This Week in Yankee History
February 13th - February 19th
February 13th
1883 - Former Yankees 1B and Player-Manager Hal “Prince Hal” Chase (1903-1913) was born. On October 4, 1904, Hal Chase was drafted by the New York Highlanders from the Los Angeles (Pacific Coast League) in the 1904 MLB Rule 5 player draft. Hal had a lifetime BA of .284 as a Yankees player. He led the Yankees in hitting in 1906-1907. During the 1910-1911 American League seasons, he was a player–manager for the Yankees. His character was often questioned because of not playing honestly. On June 1,1913, Hal Chase was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for OF Rollie Zeider and 1B Babe Borton. Hal Chase was later banned from organized baseball in 1920 for gambling and fixing games.
1887 - Former Yankees OF Guy Zinn (1911-1912) was born. Guy Zinn appeared in 115 games for the New York Yankees, hitting .255. In December of 1912, the Boston Braves purchased outfielder Guy Zinn from the New York Yankees.
1888 - Former Yankees reserve INF Edward “Kid” Foster (1910) was born. Before 1910 American League Season, the New York Highlanders purchased Eddie “Kid” Foster from the Detroit Tigers. He appeared in 30 games for the 1910 Yankees, hitting just .133.
1890 - Former Yankees P Daniel “Big Dan” Tipple (1915) was born. “Big Dan” appeared in three games with the 1915 Yankees, going 1-1 with .095 ERA with two complete games.
1927 - Former Yankees reserve INF Jim Brideweser (1951-1953) was born (1927-1989). Before the 1950 American League Season, the New York Yankees signed INF Jim Brideweser, as an MLB amateur free agent. He had attended college at USC. Jim hit .363 (16 for 44) in 51 games as reserve INF for the Yankees before being claimed on waivers by the Baltimore Orioles on May 11,1954. Jim was a good utility INF, but there was no room for him on the Yankees 25 man MLB roster. Jim would play for the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and the Detroit Tigers before finishing up his MLB career in 1959.
1939 - Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach, Minor League Manager and MLB pitcher Jerry Walker was born. Jerry Walker managed in the New York Yankees minor league system from 1968-1972. He was a Yankees MLB pitching coach in 1981-1982. As a MLB player he pitched for the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City A’s and the Cleveland Indians from 1958-1965. Currently, Jerry Walker works for the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
1941 - Former Yankees P Jim Brenneman (1965) was born (1941-1994). In 1961, the New York Yankees signed Jim Brenneman as an MLB amateur free agent. He would appear in three games with no record for the 1965 Yankees.
1949 - Former Yankees reserve INF Lenny Randle (1979) was born. On August 3, 1979, Lenny Randle was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Lenny appeared in only 20 games for the 1979 Yankees, hitting just .179. On November 1, 1979, Lenny was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1960 - Former Yankees minor league P Brian Ryder was born. Pitcher Brian Ryder was drafted in the 1st round of the 1978 MLB amateur player draft by the New York Yankees. In December of 1981, he was traded along with P Freddie Toliver to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran NL All Star OF Ken Griffey Sr. Brian Ryder never made it to the MLB level with the Cincinnati Reds.
1971 - Former Yankees P Todd Williams (2001) was born. Todd Williams won an Olympic gold medal for the United States in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In the 1999 Pan American Games, Williams led Team USA with four appearances. He saved one game and had a 1.69 ERA as the US won Silver and advanced to the 2000 Olympics. The Dodgers originally signed Todd. In 2001, the New York Yankees signed Todd Williams as a MLB free agent. He went 1-0 in 15 games for the 2001 Yankees.
1980 - Former Yankees INF Drew Henson (2002-2003) was born. The New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1998 drafted Drew Henson MLB amateur player draft. The former Michigan State University sport star chose playing MLB baseball over a chance to play football in the NFL. On July 12, 2000, Drew Henson was traded by the New York Yankees with along with OF Jackson Melian, Brian Reith, and P Ed Yarnall to the Cincinnati Reds for OF Mike Frank and veteran MLB starter Denny Neagle. On March 21,2001, Drew was traded back to the New York Yankees by the Cincinnati Reds along with OF Michael Coleman for minor league outfielder Wily Mo Pena. Drew hit .111 in 13 games with the Yankees. With the arrival of A-Rod to play 3B, the Yankees bought out his MLB player contract. Drew Henson left the MLB to play NFL football. He was a member of 2004 NFL Dallas Cowboys.
