This Week in Yankees History (11/9-11/15)

November 9th - November 15th

November 9th

1889 - Former Yankees P Tommy Thompson (1912) was born. Tommy went 0-2 in 7 games for the Yankees in 1912.

1897 - Former Yankees reserve OF Harvey “Gink” Hendrick (1923-24) was born. On January 3, 1923, Harvey was traded by the Red Sox along with P George Pipgras to the Yankees for C Al DeVormer and cash. Harvey hit .282 in 77 games for the Yankees as a reserve OF.

1912 - Veteran 1B Frank Chance is sold by the Cubs to the Reds. When all NL clubs waived claims to him in December, the Reds freed Frank Chance to manage the Yankees. Frank Chance will manage the Yankees in 1913-14, going 118-170, before he is fired.

1919 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-42) was born (1919-1980). Before the 1937 AL season, Jerry was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Jerry was unable to unseat All Star Joe “Flash” Gordon as Yankees starting 2B. On January 29,1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash.

1931 - Former Yankees minor league OF Whitey Herzog was born. Before the 1949 AL Season, Whitey was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Unable to crack the Yankees starting outfield, Whitey never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 2, 1956, Whitey was sent by the Yankees to the Senators to complete, an earlier deal made on February 8, 1956. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, C Lou Berberet, P Bob Wiesler, 2B Herb Plews, and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for P Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would send OF Whitey Herzog on April 2, 1956 to the Senators to completing the trade.

1953 - Reaffirming its earlier position, the U.S. Supreme Court rules, by a vote of 7-2, that MLB baseball is a sport and not a business and therefore not subject to federal government antitrust laws. The ruling is made in a case involving Yankees minor league player George Toolson, who refused to move from Triple-A to Double-A.

1962 - Former Yankees reserve OF/DH Dion James (1992-1996) was born. Dion’s best season for the Yankees was in 1993, when he hit .332.

1964 - Former Yankees P Kevin Mmahat (1989) was born. On June 20, 1988, Kevin was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers. Kevin went 0-2 in 4 games for the Yankees in 1989.

1998 - Former Yankees Hall of Fame P Jim "Catfish" Hunter announces that he is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The fatal disease, known medically as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), attacks the nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and leads to a loss of motor skills. Catfish Hunter will succumb to the disease less than a year later.

November 10th

1895 - Former Yankees INF/OF Wilson “Chick” Fewster (1917-22). Chick was reserve INF/OF for the Yankees. On July 23, 1922, Chick was traded by the Yankees along with OF Elmer Miller, OF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000 to the Red Sox for veteran INF Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith.

1948 - The Phillies drafted C Ken Silvestri out of the Yankees organization in the 1948 Rule 5 Player Draft.

1951 - In Tokyo, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Yankees Clipper Joe DiMaggio hits a 400 ft. HR in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1-1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI-triple in the 9th and later scores to give the Americans, a 3-2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one on their 1951 Japan baseball tour.

1955 - Former Yankees DH/OF Jack Clark (1988) was born. On January 6, 1988, Jack was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Jack only hit .242 for the Yankees. On October 24, 1988, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with P Pat Clements to the Padres for P Lance McCullers, P Jimmy Jones, and OF Stanley Jefferson.

1964 - Former Yankees P Kenny Rodgers (1996-97) was born. Kenny went 18-15 for the Yankees before being traded to the A’s for 3B Scott Brosius in November of 1997.

1978 - In a major trade, the Yankees send former Cy Young Award winner Closer Sparky Lyle along with P Dave Rajsich, P Larry McCall, C Mike Heath and INF Domingo Ramos to the Rangers. In return, the Rangers packed up OF Juan Beniquez, OF Greg Jemison, pitchers Dave Righetti, Paul Mirabell and Mike Griffin to the Yankees. Dave Righetti was considered the top left handed prospect in the minors, will win Rookie of the Year honors in 1981. The trade will come to haunt the Yankees during the 1979 AL season, with Closer Rich Gossage is injured and the tragic airplane death of All Star catcher Munson. Mike Heath was being groomed to be Munson’s replacement behind the plate. Lyle would have replaced Goose as the Yankees closer during the time missed with his pitching hand injury.

