This Week in Yankees History
August 15th - August 21st
August 15th
1912 - Little-known Guy Zinn, Yankees outfielder steals home twice in a 5-4 win at Detroit; this will add to last-place New York's MLB record of 18 steals of home for the year. The Yankees will win tomorrow game by the score of 9-8, when Zinn hits a 9th inning double.
1930 - Former Yankees minor league OF Bob Martyn was born. In 1952, Bob Martyn was originally signed as MLB amateur free agent by the New York Yankees. An impressive minor league player, he was named to 3 All-Star teams while in the Yankees farm system. In the 1956 American Association All-Star Game, he hit 2 HRs, winning the MVP Award for the game. That season, Bob was playing for Manager Ralph Houk’s Denver Bears (AAA). He was sent to the Kansas City A’s in a trade that took place on June 15,1957. The Yankees sent OF Bob Martyn, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and P Ralph Terry to the A’s for P Ryne Duren, OF Jim Pisoni and OF Harry Simpson. On April 12,1959, he was traded back to the Yankees along with Mike Baxes by the Kansas City A’s for minor league OF Russ Snyder and INF Tom Carroll. Mike was sent down to Richmond (AAA) never appearing with the Yankees in a MLB game. He retired from MLB baseball in 1960.
1948 - Before 72,468 fans, the largest crowd of the 1948 AL season at Yankee Stadium, the Philadelphia A's sweep a pair from the Yankees by 5-3 scores and regain 2nd place in the AL. The A's win the opener in 10 innings after Joe DiMaggio ties the score with his 20th HR of the year. Joe DiMaggio also triples home a run in the extra frame, but Lou Brissie preserves the win for starter Carl Scheib. The A's total 20 hits in the 2 games, including a triple and double by Sam Chapman. The Yankees are now in 4th place, 5 games back in the 1948 AL pennant race.
1955 - Mickey Mantle homers from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 2nd time in his MLB career, tying the MLB mark. The New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 12-6 in game 2 and sweep the doubleheader to move back into 1st place in the AL.
1958 - Former Yankees P Joe Cowley (1984-1985) was born. On November 22,1983, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Joe went 21-8 in 46 games for the Yankees. On December 12, 1985, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with C Ron Hassey to the Chicago White Sox for P Britt Burns, minor league players: P Glen Braxton and P Mike Soper.
1958 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tom Dodd was born. Tom Dodd was at the University of Oregon from 1977-1979. He was taken in the 1st round of the 1980 MLB amateur player draft by the Yankees. In the minors, he played in the Yankees minor league organization, before being traded to the Chicago White Sox.
1960 - Behind New York Yankees starter Art Ditmar's 5-hitter aided by Mickey Mantle's 2-HRs, off of Baltimore Orioles hurlers Jerry Walker and Hoyt Wilhelm, the Yankees get a 4-3 win and 1st place in the AL. The 2nd HR comes after C Clint Courtney drops a Mantle foul pop-up. The Orioles loss is only its 2nd in their last 15 games. The Baltimore Orioles and the defending 1959 AL Champs Chicago White Sox, now trail the Yankees by a half-game.
1961 - New York Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 46th HR, off of Chicago White Sox starter Juan Pizarro, for the Yankees only run in a 2-1 loss to the visiting White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Pizarro allows just 4 Yankee hits, as Yankees Ace Whitey Ford loses in his bid for his 21st win of the 1961 AL season.
1963 - Former Yankees P Karl Drews (1946-1948) passed away. Karl went 9-9 in 52 games with the New York Yankees before being sold to St. Louis Browns in 1948.
1966 - Former AL All Star Yankee 3B Scott Brosius (1998-2001) was born. On November 18, 1997, Scott was sent by the Oakland A’s to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on November 7,1997. The A’s sent a player to be named later to the Yankees for veteran starter Kenny Rogers and cash. Scott’s best season for the Yankees was in 1998, when he hit .300 and made the AL All Star team. He was the 1998 World Series MVP and won AL Babe Ruth Award. In 1999, he won an AL Golden Glove for 3B. Scott retired from MLB after the 2001 World Series.
1968 - At Oakland, the Yankees edge the A's by the score of 4-3. A’s hurler Blue Moon Odom gives up a triple to Tommy Tresh, a walk, then he serves up a 3-run HR to Mickey Mantle for the difference in the game.
1971 - Oakland A’s Ace Vida Blue raises his 1971 AL pitching record to 22-4 as the A's beat the Yankees, by a score of 6-4. Blue scatters 10 hits and scores the tie breaking run on a wild pitch.
