This Week in Yankees History
April 19th - April 25th
April 19th - April 25th
April 19th
1887 - Former Yankees INF John “Jack” Martin (1912) was born. On August 12, 1912, John was traded by the Highlanders along with Jack Quinn to the Rochester (IL) for INF Tommy McMillan. He hit .225 in 71 games with the team.
1928 - Yankees are out of AL 1st place for the 1st time since May of 1926, as they lose to the Red Sox, in the morning Patriots Day game at Fenway Park.
1935 - Former Yankees reliever John Wyatt (1968) was born. John appeared briefly with the Yankees after being acquired from the Red Sox before moving on to the Tigers during the 1968 AL season. He was a former AL All Star closer with the A’s. He had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before signing with the A’s.
1946 - The Yankees moved to 1st base dugout as their new Yankee Stadium clubhouse opens for the 1st time.
1949 - The 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 Yankees debut with 4 hits, including 2 HRs, against the Red Sox. In 1961, 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.
1964 - Former Yankees P Scott Kamieniecki (1991-1996) was born. Scott was a 14th round pick by the Yankees in 1986. He went 36-39 in 113 games from 1991 to 1996. He left the Yankees after 1996 AL season as a free agent.
1973 - New Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires Team President Mike Burke replaces him with Gabe Paul. In fairness to Burke, he never had access to the money that George brought to the Yankees. CBS gave him a short budget and the Yankee farm system had been traded away during the 1950’s in trades by 1964, it was empty of talent. It is ironic that it was Michael Burke, who had approached Steinnbrenner’s group to purchase the team from CBS, when they decided to sell the team. He didn’t want another corporation to buy the team.
1974 - The Yankees obtained OF Walt “No Neck” Williams from the White Sox along with P Ed Farmer as part of a 3-way deal that saw the Yankees sent C Gerry Moses to Tigers, who in turn sent starter Jim Perry to the Indians.
1979 - Yankee teammates Rich Gossage and Cliff Johnson of the brawl in the clubhouse after a 6-3 loss to the Orioles. Gossage suffers a sprained ligament in his thumb, which will keep him out of action until July 12th. As "punishment" for injuring the team's ace reliever, the Yankees will trade Cliff Johnson to the 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.
April 20th
1876 - Former Yankees OF Charles “Eagle Eye” Hemphill (1908-11) was born. He hit .265 in 601 games for the Yankees.
1912 - The Yankees help the Red Sox open Fenway Park. They play 11 innings with the Red Sox winning the game by the score of 7-6.
1932 - The Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452 fans, for any Yankee Stadium opener. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth homers, as starter Lefty Gomez beats Lefty Grove in the 8-3 victory over the A’s.
1939 - The 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 was obtained from the Reds in a conditional deal in September of 1972. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees with no record. During spring training of 1973, the Yankees returned him to the Reds.
1957 - The Yankees 1B 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 Dugout Coach, player and Team Captain Don Mattingly (1982-1995) was born. Don played for 14 seasons with the 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 AL MVP. 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.
1988 - Claudell Washington hits the 10,000th HR in Yankees history in a 7-6 victory over the Twins at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
April 21st
1887 - Future HOF MLB Manager Joe “Marsh” McCarthy is born in Philadelphia, Pa. Joe McCarthy will become the 1st MLB manager to win pennants with both NL (Cubs) and AL teams (Yankees, Red Sox), winning 9 league titles overall with 7 World Series championships. He will be inducted into Baseball’s HOF in 1977. His Yankee manager record was 1,460-867, with a .627 WP, with 8 AL Flags, 7 World Championships (1931-1946). He holds the 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 Miller Huggins in 4th place.
1901 - Former Yankees P Phillip “Lefty” Weinert (1931) was born. On September 30, 1930, Lefty was drafted by the Yankees from Louisville (American Association) in the 1930 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He went 2-2 in 17 games for the Yankees.
1912 - The Yankees drop an 11-2 decision to the Giants in a special benefit game for the survivors of the Titanic disaster.
1951 - At Griffith Stadium, 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 NL All Star closer appeared in 15 games for the Yankees with no record during the 2003 AL season.
