This Week in Yankees History
March 8 - March 14th
March 8 - March 14th
March 8th
1893 - Former Yankees P Ray Francis (1925) was born. Ray went 0-0 in 4 games for the Yankees. On May 5, 1925, Ray was traded by the Yankees along with $9,000 to the Red Sox for OF Bobby Veach and P Alex Ferguson.
1930 - AL All Star OF Babe Ruth signs a 2-year contract for $160,000 with the Yankees. At $80,000 per year, he is the highest paid MLB player of all time as of 1930.
1930 - Former Yankees P Bob Grim (1954-1958) was born (1930-1996). In 1954, Bob was AL ROY after finishing with a 20-6 mark. Bob made the Yankees MLB roster in 1954 after spending 2 years in the Army. He won 1 game in the 1955 World Series against the Dodgers. After injuring his pitching arm in an off-season job, Bob became a reliever for the Yankees in 1956 with 12 saves. He led the AL with 18 saves in 1957 and was named to 1957 AL All Star team. During the 1958 AL season, he was traded along with OF Harry Simpson to the A’s for Pitchers Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks.
1938 - Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig rejects the latest contract offer from the Yankees to a 1-year deal worth $39,000. Four days later, Gehrig will agree to the same Yankees offer and end his 1938 spring training holdout.
1939 - Former Yankees P and author Jim “Bull Dog” Bouton (1962-1968) was born in Newark NJ. Jim was the winning pitcher of the 22-inning game against the Tigers in 1962. In 1963, Jim went 21–7. In 1964, he was 18-13 for the Yankees. He appeared in 2 World Series, 1963 and 1964, going 2-1, winning 2 against the Cardinals (1964); losing a 1-0, 4-hitter to the Dodgers Don Drysdale in 1963. He hurt his arm in 1965 and never was effective again for the Yankees. His Yankees career pitching record was 55-51. In October of 1968, he was sold to the Seattle Pilots. Also Jim pitched for the Astros and Braves in the NL. After his MLB playing career was over, he wrote the best seller “Ball Four.” Also he worked as a TV sportscaster in New York City.
1942 - Former Yankees reserve INF Bert Campaneris (1983) was born. Bert appeared in 60 games for the Yankees, hitting .322. The Former AL All Star shortstop retired at the end of the 1983 AL season.
1947 - At the new Stadium del Cerro in Havana, Cuba, the Dodgers beat the Yankees by a score of 1-0.
1961 - Former Yankee C/DH/1B Mark Salas (1987) was born. On June 7, 1987, Mark was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for P Joe Niekro. Mark appeared in 50 games for the Yankees, hitting .200. On November 12, 1987, Mark was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B Dan Pasqua and P Steve Rosenberg to the White Sox for pitchers Richard Dotson and Scott Nielsen.
1963 - Former Yankees P Terry Mulholland (1994) was born. On February 9, 1994, Terry was traded by the Phillies along with a player to be named later to the Yankees for P Bobby Munoz, P Ryan Karp, and INF Kevin Jordan. The Phillies would send Jeff Patterson on November 8, 1994 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Terry posted a 6-7 record in 24 games with the Yankees before the 1994 MLB strike took place. He left the Yankees for free agency.
1966 - The HOF Special Veterans Committee waives one of its election rules and selects former Yankees and Mets Manager Casey Stengel as the newest member of the HOF. Stengel had managed the Mets for much of the 1965 NL season before falling and breaking his hip. The injury ended the elderly Stengel's MLB career. Given his age, the Veterans Committee decides to make him immediately eligible for the HOF.
Casey managed the Yankees from 1949-1960, winning 5 straight World Championships from 1949-1953. He also won World Championships in 1956 and 1958. Also he managed the Braves and Dodgers in the NL , before joining the Yankees in 1949.
1974 - Former Yankees P Wayne Franklin (2005) was born. Wayne appeared in 13 games posting a 0-1 record in 2005 AL Season.
1999 - HOF Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio (1936-1941, 1945-1951) dies of a lung cancer at age 84. Joe was born in Martinez, California; Joe DiMaggio arrived in the MLB at the age of 21. He batted .323 in his 1st season and helped the Yankees to the 1936 World Championship. His rookie performance served as an indicator of future success, both for him and the Yankees.
