This Week in Yankees History
October 31st - November 6th
October 31st
1882 - Former Yankees OF Bert Daniels (1910-1913) was born. Marty hit .257 in 455 games with the New York Yankees, before being sold to the Cincinnati Reds in October of 1913.
1948 - Former Yankees OF John “Mickey” Rivers (1976-1980) was born. On December 11, 1975, he was traded by the California Angels along with P Ed Figueroa to the Yankees for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. In 1976, he hit .312 and was named to the AL All Star Team. He would hit .326 in 1977, but dropped to .266 playing with injuries. On August 1,1979, the Yankees traded Mickey along with players to be named later to the Texas Rangers for players to be named later, OF/DH Oscar Gamble and Amos Lewis (minors). The Rangers would send pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson on October 8,1979 to the Yankees to complete the trade. The Yankees would send minor league hurlers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy on October 8, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade.
1957 - New York Yankees All Star C Yogi Berra says the team returned fine money to the Yankee players involved in the Copacabana nightclub fight in May. Billy Martin, now with the Kansas City A’s doesn’t get a refund of the fine money by Yankees General Manager George Weiss.
1958 - Former Yankees reserve INF Paul Zuvella (1985-1986) was born. On June 30, 1986, Paul was traded by the Atlanta Braves along with OF Claudell Washington to the Yankees for 1B/OF Ken Griffey Sr. and INF Andre Robertson. Paul appeared in only 35 games for the Yankees, hitting just .172, spending most of his time at Columbus (AAA). On October 15,1987, Paul was released by the Yankees.
1960 - Former Yankees INF Mike Gallego (1992-1994) was born. On January 9, 1992, Mike was signed as a MLB free agent by the Yankees. He appeared in 261 games, hitting .261 for the team. On October 24,1994, Mike was granted MLB free agency, he would sign with the Oakland A’s in the spring of 1995.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Fred McGriff was born. In 1981, the Yankees signed a Fred McGriff as a 9th round pick in the MLB amateur player draft. On December 9,1982, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B/OF Dave Collins, P Mike Morgan and cash to Toronto Blue Jays for OF Todd Dodd and reliever Dale Murray.
1963 - Former Yankees C/1B/DH Matt Nokes (1990-1994) was born. On June 4, 1990, Matt was traded by Detroit Tigers to the Yankees for pitchers Lance McCullers and Clay Parker. Matt appeared in 452 games for the Yankees hitting .249, before leaving the team after the 1994 AL season for MLB free agency.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Steve Rosenberg was born. Steve Rosenberg was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA for the University of Florida in 1985 and followed with a 5-4, 4.81 season. The Yankees picked him in the 4th round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. After signing with the Yankees, he was assigned to the Oneonta Yankees, where he saved 3 of 3 games; striking out 10 and allowing 4hits and 1 run in 9 innings. Steve was promoted to Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FL); he was 6-1 with 3 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 25 games. Rosenberg continued his rapid rise through the Yankees farm system in 1987, going 4-4 with 15 saves and a 2.25 for the Albany-Colonie Yankees and getting promoted to the Columbus Clippers (AAA). The 22-year-old did okay in AAA posting a 4-1 record, with 2 saves and a 4.08 ERA. In the fall of 1987, Steve was dealt along by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox along with 1B/OF Dan Pasqua, C/DH/1B Mark Salas for pitchers Richard Dotson and Scott Nielsen.
1973 - Former Yankees OF/DH David Dellucci (2003) was born. On July 29, 2003, Dave was traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks along minor leaguer John Prowl and P Bret Prinz to Yankees for OF Raul Mondesi and cash. At the end of 2003 AL season, David left the Yankees for MLB free agency signing with the Texas Rangers.
1998 - Former Yankees minor league OF George Thurman passed away. On July 29, 1949, it was announced that Yankees had purchased his contract from the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro League). He was one of the 1st black players in the New York Yankees farm system, along with Vic Power, later Elston Howard. He was assigned to the Newark Bears of the International League, where he hit three homers in his 1st week. For rest of the 1949 minor league season, he hit .317 for the Bears in 59 games, before a hand injury sidelined him. In 1950, the Yankees sold him to the Chicago Cubs. Bob would reach the MLB in 1955 with the Cincinnati Reds.