1986 - The New York Yankees re-acquired veteran C/1B/DH Ron Hassey from the Chicago White Sox. Hassey, who had been traded to Chicago only two months earlier, returns to Yankees in a seven-player trade. On December 12,1985, Ron was traded by the Yankees along with P Joe Cowley to the White Sox for minor league players Glen Braxton and P Mike Soper and MLB P Britt Burns. Ron was traded by the White Sox along with minor league players Chris Alvarez and Eric Schmidt and OF Matt Winters to the Yankees for P Neil Allen, C Scott Bradley, minor leaguer Glen Braxton and cash. Ron will hit .296 hitting 13 HRs with 42 RBIs in 92 games for the 1985 Yankees. In 1986, he will hit .298 in 64 games, before being traded on July 30, 1986, back to the Chicago White Sox along with minor league INF/OF Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for OF/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner, and INF Wayne Tollenson. On December 24, 1986, the Yankees will send minor league C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade.
February 14th1879 - Former Yankees 1B Tim Jordan (1903) was born. Tim Jordan appeared two games with the 1903 Yankees, hitting just .125.
1913 - Former Hall Of Fame Yankees broadcasting announcer Mel Allen was born. Mel Allen was known as “The Longtime Voice of the Yankees” from the late 1939 to 1964. He would greet Yankee fans with “Hello here, Everyone” at the beginning of the every Yankees broadcast. With new CBS ownership, Mel was let go by the Yankees in winter of 1964. Mel Allen was welcomed back to the Yankees' on-air family in 1976 as a pre/post-game host for the cable telecasts with John Sterling, and eventually started calling play-by-play again. He announced Yankees cable telecasts on SportsChannel New York (now FSN New York) along with the regular crew of Phil Rizzuto, Bill White, Frank Messer, and occasionally Fran Healy. Mel Allen remained with the Yankees' play-by-play crew until 1985. Mel made occasional appearances on Yankee telecasts and commercials into the late 1980s. In 1990, Allen called play-by-play for a WPIX Yankees game to officially make him baseball's 1st 7-decade announcer. Among the memorable moments Allen called in that stretch were Yankees OF Reggie Jackson's 400th MLB HR in 1980, and Yankees starter Dave Righetti's no-hitter on July 4,1983. Later he would host “This Week in Baseball,” television series, working on the show until his death in 1996.
1951 - Former Yankees reserve INF Larry Milbourne (1981-1983) was born. On November 18,1980, Larry Milbourne was traded by the Seattle Mariners with a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for reserve C Brad Gulden and $150,000. Larry would hit .313 in 61 games for the 1981 Yankees. On May 12,1982, he was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Pete Filson, John Pacella, and cash to the Minnesota Twins for C Butch Wynegar and P Roger Erickson. In 1983, the Yankees purchased Larry from the Philadelphia Phillies. Larry appeared in 31 games for the Yankees hitting .200. On February 14,1984, Larry was traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for P Scott Nielsen and Eric Parent.
1966 - Former Yankees INF Bill Stumpf (1912-1913) passed away. Bill Stumpf appeared in 54 games for the Yankees, hitting .234. On May 25, 1913, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with INF Jack Lelivelt to the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians) for shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.
1970 - Former Yankees reserve C Kelly Stinnett (2006) was born. On December 1, 2005, Kelly Stinnett was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He hit .228 in 34 games before being released by the team in July of 2006.
1975 - Current Yankees reliever Damaso Marte (2008-2009) was born. The Seattle Mariners originally signed Damaso Marte, but the team released him. On November 16,2000, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. On June 13,2001, Marte was traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for INF Enrique Wilson. The Pittsburgh Pirates would trade him to Chicago White Sox. He would return to the Pirates. On July 26,2008, Damaso was traded by the Pirates along with OF/1B Xavier Nady to the New York Yankees for minor league players P Daniel McCutchen and OF Jose Tabata, Pitchers Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf. His Yankees career record is 2-6 in 46 games working out of the Yankees bullpen. Marte will miss part of the 2011 American League season due to arm surgery performed in November of 2010.
