This Week in Yankees History
September 26th - October 2nd
September 26th
1921 - Babe Ruth hits HRs #57 and #58 plus a double and a walk to beat the Cleveland Indians by the score of 8-7, as the Yankees take a 2 game lead. George Burns adds a triple and 3 singles for New York in the come-from-behind win. The Indians load the bases in the 9th inning, but Steve Neill strikes out on a Carl Mays fastball in the dirt to end it.
1925 - Former Yankees P Bobby Shantz (1957-1960) was born. Bobby was obtained from the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957. He was a starter who injured his arm and later became a very successful relief pitcher. He originally came up with the A’s. His best season with the Philadelphia A’s was in 1952, going 24-7, winning the 1952 AL MVP award and The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year. Then he injured his pitching arm. As a Yankee, Bobby went 30-18 with 19 saves. In 1957, he was the 1st Yankee player to win an AL Golden Glove Award. Bobby would win it again for AL pitchers during the 1958-59-60 AL seasons. Also in 1957, Bobby led the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.45 mark. Bobby appeared in the 1957 and 1960 World Series for the Yankees going 0-1. In 1960, his brother Billy Shantz, a catcher appeared with the Yankees for 1 game. The A’s had signed him. The Yankees lost Bobby in the 1960 AL Expansion draft being selected by the new Washington Senators, who then traded him to the Pittsburgh Pirates for 3 players.
1926 - The St. Louis Browns beat the New York Yankees twice, by the scores of 6-1 and 6-2, in a total time of 2 hours, 7 minutes, a MLB record for a twin bill. The 2nd game is the fastest in AL history: 55 minutes. The Yankees total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 hits in the 2 games. Babe Ruth has one at bat, then sits, and misses reliever George Sisler, who tosses 2 scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in game 2 and, when the Browns score 4 runs in the 8th inning, picks up the victory. Ruth has 47 homers twice the runner-up, and also leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBI, and 144 bases on balls. Babe Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie Manush, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns coach Jimmie Austin, 46 years old, participates in the nightcap and contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50, in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees use Fred Merkle in his MLB final game. Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6th inning.
1949 - Before 67,434 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Boston Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled, 7-6 victory, when Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. Leading by 1 game, the Red Sox move on to Washington for a 3-game series with the Senators before the last 2 games of the year with the New York Yankees.
1952 - The New York Yankees clinch their 4th AL straight pennant, an 11-inning 5-2 win at Philadelphia, beating the A’s behind the pitching of starter Ed Lopat and reliever Johnny Sain.
1954 - Future Yankees P Art Ditmar of the A’s defeats the Yankees by the score of 8-6 in the last game the franchise will play at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, before moving to Kansas City in 1955. Yankees C Yogi Berra plays his only game at 3B in his MLB career. Mickey Mantle plays shortstop again in Yankees Manager Casey Stengel's "power line-up."
1955 - The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees by the score of 8-1 as Ted Williams goes 1-for-20. Williams finishes the season at .356, well ahead of Detroit Tigers Al Kaline's .340, but does not have enough at bats to win the AL batting title.
1956 - Rookie hurler Charlie Beamon of the Baltimore Orioles throws a 1-0 shutout against the New York Yankees in his 1st MLB start.
1960 - The New York Yankees winning streak reaches 10-game mark, as they defeat the Washington Senators by the score of 4-2 by scoring 2 runs in the 9th inning. Yankees rookie starter Bill Stafford goes 8-innings, with reliever Duke Maas picks up the win going to 3-1 for the season. Yankees 1B Dale Long hits a 2-run HR off of Senators starter Pedro Ramos, who goes to 11-17 record with the loss. The Yankees would go 15-0 in their last 15 games of the 1960 AL season.
1961 - In New York's 159th game of the 1961 AL season, Roger Maris rips a Jack Fisher fastball into the RF seats at Yankee Stadium for his 60th HR. Bronx Bombers beat the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 3-2. Yankees OF Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single season AL HR record. There are fewer than 8,000 fans on hand to view this historic event.
1964 - Behind their rookie starter Mel Stottlemyre's 2-hitter, the New York Yankees rolls over the Washington Senators by the score of 7-0 for their 11th win in a row. Stottlemyre leads the offense with an MLB-record-tying 5 hits, the last pitcher to collect that many and just the 8th pitcher this century to do so (Jim Callahan of the Chicago White Sox did it twice). With a single in his last at bat in his last game, he's had 6 hits in a row.
1978 - New York Yankees starter Ed Figueroa earns his 19th victory; while Rich Gossage picks up his 28th save as the Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 4-1. Mickey Rivers’ 2-out, 2-run double in the 2nd inning opens an early lead for the Yankees.
1980 - At Detroit, Ron Guidry gives up 5 runs in 6-innings, but still wins his 16 victory with Ron Davis getting his 7th save as the Yankees win by a score of 7-5. The Yankees hitting attack is led by Eric Soderholm’s 3-run HR and a solo HR by Willie Randolph.
1997 - Four Yankees pitchers combine to 1-hit the Detroit Tigers, winning by a score of 8-2. Andy Pettitte starts and allows a 2-run single to Travis Fryman in the 3rd inning, giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pettitte leaves after 4 innings and is succeeded by Brian Boehringer (3 innings), Mariano Rivera (1 inning), and Jeff Nelson (1 inning). Mo Rivera receives credit for the win, when Yankees explodes for 6 runs in the 9th inning.
1998 - The New York Yankees defeat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays by the score of 3-1 for David Cone's 20th win of the year. Cone sets a record for the most years (10) between 20-win seasons, having won 20 for the New York Mets in 1988. Jim Kaat held the previous record at 9. Yankees rookie OF Shane Spencer homers, his 6th HR in 9 days and his 7th HR in the month of September, a Yankees rookie record.
