This Week in Yankees History (8/9-8/15)

This Week in Yankees History

August 9th - August 15th

August 9th

1919 - Former Yankees Player (1947-54), MLB Coach, Manager (1961-1963,1966-1973) General Manager (1964-66), Ralph “The Major” Houk was born. The Yankees signed Ralph as an MLB amateur free agent in 1939. He was a Yankees reserve catcher (1947-54), appearing in 91 games while hitting 272. He became a Yankee MLB bullpen coach in 1955, before going to Denver (AAA) to manage in the Yankees farm system.He returned to the Yankees to coach under Casey Stengel in 1960. He replaced Casey Stengel as the Yankees manager in 1961, winning AL Flags from 1961-1963 and winning 2 World Championships (1961-1962).

In 1964, he became the Yankees GM with Yogi Berra taking over as Yankees Manager. Ralph fired Yogi after the 1964 World Series loss to the Cardinals replacing him with ex-Cardinals Manager Johnny Keane. He replaced Johnny Keane in 1966, staying with the team in end of the 1973 AL season, resigning because of problems with new Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner. Ralph had been with the Yankees organization for over 30 years. He would later manage the Red Sox and Tigers before retiring from MLB baseball. Ralph was called “The Major” from his WWII combat experience during the Battle of Bulge, in which he was awarded The Bronze Star and a field promotion to the rank of Major.

1919 - Former Yankees P Fred Sanford (1949-51) was born. On December 13, 1948, Fred was traded by the Browns along with Roy Partee to the Yankees for C Sherm Lollar, P Red Embree, INF Richard Starr, and $100,000. Fred went 12-10 in 46 games with the Yankees. On June 15, 1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with hurlers Tom Ferrick and Bob Porterfield to the Senators for P Bob Kuzava.

1925 - Yankees reserve OF Bobby Veach pinch hits for Babe Ruth. This was only time in Babe Ruth’s career that a Yankee battled in his place. He flied out, the Yankees lose the game by the score of 4-3 in 12 innings.

1934 - Former Yankees P Elia Grba (1959-1960) was born. Elia was originally signed by Red Sox. On March 14, 1957, he was traded by the Red Sox along with OF Gordie Windhorn to the Yankees for OF Bill Renna. Grba went 8-9 in 53 games for the Yankees (1959-1960) before being drafted by expansion Angels in December of 1960. He would later work in the Brewers farm system as a pitching instructor.

1939 - Yankees 3B Red Rolfe begins an 18-game scoring streak. The Penacook, New Hampshire native will score 30 runs during this period of time.

1940 - Steve Sundra posts his 1st win of the year for the Yankees. The Yankees, at 51-51, seem certain to be out of the running for their 5th straight AL Championship. However, they will go 37-15 the rest of the way and actually make the top for a few hours on September 11th. The Yankees will ultimately finish 3rd place, losing 3 straight games to the Browns on September 15-16th.

1941 - Former Yankees reliever Paul Linblad (1978) was born. Paul was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers on August 1, 1978. Paul appeared in 7 games for the Yankees with no record with an ERA of 4.42. He was released to the Mariners after the 1978 AL season.

1944 - The Browns win their 9th straight game for the 2nd time this season in a 3-2 win over the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. They lead AL by 6 1/2 games. St Louis's other team, the Cardinals, after winning 26 in July, now leads the NL by 16 1/2 games. They will both meet in the 1944 World Series.

1946 - Former Yankees reserve C/DH Jerry Moses (1973) was born. Jerry came to the Yankees in the Graig Nettles trade from the Indians. He hit .254 in 59 games.

1948 - The Yankees waived P Karl Drews (1946-1948) to the Browns. Karl went 8-9 in 53 games with the Yankees.

1949 - Dom DiMaggio's 34-game hitting streak is on the line against Yankees starter Vic Raschi. Hitless in his 1st four at bats, Dom hits a sinking line drive in the 8th inning that his brother Joe catches at his shoe tops. The Red Sox win the game by a score of 6-3 to move 5 1/2 games behind the Yankees. Dom had started his streak after going hitless against Yankees starter
Vic Raschi.

1967 - Former Yankees OF Deion “Neon” Sanders (1989-1990) was born. Deion was drafted by the Yankees in the 30th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Deion hit .196 in 71 games, before being released by the Yankees, on September 24, 1990. He would sign with the Braves.

1975 - Former Yankees INF Mike Lamb (2004) was born. On February 5, 2004, Mike was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for P Jose Garcia. After the Yankees acquired All Star shortstop Alex Rodriquez from Rangers, Mike became expendable, when the Yankees announced that A-Rod would become the Yankees 3B. On March 25, 2004, Mike was traded by the Yankees to the Astros for minor league player Juan DeLeon.

1978 - The Yankees rallied for 5 runs in the 9th inning to beat the Brewers by a score of 8-7 at Yankee Stadium.

1985 - In a 15-4 Tigers mauling of the Yankees, Catcher Rick Cerone takes the mound. Again, he walks 1 batter and allows no runs, the 2nd time in 3 weeks he's caught and pitched in the same game.

