Sunday, May 17, 2009

This Week in Yankees History

This Week in Yankees History

May 17th - May 23rd


May 17th

1920 - Former Yankees P James “Hot Rod” McDonald (1952-54, 1955) was born. On November 23, 1951, Jim was traded by the Browns to the Yankees for reserve C Clint Courtney. Jim went 16-12 in 69 games for the Yankees. In December of 1954, he was traded by the Yankees to the Orioles in the big 17-man trade. On July 30, 1955, he was traded by the Orioles to the Yankees for veteran starter Ed Lopat. He would go 4-1 in 16 games for the Yankees in 1955. Before the start of 1956 AL Season started, Jim was sent from the Yankees to the Orioles in an unknown transaction.

1961 - The 1960 AL MVP Roger Maris hit his 1st HR of the 1961 AL season at Yankee Stadium (4th overall) on his way to a MLB season-record HR of 61.

1975 - Former Yankees INF Scott Seabol (2001) was born. Scott was drafted by the Yankees in the 88th round of the 1996 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 1 game with 1at bat and no hits. On October 15, 2002, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. He would be signed by the St. Louis Cardinals.

1977 - After dropping 2 games in a row to the A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle, who hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.

1982 - Former Yankees OF Dixie Walker (1931-36) passes away (1910-1982). Dixie was unable to break into the Yankees starting outfield of the 1930’s. He was waived to the White Sox. Later in the NL, he would have a very successful MLB career with the Dodgers.

1998 - David Wells pitched the 13th perfect game in modern MLB history, as the Yankees beat the Twins, by a score of 4-0. Wells, whose perfecto was the 1st by a Yankees pitcher since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, also set an A L record by retiring 37 batters in a row, dating back to his last start on May 12th against the Royals. The Twins shortstop Pat Meares flied out to RF Paul O'Neill to complete the perfect game afternoon at Yankee Stadium.

2008 - 1B Jason Giambi hits his 185th MLB career HR as a Yankee in a 7-4 loss, during a inter league game against the Mets at Yankee Stadium. He had been tied with former Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller at 184. Now he is tied at 185 with former Yankees OF Paul O’Neill.

May 18th

1885 - Former Yankees P Eros “Cy” Barger (1906-07) was born. Cy went 0-0 in 3 games with 1 save with the Yankees.

1905 - Former Yankees reserve C Art Jorgens (1929-39) was born. On August 24, 1928, Art was purchased by the Yankees from the Oklahoma City (Western League). Art was a back up catcher for the Yankees for 11 seasons for AL All Star C Bill Dickey, appearing in only 307 games and hitting .238.

1930 - Yankees Starter George Pipgras tossed his 3rd shutout of the 1930 AL season as the Yankees again, supported his pitching by bombing the host Red Sox, by a score of 11-0. Babe Ruth hit an Ed Morris pitch over the RF bleachers, for one of the longest HRs ever hit at Fenway Park.

1935 - Indians Earl Averill ruins starter Lefty Gomez’s bid for a no-hitter, by hitting 2 singles, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 3-0.

1946 - Former Yankees HOF OF/DH Reggie Jackson (1977-81) is born. Reggie Jackson will make his MLB debut in 1967 with the Kansas City A’s. His stay in Yankees pinstripes was a wild one with filled the fights with Manager Billy Martin and disagreements with Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner. His greatest Yankees moment was in the 1977 World Series, when he hit 3 HR’s in 1 game against the Dodgers. He will finish his MLB career with 563 HRs, 6th on the all-time MLB career HR list. His final Yankees career totals were a lifetime BA of .281 with 144 HRs with 461 RBIs in 653 games. Reggie appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees hitting .391 with 8 HRs, 17 RBIs in 13 games. Reggie was elected to Baseball’s HOF in 1993. He currently serves as a Special Advisor to the Yankees Front Office.