2008 - The New York Yankees crush the Boston Red Sox by the score of 17-8, on a rainy night at Fenway Park. Back-up shortstop Cody Ransom hits 2 homers while Robinson Cano drives in 5 runs and Brett Gardner 4 more in the rout. Boston's loss means that Tampa Bay officially clinches the AL East division title. It is the 1st time since the 1997 AL season that neither Boston nor New York won the AL East. Tampa Bay had never won 70 games in a season before this year.
2009 - New York Yankees starter CC Sabathia wins his 19th game of the 2009 AL season, giving up 1 hit in 7th innings in a 3-0 Yankees victory over the Boston Red Sox. Newly-appointed Supreme Court judge Sonia Sotomayor, a lifelong Yankees fan better known in baseball circles for her ruling that ended the 1994 strike, throws the ceremonial 1st pitch to Jose Molina.
September 27th
1914 - Indians 2B Nap Lajoie collects his 3,000th hit as his Cleveland team defeats the Yankees by the score of 3-2.
1919 - Yankees starter Bob Shawkey strikes out 15 batters in a 9-inning game with against his former teammates the Philadelphia A’s. Bob Shawkey’s club record of 15K’s would stand until 1978 AL season, when Yankees Ace starter Ron Guidry strikes out 18 Angels.
1920 - Carl Mays and the Yankees beat the A's, by the score of 3-0, as Mays allows just 4 hits. It is his 3rd straight shutout over Philadelphia, his 10th straight win against them. Babe Ruth drives in all the runs on a pair of HRs over the RF fence off Rommel, his 52nd and 53rd HRs of the campaign. He hit t2 other liners to left and center that were close to the wall.
1921 - The largest crowd ever to see the Yankees play at the Polo Grounds (estimated to exceed 40,000 people) jammed the 30,000-seat stadium. The Yankees respond with a 21-7, shellacking of the Cleveland Indians.
1923 - Columbia University baseball star Lou Gehrig was signed in June for a $1,500 bonus by the Yankees, and recently brought up from Hartford (Eastern League), Lou Gehrig hits the 1st of his 493 MLB career HRs. It comes off of Red Sox P Bill Piercy at Fenway Park in a Yankee 8-3 win.
1927 - Babe Ruth connects for a Grand Slam HR off of Lefty Grove; while Lou Gehrig hits HR # 46 in a 7-4 win over the Philadelphia A's. Babe Ruth has 57 HRs with three games left to play. One of the HRs is a grand slam, the Babe's 2nd in 3 days.
1930 - Lou Gehrig plays the last of 885 consecutive games at 1B. In the next game, the season's finale, he will take Babe Ruth's LF position.
1931 - Lou Gehrig hits HR to tie Babe Ruth at 46 while the Yankees pound Lefty Grove, by the score of 13-1, and deny him his 32nd victory of the 1931 AL season. Grove throws just 3 innings in the warm-up for the 1931 World Series. Lou Gehrig drives in 2 runs as he (184) and Babe Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the year, the most productive duo in MLB history. Bill Dickey has 4 hits and ends the season with no passed balls; the only AL catcher and the Yankees are the only AL team to ever accomplish the feat.
1942 - Boston Red Sox starter Tex Hughson wins his 22nd to tie St. Louis Cardinals starter Mort Cooper for the MLB lead, as the Red Sox edge the Yankees. A Fenway Park crowd of 26,166--including 4,293 youngsters who gained free admission by bringing 29,000 pounds of scrap metal for the war effort--watches Hughson scatter 11 hits.
1950 - Against the Philadelphia A's, Whitey Ford relieves and loses his 1st game after 9 straight wins. The Yankees lose the game by a score of 8-7.
1960 - Against the Washington Senators, Yankees win their 11th straight game by a score of 5-1. Yankee pitchers, starter Ryne Duren, Eli Grba and Bob Turley hold the Senators to 3 hits and 1-run. In a rare start, Ryne Duren only goes 4 innings, he doesn’t get the win, Eli Grba does picking up his 6th win, while Bob Turley picks up his 4th save of the 1960 AL season. Bill Skowron hits his 28th HR, as Johnny Blanchard hits a triple, while Clete Boyer and Dale Long, each hit doubles for the Yankees.
1962 - Former Yankees P Don Schulze (1989) was born. Don Schultze was signed by the Yankees as an MLB free agent in November of 1988. He appeared in only 2 games, posting a 1-1 mark. On July 22,1989, Don was traded by the Yankees along with 3B Mike Pagliarulo to the San Diego Padres for a player to be named later and P Walt Terrell. The Padres sent P Freddie Toliver on September 27,1989 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1963 - Former Yankees P Andy Coakley (1911) passed away. Andy appeared in 1 game for the 1911 Yankees, going 0-1 to finish out his MLB career.
1968 - Facing Boston Red Sox P Lee Stange at Fenway Park, Mickey Mantle flies out in his final MLB plate appearance, before being replaced by Andy Kosko. A HR by Kosko's ties the game in the 8th inning for the Yankees. Joe Pepitone's HR in the 9th inning gives the Yankees, a 4-3 win.
1972 - Trailing by the score of 5-1, the Detroit Tigers score 3-runs in the 8th inning and 2 in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees and closer Sparky Lyle.
1978 - Yankees maintain their lead by beating the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 5-1, at Yankee Stadium. Yankees starter Catfish Hunter wins his 9th decision in 10 games. He gives up only 6-hits, with 1-run. Yankees Graig Nettles and Reggie Jackson hit HRs for the Yankees.