2001 - A two-out, two-run HR by Tino Martinez in the bottom of the 9th inning ties the game. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hits a HR in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Yankees, a 3-2 victory over the D-Backs and knots the World Series at 2 games apiece. Both HRs come off of D-Backs closer Byung-Hyun Kim, who relieved starter Curt Schilling in the 8th inning. Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera gets the win in relief for the Yankees.
2009 - The New York Yankees take the lead in the World Series by winning Game 3, 8-5 over the Philadelphia Phillies in a game in which 6 home runs are hit - three by each team. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte is the winner over Phillies starter Cole Hamels.
November 1st
1884 - Former Yankees OF/1B Robert “Ham” Hyatt (1918) was born. On June 19, 1918, the New York Yankees purchased Bob Hyatt from the Boston Braves. Bob hit .229 in 53 games with the 1918 Yankees.
1893 - Former Yankees OF Alex Burr (1914) was born. Alex appeared in one game with the New York Yankees in 1914 with no plate appearances. Burr was killed in an airplane accident on October 12,1918, while serving in the United States Air Service in Cazaux, France. Burr's plane crashed into a lake in flames; his body was not recovered. He had been serving in France since November of 1917. Alex was 24 years old at the time of his death. Alex Burr was one of five MLB players who were killed in World War I. The others were: Bun Troy‚ Larry Chappell‚ Eddie Grant‚ and Ralph Sharman.
1927 - Former Yankees minor 1B Vic Power was born (1927-2005). Before 1951 AL Season, Vic was purchased by the New York Yankees from Drummondville (Provincial). Vic went to Syracuse to play in the Yankees organization in 1951. The year after that he was with the minor league Kansas City Blues AAA team. In 1953, he led the American Association league in batting. Since Vic was flashy and vocal, Yankees General Manager George Weiss felt that Power was not going to be the 1st MLB Black Yankee. He decided on Elston Howard, Vic Power and other black players in the Yankees minor league organization were traded away. On December 16,1953, he was traded by Yankees along with 1B Don Bollweg, P Johnny Gray, C Jim Robertson, 3B Jim Finigan to the Philadelphia A’s for INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, Outfielders Tom Hamilton, Carmen Mauro and 1B Eddie Robinson. Vic would play 12 seasons in the MLB, hitting .284 with 126 HRs, winning 7 AL Golden Gloves. He hit .300 three times in his MLB career. Former Yankees 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron was asked, who was the best MLB 1B, he played against, he quickly replied “Vic Power.” When Power was traded away, Skowron moved up the Yankees farm system and eventually he replaced 1B Joe Collins
1943 - New York Yankees AL All Star starter Spud Chandler is named AL pitching ERA leader with a 1.64 ERA. Spud went 20-4 for the 1943 World Champion Yankees.
1961 - Former Yankees P Tom “Salida Tom” Hughes (1900-1910) passed away (1884-1961). In August of 1905, Tom Hughes was drafted by the New York Yankees from Topeka (Western Association) in the 1905 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He would post a 17-17 record in 54 games with 2 saves. Also his brother catcher Ed Hughes played in the MLB.
1974 - Former Yankees P Leslie “Bullet Joe” Bush (1922-1924) passed away. The Philadelphia A’s originally signed Joe Bush; then he was traded to the Boston Red Sox. On December 20,1921, the Boston Red Sox traded him along with P Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott to the New York Yankees traded Joe for P Rip Collins INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Bill Piercy, and P Jack Quinn. Joe went 62-38 in 115 games for the Yankees. The 1922 AL season was his best Yankee career season. Joe posted a 26-7 mark with WP of .788 in 39 games. He appeared two World Series (1922-1923) with the Yankees going 1-3. On December 17,1924, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with fellow hurlers Milt Gason and Joe Gardi to the St. Louis Browns for veteran starter Urban Shocker.
1978 - New York Yankees starter Ron Guidry is the unanimous choice for the 1978 American League Cy Young Award. Ron Guidry led the American League in wins (25), winning percentage (.893), shutouts (9), and ERA (1.74).