1947 - Former Yankees 1B and Manager Hal “Prince Hal” Chase (1905-1913) passes away at the age of 64. (1883-1947). On October 4, 1904, Hal was drafted by the Highlanders from Los Angeles (PCL) in the 1904 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He hit .284 in 1,061 games as Yankee from 1905-1913. Hal Chase managed the Yankees in 1910-11, posting an 85-78 record. On June 1, 1913, Hal was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for INF Rollie Zeider and 1B Babe Borton. Yankees Manager Frank Chance had suspected Chase of betting on Yankee games and had him traded away. Many of the MLB players and baseball writers from his playing days, didn’t rate Hal Chase as being an “honest” player, Hal was a great defensive 1B and hitter. His gambling problems would later cost him his MLB career and a chance to be in Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

1956 - AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the Yankees hit HR’s from both sides of the plate for the 3rd time in his MLB career, setting a MLB record. Mantle included a perfect 4-for-4 day, helping the Yankees to an 8-7 victory over the White Sox.

1958 - The Yankees sweep the Senators in a doubleheader at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C, winning by scores of 5-2 and 3-0 before 27,704 fans. This doubleheader sweep brings the Yankees record to a 19-5 for 1958 AL season. In the opener, former NL veteran starter Sal “The Barber” Maglie goes 8 innings for the Yankees, allowing only 8 hits and 2 runs. In the 9th inning, Yankees bullpen ace Ryne Duren closes out the game for his 6th save of the 1958 AL season. Sal Maglie hits a 2-run HR shot off of Senators starter Pedro Ramous in the 4th inning. Mickey Mantle had hit a solo HR in the 3rd inning. In the nightcap, “Bullet Bob” Turley throws a 3-0 shutout, allowing only 5 hits and striking out 6 Senator batters. Yankees Tony Kubek and Mickey Mantle provided the Yankees offense driving in 3 runs. Yankees rookie 1B Marvin Throneberry gets a rare start at 1st base, going 1 for 2 in the game.

1968 - The Yankees obtained veteran closer John Wyatt from the Red Sox for cash. He was obtained from the Red Sox, appearing in only 7 games posting an 0-2 mark, before being sold to the Tigers. John had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before being signed by the Kansas City A’s.

1974 - Former Co-Owner of Yankees Dan Topping (1945-1964) passes away (1912-1974). Along with business partners Del Webb and Larry McPhail, they brought the Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert estate in 1945. After the 1947 AL season, they bought out partner Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping would sell the Yankees to CBS in 1964.

1976 - Yankees obtained OF Carlos May from the White Sox for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos will hit .287 in 87 games in 1976 for the Yankees before fading in 1977 and being sold to the Angels in September.

1999 - The Red Sox defeated the Yankees, by the score of 6-3, in the return of Yankees Manager Joe Torre, after being treated for prostate cancer. Yankees Bench Coach Don Zimmer had been handling the manager duties, while Joe Torre was away.

2003 - The Rangers swept 3 games at Yankee Stadium from the Yankees, for the 1st time in the franchise's 43-year MLB existence.

May 19th

1891 - Former Yankees P George Clark (1913) was born. George went 0-1 in 11 games for the Yankees in 1913.

1928 - Former Yankees INF Gil "Smash" McDougald (1951-1960) was born. Gil was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in 1948. Gil was a versatile infielder for the Yankees. In 1951, he won the AL Rookie of the Year award. He would hit a Grand Slam HR in the 1951 World Series against the Giants. Gil would make AL All Star team several times during the 1950’s. In 1957, a tragic line drive hit by Gil off of Indians starter Herb Score in the face affected the rest of his MLB career. Gil had lost his aggressive approach at the plate. In December of 1960, Gil had been drafted by the new Washington Senators in the 1960 AL expansion player draft. He refused to go to the new club. Also Gil turned down a $100,000 player-manager job offer from the new LA Angels team. His former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had recommended him to the Angels Owner Gene Autry for the job. Gil retired from the Yankees. He would later become the baseball coach for Fordham University. Gil finished his fine Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .276, 112 HRs with 576 RBI’s in 1,336 games. He appeared in 8 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .237 with 7 HRs and 24 RBIs.

1948 - Former Yankees DH/OF Carlos May (1976-77) was born. On May 18, 1976, Carlos was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos hit .287 in 87 games in 1976. In 1977, he only hit .227 in 65 games. On September 16, 1977, he purchased by the Angels from the Yankees.

1954 - Former Yankees C/DH/1B Rick Cerone (1980-85, 1987, 1990) was born. Rick never lived up to his potential as hitting catcher after replacing Thurman Munson as the Yankees regular catcher in 1980, after Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. Rick was obtained in the Chris Chambliss trade with Blue Jays.