1986 - Jack Morris shuts out the Yankees by the score of 1-0 in 10 innings, raising his record to 20-8. Morris snaps Yankees 1B Don Mattingly's hitting streak at 24 consecutive games.
1991 - The Cleveland Indians lose their 100th game of the 1991 AL season as the Yankees beat Tribe starter Greg Swindell by the score of 3-0. With 8 innings of work, Yankees starter Pascual Perez (2-4) earns his last MLB decision.
1992 - At Yankee Stadium, Toronto Blue Jays veteran starter Jack Morris wins his 20th game of the 1992 AL season, going 6-innings in a 12-2 blowout game over the 4th place Yankees. The Blue Jays scores 9 runs off of Yankees starter Scott Sanderson, who leaves in the 2nd inning.
1998 - The 1998 Yankees win their 7th straight game to end the 1998 AL season with a .704 winning percentage. The Bronx Bombers (114-48) become the 1st team MLB since the 1954 Cleveland Indians (111-43) to play over .700 baseball for the entire MLB season.
2009 - The Yankees are assured of the best record in the American League after a 4-2 win over Boston. Andy Pettitte picks up the win and, as usual, Mariano Rivera gets the save in New York's 100th win of the year. New York finishes 9-9 against their bitter rivals, after dropping the 1st 8 contests between the two teams.
September 28th
1885 - Former Yankees P Wilbur “Lefty” Good (1905) was born. (1885-1963) Lefty was 0-2 in 5 games for the Yankees in 1905. In 1908, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians, where he became an outfielder.
1892 - Former Yankees 2B Jack Fournier (1918) was born (1892-1973). Jack hit .350 in 27 games for the Yankees in 1918.
1895 - Former Yankees OF Lawton “Whitey” Witt (1922-1925) was born (1895-1988). Whitey Witt was obtained from the Philadelphia A’s in 1922. He was a good hitter and solid outfielder. He was sold to the Brooklyn Dodgers after the 1925 AL season.
1923 - The New York Yankees overwhelm the Boston Red Sox by the score of 24-4; among the battered Boston pitchers was Howard Ehmke, who straggler through 6 innings, allowing 17 runs with 21 hits. Yankees Babe Ruth and Aaron Ward hit HRs in Fenway Park that day.
1928 - The New York Yankees clinch their 6th AL pennant by defeating the Detroit Tigers by the score of 11-6, behind starting pitcher George Pipgras.
1930 - Lou Gehrig’s 885 consecutive game errorless streak at 1B ends during a Yankees’ 9-3 win against the Red Sox. This game also featured a rare pitching performance by Babe Ruth, who hurled an 11-hit complete game win.
1942 - Former Yankees P Grant Jackson (1976) was born. Grant Jackson was obtained from the Baltimore Orioles in June of 1976 in the Doyle Alexander trade. He went 6-0 in 21 games with 1 save. In the fall of 1976, the Yankees lost him to the Seattle Mariners in the AL expansion player draft.
1949 - Former Yankees minor league INF Mario Guerrero was born. In 1968, Mario Guerrero was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Mario never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On June 30,1972, Mario was sent by the Yankees to the Red Sox to complete an earlier deal made on March 22,1972. The Yankees sent a player to be named later and 1B Danny Cater to the Boston Red Sox for P Sparky Lyle. The Yankees sent INF Mario Guerrero on June 30,1972 to the Red Sox to complete the trade.
1951 - Former Yankees P Dave Rajsich (1978) was born. In 1974, Dave Rajsich was signed as an MLB free agent by the Yankees. He appeared in 4 games with no record in 1978. The during the winter of 1978, he was traded to the Texas Rangers in the Sparky Lyle-Dave Righetti trade. His brother Gary also played in the MLB.
1951 - Yankees starter Allie Reynolds pitched his 2nd no-hitter of the 1951 AL season as the Yankees defeat the Red Sox by the score of 8-0, in the opener of a doubleheader. He becomes the 1st AL pitcher to throw 2 no-hitters in a season. The game is best remembered for C Yogi Berra’s muff of a pop foul by Ted Williams, always a though out and the last batter in the 9th inning. Fortunately, Reynolds induced Williams to hit the same foul pop and this time Yogi Berra caught the ball. The Yankees clinched the 1951 AL pennant with an 11-3 victory in the nightcap, behind Yankees starter Vic Raschi.
1958 - The Yankees finish the 1958 AL season with a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. They would end the 1958 season with a 92-61-1 record. In the 1st game, the Yankees 7-0 win as starter Don Larsen picks up his 9th victory. A Marv Throneberry solo HR and Norm Siebern hits 2-HRs for the Yankees. In the 2nd game, Yankees win by a score of 6-3. As Yankees starter Tom Sturdivant picks up his 3rd victory with relief help from pitchers Bobby Shantz and Zack Monroe, who picks up his 3rd save of the 1958 AL season.
1958 - Former Yankees P Pete Filson (1987) was born. In 1979, Pete Filson was drafted by the Yankees in the 9th round of the MLB amateur player draft. On May 12,1982, Pete was traded by the Yankees along with INF Larry Milbourne, P John Pacella, and cash to the Minnesota Twins for C Butch Wynegar and P Roger Erickson. On January 5,1987, Pete was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with INF Randy Velarde to the Yankees for P Scott Nielsen and Mike Soper (minors). Pete went 1-0 in 7 games for the Yankees in 1987. He spent the 1988 season at Columbus (IL).