1979 - The New York Yankees acquired OF Ruppert Jones from the Seattle Mariners and C Rick Cerone and P Tom Underwood from the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up a total of 7 players, including the popular 1B Chris Chambliss, INF Damaso Garcia, OF Juan Beniquez, and Pitchers Jim Beattie and Paul Mirabella. Chris Chambliss will be with the Toronto Blue Jays for only a month, before they swap him to the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees will use Rick Cerrone as their starting catcher, replacing the rookie player duo of Jerry Narron and Brad Gulllen, who stepped in the role as Yankee catchers after Munson’s tragic death during the 1979 AL season. The Yankees 1st Base position will remain unstable with the departure of steady Chris Chambliss, until the arrival of Don Mattlingly.
2001 - The 1st MLB game ever started in the month of November is a memorable one as the Yankees, for the 2nd consecutive night, make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and go on to victory in extra innings. In an amazing case of history repeating itself, Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim is again victimized, this time by Scott Brosius, who hits a game-tying 2-out, 2-run HR to knot the game at 2-2 in the 9th inning, as Alfonso Soriano’s hit a RBI single with Chuck Knoblauch scoring the winning run in the 12th inning to give the Yankees, a 3-2 victory and 3-2 lead over Arizona in the World Series. Steve Finley and Rod Barajas hit HRs in the 5th inning for Arizona's runs.
2005 - The New York Yankees hired Larry Bowa, as their MLB 3rd base coach for the 2006 AL season. A five-time NL All-Star shortstop, Larry Bowa who had managed for San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL. Also he was a MLB coach for the Angels, Mariners and Phillies. Bowa is the 1st addition to Yankees manager Joe Torre's coaching staff, which recently lost Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre (who retired) and bench coach Joe Girardi (who became manager of the Florida Marlins). Luis Sojo, who coached 3rd base the last season is expected to be offered another job in the organization by the Yankees.
2009 -The New York Yankees take a 3 game to 1 lead in the World Series with a 7-4 win over Philadelphia. The Yankees score three runs off of Phillies closer Brad Lidge with two outs in the 9th, after the Phillies had rallied to tie the game with homers by Chase Utley and Pedro Feliz.
November 2nd
1937 - American League batting champ Detroit Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer is named the 1937 AL MVP receiving 78 out of a possible 80 points. New York Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio, who hit .346 is a close second with 4 points behind in the voting, while Gehringer’s Tigers teammate 1B Hank Greenberg, who had 183 RBI’s is a distant 3rd in the voting. Gehringer also becomes the 3rd Detroit Tiger player in four years to be named AL MVP.
1938 - Boston Red Sox 1B Jimmie Foxx is voted the American League MVP for the 3rd time with New York Yankees catcher Bill Dickey, who had hit .313, finishing 2nd place in the AL MVP voting.
1958 - Former Yankees minor league OF Willie McGee was born. Willie McGee was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1st round (15th pick) of the 1977 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Willie never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On October 21,1981, Willie was traded by the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals for P Bob Sykes.
1960 - The New York Yankees make it official by announcing that General Manager George Weiss will retire after 29 years of service with the Yankees organization. George Weiss ran the Yankee farm system under General Manager Ed Borrow, before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1946. Roy Hamey is named his successor. Weiss tells the NYC media that the Yankees have a good run of 5 years left, before the Yankees farm system talent is finished. He will join his former Yankees manager Casey Stengel in running the new 1962 NL expansion team in NYC, the Mets as their 1st General Manager.
1960 - The New York Yankees All Star RF Roger Maris defeated his fellow Yankees teammate CF Mickey Mantle for the 1960 American League MVP Award, by 225-222, (3 votes), the second-closest AL MVP vote ever, behind the Yankees Joe DiMaggio and Boston Red Sox Ted Williams 1947 AL MVP election.
1960 - Former Yankees shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott (1922-1925) passed away (1892-1960). MLB Shortstop Everett Scott played in 1,307 consecutive games, the MLB record until Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig came along. He began his streak on June 20, 1916 while playing for the Red Sox. On December 20, 1921, the Red Sox along with hurlers Sam Jones and Bullet Joe Bush to the Yankees traded Scott for P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Bill Piercy, and P Jack Quinn. On May 6, 1925, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins in favor of Pee Wee Wanninger benched Scott. Ironically, less than a month later, his Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig began his own streak, when he entered a game as a pinch hitter for Wanninger. Scott's streak is still the third longest MLB streak behind Cal Ripken and Lou Gehrig. His Yankee career totals were .254 BA with 13 HRs with 173 RBI’s in 481 games. He appeared 11 World Series games with the Yankees hitting .230. On June 17,1925, the Washington Senators selected Scott off waivers from the Yankees.
