This Week in Yankees History
June 19th- June 25th
June 19th
1903- Future Yankees Hall Of Fame 1B Lou Gehrig (1923-1939) was born in New York City (1903-1941). Lou Gehrig will make his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 1923. During the 1925 AL season, he will become the Yankees' everyday 1B replacing veteran Wally Pipp. He will set a record for the longest MLB consecutive games played streak while combining with Babe Ruth to form one of the greatest run-producing tandems of all time. He finished his New York Yankees career with a .340 BA with 493 HRs with 1,991 RBIs in 2,164 games for the Yankees. Lou won the American League MVP award 3 times in his MLB career. In 1934, Lou won the AL Triple Crown with a .363 BA, 49 HRs with 165 RBI’s. He was elected to Hall of Fame in 1939. In May of 1939, Lou stopped playing MLB because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); he would pass away from the disease in 1941.
1904 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Pat Dougherty from the Boston Red Sox for INF Bob Unglaub. He hit .273 for the Yankees in 234 games in 1904-1906.
1912 - Former Yankees MLB Scout (1971-1974), MLB player, Coach and Manager Don Gutteridge was born (1912-2008). Don Gutteridge was a MLB player, who later became a Minor League Manager for the Chicago White Sox. He was a MLB scout in 1968 for the Kansas City Royals, helping the team prepare for the expansion draft. In July of 1968, he rejoined the Chicago White Sox working on Manager Al Lopez’s MLB coaching staff. He took over the White Sox Manager’s job in May of 1969, running the team until September of 1970, posting a 109-172 record. He joined the New York Yankees organization as a MLB Scout in 1971, holding the position until 1974. He finished up his MLB scouting career with the Dodgers working for them from 1975 to 1992.
1913 - The New York Yankees waived P Ed Klepfer to the New York Giants. He went 0-1 in 10 games for the Yankees in 1911 and 1913.
1918 - The New York Yankees purchased OF Ham Hyatt from the Boston Braves for cash. Ham hit .229 and was released by the team.
1941 - Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hit in his 32nd consecutive game, en route to his record breaking MLB 56 consecutive games hitting-streak, going 3-for-3, including a HR, against the Chicago White Sox.
1949 - Former Yankees reserve OF Gene Locklear (1976-1977) was born. Gene Locklear was obtained on July 10,1976, when he was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees would send P Rick Sawyer on July 31,1976, to the Padres to complete the trade. Gene only appeared in 14 games for the Yankees, spending most of his time at AAA.
1950 - Former Yankees reserve INF Fernando Gonzalez (1974) was born. Fernando Gonzalez hit .215 for the 1974 Yankees in 51 games as backup infielder.
1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris hit a 9th-inning HR off of Kansas City A's pitcher Jim Archer, his 25th HR of the 1961 American League season, putting him 7 games ahead of Babe Ruth's 60th HR pace in 1927.
1974- Former Yankees 1B/DH Doug Mientiewicz (2007) was born. The New York Yankees signed 1B/DH Doug Mientiewicz as a MLB free agent in January of 2007. He would appear in 72 games, hitting .277 before breaking his wrist for the 2007 Yankees.
1975 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Rich Coggins (1975-1976) from the Montreal Expos for cash. Rich hit .237 for the Yankees. On May 18,1976, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ken Brett to the Chicago White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May.
1977 - Carl Yastrzemski (2), Bernie Carbo (2), and George Scott (1) of the Boston Red Sox hit five home runs in an 11-1 triumph over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The 5 home runs give the Red Sox a MLB record 16 in 3 games. Boston hit 6 homers on June 17th and 5 on June 18, also against the Yankees. The Yankees had no homers in the 3-game series.
1979 - At Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 36,211 fans showed up to witness the return of Billy Martin as New York Yankees manager in a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Martin had been named to replace Bob Lemon the previous day, and began his 2nd stint as Yankees skipper a season earlier than previously announced.
June 20th
1908 - Former Yankees INF Billy Werber (1930-1933) was born (1908-2009). Billy hit .272 in 118 games for the Yankees. With 1933 being his best Yankees season hitting .258 in 111 games. In May 1933, he was sold to the Boston Red Sox. Billy passed away in 2009.
1911 - In a New York 3-2 win against the Washington Senators, Highlanders 1B Hal Chase makes a MLB record of 21 putouts.
1913 - After New York wins the opener by the score of 9-3, Washington Senators starter Bert Gallia hits 3 of the 1st four Yankee batters he faces in the 1st inning of the nightcap. Three more Yankee batters are plunked, by relievers Joe Engel (2) and Tom Hughes (1), for a record 6. The outcome is the same as the 1st game; New York wins again, by the score of 9-3. Yankees leadoff hitter Bert Daniels puts his name in the AL record book, when he gets hit 3 times.
1916 - Tilly Walker's HR over the LF wall is the only HR the Boston Red Sox will hit at Fenway Park this season, but it is the lone Boston score today as the Yankees win the game by a score of 4-1. Inserted as a defensive replacement late in the game, Red Sox shortstop Everett Scott starts a string of 1,307 consecutive games, all played at that position. He will complete the streak as a Yankees player on May 6,1925. It will be the best in MLB history until Lou Gehrig's 2,130 games in 1939.
1918 - The New York Yankees buy P John Robinson from the St. Louis Browns for cash. He went 2-4 and was released by the team.
1928 - Former Yankees Pinch Runner Arthur “Dutch” Schult (1953) was born. He appeared in only 7 games as a New York Yankee, all of them as a pinch runner, but he scored 3 runs.
1929 - Former Yankees minor league P Wally Burnette was born (1929-2003). In 1948, the New York Yankees signed Wally Burnette as a MLB amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. Wally Burnette arrived with the Kansas City A's via one of the many trades between the 2 teams during that era. After 2 years in the Army, he won 21 games with the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League) in 1953. He finished with a 6-8 record with a good ERA of 2.89 as a rookie in 1956, but he hurt his arm in spring training the following year, Wally was gone after 1958 AL season with an overall record of 14-21 and a .356 ERA for the A's.
1934 - The AL leading New York Yankees trip the Cleveland Indians twice by scores of 3-2 and 3-0 at Yankee Stadium. New York ties the 1st game on Frank Crosetti's solo HR in the 8th inning off of P Bob Weiland, then wins it on Lou Gehrig's 18th HR in the 9th inning. Lefty Gomez, in relief of starter Johnny Broaca, is the winner. In 2nd game, Hal Trosky Sr.'s single is the only hit off of Yankees starter Red Ruffing, who also knocks in a run.
