yankee Stadium and 8th straight overall, 6-3 victory behind veteran starter Billy Pierce, gives the White Sox a 2-game lead atop the AL. Yankees starter Eli Grba beats White Sox hurler Herb Score in the 2nd game by the score of 8-2 to give Yankees, a twin-bill split.
1961 - In an unusual mid-season exhibition match at Yankee Stadium, the San Francisco Giants beat their former cross-town rivals by the score of 4-1. Mickey Mantle's HR accounts for the only Bronx Bombers run, while Willie Mays has 2 RBIs for the visiting "Jints.”
1964 - Detroit Tigers starter Hank Aguirre gives up 5 runs on 3 HRs to the Yankees in the 1st 4 innings, but the Tigers overcome a 5-2 deficit to win the game by a score of 10-5.
1965 - Former Yankees reserve C Joe Oliver (2001) was born. On November 21, 2000, Joe Oliver was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the New York Yankees. He appeared in only 12 games for the Yankees, hitting .250. On June 20,2001, Joe was released by the New York Yankees, but he would be picked up by the Boston Red Sox.
1966 - The Yankees beat the Angels by the score of 9-1, in game 1, as Mickey Mantle hits his 2nd HR in 2 days. The Mantle HR, his 493rd MLB career shot, ties him with Hall Of Fame Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig for 6th place on the all-time MLB HR leaders list.
1978 - In Kansas City, a sobbing Billy Martin reads a prepared statement in which he resigns as the New York Yankees manager. Yankees MLB Coach Richard Howser will fill in that night as acting Manager, as the Yankees lose the game to the Royals by a score of 5-2. The new Yankees skipper Bob Lemon will take over the next day, he will pilot the Yankees to the 1978 World Championship, which included the 14-game come-back for the Yankees to catch the Red Sox to win the AL East division crown and eventually the AL crown and 1978 World Series.
1983 - In the memorable "Pine Tar Game" at Yankee Stadium, George Brett hits an apparent 2-run HR off of Yankees closer Rich Gossage to give the Kansas City Royals a 5-4 lead with 2 outs in the 9th inning, only to have it taken away when Yankees manager Billy Martin, at the urging of coach Don Zimmer, points out that the pine tar on Brett's bat handle exceeds the 17 inches allowed in the MLB rules. As a result, Brett is called out for illegally batting the ball, giving New York, a 4-3 victory. George Brett goes ballistic and the Royals immediately protest, and AL President Lee MacPhail overrules his umpires for the 1st time saying that, while the rules should certainly be rewritten and clarified, the HR will stand and the game will be resumed from that point on August 18th.
1985 - Former Yankees P Ted Kleinhans (1936) passed away. Ted appeared in 19 games for the 1936 Yankees, posting a 1-1 record with 1 save. On September 4, 1937, Ted was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Yankees. He coached college baseball for 20 years at Syracuse University, retiring in 1966.
1991 - In a game against the Seattle Mariners, the Yankees score 3 runs on a ground ball hit back to the pitcher. With runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out in the 4th inning, Pat Kelly hits a come-backer to P Erik Hanson. The Seattle hurler traps Yankees Kevin Maas in a rundown between 3B and home, but Kevin Maas scores, when 3B Edgar Martinez's throw hits him in the back. The ball rolls up the 1B line in foul territory, where C Dave Cochrane, who throws home to head off Yankees runner Alvaro Espinoza, who is also attempting to score, recovers it. The throw goes into the Mariners' dugout allowing Espinoza and Kelly to cross the plate with the 2nd and 3rd runs of the inning.
1992 - MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent announces that New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner can resume active control of the Yankees on March 1, 1993.
1999 - The Yankees pound the Cleveland Indians by the score of 21-1. The Bronx Bombers are led by DH Chili Davis, who bangs out 5 hits, including a double and HRs, while driving home 6 runs.
2001 - The Yankees edge the Detroit Tigers by the score of 6-5, despite an 8th inning moon shot by Tiger's Juan Encarnacion, off of Yankees P Ramiro Mendoza, that lands in the 2nd row of the empty blue bleacher seats in left centerfield. It is believed to be the 1st ball hit into that area since Yankee Stadium was remodeled in 1976.
2004 - Another saga is added to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as a bench-clearing brawl breaks out after Boston Red Sox starter Bronson Arroyo hits Alex Rodriguez, who hit last night's game-winning HR, with a pitch. As A-rod stares out at the mound on his way to 1B, Boston's C Jason Varitek, after a verbal exchange, pushes the All-star 3B in the face causing a series of fights with players in both team's dugouts and bullpens involved.
2009 - The New York Yankees extend their winning streak to 8 games with an 8-3 defeat of the Oakland A's. Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain is the winner.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
