This Week in Yankees History
April 17th - April 23rd
April 17th
1888 - Former Yankees INF Thomas “Rebel” McMillian (1912) was born. On August 12,1912, Tom McMillian was traded by the Rochester (International League) to the New York Highlanders for P Jack Quinn and INF Jack Martin. He hit .228 in 14 games in 1912.
1912 - At the Polo Grounds in New York City, the Giants and Yankees play a charity game to raise money for the survivors of the Titanic, which sunk on April 14th. The Giants belt the Yankees, now clad in their new pinstriped uniforms, to win the game by a score of 11-2.
1929 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth marries actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson. The ceremony is held at 5 o' clock in the morning on Opening Day to avoid crowds. Playing the next day, at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hits a HR against P Red Ruffing of the Boston Red Sox and tips his cap in the direction of Claire, who is seated in the stands. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-3.
1939 - On the morning of Opening Day in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New York Yankees visited Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Also President Roosevelt is scheduled to throw out the 1st pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out and Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors 4 days later.
1953 - New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-FT Home Run off of Washington Senators P Chuck Stobbs. The shot came in the 5th inning of a 7-3 Yankees victory over the Senators. It is believed to be the longest Home Run hit in Griffith Stadium history.
1956 - New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a pair of tape measure HRs against Washington Senators starter Camilo Pascual at Griffith Stadium. Both long balls are estimated at over 500 FT. The two teams combine for six HRs in a 10-4 Opening Day victory for the Yankees.
1973 - The New York Yankees released veteran P Casey Cox (1972-1973). On August 30,1972, Casey Cox was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for P Jim Roland. He went 0-1 in 6 games for the Yankees before being released by the team.
April 18th
1888 - Former Yankees OF George “Duffy” Lewis (1919-1920) was born. On December 18,1918, Duffy Lewis was traded by the Boston Red Sox, along with P Dutch Leonard and Ernie Shore to the Yankees for OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, P Ray Caldwell, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000 cash. He would hit .271 for the Yankees in two seasons, before being traded on December 31,1920, along with P George Mogridge to the Washington Senators for OF Braggo Roth.
1923 - The debut of Yankee Stadium is a huge success with an announced attendance of 74,217 fans. New York Yankees starter Bob Shawkey is aided by a 3-run HR by Babe Ruth, beating the Boston Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke by a score of 4-1.
1929 - At Yankee Stadium, Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits a home run in his first at-bat since his marriage the day before. As he rounds second base tips his hat to his new bride, Claire Merritt Hodgson.
1933 - Former Yankees P Steve “Lefty” Kraly (1953) was born. In 1949, the New York Yankees signed Steve Kraly as an MLB amateur free agent. In 1953, Steve went 0-2 in 5 games with the Yankees.
1950 - At Fenway Park, Commissioner Happy Chandler gives Ted Williams his 1949 American League MVP award. Then Mass. Governor Paul Dever tosses out the 1st ball. To the delight of 31,822 fans, Boston rips New York Yankees starter Allie Reynolds with a 5-run 4th inning to drive him from the game and take a 9-0 margin. But the Yankees score 4 runs in the 6th inning off of starter Mel Parnell and then, down 10-4, New York unloads for 9 runs in the 8th inning. Yankees Rookie INF Billy Martin becomes the 1st player in MLB history to get 2 base hits in 1 inning in his 1st MLB game. He doubles against Mel Parnell on his 1st at bat in the 8th inning, and then singles off of P Al Papai. Walt Masterson gives up Tommy Henrich's 2nd triple of the game before giving way to 4 more Boston pitchers. Boo Ferriss, pitching in his last MLB game, allows the last 2 runs in the 9th inning as the Yankees chalk up a 15-10 victory, the biggest blown lead the Red Sox have ever had at Fenway Park (on June 4,1989, they'll blow a 10-run lead at home). Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vern Stephens, and Bobby Doerr, each having 3 hits. Don Johnson is the winning pitcher, his last victory for the Yankees, with closer Joe Page pitching a perfect 8th and 9th innings in relief.