1939 - The New York Yankees re-obtained veteran hurler Jim DeShong on waivers from the Washington Senators. Jim went 10-8 for the Yankees in 1934-1935. He didn’t appear in any games for the Yankees in 1939.
1940 - The New York Yankees lose to the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in 11 innings, their 6th straight loss, then protest a "catch" by Sox LF Moose Solters, contending he dropped the ball in the 2nd inning when he was reaching for his cap. Umpire George Quinn apparently missed the error and the protest is upheld. The game will be replayed September 18th, but, for several years, all of today's records count including Monte Pearson's loss and Johnny Rigney's win, will count. It is the 1st time since 1919 that the Yankees have been shut out in extra innings by one pitcher: they lost on May 19, 1935 in extra innings to 2 pitchers, Stewart and Brown.
1946 - A Fortune magazine story gives some rare details of MLB finances, showing the 1945 Yankees revenue of $1.6 million and profit of $306,000, cut to $201,000 after minor league team losses. Of the gross income, $896,000 is from home ticket sales.
1946 -The New York Yankees purchased OF Hal Peck from the Philadelphia A’s for an undisclosed amount of cash. He doesn’t play for the Yankees in 1946. On December 6,1946, Hal was traded by the Yankees along with hurlers Gene Bearden and Al Gettel to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack.
1950 - Joe DiMaggio gets his 2,000 MLB career hit, an 8th inning run-scoring single off of P Marino Pieretti during a Yankees 8-2 victory against the Cleveland Indians.
1956 - At Detroit's Briggs Stadium, Mickey Mantle poles 2-Billy Hoeft pitches into the right CF bleachers, something no other player had done since the bleachers were built in the late 1930s. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-4.
1963 - In the 1st annual Mayor’s Trophy Game between the Yankees and Mets, the Mets down the Yankees by the score of 6-2, before 52,430 fans at Yankee Stadium. The profits of the game are annually turned over to the sandlot programs of the City of New York.
1979 - Former Yankees P Scott Patterson (2008) was born. On June 17, 2006, Scott Patterson was purchased by the New York Yankees from Lancaster (Atlantic League). On October 15,2006, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. On November 1, 2006, he was signed as a free agent by the New York Yankees. He spends the season at AAA. On October 29,2007, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. On November 20,2007, Scott was resigned as a free agent with the team. He appeared in 1 game with no record for the 2008 Yankees. On September 11,2008, he was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
1983 - AL All Star Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer retires as an active MLB player. (Yankees: 1965-1966,1969-1974,1979-1983). Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, he still had a very good career with the Yankees. He made the AL All Star team in 1971-74. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best Yankees season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331. In the winter of 1974 he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees in a trade with the Chicago Cubs during the 1979 AL season. Finishing out his Yankees MLB playing career in 1983. He became a Yankees broadcast announcer.
1984 - At Detroit, Yankees rookie reliever Jose Rijo falls to 1-7 when he serves up a 2-out 3-run HR to Howard Johnson in the 13th inning. Detroit wins the game by a score of 9-6. Alan Trammell, Lance Parrish and Chet Lemon also hit HRs for the Tigers, who draw their 3rd straight 40,000 plus crowd.
1989 - The New York Yankees traded AL All Star LF Rickey Henderson back to the Oakland A's for journeymen pitchers Eric Plunk and Greg Cadaret and OF/DH Luis Polonia.
2001 - Former Yankees P Bob Keegan passed away. Before the 1946 AL season, right-hander Bob Keegan was signed as an MLB amateur free agent by the New York Yankees. The 25-year old Keegan was a native of Rochester, NY, who had also attended Bucknell University. Also he was fresh out of the United States Army Air Corps where he had been a navigator on a B-24 during World War II. The Yankees assigned him to the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League), where he posted a 5-6 record with a 3.87 ERA his 1st season of professional baseball. Bob Keegan would struggle while pitching in the New York Yankees organization from 1946-1951. He would have only 2 seasons above .500 record during those seasons, going 8-6 in 1948 in a split season with the Kansas City Blues and the Newark Bears. He was 14-9 in 1951 with Kansas City Blues and the Syracuse Chiefs. It appears that the Syracuse club knew a good thing when they saw it. On April 3, 1952, they purchased Bob Keegan from the Yankees. The right-hander went 20-11 with a 2.64 ERA. The International League season was hardly over when Syracuse sold Bob to the Chicago White Sox.
2010 - The New York Yankees are back in 1st place in the AL East, 1 game ahead of the surging Boston Red Sox and the slumping Tampa Bay Rays, after CC Sabathia pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Bronx Bombers shut out the Mets and Johan Santana, 4-0. All the runs come on Mark Teixeira's grand slam homerun.
June 21st
1897 - Former Yankees INF Spencer Adams (1926) was born. Spencer Adams hit .120 in 28 games for the Yankees.
1906 - Former Yankees P Russell (Russ) “Sheriff” Van Atta (1933-1935) was born (1906-1986). On September 12,1932, Russ Van Atta was purchased by the New York Yankees from St Paul (American Association) for cash plus 2 players to be named. Russ went 15-9 for the Yankees from 1933-1935. Russ had an amazing MLB debut: he not only shut out the Washington Senators by the score of 16-0, he also went 4 for4 at the plate. During the winter of 1934, he injured his hand by cutting it, Russ was limited to relief (with some spot-starts) for the rest of his MLB playing career. On May 15,1935, Russ was purchased by the St. Louis Browns from the New York Yankees.
1916 - Rube Foster of the Boston Red Sox no-hits the New York Yankees for the 1st no-hitter in Fenway Park, beating Yankees starter Bob Shawkey by a score of 2-0. Harry Hooper leads the Red Sox offense with 3 hits.