1991 - Former Yankees reserve INF Hank Majeski (1946) passed away. On May 25, 1941, He was purchased by the Yankees from the Braves. Hank only appeared in 8 games with the Yankees during the 1946 AL season, just hitting .083. On June 14,1946, Hank was purchased by the A’s from the Yankees.

1992 - Yankees rookie starter Sam Militello allows just 1-hit in 7 innings as he defeats the Red Sox, by the score of 6-0, in his MLB pitching debut. Sam was drafted by the Yankees in the 6th round of the 1990 MLB amateur player draft. His MLB pitching career record would be 4-4 in 12 games (1991-92) for the Yankees.

1996 - The Tigers defeat the Yankees, by a score of 5-3, as DH Ruben Sierra, who was traded 9 days ago from the Yankees, drives home all 5 Tiger runs with a double and 3-run HR.

1997 - The Yankees beat Twins starter Brad Radke by the score of 4-1, stopping Radke's
12-game winning streak. Yankees reserve INF Luis Sojo snaps the 1-1 tie in the 8th inning with a 2-run HR. Since 1950, only 3 pitchers have won 12 straight games.

1999 - For the 1st time in MLB history, 5 grand slams HRs are hit in a single day. Cardinals Fernando Tatis, Expos Jose Vidro, Marlins Mike Lowell, Yankees Bernie Williams (against the A’s) and Mariners Jay Buhner, all connect to set the MLB record.

2001 - Yankees hurler Ted Lilly is suspended for 6 games for hitting Anaheim's Scott Spiezio in the head with a pitch in a game last Sunday. Yankees manager Joe Torre rips into baseball's Dean of Discipline, Frank Robinson for the decision. Lilly was not thrown out of the game by the AL umpires, when the incident occurred.

August 10th

1904 - Yankees starter Jack Chesbro is knocked out by the White Sox after pitching 30 complete games in a row. For the 1904 AL season, he will win 41 games, pitching 48 complete games out of 51 starts for the Highlanders. All are post-1900 records. His 455 innings pitched will be topped only by Ed Walsh's 464 innings in 1908.

1923 - Former Yankees P Bob Porterfield (1948-1951) was born. Before the 1946 AL Season, Bob was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Bob was bothered by back problems; he went 8-9 in 40 games with the Yankees. On June 15,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with pitchers Tom Ferrick and Fred Sanford to the Senators for P Bob Kuzava. Once healthy, Bob would win 22 games with the Senators in 1953. His trade to the Senators was a rare mistake made by Yankees GM George Weiss.

1926 - The Yankees dropped a scheduled 7 inning game with the Senators by the score of 5-3 in at Griffith Stadium. The game was shorten to allow travel requirements by train.

1933 - Former Yankees OF/P Rocky Colavitto (1968) was born. Rocky hit .229 in 30 games and won a game in relief for the Yankees during the 1968 AL season. The Yankees asked him to come back as a pitcher and OF/PH for the 1969 AL season instead he chose to retire as a MLB player.

1934 - Yankees All Star slugger Babe Ruth announces that 1934 AL season is definitely his final season as a regular MLB player. He says he will seek a managerial role and will pinch-hit for the 1935 MLB season. The Yankees will offer him a chance to manage the Newark Bears (AAA) in International League, but he turns it down and is released by the Yankees.

1935 - Yankees OF George Selkirk drives in 8-runs, one short of Jimmie Foxx's AL record, with 2 HRs and a single.

1953 - Former Yankees reserve INF Tom Brookens (1989) was born. On March 23, 1989, Tom was traded by the Tigers to the Yankees for P Charles Hudson. Tom hit .226 in 66 games for the Yankees during the 1989 AL season.

1957 - AL MVP winner Mickey Mantle blasts a 460-foot HR to become the 1st player to clear the CF hedge at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore as the Yankees beat the Orioles, by the score of 6-3.

1964 - Former Yankees reserve INF Andy Stankiewicz (1992-1993) was born. Andy was drafted by the Yankees in the 12th round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. Andy hit .268 in 132 games for the Yankees. On November 27, 1993, Andy was traded by the Yankees along with P Domingo Jean to the Astros for reliever Xavier Hernandez. Andy is now a MLB coach with the Marlins.

1965 - At Yankee Stadium, Twins starter Jim Kaat benefits from sloppy Yankees fielding as the Twins score 6 unearned runs to beat the Yankees by the score of 7-3.

1966 - Former Yankees MLB Coach (1947-48) and MLB Manager Chuck Dressen passed away from at heart attack at the age of 68. (1898-1966) Charlie had managed the Reds in the 1930’s, the Dodgers in 1951-1953 winning the 2 NL pennants. He was fired by the Dodgers front office in 1954 for asking a 2-year managing contract. Future HOF manager Walter Alston replaced Charlie. Chuck managed the Senators in AL during the 1955-1957 AL seasons. Charlie led the Braves in 1960-61, then he moved to the Tigers from 1963-1966. He was manager of the Tigers at the time of his death in 1966.