1978 - Former Yankees P Jorge DePaula (2003-2005) was born. Jorge went 0-1 in 10 games for Yankees, before having arm injuries that ended his MLB career with the Yankees.

November 11th

1902 - Former Yankees P Owen Carroll (1930) was born. On May 30, 1930, Owen was traded by the Tigers along with OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling to the Yankees for veteran P Waite Hoyt and INF Mark Koenig. Owen went 0-1 in 10 games with the Yankees. On September 13, 1930, Owen was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees.

1943 - The 1943 MLB MVP Awards for both ML are named. Yankees P Spud Chandler wins it in the AL while the Cardinals OF Stan Musial in the NL. Spud Chandler went 20-4 in 30 games with 20 complete games with an AL leading ERA of 1.64.

1948 - The Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio undergoes surgery for bone spurs on his right heel. DiMaggio will miss 65 games in the 1949 AL season because of continuing problems with his right heel.

1982 - Joe Altobelli succeeds the retired Earl Weaver as the Orioles manager. Altobelli is the 2nd Yankees coach to take a managing job this month, and will be the Orioles 1st new pilot since 1968, when Earl Weaver replaced former Yankees star Hank Bauer during the 1968 AL season.

November 12th

1926 - Former Yankees P Don Johnson (1947, 1950) was born. Before the 1944 AL Season, Don was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Don went 5-3 in 23 games for the Yankees. On June 15, 1950, Don was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jim Delsing, P Duane Pillette, INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the Browns for P Tom Ferrick, P Joe Ostrowski, and 3B Leo Thomas.

1958 - Yankees starter Bob Turley, who had 21 wins with 19 complete games during the 1958 AL regular season, is named the 1958 Cy Young Award winner. With only 1 award given for the 2 major leagues, Bob Turley gathers 5 votes to 4 for last year's winner, the Braves starter Warren Spahn.

1961 - Former Yankees minor leaguer INF Greg Gagne was born. On June 5, 1979, Greg was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1979 amateur player draft. Greg never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 10, 1982, Greg was traded by the Yankees along with P Paul Boris and P Ron Davis to the Twins for Shortstop Roy Smalley. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner wanted Smalley because the Orioles had Ripken who was a HR hitting shortstop. The trading away of Ron Davis breaks up the Yankees bullpen duo of Rich Gossage and Ron Davis, who were the best 1-2 closer-holder combo in AL. The Yankees would have been better off not making this trade.

1965 - Yankees obtained INF Ruben Amaro Sr. from the Phillies for INF Phil Linz. Amaro never hit more than .233 in a Yankees uniform. Although his infamous collision with Yankees star OF Tom Tresh, while chasing a pop fly may have accounted for his failure to live up to the Yankees expectations. The incident left Tom Tresh with 2 bad knees, robbing him of a promising MLB career. Ruben struggled with the bat, making the trade even worst. The Yankees should have held on to Linz, making him a OF, moving Tresh back to shortstop.
Ruben would be sold to the Angels for cash in November of 1968.

1972 - Former Yankees INF Homer Bush (1997-98, 2004) was born. On April 22, 1997, Homer was traded by the Padres along with players to be named later and Gordon Amerson (minors) to the Yankees for Rafael Medina, OF Ruben Rivera, and $3. The Padres sent P Hideki Irabu on May 29, 1997 and Vernon Maxwell (minors) on June 9, 1997 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He appeared in 55 games for the Yankees hitting .372 during the 1997-98 seasons. On February 18, 1999, Homer was traded by the Yankees along with P Graeme Lloyd and P David Wells to the Blue Jays for P Roger Clemens. In 2004, he played in 9 games for the Yankees before retiring from MLB. He really never fully recovered from his leg and hip injuries.

1992 - Arbitrator George Nicolau overturns the suspension of Yankees P Steve Howe for being too severe. Steve Howe is resigned by the Yankees.