1918 - Former Yankees P and Coach Ed “Steady Eddie” Lopat (1948-1955) was born (1918-1992). The New York Yankees obtained Eddie Lopat from the Chicago White Sox in February of 1948 for C Aaron Robinson, Pitchers Fred Bradley and Bill Wight. From 1948 to 1954, Eddie won 113 games for the Yankees as part of the Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford (1950, 1953) starting rotation that won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Ed helped Whitey Ford with his MLB development, using a 8MM camera to study the pitcher’s movements. Eddie known, as “The Junkman” would be started by Manager Casey Stengel in-between fastball starters Reynolds and Raschi, to throw off the opposition club’s hitters. Some Eddie’s Yankee career highlights are 113 wins with a .657 WP, 20 career shutouts, with 91 complete games. His Yankee career ERA was 3.21. In 1951, he was 21-9 for the Yankees. He was the Yankees MLB pitching coach in 1960. He would later work for the Kansas City A’s as a Manager and General Manager, later work with the Montreal Expos in the front office.
1930 - Babe Ruth hits 3-HR’s in one game for the 1st time in his regular MLB season career, but the Yankees still lose to the Philadelphia A’s by a score of 15-7. The Yankees had been leading the game by a score of 6-0, when the A’s scored 9 runs in the 7th inning. Ruth’s 3rd HR of the game went out of Shibe Park over the RF wall landing 1 block away. In the second game of the doubleheader, the A’s win again beating the Yankees by a score of 4-1.
1939 - The New York Yankees announced 1B Lou Gehrig's retirement from MLB, based on the report that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The 36-year-old star will remain with the team for the rest of 1939 AL season as team captain.
1950 - Joe DiMaggio gets his 2,000th MLB career hit, a 7th-inning single off of Cleveland Indians' Marino Pieretti, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2. Joe DiMaggio joins Luke Appling and Wally Moses as the only active MLB players with 2,000 or more hits. Eddie Lopat is the winning pitcher for the Yankees, running his AL career record against the Cleveland Indians to 25-6.
1951 - Former Yankees minor league P Bob Polinsky was born. In the 1st round of the January 1973 MLB amateur player draft (secondary phase), P Bob Polinsky was selected by the New York Yankees. After signing with the Yankees, Polinsky moved up the Yankees farm system rather quickly pitching at West Haven (AA) in 1974-1975 and the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) in 1976. On April 5, 1977, Polinsky was traded by the Yankees along with OF/DH Oscar Gamble, minor league P La Marr Hoyt, and $200,000 to the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Bucky Dent. He would return to the Yankees organization in 1978, pitching for Tacoma Yankees (PCL, AAA). He pitched for the West Haven Yankees (AA) and Columbus Clippers (AAA) in 1979. Bob Polinsky never pitched in the majors.
1958 - Detroit Tigers starter Frank Lary pitches his 3rd straight shutout, beating the Yankees starter Duke Maas by a score of 1-0. Tigers RF Al Kaline throws out Duke Maas at home plate and hits his 7th HR of the 1958 AL season to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.
1960 - New York Yankees starter Whitey Ford out-duels Detroit Tigers “Yankee Killer” Frank Lary to give New York a 6-0 victory in Detroit. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle is 3-for-5 with 2 HRs off of Frank Lary.
1964 - The New York Yankees move into 1st place by 8 percentage points over the Baltimore Orioles, as they out pitch the Chicago White Sox to win a doubleheader sweep by scores of 2-0 and 2-1. Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard solo HRs win it, 2-0 for Jim Bouton in the opener against White Sox hurler Juan Pizarro, and an error wins the nightcap 2-1 in the 17th inning. The Yankees sweep the 4 game series, giving up just 1 run in 41 innings, and take 9 games from White Sox in 11 days.
1966 - In the 1st game of a twin bill, there are 2 on and 2 outs in the 9th inning when Baltimore Orioles RF Frank Robinson makes a spectacular catch against New York's Roy White, diving into the stands over the short RF fence and disappearing from view. He emerges with the ball and it is ruled a catch, preserving a 7-5 Orioles victory, rather than 8-7 defeat.
1966 - Minor League Note: Satchel Paige makes his final professional pitching appearance, going the 1st 2 innings for the Peninsula Grays (Carolina League) against the Greensboro Yankees. Satchel gives up 2 runs. As noted by historian Bill Deane, Peninsula's regular catcher, Johnny Bench, took the night off.
1967 - in a weird doubleheader spit between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. In the 1st game the Yankees had a 5-2 lead in the 11th inning, only to lose the game by a score of 6-5. In the 2nd game, the Yankees are trailing in the 9th inning by the score of 3-2; they score 4 runs to win the game by a score of 6-3.
1988 - With 2 outs in the 9th inning, Detroit Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell blasts a grand slam to give the Tigers, a 7-6 win over the Yankees.
1989 - Chicago White Sox Carlton Fisk surpasses New York Yankees HOF catcher Yogi Berra as the AL leader for career HRs by a catcher as his 307th HR helps to beat the Yankees by a score of 7-3.
1996 - The New York Yankees acquired P Billy Brewer while giving veteran reliever Steve Howe his release. Brewer went 1-0 in 4 games for the Yankees, after his trade on June 22,1996 by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Mike Judd.
2000 - Former Yankees OF Edward “Bud” Stewart (1948) passed away (1916-2000). In March of 1947, OF Bud Stewart was acquired by the New York Yankees. Bud began the 1948 season in New York after hitting .358 for the Kansas City Blues (American Association) the previous season. After just six games with the Yankees, he was traded to the Washington Senators on May 13,1948, for OF Leon Culberson and $20,000.
2002 - Minor League Note: During the New York-Penn League game between New Jersey Cardinals and Staten Island Yankees, a fan hops a fence goes and goes onto the field to argue an umpire's call at 1B. The 38-year old woman is at the game with her 8-year-old daughter's Brownie troop.
2005 - After building 10-2 lead at Yankee Stadium, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays lose to the New York Yankees by a score of 20-11, making it the 2nd time in franchise history the team is ahead by 8 or more runs and lose by 9 or more tallies. No other club history has ever achieved this dubious distinction as the D-Rays with their 1999 defeat to the Cleveland; Indians now have accomplished the feat twice.
June 22nd
1890 - Former Yankees reserve OF Mickey Fitzgerald (1911) was born. Mike Fitzgerald hit .270 in 19 games during the 1911 AL season.
1912 - The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees by a score of 10-3, to complete a 5-game sweep, in which they score 55 runs against the Yankees during the series.
1916 - Red Sox starter Babe Ruth almost duplicates teammate Rube Foster's no-hitter, allowing just 3 singles, two by Frank Gilhooley, in beating the Yankees, in a 1-0 victory. The game takes only 1 hour, 18 minutes.