1964 - CBS Inc. purchases 80% of the Yankee ownership for an estimated $11,200,000 from Yankees co-owners Del Webb and Dan Topping. The network later purchased the remaining 20% of stock from Dan Topping.
1964 - Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach Billy Connors (1989-1990, 1995-1996, 2003) was born. Bill Connors started one game in his MLB career. It was on September 2, 1967 as a member of the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs. He went 4 innings, gave up 4 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 2 and struck out 3. He did not get a decision. Bill Connors later had a long big league coaching career, starting as a member of the Kansas City Royals staff in 1980 and 1981. He was a Chicago Cubs coach from 1982-1986 and a part of the Seattle Mariners coaching staff the next two seasons. In 1989-1990, he was with the New York Yankees before returning to the Cubs from 1991-1993. He spent the next two seasons back with the Yankees. Billy returned to the Yankees for a third stint in 2000.
1976 - Former Yankees P Sidney Ponson (2006, 2008) was born. In two tours with the Yankees, Sidney Ponson went 4-5 in 21 games.
1981 - Former Yankees INF Wilson Betemit (2007-2008) was born. On July 31, 2007, Wilson was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Scott Proctor. He appeared in 124 games for the Yankees, hitting .253 with 10HRs with 49 RBI’s. On November 13, 2008, Wilson was traded by the Yankees along with minor league players Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to the Chicago White Sox for 1B/OF/DH Nick Swisher and minor league player Kanekoa Texeria.
1982 - Former Yankees P Bill Zuber (1943-1946) passed away. On January 29,1943, the Washington Senators traded Bill along with cash to the New York Yankees for P Milo Candini and INF Jerry Priddy. Bill posted an 18-23 record in 66 games for Yankees. On June 18,1946, Bill was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Yankees.
1995 - The New York Yankees named Joe Torre as their new manager, replacing the recently departed Manager Buck Showalter. Joe Torre, a former St. Louis Cardinals' star and NL batting champion, will guide the Yankees to four World Championships in his 1st five years with the team. He will manage the New York Yankees until 2007.
2005 - Former Baltimore Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli rejoined the New York Yankees as Joe Torre's MLB bench coach.
2007 - Former Yankees player and MLB coach Joe Girardi signs a 3 year, $7.8 million deal with a $3000,00 signing bonus and $2.5 million per season through 2010 AL season. He becomes the 32nd manager in New York Yankees History.
2009 - The Philadelphia Phillies send the 2009 World Series back to New York City with an 8-6 win over the New York Yankees in Game 5. Chase Utley hits two homers and drives in 4 runs as the Phillies jump to a 6-1 lead against Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Cliff Lee wins his second start of the 2009 World Series.
November 3rd
1878 - Former Yankees P Walter Clarkson (1904-1907) was born. During August of 1905, Walt Clarkson was purchased by the New York Highlanders from the Jersey City (Eastern). Walt went 13-9 in 54 games with the Yankees with 1 save. On May 16,1907, Walt was traded by the Highlanders along with OF Frank Delahanty to the Cleveland Naps (Indians) for P Earl Moore.
1911 - Former Yankees Manager John Keane (1965-1966) was born. (1911-1967). Johnny Keane replaced Yankees Manager Yogi Berra, after he left the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. Keane was 81-101 with the Yankees before being replaced in the beginning of the 1966 AL season by former Manager Ralph Houk. He was disliked by many of the veteran Yankees players. Johnny was the wrong man to manage a veteran Yankee team. In the spring of 1967, Johnny suffered a fatal heart attack, while working as a MLB scout for the Angels.
1934 - The New York Yankees All Star 1B Lou Gehrig wins the American League Triple Crown after hitting .363 BA, with 49 HRs and 165 RBIs, but Lou will not win the AL MVP award. The Philadelphia A’s backstop Mickey Cochrane, who with .320 with 2 HRs and 76 RBIs is named 1934 American League Most Valuable Player.