During his 13-year MLB career, Joe DiMaggio participated in 10 World Series, with his team winning the World Championship 9 times. In 1941, DiMaggio achieved his most famous MLB milestone, when he compiled a record 56-game hitting streak. His lifetime Yankees BA was .326. His older brother Vince played in the NL, while his younger brother Dom played for the Red Sox.
March 9th
1875 - Former Yankees OF Elmer Bliss (1903-04) was born. Elmer went 1-0 in 1 game for the Yankees.
1927 - Former Yankees OF Jackie Jensen (1950-1952) was born (1927-1982). Jackie was a former All American college football player. He was bought by the Yankees from Oakland Oaks (PCL) in the fall of 1949. Jackie appeared in 108 games with the Yankees, hitting .265 with 9 HRs and 32 RBIs. He was traded in 1952 to the Senators in the Irv Noren trade. He later played with the Red Sox, being named the 1958 AL MVP. Jackie appeared in over 1,400 MLB games and finished with a lifetime BA .279. He stopped playing MLB because of his fear of flying. In 1982, Jackie died from a heart attack at the age of 55. He remains the only man to play in the Rose Bowl, East-West Shrine Game, the World Series (1950), and baseball's All-Star game.
1959 - Former Yankees Coach Brian Butterfield was born. He was originally played in the Yankees minor league system from 1980-1983, before becoming a member of the Yankees farm system management from 1984-1997 as a coach and manager. In 1999-2000, he joined the Diamondbacks organization. He rejoined the Yankees in 2001. Jack was fired as manager of the Columbus Clippers in May of 2002. He later joined the Blue Jays organization and now is their MLB 3rd Base Coach.
1966 - Former Yankees 3B Aaron “Home Run” Boone (2003) was born. He is the grandson of former MLB Ray Boone and son of MLB Catcher/Manager Bob Boone. His brother was All Star 2B Bret Boone. Aaron hit one of the most famous AL Yankee playoff-HR’s to beat the Red Sox in 2003. He later injured his leg playing basketball during the off-season and was released by the Yankees. His injury led to the A-Rod trade with the Rangers by the Yankees.
1966 - Former Yankees All Star C Aaron Robinson (1946-1947) died (1915-1966). He hit .297 in 1946 and made the AL All Star team in 1947. The arrival of Yogi Berra as a catcher in 1947, made Aaron expendable. Aaron was traded to the White Sox for starter Eddie Lopat.
1996 - Former Yankees P Jim Hardin (1971) died. Jim was recovering from arm injuries, when he joined the Yankees in 1971. He never was an effective pitcher for the Yankees, like he was with the Orioles during the mid 1960’s.
March 10th
1880 - Former Yankees OF Danny Hoffman (1906-07) was born. On April 29, 1906, Danny was traded by the A’s to the Yankees for Dave Fultz. He hit .254 in 236 games for the Yankees. On November 5, 1907, he was traded by the Yankees along with Hobe Ferris and Jimmy Williams to the Browns for Fred Glade, Charlie Hemphill, and Harry Niles.
1958 - Former Yankees P Steve Howe (1991-96) was born (1958-2006). Steve went 12-6 with 31 saves as a Yankees relief pitcher from 1991-1996.
2005 - Former Yankees 1B/OF Kent Hadley (1960) passed away (1934-2005). Kent was part of the December 1959 trade that the Yankees received OF Roger Maris from the A’s. In 1959, he was the A’s regular 1B hitting .253. With the 1960 Yankees, he was a reserve player, appearing only in 55 games, just hitting .203. After his MLB career was over, he enjoyed success-playing baseball in Japan, becoming one of the 1st American players to hit a 100 HRs in Japan.
March 11th
1870 - Former Yankees OF Herman McFarland (1903) was born. He appeared in 103 games for the Yankees, hitting .243.
1945 - Former Yankees P Dock Ellis (1976-1977) was born (1945-2008). On December 11,1975, Doc was traded by the Pirates along with P Ken Brett and 2B Willie Randolph to the Yankees for P Doc Medich. Dock went 18-9 in 35 games, before being traded to the A’s in the Mike Torrez trade. Dock passed away in December of 2008.