1951 - New York Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle makes his MLB debut. Mantle picks up 1 hit in 2 official at-bats, as the Yankees defeated rivals Boston Red Sox by a score of 6-1, behind the pitching of Eddie Lopat.
1953 - Former Yankees INF Harry Niles (1908) passed away. On November 5,1907, Harry Niles was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Fred Glade and OF Charlie Hemphill to the New York Highlanders for INF Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and INF Jimmy Williams. Harry appeared in 95 games for the 1908 Yankees, hitting .249. On August 17,1908, Harry was traded by the New York Highlanders to the Boston Red Sox for INF Frank LaPorte.
1956 - American League Umpire Ed Rommel becomes the 1st MLB umpire to wear glasses during a game, as he arbitrates in a contest between the New York Yankees and Washington Senators. Ed was the 1st base umpire in the game played at Washington’s Griffith Stadium. The Yankees defeated the Senators by the score of 9-4 with Yankees starter Johnny Kucks picking up the victory with relief help from veteran reliever Jim Konstanty. Yankees 2B Billy Martin lead the Yankees hitting attack with 2 hits and 4 RBI’s.
1959- Former Yankees reliever Rich Bordi (1987) was born. On December 4,1984, Rich Bordi was traded by the Chicago Cubs along with P Porfi Altamirano, OF Henry Cotto and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for INF/OF Brian Dayett and P Ray Fontenot. He appeared in 16 games during the 1985 AL season, going 3-1 out of the Yankees bullpen. On December 12,1985, Rich was traded by the Yankees along with INF Rex Hudler to the Baltimore Orioles for OF Gary Roenicke. The Orioles would send INF Leo Hernandez on December 16,1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade
1959- Former Yankees P Dennis Rasmussen (1982-1987) was born. In 1982, the New York Yankees in the Tommy John trade obtained hurler Dennis Rasmussen. He went 39-24 in 103 games for the Yankees, with his best Yankees season being in 1987, going 18-6 in 31 games. In August of 1983, he was traded to the San Diego Padres in the John Montefusco trade. In March 1984, Dennis was re-acquired by the Yankees in the Graig Nettles trade to the Padres. He left the Yankees in August of 1987, going to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran starter Bill Gullickson.
1983 - Former Yankees reserve INF Alberto Gonzalez (2007-2008) was born. On January 9, 2007, INF Alberto Gonzalez was traded by the Arizona Diamond Backs along with pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Steven Jackson and Luis Vizcaino to the New York Yankees for All Star P Randy Johnson and cash. He appeared in 40 games as a reserve infielder for the Yankees, hitting .152. The New York Yankees traded Alberto on July 31, 2008 to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez, who was with the Harrisburg Senators ( AA, Eastern League).
2005-The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning of a 19-8 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was on June 21,1945, in the 5th inning of a 14-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox.
2009 - The Cleveland Indians crushed the New York Yankees by the score of 22-4 at New Yankee Stadium, scoring 14 runs in the 2nd inning, the most runs given up in an inning in Yankee history. Asdrubal Cabrera hits a grand slam HR, Mark DeRosa and Shin-Soo Choo add 3-run HRs shot, and Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez all connect for solo HR shots for the Indians. New York Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang, who missed the second half of 2008 with a leg injury, is charged with 8 runs in 1⅓ innings to raise his ERA for the year to 34.50. Making his major league debut, Yankees rookie reliever Anthony Claggett succeeds him but he gives up 8 more runs in 1⅔ innings.
April 19th
1887- Former Yankees INF John “Jack” Martin (1912) was born. On August 12,1912, John “Jack” Martin was traded by the New York Highlanders along with P Jack Quinn to the Rochester (International League) for INF Tommy McMillan. He hit .225 in 71 games with the team.