1972 - Former Yankees minor league OF Chris Singleton was born. On November 11,1997, Chris was traded by the San Francisco Giants along with C Alberto Castillo (minors) to the New York Yankees for 3B Charlie Hayes and cash. Singleton played only 1 season in the Yankees farm system, hitting .254 for the Columbus Clippers (IL). On December 8,1998, Chris was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for a player to be named later. The White Sox would send minor league player Rich Pratt on January 10,1999 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1975 - Former Yankees P Ben Ford (2000) was born. In 1994, the New York Yankees originally signed Ben Ford. He was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1997 MLB player expansion draft. After returning to the Yankees in 2000, Ben went 0-1 in 4 games.
1977 - New York Yankees starter Mike Torrez throws his 5th straight complete game, a 6-2 win over the Chicago White Sox. Yankees are now just 4 1/2 games in back of the Boston Red Sox.
1991 - New York Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees still beat the Kansas City Royals, by the score of 5-1. He will get one 2-days later, and the hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children's charity. Mattingly is not alone; Yankees P Steve Farr, C Matt Nokes, and P Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club’s hair policy. OF Mel Hall, who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games, is warned his appearance is "borderline."
2002 - The New York Yankees top the Kansas City Royals by the score of 7-5, as Yankees CF Bernie Williams gets 5 hits in the game, including a double.
2007 - New York Yankees rookie outfielder slugger Shelley Duncan hits a dramatic 3-run HR with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game but the Baltimore Orioles rally with 3 runs of their own in the 10th inning off of New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to win the game by a score of 6-3.
August 16th
1889 - Former Yankees P Henry “Rube” Robinson (1918) was born. On June 20,1918, Henry was purchased by the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals. Rube went 2-4 in 11 games for the Yankees in 1918.
1903 - Toledo native George Mullin, pitching for the Detroit Tigers, helps the attendance today (6,000) as the Tigers take on New York in a Sunday game in Toledo. Mullin is racked for 8 runs, but Detroit scores 12, led by the hitting of Sam Crawford, who is 5-for-6.
1913 - Former Yankees P Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) was born (1913-1949). Tiny went 79-50 for the Yankees. He was a member of 1942-43 AL All Star teams. His best season was in 1942, when he went 21-5 for the Yankees. On October 24,1946, Tiny was traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Cookie Cuccurullo. Tiny passed away during the 1949 NL season following surgery at a Pittsburgh hospital.
1920 - At the Polo Grounds, Indians shortstop Ray Chapman, 29, is beaned by a Carl Mays pitch. Chapman is a right-handed batter who likes to crowd the plate, Chapman freezes and fails to get out of the way of the submarine delivery. He is carried from the field and dies the next day from a fractured skull. Carl Mays, a surly, unpopular pitcher, is the target of fans' and MLB players' outrage. Ray Chapman, a Cleveland favorite since breaking in with the team in 1912, had been married the previous year. In October, his wife will receive a full World Series share, $3,986.34. The incident has no effect on Mays's pitching. One week later he will blank the Tigers by the score of 10-0, and go on to win 26 and lose 11 during the 1920 AL season. Joe Sewell will be called up to take Chapman's place at 2B, and for 14 years he will be the hardest man to strike out in MLB.
1922 - Former Yankees OF Gene Woodling (1949-1954) was born (1922-2001). On September 30,1948, Gene was purchased by the Yankees from the San Francisco Seals (PCL). He would play OF on 5 straight World Championship teams (1949-1953). He hit over .300 in 1952 and 1953 AL seasons. During the 1954 AL season, Gene broke his arm. After the 1954 AL season, Gene was part of the big 17-man trade between the Baltimore Orioles and Yankees.
1927 - Teeing off on a Tommy Thomas pitch, New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the first player to homer over the roof of Chicago's Comiskey Park.
1939 - The New York Giants suspend 2B Burgess Whitehead, who will show up the next day in full uniform at Yankee Stadium and ask to work out. New York Yankees manager Joe McCarthy refuses. Whitehead rejoins the Giants a few days later, but he will be suspended again in mid-September after leaving the team.
1948 - New York Yankees Hall OF OF/P Babe Ruth (1920-1934) dies of throat cancer at age 53 in New York City. His body will be put on display at Yankee Stadium and will be viewed by more than 100,000 fans.
1952 - Former Yankees reliever Al Holland (1986-1987) was born. He was signed and released as a MLB free agent with the team in 1986-1987 AL seasons. Al went 1-0 in 28 games for the Yankees.
1961 - Roger Maris ties an AL record with his 7th HR in his 6th straight game, as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 5-4 in the 9th inning. His two HR blasts off of veteran lefty starter Billy Pierce give him 48 HRs, three more than his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle.