1928 - Journeyman hurler Hank Johnson of the New York Yankees blanks the star-studded Philadelphia A’s by the score of 4-0. In the game for Connie Mack's team are Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Al Simmons, Jimmie Foxx, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker and Lefty Grove, who were future Hall of Fame player’s.
1930 - Babe Ruth ties a MLB record by hitting 5 HRs in 2 games and 6-HRs in 3 games. The Yankees outfielder hits 3 HRs in the 2nd game of the doubleheader yesterday, 2 HRs in today's opener and 1 more in the nightcap.
1930 - Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits 3 HRs in the 2nd game of doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s. The Yankees sweep the doubleheader beating the A’s by scores of 10-1 and
20-13.
1934 - Former Yankees Minor League OF Russ Snyder was born. Nineteen year old Russ Snyder signed as an amateur MLB free agent with the New York Yankees before the 1953 AL Season. A left hand hitter who attended the University of Nebraska, he began pro ball in the Yankees organization in 1953 hitting an astounding .432 for the McAlester Rockets of the Sooner State League with 240 base hits in 556 at-bats. One would think that this opening performance would get Russ a quick look at the "Show" but it took 6 more years in the bushes before he got inside a MLB park.
On April 12, 1959, the New York Yankees traded Russ Snyder and INF Tommy Carroll to the Kansas City A’s for OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes. His trade was a rare mistake by Yankees GM George Weiss. Martyn and Baxes were sent to Richmond (AAA). Russ first came up with the A’s in 1959 after hitting .336 for the Portland Beavers of the (PCL). He then hit .313 in 73 games for the A's. Snyder was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after one more season with the A’s. From 1961 to 1967, he was a semi-regular in the Orioles outfield hitting .305 in 1962 and .306 for the 1966 World Champions. Russ appeared in 3 games in the 1966 World Series, he had one base hit and one RBI to help his club in the series.
He closed out his 12-year MLB career with a lifetime .271 average in 1,365 games, after wearing the uniforms of the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers in his last three seasons. Russ had spent 7 seasons (1953-1959) in the minor leagues, where he hit for a .316 average in 761 games. Snyder had played an uninterrupted 18 consecutive years of professional baseball, a feat in itself. He started at age 19 in 1953 and finished at age 36 in 1970.
1934 - The Detroit Tigers take over 1st place in the American League, by beating the Washington Senators by a score of 11-3, dislodging the New York Yankees, who lose their game by a score of 4-1 to the Cleveland Indians.
1936 - Former Yankees P Jim Bronstad (1959) was born. Jim Bronstad went 0-3 in 16 games with 2 saves with the 1959 New York Yankees. He spent the 1960-1963 seasons with Richmond (International League, AAA). In 1963, the Washington Senators purchased Jim from the Yankees.
1959 - At Kansas City, Mickey Mantle drives in 6 runs with a triple and 2 HRs to lead the Yankees to a 13-6 victory over the A’s. Yankees 1B Bill “ Moose” Skowron adds his 4th HR in four days to move Yankees to 3 games out of 1st place in the AL.
1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris leads the Bronx Bombers on an 8-3 thrashing of the Kansas City A's by belting his 27th HR of the 1961 AL season. He adds 2 doubles and a single. Maris has now, has hit 20 HRs in the past 30 days (May 24th -June 22nd) to tie the MLB mark set by NL slugger Ralph Kiner in 1947.
1965 - Ray Barker's MLB-record-tying 2nd consecutive pinch-hit HR is wasted in a 1st-game, a 6-2 Yankees loss to the Kansas City A's. Mickey Mantle adds an HR in the opener, but in the 4-2 nightcap win, he tries to score from 2nd on a wild pitch and snaps a upper-thigh hamstring. He will be out for three weeks. The June 21st Sports Illustrated cover features Mickey Mantle with the prescient title "New York Yankees: End of an Era?"
1977 - New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles 3-run HR and Reggie Jackson’s 2-run triple snap the Yankees 5-game losing streak and create a come from behind 12-11 victory at Detroit.
1996 - In Cleveland, Ruben Sierra HRs from both sides of the plate as the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11- 9. One of Sierra's HRs comes in the 9-run, 6th inning by the Yankees. Albert Belle, back from a 2-game suspension, is 3-for-5 with a HR, while Eddie Murray adds his 488th MLB career HR for the Tribe. The game takes 4-hours, 10 minutes to play.
2010 - Minor League Note: The GCL Yankees rip the GCL Pirates, by the score of 11-4. In the fifth inning, the Bucs turn to reliever Dovydas Neverauskas, who will allow 2 runs in 2 1/3 IP. He becomes the 1st Lithuanian to play in the minor leagues.
1894 - Former Hall of Fame Yankees General Manager (1948-1960) and Minor League Director (1932-1947) George Weiss was born (1894-1972). George Weiss spent 29 years in the New York Yankees organization before being fired in October of 1960. Before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1948, he helped establish and run the Yankees farm system under Yankees long-time GM Edward Barrow. He was tight fisted with the Yankee player salaries, caring only about getting his bonus money from the Yankee Co-Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping for bringing in the team under “budget.” The Yankee players did not like him. His search for the perfect black Yankee player, delayed the team’s entry into the black player market. After being let go by the Yankees in October of 1960, George would join the National League expansion New York Mets in 1961, as their 1st team General Manager and President (1961-1966), along with Casey Stengel as the team’s 1st MLB manager. George Weiss was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
1907 - Former Yankees reserve OF Allen “Dusty” Cooke (1930-1932) was born (1907-1987). Dusty Cooke hit .294 in 122 games for the Yankees. On May 15,1933, Dusty was traded by the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for Marv Olson, Johnny Watwood and cash. He joined the Navy in October of 1942 and served in Okinawa Bay during the war. Cooke received training in the navy in conditioning, so he became the MLB trainer for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. Cooke was a Phillies MLB coach from 1948-1952 and was also the club's manager for a short time in 1948.