1963 - The Yankees traded veteran P Jim Coates (1956, 1959-63) to the 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 Yankees obtained veteran INF Harry Bright from the Reds for cash. To make room for Bright on the Yankees 40 man roster, they remove a young outfielder at Greensboro, named Curt Belfry, who is immediately claimed by the Orioles.
1977 - With the Yankees in a 2-for-8 slump, Manager Billy Martin draws the starting Yankee lineup out of a hat. The Yankees beat the expansion 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 starter Ken Holtzman is the winner with relief help from closer Sparky Lyle.
1980 - Former Yankee Closer Joe Page (1944-1950) passes away (1917-1980). Joe was the famous Yankee closer of the late 1940’s. He led the AL in saves in 1947, with 17 saves with 14 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. Joe was released by the team during the 1950 Yankees spring training camp. Later, Joe would finish his MLB career with the Pirates.
April 22nd
1881 - Former Yankees INF Neal Ball (1907-08) was born. Neal in .241 in 155 games for the Yankees, before being sold to Cleveland.
1903 - At American League Park (Hilltop Park), the Highlanders lost their 1st game to the 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 Pirates (28-6) taking the loss for the Yankees. Al Orth, in his 2nd season with the Senators is the winner.
1904 - After surrendering a lead-off single to Kip Selbach, Yankees starter Jack Chesbro pitches no-hit ball the rest of the game and beats the Senators by the score of 2-0.
1915 - Pinstripes first appeared on the Yankees player uniforms.
1920 - Outfielder Babe Ruth plays his 1st game as a Yankee. Babe goes hitless and his outfield error proved to be the game losing miscue in a 6-5 loss to the A’s.
1923 - The 1st Sunday game at Yankee Stadium draws an estimated crowd of 60,000 fans, but the Yankees suffer their first loss of the year, 4-3 decision to the Senators.
1931 - Babe Ruth of the Yankees collides with Charlie Berry, the 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. Bob hit .250 in 20 games for the Yankees as a back up catcher.
1956 - Yankees P Don Larsen hits a grand slam homerun off of Red Sox P Frank Sullivan, as New York wins by the score of 13-6 at Yankee Stadium.
1959 - At Griffith Stadium, Whitey Ford of the Yankees pitched a 14-inning, a 1-0, shutout, against the 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 HR.
1961 - Former Yankees P Jimmy Key (1993-1996) was born. Jimmy was signed in 1992, as a free agent by the Yankees. He went 43-23 as a starter for the Yankees, before leaving the team for free agency in 1996.
1970 - The Yankees drop an 18 inning, 2-1 game to the Senators. When Mike Epstein’s sac fly scores Ed Stroud. Yankees CF Bobby Mercer’s 9th inning HR had tied the game 1-1.
1993 - Former Yankees Shortstop Mark Koenig (1925-1930) passed away (1904-1993). He was the starting shortstop for the Yankees during the mid 1920’s. He finished his Yankees career with a BA of .285. Also Mark played for the Tigers and Cubs during his MLB career.
1997 - After 4 months of on-and-off negotiations, the Yankees acquired the rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu from the Padres for $3 million. Irabu'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 Padres, saying he would only go with the Yankees.
April 23rd
1903 - Behind the pitching of starter Harry Howell, the Highlanders win their 1st MLB game, a 7-2 victory over the Senators.
1937 - Former Yankees 1B/OF Duke Carmel (1965) was born. Duke was drafted by the Yankees from the Mets in the 1964 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 Cardinals organization during the 1950’s. Duke was traded by the Cardinals to the Mets during the 1963 NL season.
1947 - The 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 Red Sox before retiring in 1947. He would later become the Director of Player Development for the Mets, signing many of the young Mets, who would later played on the 1969 World Championship team. He was the GM of the Mets, when he passed away of a fatal heart attack in January of 1970.
1975 - Yankees OF Roy White again hits a HR from both sides of the plate, this time in an 11-7 loss to the Red Sox. Roy White’s last switch-hit HRs had been on August 13, 1973.