1981 - Former Yankees P Brad “Admiral” Halsey (2004) was born. The New York Yankees in the 8th round of the 2002 MLB amateur player draft drafted Pitcher Brad Halsey. He went 1-3 in 8 games for the Yankees in 2004, before being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the Randy Johnson trade.
1985 - Former Yankees P Tyler Clippard (2007) was born. The New York Yankees in the 9th round of the 2003 MLB amateur player draft drafted Pitcher Tyler Clippard. Tyler went 3-1 in six games for the Yankees. On December 5, 2007, Tyler Clippard was traded by the New York Yankees to the Washington Nationals for P Jonathan Albaladejo.
1984 - Former Yankees INF (1952-1953) and MLB Coach (1967) Babe “Bee Bee” Loren passed away. The New York Yankees signed Babe Loren as an MLB amateur free agent in 1945. Babe appeared in only 17 games for the Yankees during the 1952-1953 AL seasons. He had been buried in the Yankees farm system with so many talented infielders around. In 1953, he was sold to the Philadelphia A’s, but he was reacquired by the Yankees in December of 1953 in the Vic Power trade with the Philadelphia A’s. Babe remained in the minor leagues until retiring as active player in 1958. From 1961-1966, he managed in the New York Yankees minor league system. He was a MLB coach for the Yankees in 1967. He later worked with the Chicago White Sox in the 1980’s, before his death from cancer in 1984.
February 15th
1915 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cyril “Roy” Weatherly (1943-1945) was born. Roy Weatherly hit .266 in 79 games as a reserve outfielder for the Yankees.
1916 - The New York Yankees buy 3B Frank "Home Run" Baker from the Philadelphia A’s for $37,500. He sat out the 1915 American League season in a salary dispute with the Philadelphia A’s Owner/Manager Connie Mack. He will anchor the 3rd base position for the Yankees for several seasons (1916-1919 and 1921-1923). He missed the 1920 American League season due to the death of his wife; he stayed home to care for his two children.
1938 - The New York Yankees obtained reserve INF Billy “Knick” Knickerbocker from St. Louis Browns for reserve INF Don “Jeep” Heffner and cash
1931 - The New York Yankees' training site in St. Petersburg, Florida is renamed Miller Huggins Field in honor of the team's late manager, who had passed away in September of 1929.
1942 - Former Yankees P Bill Henry (1966) was born. The New York Yankees signed Pitcher Bill Henry, as an MLB amateur free agent in 1964. He appeared in two games for the 1966 Yankees with no record. On September 18,1967, Bill Henry was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds for INF/OF Len Boehmer.
1945 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ross “Mickey Mantle’s Legs” Moschitto (1965, 1967) was born. In 1964, Ross Moschitto was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Ross hit .184 in 110 games with 1 HR with 3 RBIs. He was a sure sign that the Yankees, once great minor league system was in very bad shape. He was often used as a late inning replacement for Mickey Mantle in the outfield. Ross Moschitto is one of only 7 non-pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball (through 2006) to have played more than 100 games with more games played than plate appearances in his MLB career. He played in 110 games with only 39 plate appearances.
1951 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tommy Cruz was born. On December 12, 1977, Tommy Cruz was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with P Bob Polinsky (minors) and 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the New York Yankees for P Ed Ricks (minors), P Stan Thomas and cash. Tommy never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. Later he played professional baseball in Japan. He is now a minor league coach.
1963 - Former Yankees P Bump Hadley (1936-1940) passed away (1904-1963). Bump Hadley went 47-31 in 140 games for the New York Yankees. He went 2-1 in three World Series with the Yankees. His best New York Yankees season was in 1936, going 14-4. In 1939, Hadley posted 12-6 mark for the Yankees. In 1940, he was sold to the Philadelphia A’s.
1966 - Former Yankees P Melido Perez (1992-1995) was born. On January 10, 1992, Melido Perez was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with Pitchers Domingo Jean and Bob Wickman to the Yankees for All Star 2B Steve Sax. Melido Perez posted a 33-39 mark for the Yankees.