1942 - The BWAA selected New York Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon as the 1942 American League MVP Player. Joe hits .322 with 18 HRs and 103 RBIs. Gordon of the Yankees leads the AL in strikeouts (95), most ground balls hit into double plays (22) and the most errors at 2B base (28).
1945 - Former Yankees P Ken Holtzman (1976-1978) was born. On June 15,1976, Ken was traded by the Baltimore Orioles along with P Doyle Alexander, OF Jimmy Freeman, C Ellie Hendricks, and P Grant Jackson to the Yankees for Pitchers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott McGregor, and C Rick Dempsey. Ken went 12-10 in 44 games with the Yankees, he was a major disappointment for the team. On June 10,1978, Ken was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Cubs would later send P Ron Davis on June 12,1978 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1955 - The New York Yankees tour Japan and draw a record crowd of 64,000 fans, when they play the 1st game against the All-Japan Stars in Osaka. Yankees 3B Andy Carey slugs 13 HR’s, and Elston Howard bats .468 on the 25-game tour. According to "Elston and Me" by Arlene Howard (University of Missouri Press, 2001), the goodwill tour of Japan took place in 1955, immediately following the Yankees loss to the Dodgers in the 1955 World Series. The amount of HRs hit by Andy Carey affects his MLB batting swing, he tries to be a HR hitter in AL, but he fails.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league P Mike Christopher was born. The New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft drafted Mike Christopher. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 5, 1989, Mike was drafted by the Dodgers from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB minor league player draft.
1968 - Former Yankees P Paul Quantrill (2004-2005) was born. On December 17, 2003, the Yankees signed Paul Quantrill as a MLB free agent. Paul posted an 8-3 record in 108 games with 1 save for the Yankees. On July 2 2005, Paul was traded by the Yankees to the San Diego Padres for hurlers Darrell May, Tim Redding and cash.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Matt Lawson (2005) was born. On August 27, 2005, Matt Lawson was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for Justin Berg. Matt appeared in 21 games for the 2005 Yankees, hitting just .125. On October 27,2005, he was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. He is the brother of Marcus Lawson.
1973 - Former Yankees P Armando Benitez (2003) was born. On July 16, 2003, he was traded by the New York Mets to the Yankees for Ryan Bicondoa (minors), Jason Anderson and Anderson Garcia. He posted a 1-1 record in 9 games for the 2003 Yankees. On August 6,2003, he was traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for veteran reliever Jeff Nelson
1992 - The New York Yankees make one of their best modern trades ever by acquiring OF Paul O'Neill from the Cincinnati Reds for OF Roberto Kelly. Paul O'Neill will help the Yankees win World Championships in 1996,1998,1999, and the 2000 AL seasons. The Yankees front office had asked Roberto Kelly to move to RF for rookie CF Bernie Williams, he refused to do so and was traded by the team.
2001 - In Game 6, the Arizona Diamondbacks get 21 hits in the 1st 6-innings against the Yankees to set a record for hits in a World Series game. The 1921 New York Giants in Game 3 against the Yankees, and the 1946 St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4, against the Red Sox, established the previous WS record of 20 hits. The Diamondbacks win by a score of 15-2, forcing a decisive Game 7. Randy Johnson is the winning pitcher, while Andy Pettitte is the losing pitcher for the Yankees.
2005 - Former Kansas City Royals Manager Tony Peña was hired by the New York Yankees as their 1B MLB coach. Tony Pena tells the New York City sports media that he would withdraw as a candidate to manage the Dominican Republic team in next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic.
November 4th
1910 - Former Yankees P Joe Beggs (1938) was born. Joe went 3-2 in 14 games Yankees in 1938. On January 4,1940, Joe was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds for P Lee Grissom.
1931 - The New York Yankees purchased OF George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk from Jersey City (International League). He would join the Yankees in 1934, spending 9 nine years (1934-1942) with the Yankees, hitting .290 for them. After Babe Ruth leaves the team, he will wear Yankee uniform No. 3. Selkirk batted over .300 five times, twice drove home more than 100 RBI, played on 5 World Championship teams (1936-1939 and 1941), and made the AL All-Star team in 1936 and 1939. In 1942, he joined the U. S, Navy and served during World War II. After retiring as active player, George was a minor league manager for the Yankees and Braves. In 1957-1958, he was the General Manager for the Kansas City A’s. He would later work as GM for the new expansion Senators from 1963-1968. After leaving the Senators, he rejoined the Yankees organization as a MLB scout.