1960 - The New York Yankees win their 12th game, beating the Washington Senators by a score of 6-3, as Whitey Ford finishes the 1960 AL season with a 12-9 record. The Yankees hitting attack is paced by Mickey Mantle’s 2-HR’s for 3 runs and a solo HR by Clete Boyer. Yankees starter Whitey Ford only goes 5 innings before getting relief help from pitchers Jim Coates and Louis Arroyo, who gets his 7th save of the 1960 AL season.
1970 - Former Yankees minor league P Mike DeJean was born. In 1992, Mike DeJean was drafted by the Yankees in the 24th round of the MLB amateur player draft. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 20,1995, Mike was traded by the Yankees to the Rockies for C Joe Girardi.
1978 - Ron Guidry wins his 24th game of the 1978 AL season, with a 4-hit, 3-1 win over the Blue Jays. Yankees OF Roy White has a great game driving in the Yankees 1st run and robbing former Yankees teammate Otto Velez of a late inning HR that would have tie the game. Their lead in the AL East remains at 1 game.
1999 - The Yankees defeat the Orioles at Camden Yards by a score of 9-5. The Birds chase Yankees starter Ed Yarnall for 7-hits, 5 runs, but Ramiro Mendoza and Mo Rivera hold the Birds, so the Yankees can come back for the victory. Tino Martinez hits a HR for the Yankees.
2001 - At Yankee Stadium, starter Mike Messina throws a complete game 3-hitter, 7-0 shutout victory against his former Baltimore Orioles teammates. The Yankees hitting attack is led by a Bernie Williams HR and Tino Martinez’s double and triple.
2005 - Yankees All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez hits his 47th HR in the Yankees 2-1 victory over the Orioles. His shot broke Joe DiMaggio’s-season club record for HRs by a right-handed batter, set in 1937.
2007 - The Boston Red Sox clinch the AL East title, bringing to an end a streak of 9 consecutive division titles by the New York Yankees, dating back to 1998. The Yankees will not miss the Postseason however, having clinched the American League Wild Card.
2008 - Mike Mussina, who has won 18 or 19 games 5 times in his MLB career, finally becomes a 20-game winner at age 39. The New York Yankees hurler tops the Boston Red Sox by the score of 6-2, as Daisuke Matsuzaka falls to 18-3 on the year. Mussina will announce his retirement after the season.
September 29th
1886 - Former Yankees P Edwin “Cy” Pieh (1913-15) was born (1886-1945). Cy went 9-9 in 43 games for the Yankees.
1901 - Former Yankees reserve C Anthony “Pug’” Rensa (1933) was born (1901-1987). Pug hit .310 in 8 games as a back up catcher for the Yankees in 1933.
1911 - The Yankees draw 13 walks and steal 15 bases in a wild 16-12 win against the Browns. The game also features a MLB record 6 stolen bases in one inning, the second inning.
1914 - Former Yankees P John “Swede” Johnson (1944) was born. John went 0-2 in 22 games for the Yankees in 1944.
1920 - New York Yankees OF Babe Ruth hits his MLB record 54th HR on the last day of the 1920 AL season. Only one other team in the AL will hit more than 44 homers.
1921 - It’s the 4th game of the crucial series with the Indians. Yankees are in 1st place by 1 1/2 games. Yankees manager Miller Huggins asks his players to select as their starting pitcher. The teams picks veteran P Jack Quinn. He gets rocked for 3 runs in the 1st inning. He is replaced by Waite Hoyt. Babe Ruth gets the Yankees going in the 1st inning with a HR. In the 3rd inning, he gets another run with a double, later he scores. In the 5th inning, Ruth then hits a 2-run HR for the Yankees to take a lead. Reliever Carl Mays holds the Indians, striking out Steve O’Neill with runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 outs in the 9th inning. There by enable the Yankees to virtually clinch the AL pennant
1927 - Babe Ruth ties his own HR record with #59 on the 1927 AL season. Ruth will break the record tomorrow.
1927 - Babe Ruth hits his 2nd grand slam HR in as many consecutive games, thereby tying the MLB record. He would repeat the performance on 8/6/29 and 8/7/29.
1928 - The Yankees and Tigers combine to set AL record for most hits by both teams in a 9-inning game (45), when Detroit records 28 hits and New York adds 17. The Tigers won the game by a score of 19-10.
1934 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits his last HR as a Yankee player. Homerun #659 as a Yankee and #708 of his MLB career comes off Syd Cohen at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D. C.
1938 - Former Yankees P Mike McCormick (1970) was born. Veteran MLB starter Mike McCormick was obtained from the San Francisco Giants for P John Cumberland. As a Yankee, he went 2-0 in 8 games, before being released in the spring of1971.
1953 - Former Yankees minor league coach and Manager Carlos Tosca (1978-1985) was born. Carlos joined the New York Yankees minor league organization in 1978. From 1978 to 1980, he was a minor league coach. From 1980-1985 he was a minor league manager. In 1986, he left the Yankees organization. He spent 1 season as MLB manager of the Toronto Blue Jays.
1967 - Former Yankees reserve INF Dave Silvestri (1992-1995) was born. On March 13,1990, Dave was traded by the Houston Astros with a player to be named later to the Yankees for INF Orlando Miller. The Astros sent Dave Bond (minors) on June 11,1990 to the Yankees to complete the trade. David played in 56 games for the Yankees as a reserve INF, before being traded on July 16,1995, to the Montreal Expos for Tyrone Horne (minors).
1975 - Former Hall Of Fame Yankees Manager Casey Stengel (1949-1960) passes away (1890-1975) MLB Player (1912-1925: Dodgers, Pirates, Phillies, Giants and Braves): MLB Manager: Dodgers, 1934-1936, Braves, 1938-1943, Yankees, 1949-1960 and the Mets 1962-1965. Casey Stengel managed the great Yankees Dynasty teams of 1949-1960. He won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Also he won World Championships in 1956 and 1958. He finished his Yankee managing career with a record of 1,149-696, WP .619 with 10 AL Flags and 7 World championships. He was let go by the Yankees after his manager’s contract expired in October of 1960. He would return to New York City in 1962 to manage the new NL expansion team, the Mets.