1915 - Former Yankees minor league Manager Harry Craft (1949-1954) was born (1915-1995). Harry Craft played center field with pretty good range for 6 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He was part of the Reds NL pennant-winning teams of 1939 and 1940. His best year with the bat was 1938, however, before the pennant-winning seasons, when he hit 15 HRs and had 83 RBI, both in the top ten in the National League. He went on to play for the Kansas City Blues (Yankees AAA team) from 1942 to 1948, missing the 1944-1945 baseball seasons due to military service. After his pro playing career ended, he became a manager in the New York Yankees system, managing Mickey Mantle in his first years of professional baseball. Craft managed the Independence Yankees (1949), Joplin Miners (1950), Beaumont Roughnecks (1951-1952), and the Kansas City Blues (1953-1954). Harry Craft joined the Kansas City Athletics MLB coaching staff in 1955. He replaced Lou Boudreau as the team's manager in 1957. He remained with the team through the 1959 AL season. Harry became a Chicago Cubs coach the next year. He managed the Cubs in 1961 as a member of the club's College of Coaches. He left the Cubs the next season to manage the new National League expansion team, Houston Colt .45s. Craft was fired as skipper near the end of the 1964 NL season. He remained in the game as a scout and farm system official for the Baltimore Orioles and the New York Yankees, before retiring from baseball in 1991.
1928- New York Yankees are out of American League 1st place for the 1st time since May of 1926, as they lose to the Boston Red Sox, in the morning Patriots Day game at Fenway Park.
1935 - Former Yankees reliever John Wyatt (1968) was born. John Wyatt appeared briefly with the New York Yankees after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox before moving on to the Detroit Tigers during the 1968 AL season. He was a former AL All Star closer with the Kansas City A’s. He had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before signing with the Kansas City A’s.
1946 - The New York Yankees moved to 1st base dugout as their new Yankee Stadium clubhouse opens for the 1st time.
1949 - The New York Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth. Monument Park, located in the deep CF region of Yankee Stadium, also includes monuments for Lou Gehrig and Manager Miller Huggins. Babe Ruth had passed away in August of 1948 from cancer.
1960 - Newly acquired RF Roger Maris makes his New York Yankees debut with 4 hits, including 2 HRs, against the Boston Red Sox. In 1961, Roger Maris will set a MLB mark for the most HRs in 1 season, with 61 HRs, breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding MLB and AL record of 60 HRs.
1961 - Former Yankees INF Spike Owen (1993) was born. On December 4,1992, INF Spike Owen was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He hit .234 in 103 games for the Yankees. On December 9,1993, Spike was traded by the New York Yankees along with cash to the California Angels for minor league player Jose Musset.
1964 - Former Yankees P Scott Kamieniecki (1991-1996) was born. Scott Kamieniecki was a 14th round pick by the Yankees in 1986. He went 36-39 in 113 games from 1991 to 1996. After 1996 AL season, Scott left the New York Yankees as a MLB free agent.
1969 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Collins (1944) passed away. Bob Collins appeared in 3 games as a reserve catcher for the 1944 Yankees, hitting .333.
1973 - New Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires Team President Mike Burke replaces him with former Indians baseball executive Gabe Paul. In fairness to Mike Burke, he never had access to the money that George brought to the New York Yankees. CBS gave him a short budget and the Yankee farm system, whose talent had been traded away during the 1950’s in trades by 1964; it was empty of talent, especially with regular position players. It is ironic that it was Michael Burke, who had approached George Steinnbrenner’s group to purchase the team from CBS, Inc., when they decided to sell the team. He didn’t want another corporation to buy the Yankees.
1974 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Walt “No Neck” Williams from the Chicago White Sox along with P Ed Farmer as part of a 3-way deal that saw the Yankees sent C Gerry Moses to Detroit Tigers, who in turn sent starter Jim Perry to the Cleveland Indians.