1955 - Former Yankees P Ed Whitson (1985-86) was born. Ed went 17-10 in 44 games with the Yankees. He was a major disappointment for the Yankees as a free agent signing.

1960 - The Yankees re-obtained veteran OF Bob Cerv from the A’s for 3B Andy Carey. Andy had lost his Yankees 3B starting job to Clete Boyer. Bob Cerv will provide power off the bench and outfield defense for the Yankees for the rest of 1960 AL season, before being lost to the Angels in the AL player expansion team draft in December of 1960. He would be re-obtained by the Yankees from the Angels in May of 1961 in the Ryne Duren trade.

1969 - Yankees obtained OF Jose Vidal from the Pilots for OF Richard Simpson. Jose Vidal never plays for the Yankees at MLB level.

1977 - After dropping 2 games in a row to the A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle for hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.

May 20th

1890 - Former Yankees P Jesse ‘”Jim” Buckles (1916) was born. He appeared in 2 games with no record for the Yankees in 1916.

1893 - Former Yankees P Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born. Walt appeared in 1 game with no record for the Yankees in 1918.

1897 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-29, 1932-33) was born. He was the relief ace of the 1927 Yankees, posting a 19-7 record with 13 saves. His Yankees pitching career totals were 36-20 in 142 games with 27 saves. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.

1904 - Former Yankees P Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski (1933) was born. Pete appeared in 1 game with Yankees, posting no record in 1933.

1913 - Yankees obtained shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Indians for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would stabilized the Yankees infield from 1913-1921.

1923 - Babe Ruth’s 15th inning 2-run HR gives Yankees starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the White Sox. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees allowing only 4 hits in 15 innings.

1925 - The Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Yankees, by a score of 10-9. Indians Tris Speaker scored the winning run from 1st base on a single.

1930 - Former Yankees reliever and Pitching Coach Tom “Plowboy” Morgan (1951-52, 1954-56) was born. (1930-1987). Tom was signed by the Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent before the 1949 AL season. Tom was a relief pitcher for the Yankees during the early 1950’s. His Yankee pitching career totals were 38-22 in 156 games with 26 saves. Tom was traded to the A’s in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, posting a 0-1 mark in 5 games. Later, Tom would become a Yankees pitching coach during the 1980’s. He finished his MLB pitching career in 1963 with the Angels, working for the team as a pitching coach in their farm system.

1943 - Former Yankees 1B David McDonald (1969) was born. David was signed by the Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent in 1962. He only appeared in 9 games for the Yankees, just hitting only .217 in 1969. On May 15, 1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for reliever Gary Waslewski.

1945 - One-armed OF Pete Gray of the Browns enjoyed an incredible day against the Yankees. Gray made 3 outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBI, and scored the game-winning run during the St. Louis Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.

1946 - Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, Coach and Yankees broadcast announcer Robert “Bobby “ Murcer (1965-66, 1969-1974,1979-1983) was born (1946-2008). Bobby 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 season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331. In the winter of 1974, he was traded to the Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees during the 1979 MLB season, being obtained from the Cubs. Finishing out his Yankees playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees announcer. Bobby passed away in 2008, after batting brain cancer.

1946 - Former Yankees OF Jim Lyttle (1969-1971) was born. Jim was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1966 amateur MLB player draft. Jim’s best season with the Yankees was in 1970, when he hit .310. In 1971, he missed most of the season being sick with mono. On October 13, 1971, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for P Rich Hinton.

1948 - Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and collected 6 RBIs in the 13-2 Yankees victory over the White Sox. DiMaggio hit 2 HRs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly missed another extra-base hit, when Chicago LF Ralph Hodgin made a spectacular catch at the outfield wall.

1959 - The Tigers beat the Yankees by a score of 13-6, to place New York in last place in the AL for the 1st time in 19 years, since May of 1940. The team was plagued by injuries to virtually every starting player in the Yankees regular starting line up, plus the pitching staff had several arm injuries, including 1958 Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley. The 1959 Yankees would finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record, behind the 2nd place Indians and the AL Champions White Sox.

1963 - Former Yankees P David “Boomer” Wells (1997-98, 2002-03) was born. On December 24, 1996, Dave was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Dave pitched a perfect game for the Yankees. His final Yankees pitching career record was 66-28. Dave’s best Yankees season was in 2002, when he went 19-7. In 1998, he went 18-4 and won the ALCS MVP Award. Dave was named to the 1998 AL All Star team. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 1-1. In ALCS play, he went 6-1 for the Yankees. On February 18, 1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with INF Homer Bush and P Graeme Lloyd to the Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2002, he would return to the Yankees as a free agent.