1965 - Former Yankees reliever Xavier Hernandez (1994) was born. On November 27, 1993, he was traded by the Houston Astros to the Yankees for P Domingo Jean and INF Andy Stankiewicz. He went 4-4 in 31 games with 6 saves for the Yankees in 1994.
1976 - Yankees LF Mickey Rivers hits an inside the park HR against Texas Rangers starter Gaylord Perry as the Yankees win the game by the score of 5-1. Yankees reserve INF Fred “Chicken” Stanley, who also HRs in the game.
1977 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees blows a 9-4 lead in the top of the 9th inning, when the Chicago White Sox score 6-runs, but a 2-run HR by 1B Chris Chambliss in the bottom of the 9th inning gives the Yankees an 11-10 comeback win.
1989 - New York Yankees OF/DH Luis Polonia is arrested in his hotel room for having sex with a 15-year-old girl. He will be sentenced to 60 days in jail after the 1989 AL season.
2000 - The Texas Rangers shut out the Yankees by the score of 5-0, as starter Brian Sikorski hurls scoreless ball into the 8th inning in his MLB pitching debut. Rangers OF Gabe Kapler goes hitless in the game, ending his 28-game AL hitting streak.
2009 - Derek Jeter hits an RBI double off Seattle's Doug Fister in the 3rd inning for his 2,674th hit as a shortstop, surpassing Luis Aparicio's all-time leading total for the position. The Yankees lose the game to Seattle by the score of 10-3 as Fister records his 1st win in the majors.
August 17th
1915 - Yankees INF Fritz Maisel steals 2B, 3B, and home in the 9th inning against the Philadelphia A’s.
1919 - Former Yankees P Ernest Nevel (1950-51) was born. Before the 1946 AL Season, Ernie Nevel was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 0-1 in 4 games with the Yankees. Ernie was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in 1952.
1920 - Cleveland Indians shortstop Ray Chapman dies as a result of being hit by a pitch thrown by Yankee submariner hurler Carl Mays. The tragedy remains the only on-field fatality in MLB history.
1923 - After 111 games, Yankees slugger Babe Ruth is hitting .401 with 31 HRs. He'll wind up with his highest BA, .393. With 205 hits, a MLB record 170 walks, and 4 times hit by pitches, Ruth will reach base a record 379 times.
1925 - New York Yankees released OF Bobby Veach and P Alex Fergunson to the Washington Senators for future considerations and waiver price.
1929 - The New York Yankees buy P Lefty Gomez from San Francisco Seals (PCL) for delivery in September of 1930. Lefty would post a Yankees pitching career record of 189-101 with a WP of .649 with 1,468 strikeouts and 173 complete games from 1930-1942.
1933 - On his way establishing the MLB mark of playing in 2,130 consecutive games, Lou Gehrig quietly surpasses former Yankees shortstop Everett Scott's previous MLB record of 1,308 games. The 1st baseman's single and triple doesn't prevent the last place Browns from beating the Yankees in 10 innings, at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, by the score of 7-6.
1943 - Yankees 1B Nick Etten singles twice off of Chicago White Sox hurler Bill Dietrich, breaking an 17-game stretch, in which Etten didn't single. Six of the 17 games were hitless, but Etten either doubled or HR in the other games. The Yankee lead is now at 9 1/2 games with the Bombers winning their 9th straight series, most of which are now 4 games as a result of wartime travel restrictions. The streak of winning each series will stretch to 13 before being broken by the Washington Senators.
1944 - Former Yankees minor league INF Ron Boyer was born. The brother of Ken Boyer, Clete Boyer, Len Boyer and Cloyd Boyer, Ron Boyer spent 8 years in the New York Yankees minor league system from 1962-1969. He only hit above .200 twice and never hit double-digit home runs. He made it to the AAA Syracuse Chiefs in 1967 for 23 games. Boyer spent the rest of 1966-1969 seasons in AA ball.
1944 - New York Yankees OF Johnny Lindell, converted from a pitcher in 1943, hits 4 straight doubles to share a MLB mark. The Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 10-3.
1946 - Former Yankees P Skip Lockwood (1974) was born. On December 3,1974, Skip was traded by the California Angels to the New York Yankees for C/1B/DH Bill Sudakis. On April 7,1975, Skip was released by the New York Yankees. He would be signed by the Oakland A’s, who would later trade him to the New York Mets.
1948 - Yankees OF Tommy Henrich hits his 4th grand slam HR of the 1948 AL season, off of Washington Senators hurler Sid Hudson, to join Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Rudy York and, later, Al Rosen and Ray Boone for the AL record. Henrich, who broke in with the Yankees in 1937, had never hit a grand slam HR before the 1948 AL season. Starter Bob Porterfield wins the game for the Yankees by the score of 8-1.