1979 - After a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees teammates, closer Rich Gossage and DH/1B/C Cliff Johnson of the brawl in the clubhouse. Yankees bullpen closer Rich Gossage suffers a sprained ligament in his thumb, which will keep him out of action until July 12th. With former closer Sparky Lyle traded away to the Texas Rangers during the winter of 1978, the Yankees don’t have a bullpen closer. As "punishment" for injuring the team's ace reliever, the Yankees will trade Cliff Johnson to the Cleveland Indians later in the summer.
2006 - Former Yankees minor League manager and Coordinator Of Latin American Operations Oscar Acosta is killed in an auto accident. Oscar Acosta played in the minors from 1978 to 1982. He debuted with the Helena Phillies, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in five appearances. In 1979, he pitched for the Peninsula Pilots and had a career year, with a 10-7, 3.04 season. He finished 9th in the Carolina League in ERA. Returning to Peninsula in 1980, he only pitched in 9 games, going 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA, 2 saves and a shutout. He resurfaced in the 1982 Mexican League, posting a 0-3, 6.75 record for the Plataneros de Tabasco to complete his pro playing career. Acosta began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Texas Tech University in 1985. He moved to the pro ranks as a coach in the Texas Rangers organization with the Butte Copper Kings in 1988. He coached the Gastonia Rangers (1989), GCL Rangers (1990,1993), Tulsa Drillers (1991) and Oklahoma City 89ers (1992). Moving to the Chicago Cubs organization, he then coached the Daytona Cubs (1994) and GCL Cubs (1995). Next he coached the Columbus Clippers (1996-1998) for the New York Yankees. He managed the Lansing Lugnuts in the Midwest League in 1999. Acosta was pitching coach of the Chicago Cubs in 2000 and 2001 and the Texas Rangers in 2002. In 2004, he became manager of the GCL Yankees and Latin American Coordinator, positions he held when he was killed in a car accident in 2006.
April 20th
1876 - Former Yankees OF Charles “Eagle Eye” Hemphill (1908-1911) was born. Charles Hemphill hit .265 in 601 games for the Yankees.
1912 - The New York Yankees help the Boston Red Sox open Fenway Park. They play 11 innings with the Red Sox winning the game by the score of 7-6.
1917 - Former Yankees minor league OF Hal Peck was born (1917-1995). On June 19,1946, Hal Peck was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia Athletics. Hal never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 6,1946, Hal was traded by the New York Yankees along with pitchers Gene Bearden and Al Gettel to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack.
1932- The New York Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452 fans, for any Yankee Stadium opener. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth homers, as New York starter Lefty Gomez beats Lefty Grove in the 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia A’s.
1939 - The Boston Red Sox show off their prize rookie OF Ted Williams before 30,278 fans in the opener at Yankee Stadium, delayed 2 days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams collects a double off of Yankees starter Red Ruffing, who wins the game by a score of 2-0. Lou Gehrig makes an error, goes hitless, and lines into 2 double plays in the only game featuring the 2 great sluggers. Other notables in what will become a historic box score include Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Red Rolfe, and losing pitcher Lefty Grove. Yankees score their 1st run on a HR by Bill Dickey and their 2nd tally on an error by Jimmy Foxx. Boston has base runners in each inning, but Ruffing tosses just the 2nd opening day shut out in Yankees history. Four umpires work the game including 3rd base umpire George Pipgras, the starting pitcher for the Yankees in the 1929 opener against Boston. Curiously, his opponent for that day was then Red Sox pitcher Red Ruffing.
1944 - Former Yankees P Steve Blateric (1972) was born. Steve Blateric was obtained from the Cincinnati Reds in a conditional deal in September of 1972. He appeared in only one game for the Yankees with no record. During spring training of 1973, the Yankees returned him to the Reds.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve C Mike O’Berry (1984) was born. On December 7,1983, Mike O’Berry was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. Mike appeared in only 13 games for the Yankees, hitting .250. On May 25,1985, he was released by the New York Yankees.