1956 - At Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg, there are no maybes about it, as Mickey Mantle hits a Grapefruit League pitch from Larry Jackson over the LF wall into the bay. The Yankees top the Cardinals by the score of 4-3. Stan Musial contends, "no HR has ever cleared my head by as much as long as I can remember." Mantle will hit another HR at Al Lang Field on March 20th off of P Bob Mave that also lands in the water. He will clock a 500-FT HR shot in Miami, 4 days later against the Dodgers.
1960 - All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the Yankees signs a 1-year contract worth $65,000. The new deal is a $7,000 cut in pay for Mantle, who batted .285 with 31 HRs and 75 RBIs for the 3rd place Yankees in 1959.
1981 - Former Yankees and Cardinals slugger Johnny Mize (1949-53) and Negro League‘s pioneer Rube Foster are voted to the HOF by the Special Veterans Committee. Mize hit .312 with 359 HRs during a 15-year MLB career, while Foster served as a pitcher, manager, and Negro League organizer in the 1st quarter of the 20th century.
2001 - The Yankees formally announce the signing of Cuban defector 3B Andy Morales, to a 4-year contract. Morales will wash out and be waived from his minor league team by July. The Yankees will try and sidestep his contract with proof that his listed age of 26 years is really 29.
2002 - The Yankees released OF Ruben Rivera for stealing Derek Jeter's mitt out of his clubhouse locker, and selling it on the black market for $2,500. There are rumors that Rivera also took other memorabilia items, such as things belonging to Roger Clemens, but Clemens denies it. Rivera had been signed to a 1-year contract for $1 million.
March 12th
1903 - The New York Highlanders, later to be called the Yankees, are officially approved to join the American League.
1937 - Former Yankees 1B Ray “Buddy” Barker (1965-1967) was born. On May 10, 1965, Buddy was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for INF Pedro Gonzalez. Buddy hit .172 in 176 games, before being sent to the Orioles in the Steve Barber trade during the 1967 AL season.
1939 - Former Yankees DH/Outfielder Johnny Callison (1972-73) was born (1939-2006). Johnny was acquired from the Cubs. He hit .258 in 72 games in 1972. In 1973, he hit .176 in 45 games before being released by the team.
1943 - Former Yankees DH/OF Jim “Toy Canon” Wynn (1977) was born. Jim hit .143 in 30 games for the Yankees, before being released.
1955 - Former Yankees OF Ruppert Jones (1981) was born. After being obtained from Seattle, Ruppert played in 83 games, just hitting .223, before being sent to the Padres for OF Jerry Mumphrey.
1962 - Former Yankees OF/DH Darryl Strawberry (1995-1999) was born. Darryl hit .243 with 41 HRs and 114 RBIs in 242 games.
1971 - Former Yankees OF Raul Mondesi (2002-03) was born. On July 1, 2002, he was traded by the Blue Jays to the Yankees for minor league player Scott Wiggins. Raul hit .249 in 169 games for the team before being traded. On July 29, 2003, Raul was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the D-backs for OF David Dellucci, P Bret Prinz, and John Prowl (minors).
1974 - Former Yankees reserve INF Felix Escalona (2004-05) was born. He appeared in 22 games for the Yankees.
1974 - Former Yankees RF Bobby Abreu (2006-2008) was born. On July 30, 2006, Bobby was traded by the Phillies along with P Cory Lidle to the Yankees for P Matt Smith, and minor league players INF C. J. Henry, Carlos Monastrios, and Jesus Sanchez. Bobby hit .303 in 372 games for the Yankees, before leaving the team for free agency this winter.
1978 - Former Yankees reserve OF Kevin Reese (2005-6) was born. On December 18, 2001, Kevin was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for INF Bernie Castro. He appeared in 12 games hitting .385, before being released by the team in 2007.
March 13th
1886 - Future Yankees INF and HOF Frank “Home Run” Baker (1916-1919, 1921-22) was born. A 3B and left handed hitter, Baker will guide the A’s to 3 World Series championships. Nicknamed "Home Run" during the 1911 WS, in which he hit a go-ahead HR off of Giants starter Rube Marquard in Game 2 and a 9th-inning game-tying HR off of Christy Mathewson in Game 3. Baker will led the AL in HR’s for 4 consecutive seasons, twice led the league in RBI’s, and hit .363 in 6 World Series.