1948 - Ann estimated crowd of 100,000 fans pass by the body of New York Yankees Hall Of Fame slugger Babe Ruth, which is on display at Yankee Stadium.
1951 - Former Yankees reserve INF Butch Hobson (1982) was born. On March 24,1982, Butch was traded by the California Angels to the Yankees for P Bill Castro. Butch only appeared in 30 games with the Yankees, hitting only .172, spending most of the 1982 season at Columbus (AAA).
1953 - Bob Kuzava of the Yankees shuts out the Philadelphia A’s by the score of 9-0, allowing 11 hits along the way.
1971 - Current Yankees All Star catcher Jorge Posada (1995-current) was born. The New York Yankees in the 24th round of the MLB player draft drafted Jorge Posada. Posada was a 2nd baseman during his 1st minor league season before being switched to a catcher. He has been on 5 AL All-Star teams over his 15-year MLB career with the Yankees. He is the only MLB catcher to ever have hit .330 or better with 40 doubles, 20 HRs, and 90 RBIs in a single season. He has won 5 AL Silver Slugger awards as a catcher. Jorge Posada and Yogi Berra are the only Yankees catchers to hit 30 HRs in a season. Since 2000, Posada had more runs batted in, home runs, and hits than any other catcher in MLB.
1979 - The Kansas City Royals released veteran 1B/DH George Scott, who will sign with the New York Yankees on the 26th.
1986 - Former Yankees reserve OF Sammy Vick (1917-1920) passed away. He was a reserve outfielder for the Yankees from 1917-1920. On December 15,1920, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel and P Hank Thormahlen to the Boston Red Sox for P Waite Hoyt, P Harry Harper, C Wally Schang, and INF Mike McNally.
2002 - Hitting a HR in the 7th inning off of Seattle Mariners starter James Baldwin, Yankees All-star Alfonso Soriano becomes the first 2nd baseman to hit 30 HRs and steal 30 bases in the same season. Bobby Bonds was the only other New York Yankee player to post a 30/30 season accomplishing the feat in 1975.
August 18th
1893 - Former Yankees and Hall Of Fame P Burleigh Grimes (1934) was born. He went 1-2 in 10 games with the 1934 Yankees in his final MLB year as a player.
1906 - Yankees Wee Willie Keeler is struck out for only the 2nd time this season, both times by spit-ball starter Ed Walsh of the Chicago White Sox.
1907 - Detroit's first Sunday game at home since 1902, and the first at Bennett Park, is a 16-3 win over New York Highlanders.
1912 - In New York, the Detroit Tigers beat the Yankees by the score of 9-4. Ty Cobb steals home in the 1st inning, the 3rd time this season, he's swiped home and all are in the 1st inning.
1931 - In the Yankees 5-4 loss at Detroit, Lou Gehrig is hitless as he plays his 1,000th consecutive MLB game. He is 307 games short of former Yankees shortstop Everett Scott's MLB record streak.
1926 - The New York Yankees purchased P Wilcy Moore from Greenville from South Atlantic League. He would be the great relief ace of the 1927 Yankees going 19-7 with 13 saves. He is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.
1940 - The Sunday New York Daily News publishes a shocking article written by its sports editor, Jimmy Powers, suggesting that the 5th place Yankees had been hit by a "mass polio epidemic." Powers charges that Lou Gehrig's "infantile paralysis" had infected the other Yankee players, accounting for the team's uncharacteristic reversal of form. The article immediately causes a sensation among readers and baseball fans. At Gehrig's request, Milton Eisenberg, a Brooklyn attorney, brings suit for $1 million against Powers and the newspaper charging that Lou Gehrig's reputation and credit had been hurt, that the article had caused him considerable mental anguish. Other angry Yankee players, including C Bill Dickey, also file suit against the Daily News, causing the newspaper to issue a public apology on September 26, 1940. The three and a half column story appears under the headline "OUR APOLOGIES TO LOU GEHRIG AND THE YANKEES." In his apology, Jimmy Powers admits he had no business getting 'snarled up in medical controversy," stating "Gehrig has no communicable disease and was not suffering from the mysterious polio germ that supposedly played havoc with the Yankee ball club." Lou is a personal hero, Powers adds. "Hurting his feelings was far from my mind.'
1946 - Former Yankees P Jim Magnuson (1973) was born (1946-1991). On November 29, 1971, Jim was drafted by the Yankees from the Chicago White Sox in the 1971 Rule 5 player draft. Jim went 0-1 in 8 games for the 1973 Yankees.