1957 - New York Yankees 1st baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron hits a fastball and drives it completely out of Boston’s Fenway Park. His hit went to the right of the flagpole in centerfield. He was only the 3rd player in MLB history to do it at Fenway Park.
1961 - Former Yankees AL All Star player MLB Dugout Coach and Team Captain Don Mattingly (1982-1995) was born. Don Mattingly played for 14 seasons with the New York Yankees before back injuries ended his MLB career. He finished with a lifetime BA of .307. He was an AL All Star first baseman (1984-1989). In 1984, Don won AL batting crown, hitting .343. In 1985, he was the American League Most Valuable Player. He won the AL Silver Slugger award for 1st baseman from 1985-1987. He won the AL Golden Gloves for 1B in 1985-1988,1991-1994. He is currently the Manager of the Dodgers.
1964 - Former Yankees P Jimmy Jones (1989-1990) was born. On October 24, 1988, Jimmy Jones was traded by the San Diego Padres along with OF Stan Jefferson and P Lance McCullers to the New York Yankees for OF/1B Jack Clark and P Pat Clements. Jimmy posted a 3-3 record in 28 games for the Yankees. On October 4,1990, Jimmy was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1988 - Claudell Washington hits the 10,000th Home Run in New York Yankees history in a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
April 21st
1887 - Future Hall Of Fame MLB Manager Joe “Marsh” McCarthy is born in Philadelphia, Pa. Joe McCarthy will become the 1st MLB manager to win pennants with both NL (Chicago Cubs) and AL teams (Yankees, Red Sox), winning 9 league titles overall with 7 World Series championships. He will be inducted into Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1977. His New York Yankees manager record was 1,460-867, with a .627 WP, with 8 American League Flags, 7 World Championships (1931-1946). He holds the New York Yankees Manager record for most wins in team’s history with Joe Torre in 2nd place and HOF Manager Casey Stengel is in 3rd place with HOF Manager Miller Huggins in 4th place.
1901 - Former Yankees P Phillip “Lefty” Weinert (1931) was born. On September 30,1930, Lefty Weinert was drafted by the New York Yankees from Louisville (American Association) in the 1930 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He went 2-2 in 17 games for the 1931 New York Yankees.
1912 - The Yankees drop an 11-2 decision to the Giants in a special benefit game for the survivors of the RMS Titanic naval disaster.
1951 - At Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators Gil Coan collects 2 triples in the 6th inning. The Senators score 7 runs in the frame, but that's it, as they lose to the Yankees, by a score of 8-7. Reliever Tom Ferrick is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.
1957 - Former Yankees P Jesse Orosco (2003) was born. Former National League All Star closer appeared in 15 games for the Yankees with no record during the 2003 AL season.
1963 - The New York Yankees traded veteran P Jim Coates (1956, 1959-1963) to the Washington Senators for lefty P Steve Hamilton (1963-1970). The Yankees traded for Steve Hamilton, who was a lefty reliever that they needed for their bullpen, since veteran lefty Louis Arroyo was out with arm injuries.
1963 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran INF Harry Bright from the Cincinnati Reds for cash. To make room for Harry Bright on the Yankees 40 man roster, they remove a young outfielder at Greensboro, named Curt Belfry, who is immediately claimed by the Baltimore Orioles.
1977- With the Yankees in a 2-8 slump, Manager Billy Martin draws the starting Yankee lineup out of a hat. The Yankees beat the expansion Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 8-6. The revised lineup had clean up hitter Chris Chambliss batting 8th, he drives in 5 runs, Graig Nettles hits a HR, while Yankees starter Ken Holtzman is the winner with relief help from closer Sparky Lyle.