1993 - Yankees HOF Catcher, MLB Coach and Manager Bill Dickey (1928-1946) passed away (1907-1993). Bill was the 1st the great Yankee catchers. Bill was a tough as nails player. He had a lifetime BA of .313 for the Yankees. He hit .300, or better 10 times during his 13 years as a MLB player. His best Yankees season was in 1936, when he hit .362. Bill topped the 100 RBI’s mark for 4 seasons (1936-39.) He was AL All Star catcher (1933 - 1943, 1946.) He led the AL in fielding as a catcher (1931, 35, 37, 39, 41.) During the 1946 AL season, Bill managed the Yankees (57-48) after long time Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy had resigned. He served as a coach for Yankees Managers Bucky Harris and Casey Stengel. HOF catcher Yogi Berra credits Bill with teaching him the fundamentals of catching. He also taught Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard in the 1950’s as well. Later he would come to the Yankees spring training camp as a special advisor and work with the team’s organizational catchers.

1996 - Pat Hentgen of the Blue Jays edges Andy Pettitte of the Yankees for the 1996 Cy Young Award in the closest AL voting since 1972, when Gaylord Perry topped Wilbur Wood by 6 points. Hentgen with a 20-10 mark, the MLB leader in complete games, outpoints Andy Pettitte (21-8) by the narrow margin of 110-104. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera finishes 3rd in the ballot and receives one 1st-place vote.

November 13th

1882 - Former Yankees INF Ezra “Salt Rock” Midkiff (1912-13) was born. Ezra hit .207 in 104 games for the Yankees.

1884 - Former Yankees OF Pete Daley (1914-15) was born. On June 13, 1914, Pete was traded by the A’s to the Yankees for OF/INF Jimmy Walsh. Pete hit .250 in 79 games for the Yankees.

1925 - Former Yankees OF Jim Delsing (1949-51) was born. On December 14, 1948, Jim was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for OF Steve Souchock. He appeared in 21 games with the Yankees as a reserve outfielder. On June 15, 1950, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with Don Johnson, Duane Pillette, George "Snuffy" Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the Browns for P Tom Ferrick, P Joe Ostrowski, and 3B Leo Thomas

1931 - Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert buys the Newark Bears International League franchise. The Bears will be very successful and will send many players to the Yankees. The 1938-1939 Bears were considered to the best Yankee farm teams in the team’s farm system history and in minor league baseball history as well.

1934 - Yankees sell P Dan MacFayden to the Reds on a conditional basis, the purchase price to be finalized if the Reds decide to keep him. (They did not).

1941 - Former Yankees All Star P (1964-1974) and long time Pitching Coach Mel Stottlemrye was born. Before the 1961 AL Season, Mel was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Mel was called up from Richmond (AAA) during the 1964 AL season. He went 9-3 to help the Yankees win the 1964 AL flag. Mel was a 20-game winner 3-times during his Yankees career. He finished with a 164-139 mark in 360 games with 40 shutouts and a career ERA of 2.97.

1968 - The Yankees sell INF John Kennedy to the new AL expansion team Pilots for cash. John had hit .196 in 78 games for the Yankees after being obtained from the Dodgers in April 1967, for OF John Miller, P Jack Cullen and temporary transfer of INF/OF Roy White to Dodgers AAA team in PCL. Roy White would return to the Yankees. The Yankees had hope that he could learn to be a 2B but it didn’t work out, Roy was switched to the OF.

1978 - The Yankees signed free agent P Luis Tiant to a 2-year $875,000 contract. Tiant, formerly of the Red Sox, becomes the 1st free agent to sign with a new club following the 1978 re-entry draft. Luis Tiant would go 21-17 in 55 games for the Yankees (1979-80).

1998 - The ball thrown by Red Sox P Howard Ehmke and hit by Babe Ruth for 1st HR in Yankee Stadium history is sold at an auction for $126,500 (110,000 bid + 15% commission). Mark Scala found the 1923 historic home run ball ago in the attic of his grandmother's home several years ago.