1947 - Former Yankees minor league P Lowell Palmer was born. On June 12,1973, Lowell was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for Mike Kekich. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 31,1974, Lowell was purchased by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
1950 - The Philadelphia A's lefty hurler Lou Brissie gives up just one Yankee hit in the last 5 innings, but it's a critical one. With the score 2-2 in the top of the 9th inning, Joe DiMaggio cracks his 22nd HR of the 1950 AL season to give the 3rd place Yankees, a 3-2 win and hand the A’s their 6th straight loss.
1962 - The Kansas City A’s top the Yankees for the 2nd day in a row by the score of 5-4. Once again, All Star CF Mickey Mantle homers in the losing cause for the Yankees.
1965 - Former Yankees OF Marcus Lawton (1989) was born. On July 10, 1989, Marcus was traded by the New York Mets to the Yankees for P Scott Nielsen. Marcus appeared in only 10 games with the Yankees, just hitting .214. He is the older brother of former Yankees OF Matt Lawton.
1973 - The New York Yankees purchased 1B Mike Hegan from the Oakland A’s for cash. The Yankees originally signed Mike in the early 1960’s. Mike was the son of longtime Yankees bullpen coach Jim Hegan.
1973 - The New York Yankees released veteran NL All Star OF Johnny Callison. John had hit .258 in 92 games in 1972, after going from the Chicago Cubs for P Jack Aker, but he faded to .176 in 45 games at the time of his release. John had hit the winning HR for the NL team in the 1964 All Star Game at Shea Stadium.
1976 - In the Yankees 8-6 win over the Texas Rangers, Roy White HR’s from each side of the plate.
1979 - The New York Yankees sell veteran P Ray Burris (1-3) to the New York Mets.
1983 - In the continuation of the "Pine Tar Game," Hal McRae strikes out for the last Royals out. KC Closer Dan Quisenberry retires the Yankees in order in the bottom of the 9th inning to preserve the Royals' 5-4 victory. The conclusion takes just 12 minutes (and 16 pitches) and, as the only game scheduled at the Stadium, is witnessed by a crowd of 1,245 fans. An odd feature of the game is that lefty 1B Don Mattingly playing 2B and P Ron Guidry in CF, as the Yankees try to cover all the options.
1989 - Dallas Green is fired as manager of the Yankees (5th place, 56-65) and is replaced by former Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent. It is the 17th time the Yankees have changed managers since George Steinbrenner took over ownership of the club in 1973. The 1978 AL play-off hero loses his MLB managerial debut to the Tigers in Detroit, by a score of 7-3.
1995 - Yankees announcer and former All Star Shortstop, Phil Rizzuto retires as team broadcaster after 39 years at the mike, reportedly because WPIX-TV refused to allow him to miss a game to attend his former Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle's funeral. Phil Rizzuto eventually will return for the 1996 AL season.
1996 - In a wild contest at Yankee Stadium, the Seattle Mariners jump out to an 8-0 lead over the Yankees. The Yankees strike back with 7 runs in their half of the 4th inning to edge within 1 run. Seattle scores twice in the 6th inning, but the Yankees ties the score in the bottom half of the 6th inning with 3 runs of their own. The score remains tied at 10-10 going into the 12th inning. Seattle scores 3 runs in the top half of the 12th inning, two runs on 1B Paul Sorrento's 2nd HR of the game. New York fights back with 2 runs in the bottom of the12th inning, but falls one run shy, losing, by the score of 13-12. The Yankees remain 5 1/2 games ahead of the Baltimore Orioles in the AL East, while the Seattle Mariners stay 6 games behind the Texas Rangers in 2nd place in the AL West.
2000 - The Anaheim Angels defeat the New York Yankees, by the score of 9-8 in 11 innings. Anaheim scores 5-runs in the 9th inning to tie the game before Darin Erstad's HR wins it in the 11th inning. Angels OF Darin Erstad makes a 10th inning game-saving catch It is the 1st time in 12 years that the Yankees blow a 5-run lead in the 9th inning.
August 19th
1891 - Former Yankees 1B/C Al DeVormer (1920-1921) was born (1891-1966). Al hit .288 in 108 games with the Yankees before being traded on January 3, 1923, with cash to the Boston Red Sox for P George Pipgras and OF Harvey Hendrick.
1908 - The Yankees veteran starter Jack Chesbro allows 11 hits, but still shuts out the Detroit Tigers by a score of 7-0.
1910 - Former Yankees P Atley Donald (1938-1945) was born. Atley went 66-33 in 153 games with Yankees. He had 54 complete games with 6 shutouts. He led the AL in WP with .813 in 1939, while posting a 13-3 record. Atley was 1-1 in 2 games in the 1941-42 World Series with the Yankees.
1920 - The Cleveland Indians beat Yankees by a score of 3-2. They leave town with a half-game lead over the Chicago White Sox and 1 1/2 over the Yankees, in what will be the tightest AL race since the 1908 AL season.