1980 - Former Yankees Closer Joe Page (1944-1950) passes away (1917-1980). Joe Page was the famous Yankee closer of the late 1940’s. He led the American League in saves in 1947 with 17 saves with14 wins. In 1949, Joe did again with 27 saves with 13 wins. From 1947-1949, Joe won a total 34 games with 60 saves for the Yankees. An arm injury in early 1950, shorten his Yankees pitching career. In 1950, the Yankees released Joe Page during the spring training camp. Later, Joe would finish out his MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
2009 - New York Yankees veteran starter Andy Pettitte picks up the win and closer Mariano Rivera gets the save when New York Yankees defeat the Oakland A’s by the score of 5-3 in the 1st night game played at New Yankee Stadium. It is the 57th time that Mo Rivera has saved a Andy Pettitte win, tying the Oakland A’s duo of Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley of the late 1980s and early 1990s for the highest total in MLB history.
2010 - Philip Hughes of the New York Yankees justifies the decision to return him to starting rotation, pitching a no-hitter for 7 innings before Eric Chavez of the Oakland Athletics bounces a ground ball towards the mound to open the 8th inning. The ball hits Hughes's left forearm and lands for a single in front of the pitcher. The Yankees win the game beating the A’s by the score of 3-1.
April 22nd
1881 - Former Yankees INF Neal Ball (1907-1908) was born. Neal Ball hit .241 in 155 games for the Yankees, before he was sold to Cleveland.
1903 - At American League Park, the New York Highlanders lost their 1st game to the Washington Senators by the score of 3-1, before 11,950 fans. Washington elects to bat 1st, but the New Yorkers score in the bottom of the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead. Each starter gives up 6 hits with Jack Chesbro, the NL top winner last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates (28-6) taking the loss for the Yankees. Al Orth, in his 2nd season with the Washington Senators is the winner.
1904 - After surrendering a leadoff single to Senators batter Kip Selbach, New York Yankees starter Jack Chesbro pitches no-hit ball the rest of the game, beating the Washington Senators by the score of 2-0.
1915 - Pinstripes first appeared on the New York Yankees player uniforms.
1920 - Outfielder Babe Ruth plays his 1st game as a New York Yankee. Babe goes hitless and his outfield error proved to be the game losing miscue in a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia A’s.
1923 - The 1st Sunday game at Yankee Stadium draws an estimated crowd of 60,000 fans, but the Yankees suffer their 1st loss of the 1923 American League season, a 4-3 decision to the Washington Senators.
1931 - Outfielder Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees collides with Charlie Berry, the Boston Red Sox catcher and former pro football player, while trying to score on a sacrifice fly. Ruth is carried off the field at Fenway Park and taken to a local Boston hospital.
1933 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Schmidt (1965) was born. On May 8, 1963, catcher Bob Schmidt was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. He played for the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (International League) in 1963-1965. Bob hit .250 in 20 games for the Yankees as a back up catcher during the 1965 AL season. Schmidt finished up his professional baseball career at the age of 33 in 1966 with the Toledo Mud Hens (Yankees, AAA) of the International League. Bob Schmidt was originally signed by the New York Giants organization. In 1958 while playing for the San Francisco Giants, he was named to the 1958 NL All Star team, but he did not appear in the game.
1938 - Former Yankees minor league catcher John Orsino was born. On January 8, 1969, John Orsino was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. John never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On June 12,1969, John was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for P Rob Gardner. The New York Giants originally signed him in 1957. He had played for the Giants, Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Senators before joining the New York Yankees organization in 1969. John Orsino was the head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1970-1976. He then managed in the Cleveland Indians' chain for a year and a half at the AA level with the Jersey City Indians in 1977 and the Chattanooga Lookouts for part of the 1978 minor league season. In 1980, Orsino returned to FDU to coach for one more season.
1956 - New York Yankees P Don Larsen hits a grand slam HR off of Boston Red Sox P Frank Sullivan, as the Bronx Bombers win the game by the score of 13-6 at Yankee Stadium.