1977 - Former Yankees P Jake Westbrook (2000) was born. Jake was obtained from the Montreal Expos in the Hideki Irabu trade. He went 0-2 in 3 games for the Yankees in 2002, before being traded to the Cleveland Indians in the David Justice trade.
1978 - New York starter Jim Beattie hurls 4-hit ball for 8-innings, as the Yankees scored 3 runs in the 8th inning to down the Cleveland Indians by the score of 3-1. Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson and Lou Piniella, each drove in a run. Goose Goosage gains his league leading 26th save. The Yankees lead remains 1 game in AL East.
1979 - Former Yankees 1B/DH/OF Shelly Duncan was born. Shelly was a 2nd round draft choice by the Yankees in the 2001 amateur player draft. During the 2007 AL season, Shelly Duncan was brought up by the Yankees from Scranton (AAA). He hit .257 in 34 games with 7 HRs and 17 RBI’s. Shelly now plays for the Cleveland Indians.
1987 - Yankees 1B Don Mattingly sets a MLB record by hitting his 6th Grand Slam HR of the 1987 season, as Yankees starter Charlie Hudson hurls a 4-hit shutout, 6-0 victory over the Red Sox
2004 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees sweep a doubleheader with the Minnesota Twins. In game 1, starters Santana and Mussina, both leave after 5 innings. The Twins bullpen gives up 4 runs to the Yankees in the 7th inning. Reliever Paul Quantrill gets the win, his 7th while closer Mo Rivera gets his 42nd save of the 2004 AL season as the Yankees win by the score of 5-3. In the 2nd game, Yankees win by a score of 5-4, as A-Rod and Matsui hit HRs for the Yankees. Yankees starter Jon Lieber picks up his 14th victory of the 2004 AL season, while Mo Rivera gets save #43.
September 30th
1904 - Doc White, Chicago White Sox lefthander, pitches his 5th shutout in 18 days, defeating the Yankees. Of his 7 shutouts for the 1904 AL season, 6 come in the month of September.
1905 - Former Yankees P Johnny Allen (1932-1935) was born. Pitcher Johnny Allen was working as a bellboy in a hotel, when Yankees scout Paul Krichell discovered him. He reached the majors with the Yankees in 1932. He went 17-4 that year, leading the AL with a .810 winning percentage. He won 15 games in 1933, but after holding out for a raise and suffering a sore arm, Johnny was traded to the Cleveland Indians following the 1935 AL season for hurlers Monte Pearson and Steve Sundra.
1916 - Red Sox CF Tilly Walker, imitating Tris Speaker, his predecessor, dashes in for a low line drive and beats the runner back to 2B for an unassisted DP. It is an important play, as Dutch Leonard defeats Nick Cullop of the Yankees by the score of 1-0 in the 10th inning on Harry Hooper's sacrifice fly. The win clinches a tie for the 1916 AL pennant for Boston. The Indians will beat the White Sox tomorrow to give the AL flag to Boston.
1922 - The New York Yankees clinch their 2nd AL pennant by beating the Boston Red Sox by the score of 3-1 behind the pitching of Waite Hoyt and Joe Bush.
1927 - With the score 2-2 in the 8th inning, Mark Koenig triples and Ruth hits HR No. 60 off of Senators P Tom Zachary for a 4-2 win. In the 9th inning, Walter Johnson makes his final MLB appearance as a player. He pinch-hits for Tom Zachary and flies out to Babe Ruth. Babe Ruth hits 17 HR’s in September, the highest month's HR output till Rudy York's 18 HRs in August of 1937.
1934 - New York slugger Babe Ruth is hitless in his last game in a Yankees uniform. Babe went 0 for 3 with a walk and run scored. The Yankees lose to the Washington Senators by a score of 5-3.
1936 - In the 1936 World Series opener, Giants starter Carl Hubbell scatters 7 hits and limits the Yankees to a solo HR by George Selkirk. The New York Giants take a decisive 6-1 victory.
1937 - Former Yankees C/1B Gus Triandos (1953-1954) was born. In 1948, the Yankees signed Gus Triandos as a MLB free agent. He was used as a back up catcher and 1B during the 1953-1954 AL seasons. Unable to unseat Yogi Berra behind the plate, Gus was traded to the Baltimore Orioles as part of the 17-man trade made in November of 1954. He would become the starting catcher for the Orioles, making the AL All Star teams in 1958-1959.
1942 - Down 7-0 to Yankees starter Red Ruffing in the 1942 World Series opener, the St. Louis Cardinals storm back for 4-runs in the 9th-inning, not enough to win but enough to portend the result of the World Series.
1945 - George Stirnweiss of the Yankees gets 3 hits on the final day to raise his batting average to .309. The Chicago White Sox games are washed out, depriving the veteran Tony Cuccinello of a shot at the title. The only other .300 hitter playing full time is Johnny Dickshot. Neither Cuccinello or Dickshot ever play another game in the MLB. Only Elmer Flick in 1905 and Carl Yastrzemski in 1968 ever lead the AL with a lower average than George Stirnweiss, but the latter also leads the AL with 195 hits, 107 runs, 22 triples, 301 SB, 33 TB, and a .476 SA.
1947 - Brooklyn Dodgers hurler Ralph Branca becomes the youngest player to start a World Series opener. At Yankee Stadium, the 21-year (9 month) old right-hander and the Dodgers loses to the Bronx Bombers by the score of 5-1 before a crowd of 73,365 fans at Yankee Stadium.