1971 - Former Yankees minor league OF Terry Jones was born. On January 6, 2000, the Dodgers sent Terry Jones to the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On March 31,2000, Terry was selected off waivers by the Montreal Expos from the New York Yankees.
1979 - The New York Yankees traded OF/1B/DH Gary Thomasson to the Dodgers for C Brad Gulden. After being obtained from the Oakland A’s, Gary hit .276 in 56 games for the 1978 New York Yankees, while filling in the for injured American League All Star CF Mickey Rivers.
1983 - Current Yankees C Russell Martin was born. On June 4, 2002, Russell Martin was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the 2002 MLB amateur player draft. On December 2, 2010, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the Dodgers. On December 15,2010, Russell Martin was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. Martin has a MLB career BA of .272 for five seasons with the Dodgers. Martin was a NL All Star team member in 2008-2008 NL seasons. He is expected to be the Yankees starting catcher for the 2011 American League season.
1994 - The New York Yankees signed veteran reliever Jeff Reardon as a MLB free agent. Jeff posted a 1-0 record in 11 games with 2 saves. On May 6,1994, Jeff was released by the Yankees.
1995 - The New York Yankees signed P Bob MacDonald as a MLB free agent. Bob posted a 1-1 record in 33 games with the 1995 Yankees. On October 16,1995, Bob was released by the Yankees.
2001 - The New York Yankees signed OF Henry Rodriguez, to a one-year contract. The agreement was reached a month ago and H-Rod is already listed in the team's spring training program. He will only appear in five games for the Yankees with no hits before being released by the team.
2006 - New York Yankees hurler Jason Anderson is selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres. Jason was drafted by the Yankees in the 10th round of the 2000 MLB amateur player draft. In 2003, he went 1-0 in 22 games for the Yankees. On July 16,2003, Jason was traded by the Yankees along with minor league players Ryan Bicondoa and Anderson Garcia to the New York Mets for NL All Star reliever Armando Benitez. On June 1,2004, Jason Anderson was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians. In 2005, he appeared in three games for the Yankees posting a 1-0 record.
February 16th
1897 - Former Yankees P Alex Ferguson (1918-1921, 1925) was born. Alex Ferguson went 3-1 in 18 games for the New York Yankees. On February 24,1922, Alex was picked up on waivers from the New York Yankees by the Boston Red Sox. In 1925, he returned to the Yankees, posting a 4-2 mark in 21 games. On August 17,1925, Alex was waived to the Washington Senators, he posted 5-1 mark in seven games.
1924 - Boston Braves 3B Tony Boeckel becomes the 1st MLB player to be killed in an automobile accident, when he dies from injuries received as an passenger yesterday in San Diego, California. New York Yankees outfielder Bob Meusel, who also was a passenger of the car driven by Los Angeles theater man Bob Albright, who escaped without any serious injuries.
1948 - The New York Yankees released veteran hurler Louis “Bob” Newsom. In 1947, he went 7-5 for the Yankees, after being obtained from the Washington Senators.
1952 - Former Yankees reserve C Barry Foote (1981-1982) was born. On April 27, 1981, Barry Foote was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for P Tom Filer and cash. Barry hit .177 in 57 games for the team.
1953 - The New York Yankees purchased P Johnny Schmitz (1952-1953) from the Cincinnati Reds for cash. John went 2-1 in eight games with two saves for the Yankees.
1961- Former Yankees P Dazzy Vance (1915,1918) passed away. In April of 1915, the New York Yankees purchased Dazzy Vance from the Pittsburgh Pirates. While with the Yankees, Dazzy suffered with arm problems. He only appeared in 10 games, posting a 0-3 record. The New York Yankees would release him. The Brooklyn Dodgers would sign him. Once his arm problems were over, he posted a 190-131 mark for the Dodgers. He won 20 games or more 3 times for the Dodgers. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1955.
1967 - Former Yankees All Star P Charles “Red” Ruffing (1930-1946), author of 273 major league wins, is elected to the Hall Of Fame. Red Ruffing would lead the New York Yankee pitchers in career wins with 231 wins, until Whitey Ford passed the Yankees club record in 1965, who finished with 236 career wins as a Yankees pitcher. Also he was a pretty good hitting pitching pitcher for the Yankees, hitting a Grand Slam homerun. Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy wasn’t afraid to use him as a pinch-hitter, when needed. Red Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and finishing up with the Chicago White Sox. From 1936-1939, Red Ruffing went 20-3, 20-2, 21-1 and 21-2 as Yankees starter.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Cedric Durst passed away (1896-1971). On February 8,1927, he was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Joe Giard to the New York Yankees for P Sam Jones. On May 6,1930, Cedric Durst was traded by the New York Yankees along with $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Charles “Red” Ruffing.