1957 - Former Yankees MLB scout Johnny Nee (1927-1945) passed away. Johnny Nee was a MLB scout and a minor league player-manager. In 1912, Nee, a young minor league infielder of 22, was chosen to skipper the Terre Haute team as a player-manager. He served as a player-manager at many of his minor league stops including his last post as the leader of the Virginia League’s Kinston Eagles (1925-1926). During that final managerial season, one of his young charges was future Hall of Famer Rick Ferrell. Starting in 1927, Nee began a long career as a major league scout for the New York Yankees. He was credited with discovering many future major leaguers including Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, Marv Breuer, Ben Chapman, Atley Donald, Tommy Henrich, Chink Outen, Billy Werber, Johnny Allen, Dixie Walker, Spud Chandler, Billy Hitchcock and Willie Jones. He left the New York Yankees organization for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. At the end of the 1949 National League season, Johnny Nee was named head of the Philadelphia Phillies farm system.
1958 - Former Yankees P Stefan Wever (1982) was born. On June 5,1979, Stefan Wever was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 6th round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 1 game for the 1982 Yankees, posting 0-1 record.
1959 - At Griffith Stadium in Washington, D. C., Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees pitched a 14-inning, an 1-0, shutout against the Washington Senators, giving up only 8 hits, while striking out 15 batters. The Yankees won in the 1st half of the 14th inning on a Moose Skowron solo HR, ending the longest contest in MLB history ending 1-0 on a homerun.
1961 - Former Yankees P Jimmy Key (1993-1996) was born. Pitcher Jimmy Key was signed in 1992, as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He went 43-23 as a starter for the Yankees, before leaving the team for MLB free agency in 1996.
1967 - Former Yankees INF Fritz Maisel (1913-1917) passed away. Fritz Maisel appeared in 502 games for the Yankees, hitting .243. On January 22,1918, Fritz was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Nick Cullop, INF Joe Gedeon, C Les Nunamaker, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 to the St. Louis Browns for P Eddie Plank and INF Del Pratt.
1970 - The New York Yankees drop an 18 inning, 2-1 game to the Washington Senators. When Mike Epstein’s sac fly scores base runner Ed Stroud. New York Yankees CF Bobby Mercer’s 9th inning HR had tied the game at 1-1.
1993 - Former Yankees Shortstop Mark Koenig (1925-1930) passed away. (1904-1993)
He was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees during the mid 1920’s. He finished his Yankees career with a BA of .285. Also Mark played for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs during his MLB career.
1997 - After 4 months of on-and-off negotiations, the New York Yankees acquired the rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for $3 million. Arab’s Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, gave the San Diego exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righty, but Irabu refused to sign with the San Diego Padres, saying he would only go with the New York Yankees.
2007 - The Boston Red Sox complete their 1st sweep of the New York Yankees in Fenway Park in 17 years. Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek hit consecutive home runs, making it the fourth instance in MLB history that 4 straight hitters have gone deep. The victim for all 4 gopher balls is Yankees pitcher Chase Wright, who ties the MLB record for home runs allowed in an inning. Paul Foytack in 1963 had been the only prior pitcher to allow 4 straight homers in an inning.
2010 - The New York Yankees lose the rubber game of series against the Oakland A's, taking 2 out of 1st 3 games, including a Phil Hughes one-hitter. The A's defeat the Yankees by the score of 4-2. Yankees starter CC Sabathia throws a complete game. Mark Teixeira hits his 1st HR of the 2010 AL season. OF Marcus Thames hits a solo HR for the Bombers. With runners on 1st and 2nd in the 6th inning, A's batter Kurt Suzuki hit a sharp grounder to Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, who stepped on the bag and threw to 2B Robinson Cano. Cano's relay to 1B Nick Johnson barely beat Suzuki. It was the first triple play against the Oakland A's since Kansas City Royals did it in 1994. The New York Yankees had gone 6,632 consecutive regular-season games without a triple play. Their last one came on June 3, 1968, with Yankees 1B Mickey Mantle catching the final out on a ball hit by Minnesota's John Roseboro. The Twins catcher Roseboro's liner was caught by Yankees hurler Dooley Womack, who then threw to 3B Bobby Cox. The Cox's relay then went to Yankees1B Mickey Mantle for the 3rd out.