1935 - Former World Series MVP and AL All Star 2nd baseman Bobby Richardson (1955-1966) was born. On June 12, 1953, Bobby was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Bobby would become the Yankees regular 2nd baseman in 1959, hitting .301, the only Yankee regular to hit over .300 that season. He would be an AL All Star 2nd baseman in 1957, but didn’t play; he was named to the 1959,1962-1966 AL teams. He hit .307 in 7 World Series for the Yankees. With his best World Series was in 1960, winning the World Series MVP Award, after hitting .367 with 1 HR and 12 RBI’s against the Pirates. Bobby would hit .302 in 1962. He would lead the AL in singles in 1961-1962 and in 1964. Bobby led the AL in Sac hits with 20 in 1962 and 16 in 1964. Bobby won the AL Golden Glove for 2nd base from 1961-1965. In 1963, he won the MLB Lou Gehrig Memorial Award.
1945 - The Yankees win the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox, by the score of 4-2, to break their 9-game losing streak, the longest under Manager Joe McCarthy. Chicago takes the nightcap, winning by the score of 2-0, as starter Lefty Grove gives up just 5 hits, including 3 hits by Yankees OF Bud Metheny.
1962 - Kansas City A’s hitters Gino Cimoli, Wayne Causey, and Billy Bryan hit consecutive HRs in the 7th inning, but Yankees respond with Elston Howard has 2 HRs and 8 RBIs; Bill Skowron, a HR and 4 RBIs; Mickey Mantle, a Grand Slam HR and 7 RBIs, as the Yankees rout the A's, by the score of 21-7. Mantle adds 2 stolen bases before reserve OF Jack Reed takes over CF and has 2 at bats in the game.
1977 - Backed by HRs from Reggie Jackson and Bucky Dent, starter Mike Torrez hurls his 6th complete game in a row as the Yankees beat the Texas Rangers by a score of 8-1. The Yankees are now 2-1/2 games in back of the Boston Red Sox.
2000 - For only the 3rd time in MLB history and the 2nd this season by the Yankees, a team is credited with 3 sacrifice flies in one inning. Bronx Bombers Jorge Posada, Scott Brosius and Clay Bellinger join Yankee teammates Jose Vizcaino, Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams (June 29, 2000) and the White sox trio of Juan Pizarro, Nellie Fox and Al Smith who accomplished the feat against the Indians on July 1, 1962. The Yankees beat the Angels, by a score of 9-1.
2001- The Seattle Mariners rout the Yankees, by the score of 10-2, as OF Mike Cameron gets 4 hits including 2- HRs and drives home 8 runs. OF Ichiro Suzuki stretches his hitting streak to 16 games, giving him 3 streaks of 15 or more games this year. He's the 1st ML player with three 15-game streaks in the same season since Milwaukee Brewers Cecil Cooper in 1980.
August 20th
1895 - Former Yankees P Pete Schneider (1919) was born (1895-1957). He went 0-1 in 7 games for the Yankees after being purchased from the Cincinnati Reds.
1923 - AL President Ban Johnson bans a 4-piece bat used by New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth because of the glue used on it. A protest is made against Browns' Ken Williams for using a bat with a wooden plug in it. Ban Johnson rules that all bats must be one piece with nothing added except tape extending to 18 inches up the handle.
1923 - New York Yankees P Waite Hoyt is suspended for 10 days after attacking AL Umpire. Hoyt’s “victim” was home plate umpire Marv Owens during the previous day’s 4-3 loss to the White Sox. The incident involved a close play at home, in which Hoyt claimed that he tagged the Chicago White Sox runner out, but Owens called the play safe. Hoyt never touched Owens, thanks to 5 Yankee players who had restrained him.
1931 - At St. Louis, Lou Gehrig hits his 33rd HR in the 4th inning to tie Babe Ruth for the MLB HR lead, but the Babe answers back in the 9th inning with his 34th HR, a grand slam over RF roof at Sportsman Park, to give the Yankees a 7-3 win over the Browns. Lefty Gomez almost has New York's 1st shutout of the season, but he weakens in the 9th inning.
1938 - Yankees AL All Star 1B Lou Gehrig hits a 1st-inning grand slam, the 23rd and last of his MLB career for a still-standing record. It comes off of hurler Buck Ross in an 11-3 victory over the Philadelphia A's.