1969 - Yankees acquired veteran reliever Jack Aker (1969-1972) from the Pilots for Yankees P Fred Talbot. Jack helped stabilized the Yankees bullpen for 3 seasons. He went 16-10 with 59 saves in 164 games.

1976 - Another Yankee-Red Sox brawl took place at Yankee Stadium, which a pile-on brawl resulting in Red Sox starter Bill “Spaceman” Lee seriously injuring his pitching arm. It all started when Yankees OF Lou Piniella, crashed into Red Sox C Carlton Fisk while trying to score from 2nd on a single by Graig Nettles. Red Sox RF Dwight Evans throw had Lou out at the plate, but he barreled into Fisk resulting in a fight between them, which emptied both team benches.

2006 - A Yankees uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series (1951) was sold for $195,500 during the 2nd day of an auction of his memorabilia. Yesterday, DiMaggio's 1947 AL MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 percent buyer's premium. It was his 3rd AL MVP award, but it was the only plaque. The 2-day auction featured more than 1,000 items of Joe DiMaggio memorabilia also included a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio's Yankees teammates and members of the Red Sox, a typed note signed by entertainer Frank Sinatra, an a signed photograph of DiMaggio's one-time wife, actress Marilyn Monroe. This memorabilia auction was held by Hunt's Auctions Inc. in New York City. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

May 21st

1906 - Former Yankees P Henry ‘”Hank” Johnson (1925-26,1928-32) was born. Hank went 37-36 in 157 games with 7 saves as Yankee. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he went 14-9 in 31 games. On June 5,1932, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ivy Andrews and $50,000 to the Red Sox for P Danny Mac Fayden.

1912 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) was born. Larry appeared in only 36 games for the Yankees in 1944, just hitting .198.

1923 - The formal transfer of T.L. Huston's interest in the Yankees ownership to his business partner, Jacob Ruppert is completed for $1.5 million. Ten days later, Ruppert buys 2 more sets of uniforms so his players can wear a clean outfit every day, an unprecedented move.

1930 - Babe Ruth hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 1st game of a doubleheader against the A's, then batting against Jack Quinn in the 9th inning. Ruth decides to hit righthanded. After 2 strikes, he switches to lefty, but he strikes out. This is the 1st of 2 career 3-HR games for the Babe. Max Bishop draws 5 walks for the 2nd time in his career (he is the only player to do this twice), and Jimmie Foxx homers to help the A's to a 15-7 victory. Ruth is homer-less in the 2nd game, a 4-1 Yankee loss, but Bishop has 3 more walks. Bishop will also walk 8 times in a doubleheader in 1934, the only player to collect more than 6 walks in an afternoon.

1932 - Before 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees roll over the Senators, by scores of 14-2 and 8-0. Washington collects just 11 hits off of Yankee starters Herb Pennock and Johnny Allen. In the opener, Babe Ruth homers in the 5th inning off of P Lloyd Brown. Babe and Lou Gehrig connect in the 6th inning off of P Frank Ragland. Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri is 6-for-7 on the afternoon, including a HR, 2 doubles and a triple.

1938 - The power-laden Yankees give little hitting or run support to their starter Spud Chandler, but he hits a HR in the 8th inning to gain a 1-0 victory over White Sox starter Thornton Lee.

1941 - Former Yankees INF (1968-69) and Coach Bobby Cox (1969-1976) was born. On December 7, 1967, Bobby was traded by the Braves to the Yankees for C Bob Tillman and P Dale Roberts. Bobby was the Yankees 3B in 1968-69 seasons, he batted .229 and .218. In 1970-71, he would play for the Yankees AAA club in Syracuse (IL). Bobby was originally signed by the Dodgers in 1959. He was more successful as a MLB manager with the Braves and Blue Jays than as a MLB player.

1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1971) was born. Rich was acquired from the White Sox for Yankees OF Jim Lyttle in 1971; he went 1-0 before being traded to the Rangers.

1947 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio and 5 other players are slapped with $100 fines for not fulfilling their player contract requirements to do promotional duties for the Yankees.