1915 - Former Yankees C Aaron Robinson (1943, 1945-1947) was born. Aaron Robinson was the New York Yankees catcher from 1945-1947, sharing duties with Yogi Berra (1947) and Sherman Lollar (1947) before being traded for Chicago White Sox starter Eddie Lopat in February of 1948. Aaron Robinson was recalled from the Newark Bears upon his entry into the US Coast Guard in June 1943. He was discharged from military service in July 1945. Robinson was an AL All-Star catcher in 1947. He played in the 1947 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, Aaron Robinson became expendable because the team had a 22-year-old catcher named Yogi Berra. Robinson played 8 seasons in the MLB, never appearing at any other position than catcher. While he got into one game in 1943, he was 30 before he played his 2nd MLB game in 1945, and 31 before he became the regular catcher for the Yankees. He had an excellent season in 1946, hitting .297 with a .506 slugging percentage. As a comparison, Joe DiMaggio, who was also 31 that year, slugged .511.
1915 - The New York Yankees a draw a AL record 16 walks in 1-9-inning game against Philadelphia A’s pitcher Bruno P. Haas. It was Haas 1st MLB game, he added 3 wild pitches to the fire, which lead to a 15-0 defeat of the A’s. Haas breaks the American League record of 15 walks, set by hurler Boardwalk Brown. He ties Bill George's MLB record. Haas will pitch in just 5 more games before ending up in the NFL as a halfback for Akron.
1917 - The New York Yankees purchased shortstop Aaron Ward and OF Howie Camp from Louisville (Southern League). Aaron Ward would play shortstop for the Yankees for 10 seasons, while Camp hit .286 and was released by the team in 1917.
1924 - Former Yankees P Harry “Lefty” Schaeffer (1952) was born (1924-2008). Pitcher Harry Schaeffer served in the Navy during World War II. The 22-year-old left-hander returned in time to put together a 12-6 record with the Stroudsburg Poconos (Class D, North Atlantic League) in 1946. Then Harry was obtained by the New York Yankees from Stroudsburg as part of a minor league working agreement before the 1947 season. The Pennsylvania native would spend until 1952 in the minors, working his way up the Yankees chain. One of his good seasons came in 1948 with the Manchester Yankees (Class B, New England League), when he forged a league-leading 2.33 ERA; he put together a 12-9 record while pitching 209 innings, plus making the league’s All-Star team. Harry went all-out for the 1951 Beaumont Roughnecks (Texas League), when he went 19-9 with a 2.59 ERA while pitching 261 innings, opening the door for his trip to Yankee Stadium. Schaeffer's MLB career began and ended in 1952 when he lost his only decision in five games for the New York Yankees. Harry would spend the rest of 1952 season with the Kansas City Blues of (American Association) and the Oakland Oaks of the (PCL), putting together a combined 7-5 record with a 3.07 ERA The left-hander would spend 2 more seasons in the minors, spending 1953 season with the Kansas City Blues winning 11 games. Finishing up his minor league career in 1954 with both the Toledo Mud Hens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Harry ended his 9-season run with an 84-67 record and a 3.32 ERA while pitching 1,241 innings in 248 games.
1927 - At Boston, Lou Gehrig leads the Yankees to an 11-4 victory by hitting 3 HRs, a 1st at Fenway Park. Gehrig hits a 2-run HR in the 2nd inning, adding solo HR shots in the 6th and 8th innings, off of Red Sox P Danny Mac Fayden. He adds a single to his total as Yankees starter Dutch Ruether coasts to the win.
1932 - Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig plays his 1,103rd successive game in a New York Yankees uniform, equaling INF Joe Sewell's record with one team (Cleveland Indians).
1935 - The league-leading New York Yankees (37-22) lose their 3rd game in a row, dropping a 6-5 decision to the 2nd-place Cleveland Indians. Yankees 3B Red Rolfe's error in the 8th inning allows the Tribe to tie and Yankees starter Lefty Gomez losses 2 wild pitches in a row in the 9th inning to allow Joe Vosmik to get to 3B. Abe Wright's single brings home the winner. Mel Harder, in relief in the 9th inning, wins his 11th game of the 1935 AL season.
1950 - Eleven HRs, an MLB record drive in all the runs scored in a 10-9, Tiger win over the Yankees before a crowd of 51,000 Tiger fans at Briggs Stadium. Detroit has 4 HRs in the 4th inning as Dizzy Trout, Gerry Priddy, Vic Wertz, and Hoot Evers connected. Pitcher Dizzy Trout's HR, off of Yankees P Tommy Byrne, is his 2nd career grand slam HR. Hoot Evers hits another HR, an inside-the-park 2-run game winner in the 9th inning off of Yankees closer Joe Page to win it. For Yankees, Hank Bauer connects for 2 HRs, including 1 in the 4th inning. Joe DiMaggio, Jerry Coleman, Yogi Berra, and PH Tommy Henrich also belt round trippers. It is the 1st time that 9 different players connected for HRs in a game.
1957 - Japanese Prime Minister Kishi wearing a Yankees baseball cap is one of 63,787 fans at Yankee Stadium to see Yankees split a doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox, winning the 1st game by a score of 9-2, and then dropping the 2nd game by a score of 4-3. AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle goes 6-for-9 as the Yankees maintained their 1½ game lead over the Chicago White Sox. Mantle is leading the AL in hitting; HR’s and is 1 run behind the Washington Senators' 1B Roy Sievers in RBIs.
1959 - The New York Yankees ride on 2-run HRs from Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer and Gil McDougald to a 10-2 win over the Kansas City A’s. Yankees starter Whitey Ford throws a complete game victory, giving up only 5 A’s hits, allowing only 2 runs with 5 strikeouts for his 7th victory of the 1959 AL season.
1960 - Former Yankees P Jim Deshaies (1984) was born. On June 7, 1982, Jim Deshaies was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 21st round of the 1982 MLB amateur player draft. Jim went 0-1 in 2 games for the 1984 Yankees. On September 15,1985, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with minor league players to be named later to the Astros for veteran starter Joe Niekro. The Yankees would send Neder Horta on September 24,1985 and Dody Rather on January 11,1986 to the Houston Astros to complete the trade.
1962 - All Star CF Mickey Mantle returns to the New York Yankees regular lineup and HRs against the Tigers starter Paul Foytack. But it is not enough as Detroit wins the game by a score of 5-4.
1963 - A MLB fielding record is set by Boston Red Sox 1B Richard Stuart, better known as "Dr. Strange Glove" handles three 1st-inning grounders and tosses to P Bob Heffner for putouts. Stuart's teammates and Fenway Park fans give him a standing ovation. The Yankees beat the Red Sox by the score of 8-0, behind Jim Bouton’s complete game victory. Bouton wins his 10th game of the 1963 AL season. While Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 14th HR of the AL season to lead the Yankees hitting attack.