1981 - The New York Yankees traded INF Rafael Santana to the St. Louis Cardinals for a player to be named later. On June 7,1981, the Cardinals sent P George Frazier to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1981 - Current Yankees P Sergio Mitre (2009-2010) was born. On November 3, 2008, Sergio Mitre was signed as a MLB free agent by the Yankees. In January of 2009, Sergio Mitre was suspended for 50 games by MLB for a positive test for a banned substance. The California native said it was from an over-the-counter supplement he had purchased.
2001 - The Yankees premier MLB reliever, Mariano Rivera (7-4 record, with a 2.85 ERA and 36 saves), signs a four-year, approximately $40 million contract with the Bronx Bombers. The 31-year old Panama native surpassed Dennis Eckersley’s MLB record with 16 saves in post-season games.
2004 - Former MLB GM, manager and coach Charley Fox passes away. Charley Fox spent most of his MLB career with the New York-San Francisco Giants organization. In 1989, he was a MLB coach for the New York Yankees.
2004 - The New York Yankees traded a player to be named later and AL All Star 2B Alfonso Soriano to the Texas Rangers for All Star shortstop Alex Rodriguez and cash. On April 24,2004, the Yankees would sent minor league player INF Joaquin Arias to the Rangers to complete the trade.
2006 - The New York Yankees signed veteran P Scott Erickson as a MLB free agent. He will appear in six games for the Yankees with no record. On June 11,2006, Scott was released by the Yankees.
2010 - The Washington Nationals sign former New York Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang to a one-year contract. Wang saw his 2008 AL season end early with a foot injury during an inter-league game in Houston. Wang struggled to a 1-6 record with the Yankees, while being bothered with various ailments during the 2009 AL season.
February 17th
1893 - Former Yankees 1B Wally Pipp (1915-1925) was born. On February 4, 1915, Wally was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Detroit Tigers. He was the Yankees regular 1B from 1915-1925, he hit over .300 twice for the club. His best Yankees season was in 1922, when he hit .329 in 152 games. During the 1925 AL season, Pipp had asked out of the Yankees starting lineup with a headache. He was replaced by rookie 1B Lou Gehrig. He never started another game for the Yankees at 1B. On January 15,1926, Wally was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Yankees for $7,500.
1901 - Former Yankees reserve C Eddie Phillips (1932) was born. Ed Phillips appeared in only nine games for the 1932 Yankees, hitting .290. He spent part of the 1932 baseball season with the Newark Bears (AAA).
1908 - Former Hall Of Fame Yankees broadcaster Red “Old Redhead” Barber (1954-1966) was born. Red Barber was a broadcast journalist, not a “homer” announcer. He had previously worked for the Cincinnati Reds and the Brooklyn Dodgers before joining the New York Yankees in 1954. He teamed up with Mel Allen to give the Yankees, one of most famous broadcasting teams in MLB history. He was let go by the Yankees after the 1966 American League season, ending a great broadcasting tradition.
1937 - The New York Yankees buy another “Babe” from the Boston Red Sox, this time picking up 1B Babe Dahlgren. The California native will become the player who replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in Detroit, during the 1939 AL season.
1943 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio, drawing $43,500 from the New York Yankees, trades in his MLB salary for the $50 a month as an U.S. Army enlisted man. Joe DiMaggio, in his customary quiet style, gives no notice to the Yankees about enlisting in the Army.
1959 - The New York Yankees invite Australian cricket player Norman O'Neill for a tryout at shortstop. U.S. Davis Cup captain Billy Talbert, while playing tennis in Australia, arranges the deal after hearing of O'Neill's prowess.