1948 - Former Yankees OF Rusty Torres (1971-1972) was born. Rusty Torres was a 54th round draft pick by the Yankees in the 1966 MLB amateur player draft. Rusty appeared in 89 games with the Yankees. He was traded by the Yankees to the Cleveland Indians in the Graig Nettles trade in the winter of 1972.
1951 - The triumphant Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox, by the score of 3-0, behind starter Frank ”Spec” Shea’s 9-hitter. It is the 3rd shutout in a row for the Yankees staff as they sweep the visiting Boston Red Sox in 5 games, outscoring them 29-4.
1953 - The Yankees defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers by the score of 9-5 in the 1st game of the 1953 World Series. Dodger’s starter Carl Erskine is ineffective, walking the 1st 3 batters, who score on a Billy Martin triple. The Dodgers tie it up at 5-5, and Clem Labine gets the loss in relief, after Joe Collins hits a HR in the 7th inning. Johnny Sain picks the win in relief of starter Allie Reynolds.
1955 - The Dodgers Johnny Podres defeats Yankees starter Bob Turley who fails to last 2 innings against the Bums. Catcher Roy Campanella leads the Dodgers attack with 3 hits and 3 RBI’s, as Brooklyn wins by the score of 8-3 behind the strong effort of lefty Johnny Podres.
1960 - The Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 6-5, and set a new AL record for team HRs with 192. Yankees shortstop Tony Kubek and reserve catcher Jesse Gonder hit the HRs today as the Bombers win their 13th straight game. The team HR record would last for only 1 season with the 1961 Yankees setting a new record with 240 HRs.
1962 - At Yankee Stadium, Chicago White Sox starter Ray Herbert tops New York by a score of 8-4. Mickey Mantle, batting leadoff to give him needed at bats, is 2-for-3 and qualifies for 2nd place in hitting (.321) with 502 plate appearances. He also hits a HR, giving him 8 straight MLB seasons of 30+ HRs.
1964 - In his 1st MLB at bat, Detroit Tigers pinch hitter Bill Roman debuts with a HR, the only one of his brief MLB career. Even so, the Tigers lose to the Yankees by a score of 7-6 as a Mickey Mantle leadoff HR in the 2nd inning off of starter Mickey Lolich ignites a 5-run rally. The Yankees takes the nightcap by the score of 11-8 for a doubleheader sweep.
1966 - The Chicago White Sox tip the Yankees by a score of 6-5 at Comiskey Park. The Yankees will win their next 2 games, but finish in 10th place one-half game behind the 9th place Red Sox.
1968 - Former Yankees P Jeff Patterson (1995) was born. On November 8, 1994, Jeff was sent by the Philadelphia Phillies to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on February 9, 1994. The Philadelphia Phillies sent a player to be named later and P Terry Mulholland to the New York Yankees for minor league players Kevin Jordan, Ryan Karp and Bobby Munoz. Jeff appeared in 4 games for the 1995 Yankees with no record.
1970 - New York Yankees starter Fritz Peterson wins his 20th game of the 1970 AL season, defeating the Boston Red Sox by the score of 4-3. Fritz will finish the 1970 AL season with a 20-11 record.
1971 - The Senators draw 14,000 fans for their final MLB game in Washington, D.C, with another 4,000 fans crashing. Senators starter Richard Bosman gives up HRs to Bobby Murcer, Roy White, and Rusty Torres with the Nats are down by the score of 5-1 in the 6th inning. Mike Kekich then grooves a fastball for Frank Howard, who parks his 26th HR, and thanks Thurman Munson as he crosses the plate. The Senators take a 7-5 lead, and after Bobby Murcer makes the 2nd out in the 9th inning, fans swarm onto the field, causing the game to be forfeited to the Yankees, by the score of 9-0. All records stand, but reliever Paul Lindblad losses the win by not recording the 3rd out, Yankees batter Horace Clarke. Of the Washington Senators players, Jeff Burroughs will be the last active player to retire, finishing up in 1985.
1973 - The Yankees close out their 50th year at old Yankee Stadium by losing to the Detroit Tigers, by a score of 8-5. Duke Sims hit the last Yankee HR in the old ballpark. Tigers ace John Hiller was the winner, while Yankee reliever Lindy Mc Daniel lost the finale game. It would be McDaniel’s last game as Yankees pitcher. He would be traded during the off-season to the Kansas City Royals for OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright.
1975 - Former Yankees P Brandon Knight (2001-2002) was born. On December 13, 1999, Brandon was traded by the Texas Rangers along with Sam Marsonek to the New York Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. On December 11,2000, Brandon was drafted by the Minnesota Twins from the New York Yankees in the 2000 Rule 5 player draft. On March 28, 2001, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Minnesota Twins to the New York Yankees. Brandon appeared in 11 games for the Yankees before being released by the team in 2002.
1977 - Former Yankees INF Del Pratt (1918-1920) passed away. On January 22,1918, Del was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with Eddie Plank to the New York Yankees for Nick Cullop, Joe Gedeon, Fritz Maisel, Les Nunamaker, Urban Shocker and $15,000. Del Pratt appeared in 420 games with the Yankees, hitting .295. On December 15,1920, Del was traded by the New York Yankees along with Muddy Ruel, Hank Thormahlen and Sammy Vick to the Boston Red Sox for Harry Harper, Waite Hoyt, Mike McNally and Wally Schang.
1978 - The Yankees top the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-0, behind starter Ed Figueroa's 20th win of the year. The Yankees clinch a tie for the 1978 AL East pennant.