1954 - Red Sox rookie starter Frank Sullivan makes his 1st MLB start beating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, by a score of 6-3. Sullivan strikes out Mickey Mantle 3-times before Mickey clocks one over the auxiliary scoreboard into the RF-CF bleachers.

1956 - At Kansas City, Mickey Mantle clouts a drive over the 2nd and more distance fence in RF to help the Yankees win, by the score of 8-5. The drive, off of P Moe Burtschy, matches HRs to that spot hit by AL hitters Larry Doby and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.

1957 - For his part in the Copacabana nightclub fight incident, Yankees OF Hank Bauer is arraigned in NYC court. He is eventually cleared and threatens to sue the alleged victim, Edward Jones, who suffered a concussion and a broken jaw. In today's game, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford are benched, while Bauer bats 8th in the Yankees starting batting order. Mickey Mantle has a single, 2 walks, and a HR to back starter Bob Turley's 4-hit, 3-0 shutout over the A's. Turley helps his cause by starting a triple play. The Yankees now trail the White Sox by a half game

1962 - The Orioles signed veteran starter Robin Roberts, who was released by the Yankees on April 30th. Roberts will go on to win 42 games for Orioles before going to Houston and then finishing his MLB career with the Cubs. The Yankees management had decided that veteran Bob Turley was better choice than Robin Roberts; it proved to be a big mistake. Many feel that Robin Roberts would have made the 300 wins MLB career mark, if he had stayed as a Yankee. Turley was 3-3 in 24 games in 1962, before finishing up his MLB career in 1963 splitting time with Angels and the Red Sox.

1967 - Tigers starter Earl Wilson gives Detroit its 3rd straight win over the Yankees, with a 9-4 victory. Mickey Mantle hits his 5th HR in 6 games but it's not enough for Yankees starter Whitey Ford, who appears in his last MLB game for the Yankees.

1970 - A generous Yankees starter Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in 8 1/3 innings, but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last 2 outs to preserve the 2-0 win. The 11 walks in a shutout ties Lefty Gomez, who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater's 2-run HR in the 5th inning, accounts for the scoring off of P Richard Such, making his 1st MLB start.

1971 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Widger (2002) was born. Chris hit .297 in 24 games with the Yankees during the 2002 AL season.

1997 - Roger Clemens fires the Blue Jays past the Yankees, by the score of 4 -1, for his 8th win of the 1997 AL season against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200 MLB career game, the 94th MLB pitcher to reach 200 wins mark.

2004 - On his 1st return to Texas, former AL All Star Ranger, now a Yankee, Alex Rodriguez is roundly booed by Ranger fans at The Ballpark in Arlington. The fans continue to show their displeasure as the Yankees' 3B drives a 2-1 pitch over the fence during his 1st inning at-bat.

2005 - As Dae-Sung Koo stands in against Yankee starter Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza confides to David Wright in the dugout, "If he gets a hit, I'll donate a million dollars to charity." The Korean reliever, batting lefty off the Yankee fire-balling southpaw, was afraid to stand in the batter box in a previous game, but promptly hits a 91-mph fastball to the wall in center for a double causing the Mets catcher to say he will be making a significant donation to a charity over the next 20 years.

May 22nd

1913 - Browns rookie P Dwight Stone gives up 6 hits, 7 walks and plunks 3 batters, but still beats the Yankees by the score of 7-0. The visiting Yankees strand a modern-MLB record of 15 runners in the shutout by Stone, who will win just 1 more game in 1913. Ed Klepfer is the losing pitcher in his only decision of the year. The record will be matched 3 times and finally topped, in 1994. The NL record of 14 runners stranded in a shutout was set less than 2 weeks ago by Pirates against the Phillies.

1923 - Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie between the Yankees and the White Sox by clouting a 2-run HR in the 15th inning. The blow breaks up a tense pitching duel between little Mike Cvengros and Herb Pennock, who goes all the way giving up just 4 hits. The Yankees have now won 12 of 13 contests in their western road trip.