1976 - Former Yankees reserve INF Cody Ransom (2008-2009) was born. Cody Ransom was used as a utility player by the Yankees in 2008 getting the 1st playing time of his MLB career as a 1B that year - he had originally come up as a shortstop. On September 21,2008, he recorded the last putout in the history of Yankee Stadium, fielding a ground ball from Brian Roberts of the Baltimore Orioles at 1st base; he had come into the game as a defensive substitute for Jason Giambi in the 8th inning. He hit surprisingly well that year, posting a batting average of .302 and a slugging percentage of .651 in 33 games. Largely as a result of that unexpected good performance, Ransom was chosen to take over at 3rd base for Alex Rodriguez, when the superstar was sidelined by a hip injury at the beginning of the 2009 American League season. In 2009, Cody appeared in 31 games for the Yankees, hitting a very disappointing .190.
1977 - The New York Yankees traded veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. to the Texas Rangers for infielders Greg Pryor, Brian Doyle and cash.
1981 - The New York Yankees signed MLB free agent reliever Bill Castro. Bill will post a 1-1 record in 11 games for the 1981 Yankees. On March 24, 1982, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for INF Butch Hobson.
1982 - Former Yankees reliever Brian Bruney (2006-2009) was born. On July 1, 2006, Brian was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees, after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. In 2009, he went 5-0 in 44 games. His Yankees career record was 12-3 record in 153 games with one save. After 2009 World Series, Brian was traded to the Washington Nationals.
1986 - Former Yankees Hall Of Fame P Charles “Red” Ruffing passed away (1905-1986). Red Ruffing would lead the New York Yankee pitchers in career wins with 231 wins, until Whitey Ford passed the club record in 1965, who finished with 236 wins as a Yankee. Also he was a pretty good pitching pitcher for the Yankees hitting a Grand Slam HR. Ruffing will win 273 games during a 22-year MLB career with the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox. He will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1967.
1987 - New York Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly wins his $1.975 million arbitration case breaking the record for the largest amount ever awarded to a MLB player set by starter Jack Morris, just 4 days ago.
1989 - Former Yankees Hall Of Fame P Veron “Lefty” Gomez passed away (1908-1989). On August 17, 1929, Lefty Gomez was purchased by the New York Yankees from the San Francisco Seals (Pacific Coast League). Lefty would go 189-101 with a WP of .637 in 357 games in his Yankees pitching career. Also Lefty would finish with 1,468 strikeouts with 173 complete games and 26 shutouts. Lefty appeared on 7 AL All Star teams, including the very 1st team in 1933. His AL All Star record was 3-1 in 5 games. His World Series record as a Yankee starter was 5-0 in 7 games. On January 25, 1943, the Boston Braves purchased Lefty from the Yankees. He would be released by the Braves. Then he was picked up by the Washington Senators, going 0-1 in one game, before retiring from MLB in July of 1943. He would be elected to Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1972. He was one of the most colorful players to wear the Yankees uniform, having the nickname of “Goofy”.
1990 - The New York Yankees signed P Mariano Rivera as an MLB amateur free agent.
1991 - The New York Yankees released veteran P Dave LaPoint. Dave had posted a 13-19 record in 48 games for the Yankees.
February 18th
1879 - Former Yankees P Louis Leroy (1905-1906) was born. Louis Leroy went 3-1 in 14 games for the Yankees.
1887 - Former Yankees INF Curt Coleman (1912) was born. Curt Coleman appeared in 12 games for the 1912 Yankees, hitting .243.
1889 - Former Yankees P George Mogridge (1915-1920) was born (1889-1962). George Mogridge posted a 48-53 record in 171 games for the Yankees His best Yankees season was in 1918, when he posted a 16-13 record in 45 games. On January 20,1921, George was traded along with OF Duffy Lewis to the Washington Senators for OF Bob Roth.
1915 - Former Yankees 1942 MVP 2B (1938-1943,1946) and MLB Manager Joe “Flash” Gordon was born. Former MLB Manager: Cleveland Indians (1958-1960), Detroit Tigers (1960), Kansas City A’s (1961) and the Kansas City Royals (1969). The New York Yankees signed infielder Joe Gordon in 1936. In 1938, he joined the New York Yankees as a 2nd baseman. He made the American League All Star team in from 1939 to 1943, and in 1946. In 1942, he won American League Most Valuable Player award, hitting .342. In October of 1946, Joe Gordon was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for starter Allie Reynolds. After retiring as an active player, he later became a MLB manager during the 1950’s. He was involved in the only trade of MLB managers in 1960, when Tribe GM Frank “Trader” Lane traded him from the Cleveland Indians to the Detroit Tigers for veteran AL Manager Jimmy Dykes. Joe “Flash” Gordon was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in December of 2008.