1980 - In a 12-9 Indians win over the Yankees, the Tribe's Ron Hassey has a double & HR in the 8-run 2nd inning. There are 4 HRs hit in the game, including the Yankees Reggie Jackson's 38th HR of the 1980 AL season.
1984 - In the dramatic race for the AL batting title, Don Mattingly goes 4-for-5 in the Yankees season-ending 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers to edge out teammate Dave Winfield .343 to .340. Dave Winfield goes 1-for-4 in the game.
1997 - The Cleveland Indians score 5 runs in the 1st inning, but the Yankees come back to win the game with 5 runs of their own in the 6th inning to defeat the Indians in Game 1 of their AL playoff series, by a score of 8-6. Yankees Tim Raines, Derek Jeter, and Paul O'Neill hit consecutive HRs in the decisive inning, giving Yankees hurler Ramiro Mendoza the victory.
1998 - Yankees lefty starter Andy Pettitte's strong pitching gives the New York, a 2-0 lead in their playoff series with a 3-1 victory over the Texas Rangers. Rookie OF Shane Spencer and Scott Brosius hit HRs for the Yankees.
2008 - Former Yankees reserve INF Ed Brinkman (1975) passed away. On June 13,1975, Ed Brinkman was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Texas Rangers. Ed came to the Yankees at the end of his MLB career, he appeared in 44 games for the 1975 Yankees, hitting just .175. On March 29,1976, Ed was released by the New York Yankees.
October 1st
1889 - Former Yankees OF/INF/C Charles “Dutch’ Sterrett (1912-13) was born (1889 - 1965). Dutch hit .253 in 87 games for the Yankees.
1904 - Former INF Yankees Jimmy Reese (1930-31) was born (1901-1994). In 1927, Jimmy Reese was obtained by the Yankees from the Oakland Oaks (PCL). Debuting with the Yankees in 1930, Jimmy hit .346 in 77 games while backing up shortstop Tony Lazzeri. He was assigned as Babe Ruth's roommate and famously joked that in reality, he roomed with Ruth's suitcase. He said Ruth treated him "like a son." In 1931, Reese returned to earth, hitting .241 and playing in 65 games. He played with the Yankees in 1930-1931.Then he was picked up on waivers by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1932. After retiring as active player, Jimmy became a coach and manager in the minors. In 1973, he became the conditioning coach for the California Angels, until his death in 1994.
1908 - Yankees P Jack Chesbro notches his final victory in a (Highlander) Yankee uniform, a 5- hit win against the Washington Senators starter Walter Johnson, beating the Nats by the score of 2-1. Jack finishes his Yankees pitching career with 126 wins, including a MLB record season of 41 wins in 1904.
1912 - The Yankees lose their 100th game of the 1912 AL season, 4-3 loss at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Yankees finish the 1912 AL season with a 50-102 mark, 55 games behind the 1st place Boston Red Sox, the worst finish in the team’s franchise history.
1921- After clinching their 1st AL pennant by defeating the Philadelphia A’s by the score of 5-3, in the 1st game of a doubleheader. Yankees Babe Ruth comes in to pitch in the 8th inning of the nightcap and comes out the winner. Ruth took the mound in the top of the 8th inning, promptly allowed the A’s to score 6 runs to tie the game at 6-6, but then he settles down and holds them scoreless until the Yankees won the game with a run in the 11th inning.
1931 - Former Yankees P Fred Kipp (1960) was born. On April 5, 1960, Fred was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for OF Gordon Windhorn and minor league player Dick Sanders. Fred went 0-1 in 4 games for the Yankees in 1960.
1932 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth as baseball legend has it, called his HR off of Chicago Cubs starter Charlie Root in the 5th inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series at Wrigley Field. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-5, at Wrigley Field. Ruth’s teammate Lou Gehrig hits 2 HRs for the Yankees.
1933 - With the Yankees already eliminated from the AL pennant race, Babe Ruth is named the starting pitcher for today’s game. He responds by beating the Boston Red Sox by the score of 6-5. He allowed 11 hits, no walks, 3-strikeouts. As a hitter, he hits the game-winning HR.
1944 - The Yankees drop their 4th straight game to the St. Louis Browns by a score of 5-2. This win gives the Browns their only AL pennant in their franchise history in St. Louis.
1949 - Some 69,551 fans jam Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees and Boston Red Sox battle to a 5-4, come-from-behind New York victory. The Yankees entered the game trailing the Red Sox by 1 game with 2 games to go, both games were against the Red Sox.
1955 - In Game 4 of 1955 World Series, the Brooklyn Dodgers defeated the Yankees by a score of 8-5. Dodgers reliever Clem Labine is the winner, while starter Don Larsen takes the loss for the Yankees.
1955 - Former Yankees P Jeff Readon (1994) was born. After signing as an MLB free agent with the Yankees, Jeff went 1-0 in 11 games with 2 saves in 1994.
1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris hits his 61st HR of the 1961 season against Red Sox starter Tracy Stallard. The homer eclipsed Babe Ruth’s 34-year-old single-season MLB HR record. The Yankees win the game, by a score of 1-0. Yankee starter Bill Stafford picks up the win for the Yankees. The historic HR is hit before a crowd of only 23,000 fans at Yankee Stadium. "As a ballplayer, I would be delighted to do it again. As an individual, I doubt if I could possibly go through it again." -ROGER MARIS, commenting about his historic 1961 season with the Yankees.
1964 - Former Yankees OF Roberto Kelly (1987-1992, 2000) was born. In 1982, Roberto Kelly was signed by the Yankees as a MLB free agent. He was an AL All Star team member in 1992-1993.The during the winter of 1993; he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for OF Paul O’Neill.