1930 - At Shribe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees and the A’s continue the HR barrage as the Yankees take both games of a 2nd straight doubleheader, 10-1 and 20-13. Babe Ruth hits a pair of HRs in the opener, as does Ben Chapman and winning pitcher George Pipgras. The Yankees score 9 runs in the 1st two innings of the 2nd game, but the A's come back to tie it at 12 apiece. The Yankees win the assault 20-13 as Tony Lazzeri is 4-for-4, scores 5 runs, and knocks in 4 runs. Babe Ruth hits another HR in the 2nd game, while Lou Gehrig powers 3 HRs to drive in 8 runs. On the A's side, Jimmie Foxx has 2-HRs to drive in 6 runs. For the afternoon, the teams combine to hit 14 HRs, a then record 10 HRs in game 2.

1933 - INF Joe Sewell of the Yankees fans for the 1st time for the 1933 AL season, in a 3-0 Yankee victory, behind starter Lefty Gomez over the Indians. Sewell will strike out only 3 more times in 524 at bats during the 1933 AL season.

1934 - The Indians stop the Yankees by the score of 5-1, with Lou Gehrig driving in the lone run for New York. For the 2nd time in his MLB career, Lou has driven in at least 1-run a game for 10 straight games.

1944 - Former Yankees P Tommy John (1979-1982, 1986-1989) was born. On November 21, 1978, Tommy signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Tommy John won 21 and 20 games in 1979 and 1980 for the Yankees. On August 31, 1982, Tommy was traded by the Yankees to the Angels for a player to be named later. The Angels would send P Dennis Rasmussen on November 24, 1982 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He would returned to the Yankees in 1986, he played with the team until 1989. His final Yankees pitching career record was 91-60.

1946 - The Yankees turn a triple play during a 5-3 win at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers had runners on 1st and 3rd, when Richard Wakefield hit a ground ball to Yankees 1B Nick Etten, who threw home to get the lead runner. Yankees C Bill Dickey chased that lead runner back towards 3B, then he threw to 3B George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, who made the tag. Meanwhile, the runner on 1B had foolishly strayed beyond 2B, apparently undecided whether or not to attempt to advance to 3B during the rundown. A throw to shortstop trapped this runner between 2B and 3B, Phil Rizzuto, eventually tagged him out. During this rundown, Wakefield attempted to reach 2B, Phil Rizzuto’s quick flip to 2B Joe Gordon, completed the triple play.

1947 - The Yankees beat Red Sox by the score of 9-0, as starter Allie Reynolds fires his second 2-hit shutout over the Red Sox in a month. Red Sox starter Harry Dorish is the loser.

1953 - Yankees' OF Irv Noren ends the game by lining back to Nats hurler Bob Porterfield, who starts a triple play, as the Senators beat the Yankees by a score of 12-4. The Senators score 5-runs in the 1st inning off of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds. Washington racked up 18 hits including a 3-run HR and 2-run double by Clyde Vollmer. Yankees veteran Johnny Mize hits pinch single in the 9th inning, his 5th pinch single in a row, breaking a mark set by Cleveland's Les Fleming in 1947. Mize has had a walk and been hit by a pitch in his last 7 pinch-hitting appearances.

1954 - At Yankee Stadium, Allie Reynolds tosses a 7-hit shutout over the Red Sox to win 7-0. Mickey Mantle is the Yankees main offense, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Mickey will knock in 10 runs in the 3-game series against the Red Sox.

1956 - Detroit's Red Wilson belts a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees. The loss goes to Whitey Ford, his 1st following 6 straight wins. Ford had given up just 5 earned runs through 54 innings before today’s game.

1959 - Orioles' starter Hoyt Wilhelm 1-hits the Yankees winning the game by the score of 1-0, with Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe's single in the 8th inning as the spoiler. Yankees All Star switch-hitter Mickey Mantle hits righty against Wilhelm and does no better than he has been lefty. On May 28th, Wilhelm, who is a veteran knuckleball pitcher, will beat the Yankees again, this time by a score of 5-0.

1962 - The Yankees RF Roger Maris, who went all of the 1961 AL season without receiving an intentional walk, collects 4 walks in a 12-inning, in a 2-1 win against the Angels to set an AL record. Maris receives 5 walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley and Bob Turley) combine to give up just 1 hit in 12 innings. Yankees starter Whitey Ford leaves after 7 innings, because of back spasms, Jim Coates gives up the lone Angel hit, a 1-out 9th-inning single to rookie backstop Buck Rodgers.