1927 - Former Yankees Closer and MLB Scout Luis Arroyo (1960-1963) was born. On December 5, 1949, Luis Arroyo was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals from Greensboro (Carolina) in the 1949 minor league Player draft. In 1955, as a rookie pitcher with the St. Louis Cardinals, Luis made the NL All Star team. During that 1955 National League season, Luis won 11 games for St. Louis. On May 5, 1956, Luis was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Max Surkont. On December 3, 1958, Luis was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Cincinnati Redlegs for Nino Escalera. On July 20, 1960, Luis Arroyo was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds. He would go 5-1 with 7 saves for the 1960 Yankees. In 1961, he had his best MLB career season going 15-5 with 29 saves and leading the American League with 54 games finished. He was selected to the 1961 AL All Star team. Luis was the 1961 AL Reliever of the Year Award Winner. In 1962, he injured his pitching arm, just going 1-3 for the Yankees. In September of 1963, the team released him. His final Yankees pitching career record was 22-10 with 30 saves. He later would become a MLB scout for the Yankees.
1929 - Former Yankees minor league C Cal Neeman was born. In 1949, Cal Neeman was signed as an MLB amateur free agent by the New York Yankees, out of Illinois Wesleyan University, where he also played basketball, The Yankee organization assigned Cal to the Joplin Miners of the class C Western Association, where he spent both the 1949-1950 seasons. Cal would hit .292 for the Miners in 95 games in 1950 to help them win the pennant (with help from Mickey Mantle) Neeman was then called up by the United States Military to serve during the Korean War, returning in time for the 1953 baseball season. Neeman would spend the next four seasons in the minors with his best year coming in 1955, when he caught 122 games, hitting .294 for the Birmingham Barons (Southern Association.) In 1956, he would split time between the Richmond Virginians (AAA) and the Denver Bears (AAA) and he played well. On December 3,1956, Cal Neeman was drafted by the Chicago Cubs from the New York Yankees organization in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. Neeman's MLB numbers showed that he had seven active years behind the plate, where he had a good .988 fielding percentage but he wound up with a .224 BA, with 30 HRs while appearing in 376 games. Cal played for the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians and the Washington Senators. Cal had also spent time in all or parts of nine minor league seasons with a .261 BA with 30 HRs, while appearing in 719 games.
1949 - Former Yankees 1B/DH John Mayberry (1982) was born. On May 5, 1982, veteran 1B/DH John Mayberry was traded by the Toronto Blue Jays to the New York Yankees for 1B Dave Revering, OF Tom Dodd, and Jeff Reynolds. John would hit .209 in 69 games for the 1982 Yankees.
1975 - Former Yankees reserve C Chad Moeller (2008) was born. On March 12, 2008, Chad Moeller was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Chad split the 2008 baseball season between Scranton and the Yankees. As a Yankee reserve catcher, he appeared in 41 games hitting .231. On October 30,2008, Chad was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1977 - The New York Yankees signed INF Jose Uribe as an MLB amateur free agent. On July 5,1977, Jose was released by the Yankees. He would sign with the St. Louis Cardinals, and then he played for the San Francisco Giants.
1998 - The New York Yankees sign American League All Star Centerfielder Bernie Williams to an $8.5 million, one-year contract, avoiding salary arbitration.
1999 - The New York Yankees end the trade rumors by acquiring Cy Young Award winner P Roger Clemens from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for pitchers David Wells, Graeme Lloyd and INF Homer Bush.
2005 - The New York Yankees signed P Ramiro Mendoza as a MLB free agent. He was still recovering from arm problems. He would never regain the effectiveness as a reliever that he was in his first tour with the Yankees.