1973 - As the renovations begin at Yankee Stadium, home plate and 1st base from the old ballpark are presented respectively to Mrs. Babe Ruth and Mrs. Lou Gehrig. The Bronx Bombers will play their home games at Shea Stadium during the next two AL seasons (1974-1975).
1975 - Former Yankees, President and Part Owner, Larry MacPhail (1946-1947) passed away. Larry was part of the group (Dan Topping and Del Webb) that bought the Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert estate in 1946. He replaced Ed Barrow as the Yankees General Manager. When he sold his interest in the Yankees, MacPhail was replaced by George Weiss as the new Yankees GM.
1977 - While the Yankees and Tigers sit out a 2:42 rain delay. The Orioles defeat the Red Sox by a score of 8-7 at Fenway Park, and thereby hand the Yankees their 2nd consecutive AL Eastern Division Championship. The Yankees added insult to injury by losing the game, by the score of 10-7, after the rain delay ended, but the Yankees won the final game of the year.
1978 - The Indians beat the Yankees by the score of 9-2 behind starter Rick Waits, on the last day of the 1978 AL season, to force a 1-game playoff between the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Red Sox won their 8th straight game, a 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays. The play-off game would be played on October 2nd at Fenway Park in Boston.
1995 - The Yankees become the 1st wild card winner in the American League.
October 2nd
1905 - Yankees signed shortstop Rube Oldring and immediately sell him to the Philadelphia A’s.
1919 - Former Yankees shortstop Joe Buzas (1945) was born. The opening day shortstop for the New York Yankees in 1945, he badly injured his shoulder, ending his MLB playing career. Joe appeared in only 30 games hitting .262. He would later become a successful minor league team owner for 47 years, owning over 82 teams during his baseball business career.
1920 - Former Yankees P Frank “Spec” Shea (1947, 1949-1951) was born. Spec went 29-21 in 100 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1947, going 14-5. In 1952, he was traded to the Washington Senators in the Irv Noren-Jackie Jensen trade.
1930 - Former Yankees P John Gabler (1959-1960) was born. Before the 1950 AL season, the Yankees signed John Gabler as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 4-4 in 24 games for the Yankees, before being drafted by the New Washington Senators in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft in December of 1960.
1936 - Tony Lazzeri becomes the 1st Yankee (and 2nd player in MLB history) to hit a Grand Slam HR in a World Series game. His drive capped a 7-run 3rd inning during the Yankees 18-4 shellacking of their cross-river rivals the New York Giants.
1947 - The New York Yankees C Yogi Berra becomes the 1st player in MLB history to hit a pinch-hit homerun in a World Series game, against the Brooklyn Dodgers, but the Yankees still lose the game by the score of 9-8.
1949 - The Yankees win the 1949 AL pennant by defeating the Boston Red Sox by the score of 5-3. Yankees Jerry Coleman’s 3-run triple provides the winning runs, to give Yankee starter Vic Raschi, the win. The game started with both teams tied for 1st place in the AL.
1949 - Former Yankees minor league INF Greg Pryor was born. On February 17, 1977, Greg was traded by the Texas Rangers along with INF Brian Doyle and cash to the Yankees for veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. Greg never played for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1957 - In Game 3 of the 1957 World Series, Milwaukee Braves starter Lew Burdette wins the 1st of his 3 decisions against his former team the Yankees. Lew Burdette and the Braves beat Yankees pitcher Bobby Shantz by the score of 4-2.
1957 - Former Yankees INF Andre Robertson (1981-1985) was born.On December 10, 1979, Andre was purchased by the Yankees from the Toronto Blue Jays. He played for 5 seasons with the Yankees hitting .251 in 254 games. A serious late night auto accident ruined his promising MLB career with the Yankees. On June 30,1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B/DH Ken Griffey Sr. to the Atlanta Braves for OF Claudell Washington and minor league INF Paul Zuvella.
1963 - Dodgers Starter Sandy Koufax sets a World Series record by striking out 15 Yankee batters in Game 1 against the Yankees. The Dodgers win the game, by the score of 5-2, behind Sandy Koufax's 6-hit pitching. Whitey Ford takes the loss for the Yankees.
1963 - Former Yankee reserve backstop Cy Perkins (1931) passed away (1896-1963). Cy hit .255 in 16 games for the Yankees in 1931. He was a MLB coach for the 1932 Yankees. Cy spent most of his MLB career with the Philadelphia A’s.
1965 - New York Yankees starter Mel Stottlemyre wins his 20th game of the 1965 AL season, by beating the Boston Red Sox by the score of 6-1 at Fenway Park.
1966 - Former Yankees P Walter “Jumbo” Brown (1932-1936) died. Jumbo went 19-16 in 80 games with 2 saves for the New York Yankees. In June of 1937, the Yankees sold him to the Cincinnati Reds.
1977 - The New York Yankees beat the Detroit Tigers by the score of 8-7 to finish the 1977 AL season as AL Eastern Champs.
1978 - New York Yankees shortstop Bucky Dent’s unlikely HR helps the Yankees defeat the Red Sox dramatic one-game playoff at Fenway Park. Trailing by 2 runs in the 6th inning, Bucky Dent smacks a 3-run HR shot against former Yankees P Mike Torrez the screen above the Green Monster. The Yankees hold on for a 5-4 victory en route to face the Dodgers in the 1978 World Series.
2009 - B.J. Upton is the 1st player in Tampa Bay history to hit for the cycle. He goes 5 for 5 with 6 RBI in the Rays' 13-4 victory over the New York Yankees. CC Sabathia takes the loss in his bid to become the majors' 1st 20-game winner.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