1947 - Former Yankees P Lloyd Colson (1970) was born. On June 6, 1967, the Yankees in the 28th round of the 1967 MLB amateur player draft drafted Lloyd. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees during the 1970 AL season with no record
1948 - Former Senators and Yankees OF Jake Powell (1936-1940) shot and killed himself in a Washington, D.C. police station. Jake was an OF for the Senators (1930, 1934-1936 and 1943-1945), Yankees (1936-1940), and the Phillies (1945). He helped the Yankees win the World Series every year from 1936-1939. His final Yankees career totals were a .271 BA with 13 HRs with 124 RBIs in 272 games. In 11 MLB seasons, he played in 688 games with 116 doubles, 26 triples, 22 HRs, 327 RBIs, finishing with a .271 BA. On July 29, 1938, in a pre-game radio interview, White Sox broadcaster Bob Elson asked Powell what he did in the off-season. He replied (falsely) that he was a police officer in Dayton, Ohio. When Elson asked what Powell did to stay in shape, Powell responded that he "cracked niggers over the head with [his] nightstick." After a surge of public outrage, including calls that Powell be banned for life, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspended Jake Powell for 10 games. On November 4, 1948, Powell was arrested in Washington, D.C, for passing bad checks. Distraught and mentally unstable, Jake pulled out a gun while in police custody and committed suicide.
1953 - Former Yankees P Roy Slagle (1979) was born. Roy Slagle was drafted by the New York Yankees in the1st round (19th pick) of the 1976 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Roy appeared one game for the 1979 Yankees, pitching 2 scoreless innings.
1961 - Former Yankees minor league P Logan Easley was born. On June 8, 1981, he was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 1981 MLB amateur player draft. Logan never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 26,1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with pitchers Doug Drabek and Brian Fisher to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements.
1967 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ryan Thompson (2000) was born. Ryan hit .260 for the Yankees in 33 games during the 2000 AL season.
1976 - The 2 new AL franchises, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays select 30 players apiece from other AL teams in the 1976 AL expansion player draft. The Yankees lose veteran reliever Grant Jackson and rookie OF/INF Juan Bernhardt to the Seattle Mariners. They lose veteran shortstop Jim Mason, rookie 3B Garth Iorg and OF/DH Otto Velez to the Toronto Blue Jays in the draft.
1981 - The Cincinnati Reds traded veteran All Star OF Ken Griffey Sr. to the Yankees for P Fred Toliver and minor-league P Brian Ryder. Ken Griffey was about to become a MLB free agent, so the Reds traded him.
1982 - New York Yankees MLB Coach Mike Ferraro lands his 1st MLB managing job, signing a 2-year contract to lead the Cleveland Indians. He will be fired before the end of the 1983 AL season.
2001 - In Game 7 of a classic World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning defeating the Yankees and their usually unbeatable closer, Mariano Rivera by the score of 3-2. The 4-year-old Arizona Diamondbacks, the youngest franchise to win a Fall Classic, ended the New York Yankees string of 3 consecutive World Championships. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the Series MVP honors. The Diamondbacks pitchers are the 1st multiple winners since the Dodgers trio of Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager shared the MVP award in the 1981 World Series.
2003 - Former New York Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly is named as the MLB hitting coach of the New York Yankees replacing Rick Down.
2009 - The New York Yankees defeat Philadelphia Phillies by the score of 7-3 in Game 6, to win the 2009 World Series. Yankees DH Hideki Matsui drives in a record 6 runs to earn the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
November 5th
1883 - Former Yankees INF Otis Johnson (1911) was born. Otis appeared in 71 games with the Yankees in 1911, just hitting .234.
1892 - Former Yankees C/OF Alfred ‘”Roxy” Walters (1915-1918) was born. On July 23,1915, Roxy was purchased by the New York Yankees from Waco (Texas). He hit .265 in 193 games for the Yankees. On December 18,1918, Roxy was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Ray Caldwell, OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, and $15,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Ernie Shore, OF Duffy Lewis, and P Dutch Leonard.