February 19th
1932 - Former Yankees minor league OF Don Taussig was born. Before the 1950 American League season, Don Taussig was a New York City born outfielder, who was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He appeared in a couple of Class D leagues in 1950 hitting just .195 in 56 games. The Yankees promptly sent him to the New York Giants in an unknown transaction before the 1951 American League season. Taussig worked his way up through the Giants system and after 3 years (1955-1957) with the Dallas Eagles of the Texas League (AA); he first made it to the MLB when the New York Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958. He hit .200 for the Giants with 1 HR, spending the rest of the year at Phoenix (AAA). He would play with the Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and finishing up with the National League expansion team, the Houston Colt 45s.
1935 - Lou Gehrig signs a MLB player contract with the New York Yankees for $30,000, $7,000 less than he asked for, but still making him the highest-paid player. The 32-year old Lou Gehrig will hit .329 with 30 HRs, while driving in 119 runs for the 2nd-place 1935 New York Yankees.
1952 - Former Yankees minor league P David Cheadle was born. David Cheadle was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1970 MLB amateur player draft. He never played for the Yankees at MLB level. On August 15, 1973, Dave was sent by the New York Yankees to the Atlanta Braves to complete an earlier deal made on June 7,1973. The Yankees sent players to be named later, INF/OF Wayne Nordhagen and 1B/OF Frank Tepedino to the Atlanta Braves for P Pat Dobson. He appeared in two games for the 1973 Atlanta Braves posting a 0-1 record.
1956 - Former Yankees OF Ray Demmit (1909) passed away. Ray Demmit appeared in 123 games for the 1909 Yankees, hitting .243. On December 16,1909, Ray was traded by the New York Highlanders along with P Joe Lake to the St. Louis Browns for C Lou Criger.
1957 - The New York Yankees obtained pitchers Art Ditmar and Bobby Shantz, infielders Clete Boyer, Jack McMahon, and Wayne Belardi from the Kansas City A’s for Yankees pitchers Rip Coleman, Tom Morgan and Maury McDermott, shortstop Billy Hunter and OF Irv Noren and INF Milt Graff. MLB Commissioner Ford Frick ruled that INF Clete Boyer, who was an A’s “bonus baby” had to remain with the team until his bonus term expired with the A’s MLB roster. He did not join the Yankees until June 4,1957. The key to the trade was Clete Boyer, a badly needed infielder of outstanding defensive ability.
Art Ditmar pitched well for the Yankees from 1957-1960, except for in the 1960 World Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He won 15 games in 1960, leading the Yankees starters in victories. He was traded back to the A’s in June of 1961 along with OF Deron Johnson for veteran starter Bud Daley. Bobby Shantz became the 1st Yankees player to win an American League Golden Glove award in 1957. He won the AL pitcher’s Golden Glove award from 1957-1960. Also he led the AL Pitchers in ERA in 1957 with a 2.45 mark. He was very effective out of the bullpen for the Yankees, as well as being an occasional starter for Yankees Manager Casey Stengel.
After the 1960 World Series, Bobby Shantz was traded by the New York Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for three players, who were sent to the new expansion Washington Senators. The New York Yankees bait to the Kansas City A’s in this February 1957 trade was veteran OF Irv Noren, a former .300 hitter. He would never hit .300 for the A’s. Tom Morgan was a serviceable bullpen pitcher. Infielders Jack McMahon and Wayne Belardi never made to the Yankees at the MLB level. The Kansas City A's will eventually admit that when they signed infielder Clete Boyer for a $40,000 bonus in 1955, it was on behalf of the New York Yankees, with the understanding that they'd later ship him to team.
1959 - Former Yankees P Tim Burke (1992) was born. On June 9, 1992, Tim Burke was traded by the New York Mets to the New York Yankees for P Lee Guetterman. Tim went 2-2 in 23 games before leaving the Yankees for MLB free agency.
1962 - Former Yankees INF Alvaro Espinoza (1988-1991) was born. Alvaro Espinoza was signed as a MLB free agent. His best Yankees season was in 1989, when he hit .282. He appeared 447 games for the Yankees with a .255 BA. On March 17,1992, he was released by the Yankees.
1982 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Steward (2008) was born. Chris Steward was signed a MLB free agent in 2008, he appeared in one game for 2008 Yankees, spending most of the season with Scranton (AAA). He signed with the Chicago White Sox as a free agent for 2009. On March 21,2009, Chris was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for future considerations (minors).