1944 - Former Yankee All Star 3rd Baseman Graig Nettles (1973-1983) was born. On November 27, 1972, he was traded by the Cleveland Indians along with C Jerry Moses to the Yankees for C/1B/DH Johnny Ellis, INF Jerry Kenney, Outfielder’s Charlie Spikes and Rusty Torres. Graig’s arrival from the Tribe would settle the Yankees long standing 3B problems that existed since the trade of Clete Boyer in 1966 to the Braves. Nettles would be an All Star 3rd Baseman in 1975, 1977-1980 for the Yankees. He would win the AL Golden Glove for 3B in 1977-78. In 1976, his 32 HRs would lead the AL. In 1981, he won the ALCS MVP. On March 30, 1984, the Yankees to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later and P Dennis Rasmussen traded Graig. The San Diego Padres would send Darin Cloninger (minors) on April 26, 1984 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He would write a book about his Yankees playing experience titled “Balls.”
1954 - OF Gene Woodling of the New York Yankees crashes into the wall, breaking a thumb. He is lost for the rest of 1954 AL season. Gene will be traded in the winter of 1954 to the Baltimore Orioles as part a of 17-man trade, which the Yankees would obtain starters Bob Turley and Don Larsen.
1957 - Yankees starter Bob Turley pitches a 2-hitter against the Kansas City A’s, but loses the game by a score of 1-0.
1962 - At Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, both Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris homer in the twin-bill sweep of the Tribe. Mickey Mantle's 1st inning 3-run HR (#46), and Roger Maris 49th HR in the 3rd inning to make it easy for Yankees starter Ralph Terry, who only allows 4 hits. In the nightcap, Bill Skowron hits his 21st HR in the 2nd inning and the Yankees win the game by the score of 5-2. In the 6th inning, after Indians hurler Gary Bell allows a single and then hits Billy Gardner and Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle collects his 101st walk of the season to force home a run.
1963 - Former Yankees P Brad Arnsberg (1986-1987) was born. On June 6,1983, Brad was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (9th pick) of the 1983 amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Brad went 1-3 in 8 games with the Yankees. On November 10, 1987, he was sent by the Yankees to the Texas Rangers to complete an earlier deal made on November 2, 1987. The Yankees sent a player to be named later to the Texas Rangers for C Don Slaught. The Yankees would send P Brad Arnsberg on November 10,1987 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Brad would be plagued by arm injuries during his MLB career. He would later become a pitching coach for the Yankees in their minor league farm system.
1964 - On the Yankees team bus following a 5 -0 loss to the Chicago White Sox, reserve INF Phil Linz begins to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb" on his harmonica. Yankees Manager Yogi Berra orders Linz to stop. Phil Linz asks what Berra said to him, Mickey Mantle tells him to play it louder. Yogi Berra comes back to Linz then slaps the instrument out of his hands, when he continues playing. The harmonica accidentally hits Joe Pepitone on the knee; he over reacts by holding his knee complaining of a injury. The incident is reported by the media as indicating dissension on the club and Berra's lack of control, as well as the level of Linz's humor. Phil Linz would later get a $10,000 endorsement from Horner Harmonica Company to promote their products.
1982 - Former Yankees P Hank Johnson (1925-1926,1928-1932) passed away.
Hank posted a 47-36 record in 157 games for the Yankees. His best season for the Yankees
Was in 1928, posting a 14-9 record. In 1930, he went 14-11 and the following season a 13-8 mark for the Yankees. On June 5,1932, Hank was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Ivy Andrews and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Danny MacFayden.
1986 - Yankees All Star OF Dave Winfield hits his 300th MLB career HR in a losing cause as the Yankees fall to the Seattle Mariners by a score of 5-2. Mike Trujillo wins his 1st game for Seattle.
2000 - The most victorious pitcher in franchise history is honored by the Yankees during “Whitey Ford Day” ceremonies at Yankee Stadium. The crafty Hall Of Fame lefty holds the team record for most victories (236), innings pitched (3,170 1/3), strikeouts (1,956) and shutouts (45). Whitey broke hurler Red Ruffing’s mark of 232 victories to become the all-time team leader.
August 21st
1891 - Former Yankees C John Gosset (1913-1914) was born. John was a weak hitting catcher, who the Yankees had purchased from the Chicago White Sox.
1914 - The St. Louis Browns commit 8 errors during a 4-3 defeat to the Yankees.
1916 - Former Yankees P Murry Dickson (1958) was born (1916-1986). On August 22,1958, Murray was traded by the Kansas City Athletics to the New York Yankees for OF Zeke Bella and cash. Murray went 1-2 in 6 games for the 1958 Yankees. He made I appearance for the Yankees in the 1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves. On May 9,1959, Murray was purchased by the Kansas City Athletics from the New York Yankees.
1917 - The New York Yankees buy C Muddy Ruel (1917-1920) from the St. Louis Browns for cash. He will hit .234 in 170 games as a reserve catcher for the Yankees.