Frank played 3B for the Yankees from 1916-1919 , 1921-1922. He took the 1920 AL season off, after his wife passed away to take care of his family. Baker will earn HOF honors in 1955.
1922 - Former Yankees OF Cliff Mapes (1948-1951) was born. On November 1, 1946, Cliff was drafted by the Yankees from the Indians in the 1946 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He was the last active Yankee player to wear Babe Ruth’s No. 3 uniform. Also he wore No. 7 in 1951; the number that rookie OF Mickey Mantle would get after returning from Kansas City Blues (AAA). On July 31, 1951, Cliff was purchased by the Browns from the Yankees.
1937 - All Star 1B Lou Gehrig signs with the Yankees for $38,000 with a $750 signing bonus. Gehrig will play his 1st spring training game on March 20th, collecting 2 runs batted in as the Yankees beat the Bees (Braves), by the score of 5-3.
1963 - Former Yankees INF Mariano Duncan (1996-97) was born. He was signed as free agent in 1996. He hit .340 in 109 games in 1996. Mario appeared in 50 games hitting .244, before being traded on July 29, 1997, to the Blue Jays for Angel Ramirez.
1994 - Former Yankees C Buddy Rosar (1939-1942) passed away. Buddy was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1934. Buddy was the back up catcher for the Yankees. In 1942, Buddy was selected to AL All Star team. On December 17, 1942, he was traded by the Yankees along with Roy Cullenbine to the Indians for Roy Weatherly and Oscar Grimes.
2000 - Former Yankees reserve INF Harry Bright (1963-1964) passed away. In 1946, Harry was originally signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. In 1947, he was sold by the Yankees in a minor league transaction. The Yankees reacquired Harry from the Reds in April of 1963 to back up their INF off the bench. His addition to the Yankees 40 man roster cost the Yankees a young minor league OF named Curt Belfry, who was at Greensboro. Harry was immediately claimed by the Orioles. Harry was a good field, no-hit player, who could play a lot of positions, including catcher. He hit .236 in 1963, but missed most of the 1964 AL season due to injuries. On September 11, 1964, Harry was released by the Yankees. Harry would finish his MLB career with the Cubs in 1965.
2008 - Hollywood Actor and Comedian 59-year-old Billy Crystal makes an appearance in a spring training game, playing for the Yankees. He strikes out on a full count from hurler Paul Maholm after hitting one ball just foul.
March 14th
1944 - Former Yankees OF /1B John Miller (1966) was born. In 1962, John was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. He appeared in only 6 games hitting just .087. He hit a HR at his 1st MLB with the Yankees. He would be traded Dodgers, where he hit a HR in his last MLB at bat.
1956 - Former Yankees C/DH/1B Butch Wynegar (1982-1986) was born. On May 12, 1982, Butch was traded by the Twins along with P Roger Erickson to the Yankees for P John Pacella, INF Larry Milbourne, P Pete Filson, and cash. Butch hit .248 in 449 games for the Yankees. On December 19, 1986, he was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for a player to be named later and Ron Romanick. The Angels would send P Alan Mills on June 22, 1987 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Butch is currently the hitting coach for the Yankees AAA team at Scranton.
1965 - Former Yankees P Kevin Brown (2004-05) was born. On December 13, 2003, Kevin was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Jeff Weaver, P Yhency Brazoban, P Brandon Weeden (minors), and cash. He posted a 14-13 record in 35 games for the Yankees.
1969 - The Yankees purchased OF Jimmy Hall from the Indians for cash. He hit .236 in 80 games, before being sent to the Cubs. He would hit .236 in 80 games before being sold to the Cubs.
2003 - Able to maintain the organization's "long standing philosophy", which lets Cablevision customers choose whether or not to receive paid programming, the cable giant agrees 1-year interim deal to offer YES Network to New York Yankees fans for a fee ending a bitter and costly yearlong feud. The arrangement makes YES a premium channel instead of basic cable channel which the new network had previously mandated and would have made every subscriber pay for the channel regardless of the viewer's choice.
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