1964 - Charlie Lau ties a MLB record with 2 pinch hits in the 8th inning of Orioles 9-8 win over the Yankees. The O's, losing score 7 runs in the inning after 2 outs. Yankees manager Yogi Berra is criticized by some of his players for lifting starter Roland Sheldon, who was leading by the score of 7-2, having allowed just 2-solo HRs by Boog Powell. The Yankees rookie reliever Pete Mikkelsen cannot hold the Yankees 7-2 lead as the Baltimore Orioles move into 1st place.
1966 - At Yankees Stadium, Baltimore Orioles hurler Jim Palmer beats the Yankees, for a 5-2 victory. Yankees starter Al Downing takes the loss dropping his 5th decision of the 1966 AL season. Mickey Mantle and Joe Pepitone, each hit solo HRs off of Orioles starter Jim Palmer for the only Yankee runs scored in the game.
1967 - Former Yankees INF/OF Hensley “Bam-Bam” Meulens (1989-1993) was born. In 1985, Hensley Meulens was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent. He really didn’t live up to his hype as power hitter. In 1991, he won the James P. Dawson award for best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. After the 1993 AL season, the Yankees released Hensley. He is currently member of the San Francisco Giants MLB coaching staff.
1988 - New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires Manager Billy Martin for the 5th time, replacing him with former manager Lou Piniella. In 1985, Piniella was fired and replaced by Martin. In 1985, Martin was fired and replaced by Lou Piniella. New York's 40-28 record is the 4th best in the MLB, but the Yankees had just completed a 2-7-road trip.
1989 - Former Yankees P Rick Anderson (1979) passed away (1955-1989). Rick Anderson was 0-0 in one game with the 1979 Yankees. He was unable to crack into the Yankees bullpen of Gossage, Davis and others. On January 12,1972, he was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1972 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Rick Anderson was the 1979 International League Pitcher of the Year. With the New York Yankees' Columbus farm club that season, he was 13-3 with a 1.63 ERA and 21 saves. On November 1, 1979, Rick was traded by the Yankees along with P Jim Beattie, OF Juan Beniquez, and C Jerry Narron to the Seattle Mariners for OF Ruppert Jones and P Jim Lewis.
1995 - Former Yankees 1B/OF ‘Marvelous Marv' Marvin Throneberry (1955,1958-1959), known best by his playing antics with the New York Mets, dies from cancer at age 60. In 1952, Marv Throneberry was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 18. In the minor leagues, he was the 1956 MVP of the American Association with the Denver Bears, hitting 42 HRs. In 1957, he hit 40 HRs for the Denver Bears. He had hit over 200 minor league home runs. He made it to the big leagues in 1955 for one game, and then was a reserve player for the Yankees in 1958 and 1959 AL seasons. After unable to beat out Bill Skowron at 1B, Marv was part of Yankees player package in the Roger Maris trade with the Kansas City A’s in December of 1959. He will become the 1st ex-Yankee MLB player to play for the New York Mets in 1962. During his MLB career, Marv played for the Yankees, Kansas City A’s, Baltimore Orioles and finishing with the New York Mets in 1963. His brother Faye also played in American League, as an outfielder for several teams during the 1950’s. Marv will later become a minor league team radio announcer. During the 1980’s, Marv did appear in the Miller Beer commercials with other former star MLB players, with a line, “I don’t know, why I am doing here.”
1996 - The New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Indians in Cleveland for the 1st time since the 1964 American League season.
1997 - At Detroit, New York Yankees starter David Cone strikes out 16 Tigers, his highest game total in 6 years, as Cecil Fielder hits a 3-run HR as New York wins, by a score of 5-2. Cone, who had shoulder surgery to repair an aneurysm on May 10,1996, allows only 4 Tiger hits, including HRs by Bob Hamelin and Damion Easley, in 8 innings of work.
2000 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Tillman (1967) passed away (1937-2000). Bob hit .254 in 22 games for the New York Yankees after coming from the Boston Red Sox during the 1967 AL season. In the winter of 1967, Bob was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with minor league P Dale Roberts for Braves INF Bobby Cox.
2001 - The New York Yankees attempt to shore up their bullpen by getting reliever Jay Witasick from the San Diego Padres for minor league INF prospect D'Angelo Jimenez. The Yankees 1st choice, Montreal Expos closer Ugueth Urbina, failed to pass a physical and will end up with their eastern division rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Jay Witasick was a major disappointment for the Yankees, going 3-0 in 32 games. On December 13,2001, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the San Francisco Giants for OF/1B John Vander Wal.
1907 - Former Yankees C Rollie Hemsley (1942-1944) was born (1907-1942). On July 19, 1942, veteran MLB Catcher Rollie Hemsley was signed as a free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 174 games for the Yankees, hitting .262. In 1944, he was named to the AL All Star team. In 1944, he went into the military service. On March 25,1946, he was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the New York Yankee
1908 - Charging the New York Highlander owners with refusing to spend money to build a winning team, Manager Clark Griffith resigns; Kid Elberfeld replaces him following today's 6-6 tie game with the Philadelphia A's. The Highlanders fade fast and finished last in the American League with a club record of 103 losses.
1930 - The New York Yankees sweep their 2nd consecutive doubleheader from the Philadelphia A’s by scores of 10-6 and 11-1, as Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 2 more HRs and sets an MLB record with 8 HRs in 6 games.
1933 - New York Yankees signed veteran hurler George Uhle (1933-1934) after his release by the Giants. George would go 8-5 in 22 games with Yankees.
1934 - After being hitless in his last 21 at bats New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits a grand slam HR in a 5-0 Yankee win over the Chicago White Sox.
1936 - Rookie CF Joe DiMaggio ties 3 MLB records in the Yankees 10-run, 5th inning against the Chicago White Sox, hitting 2 HRs for 8 total bases. With 2 doubles, he equals the modern MLB record of 4 long hits in a game.
1950 - Art Houtteman pitches the Detroit Tigers to a 4-1 win over the New York Yankees. Yogi Berra's HR is the only Yankees score, as they lose their 4th straight game and 8th game in 12 games. The Tigers now lead the American League by 3 games.