1963 - At Yankee Stadium, Yankees blow a 7-0 lead and allows A’s to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Mickey Mantle, leading off the 11th inning, is fooled by Bill Fischer on a slow curve, then cannons a 2-2 pitch that almost clears the Yankee Stadium RF roof. "The hardest ball I ever hit," Mantle later comments. A ball that by some accounts was still rising when it struck a foot below the top. It is conservatively estimated by Dr. James McDonald, a physicist who studies long-ball trajectories, which the ball would have traveled 620 feet if it had not struck the facade. "That was the only homer I ever hit that the bat actually bent in my hands," Mantle tells his Yankees teammate Dale Long, from whom he borrowed the bat.

1977 - After 3 straight losses to the Orioles, Yankees give the starting assignment to lefthander Ron Guidry, who throws a 4-hitter defeating the O’s by a score of 8-2.

1996 - The A’s spoil “Dwight Gooden Day” at Yankee Stadium, by hitting 5 solo HRs, including 3 by Yankees-killer Geronimo Berroa to beat the Yankees by the score of 5-1. The A’s 5 runs, all coming on HRs, ties the MLB mark.

1997 - The visiting Red Sox collect 19 hits, but strand 16 base runners, while beating the Yankees, by the score of 8-2. Former Yankee Mike Stanley hits a 3-run HR, and Wil Cordero adds 5 hits; Tim Naehring has 4 hits and Mo Vaughn belts his 10th HR of the 1997 AL season in the 8th inning.

1999 - The Yankees defeat the White Sox by the score of 10-2, in the 1st game of a double header. Roger Clemens gets the win for the Yankees, giving him an AL record 19 consecutive victories over the course of 2 seasons; he will extend the streak by 1 game before losing. This win was delayed by a stint on the Disabled List and a rainout. The White Sox come back to take the nightcap by a score of 2-1.

May 23rd

1923 - Former Yankees reserve C William “Dutch” Drescher (1944-46) was born. Bill hit .266 in 57 games for the Yankees during 1944-46 AL seasons.

1946 - Yankee players Joe DiMaggio, Nick Etten and Joe Gordon hit consecutive HRs during the Yankees 8-run, 5th inning against the Tigers. Detroit starter Virgil Trucks gave up the 1st –two HR shots, then reliever Hal White gives up Joe Gordon’s HR shot. The Yankees win the game by a score of 12-6.

1948 - Joe DiMaggio of the Yankees hits 3 consecutive HRs in a 6-5, 1st game of a doubleheader victory over the Indians. Two of his homers came off of Tribe’s starter Bob Feller. The 3rd HR came off of reliever Bob Muncreif, which proved to be the game-winner. The Tribe would bounce back in the nightcap with a 5-1 win.

1956 - Former Yankees minor league player and Manager, Yankees Manager Buck Showalter (1992-1995) was born. Buck played (OF) and managed in the Yankees farm system before becoming the team’s manager in 1992. His Yankees manager record was 313-268, with 1 AL Playoff appearance in 1995. His 1994 Yankees team had a record of 70-43, when the MLB strike stopped the 1994 AL season.

1960 - Yankees released veteran OF Elmer Valo. Elmer was at the end of a long MLB career. On December 11, 1959, Elmer was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in only 8 games for the Yankees in 1960 with no hits. He would be picked up by the Washington Senators.

1962 - Yankees Rookie OF/1B Joe Pepitone hits 2 HRs in the 9-run 8th-inning of the Yankees' 13-7 triumph over the A’s. His 2-HR, Joe becomes the only other Yankee besides Joe DiMaggio to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning. Pepitone led off the 8th inning with a HR off of A’s starter Dan Pfister, later he hit a HR 3-run HR off of A’s closer John Wyatt. Also Yankees rookie INF Phil Linz gets his 1st MLB career hit, a HR.

1990 - Former Yankees OF Charles “King Kong” Keller (1939-1949, 1952) passed away. (1916-1990). Charlie’s successful Yankees career was cut short by bad problems. He finished with a lifetime BA of .285 for the Yankees with 184 HR’s with 723 RBI’s. He was on the AL All Star team in 1940-41, 1943; 1946-47.He appeared in 4 World Series with the Yankees hitting .306 with 7 HRs with 11 RBIs in 19 games.

1995 - Yankees rookie pitcher Mario Rivera makes his MLB debut for the team, starting against the Angels. Mo only lasts 3 ½ innings giving up 8 hits, 3 walks in a 10-0 loss to the Angels.

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

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