1907 - The New York Highlanders traded 2B Jimmy Williams and OF Danny Hoffman to the St. Louis Browns for P Fred Glade, 2B Harry Niles and OF Charlie Hemphill. Glade will pitch in just 5 games in 1908, before retiring from MLB.
1924 - Former Yankees P John “Sonny” Dixon (1956) was born. Sonny Dixon went 0-1 in 3 games with 2.08 ERA for the 1956 Yankees. On May 11,1955, he was acquired from the Kansas City A’s for veteran P Johnny Sain and OF Enos Slaughter. He would finish out the 1955 season with the Yankees AAA team, the Denver Bears going 3-3 with a 4.19 ERA.
1955 - Former Yankees reserve C Bobby Ramos (1982) was born. On April 5, 1982, the Montreal Expos traded Bobby Ramos to the Yankees for reserve C Brad Gulden. Bobby will appear in only four games for the Yankees, hitting just .091. Bobby was sold back to the Expos in November of 1982.
1973 - Former Yankees OF/DH Johnny Damon (2006-2009) was born. Since signing with the New York Yankees as a MLB free agent, Johnny has appeared in 576 games hitting .285 with 125 HRs and 296 RBI’s. The Kansas City Royals originally signed him, and then he was traded to the Oakland A’s. Then he signed as a MLB free agent with the Boston Red Sox. In the winter of 2009, Johnny left the Yankees for MLB free agency signing with the Detroit Tigers.
1996 - New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is the unanimous choice as American League 1996 Rookie of the Year Award. Jeter becomes the 8th New York Yankees player to win the award and the 5th unanimous choice in AL history.
November 6th
1931 - Former Yankees P Jack “Happy Jack” Chesbro passed away (1874-1931). Jack Chesbro holds the MLB and New York Yankees team record for most wins in a MLB season with 41 wins in 1904. From 1903-1909, Jack won 129 games as a Yankee hurler; he appeared in 269 games with 169 complete games, 1,953 innings, a .577 WP, a 2.58 ERA, with 16 shutouts and 913 strikeouts. Before joining the New York Yankees in 1903, Jack had previously pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in NL.
1942 - The New York Yankees are notified that INF Frank Crosetti will be suspended for 30 days, commencing opening day of the 1943 AL season for pushing Umpire Bill Sommers in Game #3 of the 1942 World Series. Frank was fined $250, as was Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon.
1953 - Former Yankees P John Candelaria (1988-1989) was born. On January 15, 1988, John was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. John went 16-10 in 35 games with the Yankees. On August 29,1989, John was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for INF Mike Blowers.
1961 - Former Yankees 3B Roy Hartzell (1911-1916) passed away. On February 11, 1911, Roy was traded by the St. Louis Browns with cash to the Yankees for 3B Jimmy Austin and 2B Frank LaPorte. He appeared in 699 games for the Yankees, hitting .261 with 8 HRs with 266 RBIs.
1968 - Former Yankees reserve OF Chad Curtis (1997-1998) was born. On June 9, 1997, Chad was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Yankees for P Dave Weathers. Chad would hit .291 in 93 games in 1997, but he slumped to .243 in 151 games in 1998. On December 13,1999, Chad was traded by the New York Yankees to the Texas Rangers for minor league hurlers Brandon Knight and Sam Marsonek.
1968 - New York Yankees sell INF Ruben Amaro Sr. to the Angels for a disclosed amount of money believed to be greater than the waiver price. Ruben was a major disappointment for the Yankees, who had traded for him to replacing the retiring Yankees regular shortstop Tony Kubek.
1971 - Former Yankees OF Bubba Trammell (2003) was born. On March 19,2003, Bubba Trammell was traded by the San Diego Padres along with Mark Phillips (minors) and cash to the New York Yankees for OF/DH Rondell White. Bubba appeared in only 22 games for the Yankees, hitting .200, before leaving the team for personal reasons, which were never made public.
1978 - The New York Yankees released veteran P Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers. Andy Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder injury suffered in spring training, when he was run into on a play at 1B with Yankees1B Cliff Johnson.
2008 - New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina won the AL Golden Glove award for the 7th time in his MLB career, but for the 1st time in five years.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