1958 - The New York Yankees erupt for 5 runs in the 4th inning off of Chicago starter Early Wynn to beat the White Sox by a score of 6-2 at Comiskey Park. Mickey Mantle's clout into the CF bleachers leads off the 4th inning, followed by a single, walk and Jerry Lumpe's 1st MLB career HR, and an HR by Norm Siebern. Yankees closer Ryne Duren strikeouts 6 of the last 9 White Sox batters to preserve Yankees starter Bob Turley's win.
1962 - A marathon game between the Tigers and Yankees ends in the 22nd inning at Tiger Stadium, when Jack Reed's HR, his only MLB HR career gives Yankees rookie reliever Jim Bouton, a 9-7 victory. Reserve OF Jack Reed had replaced Joe Pepitone in the 13th inning. For the Tigers, Phil Regan takes the loss, while Tigers OF Rocky Colavito has 7 hits. Yankees 2B Bobby Richardson ties a mark by going to the plate 11 times. At an even 7 hours, the game is the slowest extra-inning contest in AL history and it is the longest game in innings in Yankees history.
1967 - New York Yankees All Star Slugger Mickey Mantle breaks a 3-3 tie in the 9th inning with a HR off of Detroit Tiger's reliever Fred Gladding to give the 9th place Yankees, a 4-3 victory.
1970 - in a doubleheader with the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium, Bobby Murcer ties Lou Gehrig's record of 4 straight HRs. The Yankees lose the opener by a score of 7-2, despite Murcer's 9th-inning HR off of hurler Sam McDowell. Bobby Murcer next connects off of game 2 Tribe starter Mike Paul, hitting a solo shot in the 1st inning. A walk in the 4th, then a 2-run HR off of Mike Paul in the 5th inning, and then a game-tying HR in the 8th inning, off of reliever Fred Lasher. Yankees scores in the bottom of the 9th inning to salvage a 5-4 win. Indians 1B Tony Horton hears a boo and literally crawls back to the dugout after fanning on two of Yankees hurler Steve Hamilton's "folly floaters." Sensitive to fans' booing during the 1970 AL season, Horton will be hospitalized, and at 25, this will be his last MLB season.
1977 - Before an crowd of 54,940 fans at Yankee Stadium, Roy White launches a dramatic 2-out, 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Yankees, a 5-5 tie with the Boston Red Sox. The Yankees score in the 10th inning on Reggie Jackson bases-loaded single to win the game by the score of 6-5. Roy White's key hit comes after Red Sox closer Bill Campbell retires the 1st two Yankees in the 9th inning, then Willie Randolph triples to bring up Bobby Murcer. Sparky Lyle picks up the win for the Yankees, handing the Red Sox their 1st loss in 8 games. With HRs from Yaz, Butch Hobson and George Scott, the Red Sox set a MLB record of 33 HRs in 10 games.
1986 - Current Yankees P Philip Hughes (2007-2011) was born. Phil Hughes was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 2004 MLB amateur player draft. Philip Hughes was 9-1 with a 0.69 ERA as a high school senior, walking only 3 and striking out 83 in 61 innings. He was chosen to Baseball America's All-American high school team. The New York Yankees took him with the 23rd pick in the first round of the 2004 amateur draft and signed him for $1.4 million. He pitched 3 starts for the GCL Yankees that year, only throwing a total of 5innings, striking out 8 batters with no walks.
Hughes' 1st year as a full-time professional player came in 2005, when the right-hander went 2-0 with a 3.06 ERA for the Tampa Yankees, holding opponents to a 1.40 average, and he was 7-1 with a 1.97 ERA for the Charleston RiverDogs, allowing only a .192 average, 2.10 BB/9 and striking out 9.44 batters per 9 innings. Hampered by tendinitis and a tired arm, he didn't even reach 100 innings, but Baseball America still named him the Yankee minor league player of the year. The publication also rated him the #6 prospect in the South Atlantic League.
In 2006, Philip was 2-3 with a 1.80 ERA for Tampa and 10-3 with a 2.25 ERA for the Trenton Thunder. He pitched in the 2006 Futures Game, but was bombed for 3 runs in one inning of work, giving up a RBI double to Wladimir Balentien followed by a 2-run HR to George Kottaras. Hughes tied for the 10th lowest ERA (2.16) in the US-based minors that year. He tied Matt Garza for the second-lowest average allowed by a minor league starter (.179). Baseball America rated him the best pitching prospect and most exciting player in the Eastern League and as possessing the best breaking pitch. Hughes started 2007 in AAA, with a 2-1, 3.94 record for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees with 17 K and a .200 opposing batting average in 16 IP.
Hughes made his MLB debut on April 26, 2007, in a losing effort against the Toronto Blue Jays at a time when the Yankee starting rotation was decimated by injuries. Hughes was the youngest player in the 2007 AL at the time of his debut, in which he allowed 7 hits and 4 runs in 4 1/3 IP. He was the 3rd Yankees starting pitcher to make his MLB debut in the season's 1st 20 games, following Kei Igawa and Chase Wright; it had been 52 years since another team had done that - the 1955 Cardinals with Larry Jackson, Luis Arroyo and Floyd Wooldridge. In his 2nd start, against the Texas Rangers on May 1st, he pitched 6 1/3 hitless innings but was forced to leave the game because of a pulled groin muscle. Hughes was placed on the DL after the game. He did earn his 1st MLB victory though, as the Yankees finished with a 2-hit 10-1 victory. He came back in July with the Tampa Yankees. In his 1st rehab stint, he allowed 1 unearned run in 2 innings, walking 2, allowing no hits and striking out 3. He was back in the AL shortly afterwards. He finished his 1st season with a 5-3 record and a 4.46 ERA in 13 starts. He also made 2 relief appearances in the ALDS, pitching 5 2/3 innings, allowing only 1 run and earning a win as the Yankees bowed out to the Cleveland Indians.