April 23rd
1903 - Behind the pitching of Harry Howell, the New York Highlanders win their 1st MLB game, a 7-2 victory over the Washington Senators.
1937 - Former Yankees 1B Duke Carmel (1965) was born. In winter of 1964, Duke Carmel was drafted by the New York Yankees from the New York Mets organization in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. He appeared in only 6 games in 1965 for the Yankees with no hits in just 8 plate appearances. He had originally come up in the St. Louis Cardinals organization during the mid-1950’s. During the 1963 NL season, Duke Carmel was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Mets.
1947 - The New York Yankees released former bullpen closer Johnny ”Grand Ma” Murphy (1932,1934-1943,1946). He appeared in 383 games with 93 wins and 107 saves as the Yankees bullpen closer. He would play his last MLB season with the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1947. He would later become the Director of Player Development for the New York Mets, signing many of the young Mets, who would later played on the 1969 World Championship team. He was the General Manager of the New York Mets, when he passed away of a fatal heart attack in January of 1970.
1975 - New York Yankees OF Roy White again hits a HR from both sides of the plate, this time in an 11-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Roy White’s last switch-hit HRs were on August 13,1973.
1977 - Current Yankees reserve OF/DH Andruw Jones was born. Former NL Golden Glove OF Andruw Jones was signed by the New York Yankees as a MLB free agent. He replaced OF/DH Marcus Thames, who left the New York Yankees for MLB free agency. In 2010, Andruw Jones played for the Chicago White Sox. He was back playing the outfield in 2010, AL season logging 62 games in RF, and a few in both CF and LF. Power remained the best part of his game, with 19 HRs in 278 at-bats, but he was also able to draw 45 walks, turning a .230 batting average into a decent .341 on-base percentage.
1979 - Current Yankees minor league P Carlos Silva was born. On April 9, 2011, the New York Yankees signed former MLB P Carlos Silva, who had been released by the Chicago Cubs. He is scheduled to be placed on the Scranton (AAA) roster.
1981 - Former Yankees P Sean Henn (2005-2007) was born. In 2000, the New York Yankees in the 26th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Sean Henn. Sean was 2-6 in 36 games with a 4.43 ERA with the Yankees. On May 9,2008, Sean Henn was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
1992 - Former Yankees INF/OF Deron Johnson (1960-1961) passes away (1938-1992). Before the 1956 AL Season, the New York Yankees, as an MLB amateur free agent, signed Deron Johnson. Deron was never able to find a regular position to play with the Yankees. At 3B, Clete Boyer blocked Deron. At 1B, he was blocked by AL All Star 1B Bill Skowron. Plus the Yankees had a starting OF was filled by Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra-Hector Lopez combo in LF. He only appeared in 19 games for the Yankees during the 1960-1961 AL seasons, just hitting .174. In June of 1961, he was traded along with veteran starter Art Ditmar to the Kansas City A’s for veteran AL starter Bud Daley.
Deron would find success in the National League in with the Cincinnati Reds (1964-1967) hitting .287, 32 HRs with 130 RBIs. Later he played for the Atlanta Braves (1968) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1969-1973), Oakland A’s (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers (1974) during his MLB career. After his MLB playing career ended, Johnson spent most of the rest of his life as MLB coach. He managed the Salt Lake City Gulls in 1978, then began his MLB coaching career with the California Angels in 1979 and 1980. He was a New York Mets coach in 1981. Deron was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies MLB staff from 1982 to 1984. In 1985 and 1986, he was with the Seattle Mariners. He spent the next season with the Chicago White Sox. He returned to the California Angels as their MLB hitting coach from 1989 to 1991. Deron Johnson died of lung cancer in 1992 at age 53.
1999 - In a 10-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankee hitters Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada become the 1st teammates to hit a Home Run from both sides of the plate in the same MLB game.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