1981 - Former Yankees P Sean Henn was born. Sean was drafted by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 2000 MLB amateur player draft. He was 2-6 in 36 games with an 4.43 ERA with the Yankees, before being released by the team.
1992 - Former Yankees INF/OF Deron Johnson (1960-61) passes away (1938-1992). Before the 1956 AL Season, Deron was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent. Deron was never able to find a regular position to play with the Yankees. At 3B, he was blocked by Clete Boyer. At 1B, he was blocked by 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 1960-61 seasons, just hitting .174. In June of 1961, he was traded along with veteran starter Art Ditmar to the A’s for veteran starter Bud Daley. Deron would find success in the NL in 1965 with the Reds, later with the Braves and Phillies during his MLB career.
1999 - In a 10-7 victory over the Blue Jays, Yankee players Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada become the 1st teammates to hit a HR from both sides of the plate in the same MLB game.
April 24th
1895 - Former Yankees P Harry Harper (1921) was born. Harry came to the Yankees in the Waite Hoyt trade with the Red Sox in December of1920. He posted a 4-3 record in 8 games for the Yankees.
1905 - The Yankees hit onto a triple play during a 4-3 loss to the Senators.
1917 - George Mogridge of the Yankees pitches a no-hitter against the Red Sox, 2-1, at Fenway Park. Mogridge strikes out 3 batters and walks 3 batters, as he becomes the 1st Yankee pitcher to actually win a no-hit game.
1923 - U.S. President Warren G. Harding witnesses the 1st shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium as Babe Ruth hits a HR in New York’s 4-0 victory over the Senators.
1943 - Former Yankees P Joe Verbanic (1967-68, 1970) was born. On December 10, 1966, Joe was traded by the Phillies along with cash to the Yankees for veteran reliever Pedro Ramos. Joe went 11-10 in 75 games for the Yankees.
1965 - Former Yankees 3B Mike Blowers (1989-1991) was born. On August 29, 1989, Mike was traded by the Expos to the Yankees for veteran P John Candelaria. Mike hit .219 in 76 games for the Yankees. On May 17, 1991, Mike was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for a player to be named later and cash. The Mariners would later send minor leaguer player Jim Blueberg on June 22, 1991, to the Yankees to complete the trade.
April 25th
1883 - Former Yankees P Russ Ford (1909-13) was born. Russ had two outstanding seasons with the Yankees, going 26-6 in 1910 and 21-11 in 1911. He went 73-56 in 143 games as a Yankee pitcher. On January 20, 1914, Russ jumped from the Yankees to the Buffalo Buffeds of the rival Federal League.
1904 - Highlanders starter Jack Chesbro posts the 1st of his 41 wins of the 1904 AL season, a MLB, AL and Yankees club record that still stands. Jack Chesbro was the NL top winner in 1903, with the Pirates posting a 28-6 record.
1916 - At the Polo Grounds, Babe Ruth of the Red Sox pitches a 10-inning complete game to defeat the Yankees, by the score of 4-3. Ruth gives up 2 earned runs on 8-hits, but is hitless at-bat.
1924 - Former Yankees P Art Schallock (1951-55) was born. On July 12, 1951, Art was purchased by the Yankees from the Pirates. He appeared in 28 games for the Yankees, posting a 3-2 mark. On May 11, 1955, Art was selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Yankees.
1933 - Yankees rookie starter Russ Van Atta makes a successfully MLB pitching debut, when he pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Senators. With the bat, Russ collects 4 singles in 4 at-bats. Yankees CF Earle Combs adds 5 hits as the Yankees win by score of 16-0.
1966 - Former Yankees P Darren Holmes (1998) was born. On December 22, 1997, he was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He posted a 0-3 record in 34 games with 2 saves for the 1998 Yankees. He didn’t appear in the 1998 World Series. On March 30, 1999, Darren was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Diamondbacks for Ben Ford and Izzy Molina.
1982 - Just 14 games into the 1982 AL season, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fires Yankees Manager Bob Lemon and replaces him with former manager Gene Michael, the man who Bob Lemon had replaced last September.
1983 - Current Yankees minor league 1B Juan Miranda was born in Cuba. He is currently playing in AAA at Scranton.
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