In 2008, he fought health problems all season, making only 8 starts in the MLB, going 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA. He was back in the Yankees' starting rotation to begin the 2009 AL season, but after 7 starts was moved to the Yankees bullpen because the team's relievers were regularly taking a beating. Hughes had trouble adjusting to the hitter-friendly New Yankee Stadium. After a few solid outings, Hughes was installed as the 8th-inning set-up man for Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera, he thrived in the role. He was 8-3 with a 3.03 ERA and 3 saves, pitching 86 innings and striking out 96 batters while walking 28. He did not fare so well in the postseason, being hit hard in both the ALDS and World Series, and pitching better but still being charged with a loss in the ALCS against the Los Angeles Angels. Still, the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies in the Fall Classic. After the 2009 Championship season, there was uncertainty about what Hughes's role would be in 2010 - starter or reliever. Manager Joe Girardi decided to return him to the starting rotation and the move paid dividends. With A.J. Burnett struggling, Hughes became the Yanks' 3rd starter behind veterans CC Sabathia and Andy Pettitte. Hughes was a big winner, going 18-8 in 29 starts with a 4.18 ERA. He had a great first half, going 11-2, 3.65 and was named to the AL All-Star team, but slowed down noticeably in the 2nd half (7-6, 4.90). He won 1st postseason start of his MLB career with 7 scoreless innings against the Minnesota Twins in the ALDS, but he was hit hard by the Texas Rangers in the ALCS: he lost both of his starts to the Rangers, giving up 11 runs in 8 2/3 innings.
1992 - New York Yankees veteran reliever Steve Howe is permanently banned from MLB by Commissioner Fay Vincent after having pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of attempting to purchase a gram of cocaine. It is Howe's 7th ban from the game, as he becomes the 1st player ever permanently banned from baseball because of drugs.
1996 - Former Yankees P Steve Howe, released by the team just 2 days ago, is arrested at Kennedy International Airport for carrying a loaded gun in his luggage. He will plead guilty to a misdemeanor and receive 3 years probation and 150 hours of community service.
1997 - Yankees 1B Tino Martinez hits 2 singles, a double, and a pair of HRs, while driving in 4 runs as the New York Yankees top the Detroit Tigers by a score of 12-9. Chad Curtis adds 5 RBI’s for the Yankees.
2005 - Thanks to Yankees Bernie Williams dropping a ball in centerfield; the New York Mets become the 1st National League team to hit 3 sacrifice flies in one inning. Catcher Ramon Castro's sac fly to right ties the game at 1-1 as David Wright advances to 3B; then the Yankee's CF then drops Jose Reyes deep fly ball allowing Wright to score; then Mike Cameron skies to right scoring runner Doug Mientkiewicz, who had advanced to 3B on an errant pick off throw.
2008 - For the 1st time since Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, the New York Yankees visit Pittsburgh, PA. After Bill Mazeroski, the hero of that Game 7, throws out the 1st pitch, the home team pulls off a reenactment of their last meeting, upsetting New York. The Pirates top the Yanks, 12-5, with six Bucs getting multiple hits. Ryan Doumit goes 3 for 5 with a HR, 2 runs and two RBI and Freddy Sanchez scores three times while Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and Jason Giambi go a combined 1 for 12.
1903 - At Chicago, the White Sox bat first against the New York Highlanders. The two teams battle to an 18-inning tie at six apiece. The two teams total 30 hits, but neither score in the overtime.
1904 - In Boston, the Highlanders starter Jack Chesbro wins his 12th straight game beating veteran Red Sox starter Cy Young by a score of 5-3. Patsy Dougherty has 3 hits against his former Boston Red Sox teammates.
1915 - In Boston, Babe Ruth blasts his 3rd homer of the season, off of Yankees P Ray Caldwell. He is the second player to hit a ball into the RF seats at Fenway Park. Ruth strikes out eight Yankee batters in pitching a complete game, 9-5, win, and adds a single off of reliever Bill Donovan, Yankee skipper and his former manager.
1934 - In an 11-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox, Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle. Although pitcher John Broaca ties a MLB record by striking out 5 consecutive times, he gets the 'W' for the Yankees. Not until Bernie Williams on August 21, 1991, will another Yankee fan 5 times (by Bret Saberhagen).
1947 - The New York Yankees purchased reserve INF Lonnie Frey (1947-1948) from the Chicago Cubs. Lonnie appeared in 25 games with the Yankees before being released in May of 1948.
1953 - Chicago White Sox Manager Paul Richards uses five 1B in beating the Yankees by the score of 4-2. He brings in Harry Dorish to face 2 batters, moving pitcher Billy Pierce to 1B. The Sox 3-game sweep still leaves the Yankees 9 games up on the Cleveland Indians and 9 ½ games on the White Sox.
1954 - Former Yankees P Bob Shirley (1983-1987) was born. Bob Shirley was signed as a MLB free agent. Bob went 14-20 with 5 saves in 145 games for the Yankees.
1963 - Former Yankees Catcher/DH/1B Mike Stanley (1992-1995,1997) was born. Mike was signed as a free agent in 1992. He was the Yankees regular catcher until the arrival of new Yankees Manager Joe Torre. Mike was brought back to the Yankees in on August 13,1997, he was traded by the Red Sox along with Randy Brown to the Yankees for a player to be named later and minor league hurler Tony Armas Jr. The Yankees would later sent P Jim Mecir to the Red Sox to complete the trade.
1964 - Baltimore Orioles starter Steve Barber's 3-hit, 3-0 win gives the Orioles a 3-game sweep of the New York Yankees and 1st place in the American League.
1971 - The Montreal Expos traded veteran OF Ron Swoboda to New York Yankees, the Expos received OF Ron Woods from the Yankees.
1977 - New York Yankees starter Mike Torrez beats Boston Red Sox rival Luis Tiant to give the Yankees a 5-1 win over the Red Sox. Yankees 3B Greg Nettles 3-run HR is the big blow of the game. The Yankees, now trail the Red Sox by 3 games in the AL Eastern division race.
1984 - At Yankee Stadium, Dave Winfield hits 5 singles and drives in 4 runs to lead the Yankees to a 7-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Yankees starter Ron Guidry (6-5) is the beneficiary of Winfield's hitting. Dave is now hitting .750 against the Tigers this season. Winfield has three 5-hit games this month, tying an AL record set by HOF Ty Cobb.
1985 - Due to a Yankees batboy being hit by a line drive foul ball by Yankees C Butch Wynegar. The Yankees officials enact a new rule mandating the team’s batboys will wear protective helmets during all games.
1999 - During the Baltimore Orioles' 9-8 losses to the New York Yankees, O's reliever Jesse Orosco makes his 1,051th MLB relief appearance to break Kent Tekulve's MLB record. He is succeeded by reliever Mike Tomlin, who takes the loss, when he serves up a 9th inning HR to Yankees OF Shane Spencer. Harold Baines has a pair of HRs for the Orioles, while Tino Martinez has 4 hits for the Yankees.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