1920 - Former Yankees reliever Gerry Stanley (1955-1956) was born. After being obtained from the Cincinnati Reds, Gerry went 0-0 in 6 games with the Yankees before being waived to the Chicago White Sox in 1956. He would become one of the key bullpen pitchers for the 1959 AL Champion White Sox.
1921 - At St. Louis, the largest crowd of the 1921 AL season, cheer as the Browns sweep a pair from the Yankees, winning by scores of 5-4 and 10-0. Bayne strikes out 7 of the 1st nine Yanks batters in game 2 on his way to a 10-strikeout run.
1931 - After belting his MLB career HR #599, a grand slam in yesterday's game, Babe Ruth hits his 600th HR, off of hurler George Blaeholder of the St. Louis Browns, as the Yankees win by a score of 11-7. Lou Gehrig homers immediately, after the Babe's historic blow. In their 10 years as teammates, they will HR in the same inning 19 times and in the same game 72 times.
1933 - The New York Yankees and Chicago White Sox play an 18-inning game, which ends in a 3-3 tie.
1936 - Boston Red Sox hurler Wes Ferrell, in a tantrum for what he considers shabby support, walks off the mound during a New York Yankees rally and is suspended and fined $1,000 by Boston manager Joe Cronin.
1948 - Former Yankees C/1B/DH Johnny Ellis (1969-1972) was born. On August 15,1966, John was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent with promising hitting power. John couldn’t beat out Thurman Munson for starting catcher’s job, he was given a shot at 1B, 3B and DH before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in the Graig Nettles trade in November of 1972. John would play for the Indians and the Texas Rangers, before a serious leg injury forced him into retirement from MLB.
1953- MLB player representatives Ralph Kiner (NL) and Yankees Allie Reynolds (AL) hire labor leader John Norman Lewis at $15,000 per annum to give legal advice to players in their negotiations with the owners.
1958 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran P Murry Dickson from the Kansas City A’s for a player to be named later (minor league OF John Bella). He went 1-2 in 6 games for the Yankees before being sent back to the A’s during the 1959 AL season.
1964 - Former Yankees P Shawn Hillegas (1992) was born. On April 9,1992, Shawn was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He went 1-8 in 21 games for the Yankees. On August 22,1992, Shawn was released by the New York Yankees.
1966 - Former Yankees closer John Wetteland (1995-1996) was born. John was traded on April 5, 1995 by the Montreal Expos to the Yankees for minor league 1B Fernando Seguignol and cash. John would go 3-8 in 122 games with the Yankees with 74 saves. He would be named to 1996 AL All Star team. John would lead the AL with 43 saves. He would leave the Yankees after the 1996 World Series for the Texas Rangers, where he had back injuries that forced him to retire from MLB.
1968 - The Minnesota Twin's starter Jim Merritt loses his shutout in the 9th inning, when Mickey Mantle hits a pinch-hit HR, but he still wins the game by a score of 3-1. It is Mantle's 534th MLB career HR, tying him with former AL slugger Jimmie Foxx for 3rd on the all-time MLB HR leader’s list.
1977 - Yankees All Star 3B Graig Nettles' HR and double account for both Yankee runs in a 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers. Ron Guidry picks up his 10th win of the 1977 AL season, as the Yankees cut the Boston Red Sox lead to 1/2 game.
1991 - The Yankees CF Bernie Williams fans 5 consecutive times in a 7-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals to tie the MLB mark for a 9-inning game. Yankees MLB hitting coach Frank Howard, who was one of the 28 MLB batters, who shared the mark, consoles Bernie Williams.
1996 - Welcome to the MLB, Yankees Derek Jeter hits a HR off of Jason Dickson's 1st MLB pitch, but that's all the scoring for the slumping Yankees as the Angels' rookie wins the game by a score of 7-1. Chili Davis has a pair of HRs, the 1st off of Yankees loser Jimmy Key (9 -10).
2007 - Garret Anderson drives in 10 runs, setting a Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim franchise record. Anderson doubles in Chone Figgins and Orlando Cabrera in the 1st inning against Yankees starter Mike Mussina. In the 2nd inning, he doubles home Vladimir Guerrero. In the 3rd inning, he cracks a 3-run HR against Yankees reliever Edwar Ramirez. In the sixth inning, he hits a grand slam, this one off of Yankees reliever Sean Henn. The Angels top the Yankees, by the score of 1 -9.
2009 - Yankees DH Hideki Matsui hits a pair of 3-run HRs and drives in 7 runs as the Yankees destroy the Boston Red Sox by the score of 20-11 at Fenway Park. The only highlight for the Red Sox comes when Jacoby Ellsbury steals his 54th base of the 2009 AL season in the 1st inning, breaking the franchise record held by Tommy Harper.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