November 14th

1876 - Former Yankees INF/P Harry “Handsome Harry” Howell (1903) was born. Harry went 9-6 in 25 games in 1903. On March 6, 1904, Harry was traded by the Highlanders with cash to the Browns for Jack Powell.

1885 - Former Yankees OF Jack Lelivelt (1912-13) was born. Jack hit .288 in 77 games for the Yankees. On May 25, 1913, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with INF Bill Stumpf to the Cleveland Naps for shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.

1973 - Former Yankees OF Ruben Rivera (1995-96) was born. Ruben was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1990. He was the cousin of Yankees Closer Mario Rivera. Ruben appeared in 54 games for the Yankees hitting .284. On April 22, 1997, Ruben was traded by the Yankees along with Rafael Medina and $3 to the Padres for players to be named later, Homer Bush, and Gordon Amerson (minors). The Padres would send P Hideki Irabu on May 29, 1997 and Vernon Maxwell (minors) on June 9, 1997 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Ruben was trying to make a comeback with the Yankees, when he was involved in an incident taking Derek Jeter’s glove from the Yankees clubhouse in Tampa during spring training. The Yankees gave his unconditional release.

2004 - Former Yankees reserve C Jesse Gonder (1960-61) passed away (1936-2004). Before the 1960 MLB Season, Jesse was sent from the Reds to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. Jesse briefly played for the Yankees during the 1960-61 AL seasons, appearing in 22 games and hitting .309. He was the starting catcher for the Yankees 1960 AAA team at Richmond. On December 14, 1961, Jesse was traded back to the Reds by the Yankees for veteran reliever Marshall Bridges.

2005 - Yankees All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, whose 48 HRs set a AL record for that position and broke a 68-year-old club mark for right-handed hitters, earned his 2nd AL MVP Award in the closest vote since 2001. Rodriguez edged Red Sox DH David Ortiz, 331-307, in voting by the BBWAA. He received 16 of 28 1st-place votes while Ortiz earned 11, with 2004 MVP Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels collecting the other to finish 3rd with 196 points. The margin of victory is the smallest since Mariner's Ichiro Suzuki edged the A's Jason Giambi, by a vote of 289-281, 4 years ago.

November 15th

1916 - Former Yankees P Joe Ostrowski (1950-52) was born. On June 15, 1950, Joe was traded by the Browns along with pitchers Tom Ferrick, Sid Schacht and 3B Leo Thomas to the Yankees for OF Jim Delsing, Pitchers Don Johnson, Duane Pillette, INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000. Joe went 9-7 in 75 games with 10 saves for the Yankees.

1951 - The BWAA named Yankees INF Gil McDougald as 1951 AL Rookie of the Year. Gil hit .306 for the Yankees in 1951, the leading the club with his .306 BA and had 23 team leading doubles. The White Sox object to Gil McDougald's ROY award, offering the statistical accomplishments of their great rookie OF Minnie Miñoso.

1961 - For the 2nd consecutive year, Yankees RF Roger Maris is named the AL MVP. The new single-season MLB HR record holder with 61 HRs, edges out his fellow Yankees teammate CF Mickey Mantle by 4 votes, 202-198. The Orioles 1B Jim Gentile finished in 3rd place with 157 votes.

2001 - Yankees P Roger Clemens, who posted a 20-3 record with 213 strikeouts and a 3.51 ERA, wins the AL Cy Young Award for an unprecedented 6th time. Previously, Clemens captured the award with the Red Sox in 1986-1987, 1991, and with the Blue Jays in 1997-1998. He becomes the 1st Yankees pitcher to win the award since 1978, when Ron Guidry won the honor. In the 2004 season, Clemens will win his 7th Cy Young award in the NL with the Astros.

2005 - Hideki Matsui and the Yankees agreed on a new 4-year contract worth $52 million to the Japanese outfielder. The sides faced a November 15th deadline after which Matsui would go on waivers and be prevented from rejoining the Yankees until May 15, 2006.

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(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)