1966 - Former Yankees OF Gerald Williams (1992-1996, 2001-2) was born. Gerald was drafted by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 1987 MLB amateur player draft. He won the 1992 James P. Dawson Award as the best Yankees rookie in spring training camp. Overall Gerald appeared in 379 games with the Yankees and hitting .202. On August 23, 1996, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Bob Wickman to the Brewers for a player to be named later, Pat Listach, and P Graeme Lloyd. The Brewers would later send P Ricky Bones on August 29, 1996 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Pat Listach was returned to the Brewers on October 2, 1996, because of injury questions.

1968 - On Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium, the Twins stop the Yankees, by a score of 3-2. The Yankees only runs are 2 solo HR shots by Mickey Mantle off of Twins starter Jim Merritt. It is the Mickey's 46th 2-HR MLB career game.

1969- Yankee hitters Bobby Murcer, Thurman Munson and Gene Michaels hit consecutive HRs in the 6th inning off of Royals starter Lew Krause during a Yankees 5-1 win over the expansion Royals.

1971 - Former Yankees reserve C Sal Fasano (2006) was born. Sal hit .222 in 28 games for the Yankees as a back-up catcher after being obtained from the Phillies.

1977 - Yankee Manager Billy Martin installs Reggie Jackson as the Yankees' regular clean-up hitter in the Yankees starting line-up. The Yankees beat the A's by a score of 6-3, as Ron Guidry out-pitches A’s starter Vida Blue. Graig Nettles belts his 26th HR of the 1977 AL season. The Yankees will win 40 of final 53 games of the 1977 AL season, with Reggie Jackson contributing with 13 HRs and 49 RBIs.

1986 - During “Billy Martin Day” at Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers retire uniform #1 to honor their former scrappy 2nd baseman and 4-time manager.

1995 - Yankees' C Mike Stanley hits 3 HRs and drives home 7-runs, but it's not enough to prevent the Yankees from losing to Indians by a score of 10-9.

2000 - Winning for the 1st time in 16 starts, David Cone ends the worst slump of his MLB pitching career as the Yankees beat the A's, by the score of 12-6. Newly acquired DH/OF Jose Canseco hits a 3-run HR into the upper deck to help Cone stop his skid.

2005 - After being released from the hospital, an 18-year old fan appears in court to face criminal charges of trespassing, reckless endangerment, and criminal mischief stemming from his 40-foot plunge last night from the upper deck of Yankee Stadium into the netting behind home plate. Team owner George Steinbrenner called the incident ``... the only exciting thing that happened today,” after his struggling club loses to the 1st-place White Sox, by the score of 2-1.

August 11th

1907 - Former Yankees P Norman “Bobo” Newsome (1947) was born. After being obtained from the Senators during the 1947 AL season, Bobo went 7-5 in 17 games for the Yankees, before being released to the Giants in 1948.

1907 - Former Yankees P John “Dusty” Rhoades (1929-1932) was born. John went 7-10 in 3 games with the Yankees before going to the Red Sox during the 1932 AL season. His best Yankees season was in 1931, going 6-3 in 18 games.

1929 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits his 500th MLB career HR, this one off of the Indians' hurler Willis Hudlin. Second place all-time list is currently Cy Williams with 237 homers.

1936 - Former Yankees P and MLB Coach Bill Monbouquette (1967-68) was born. On May 31, 1967, Bill was signed as a free agent with the Yankees, after being released by the Tigers. Bill went 11-12 in 50 games with the Yankees. On July 12, 1968, Bill was traded by the Yankees to the Giants for veteran reliever Lindy McDaniel. He would become a MLB pitching coach, having a stint with the Yankees.

1946 - Former Yankees reserve INF Eddie Leon (1975) was born. On December 5, 1974, Eddie was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for P Cecil Upshaw. Eddie only appeared in 1 game with the Yankees before being released on May 5, 1975.

1955 - Red Sox All Star OF Ted Williams hits a single off of Yankees starter Bob Turley for his 2,000th MLB career hit despite his hit the Red Sox lose anyway to the Yankees by a score
of 5-3.

1965 - Former Yankees minor league INF Carlos Martinez was born. The Yankees signed Carlos as an MLB amateur free agent in 1983. He never appeared in a MLB game with the Yankees. On July 30,1986, he was traded by the Yankees with a player to be named later and C Ron Hassey to the White Sox for a player to be named later, OF/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. The Yankees would send C Bill Lindsey on December 24, 1986 to the White Sox to complete the trade.

1976 - Former Yankees reserve OF Bubba Crosby (2004-2006) was born. On July 31, 2003, Bubba was traded by the Dodgers along with P Scott Proctor to the Yankees for veteran 3B Robin Ventura. Bubba would win the 2003 James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. Bubba would hit .211 in 196 games before being granted free agency after the 2006 AL season ended.

1980 - Yankees All Star OF Reggie Jackson hits his 400th MLB career HR during the Yankees 3-1 victory over the White Sox at Yankee Stadium.

1984 - Current Yankees CF Melky Cabera (2005-08) was born. The Yankees signed Melky as an MLB amateur free agent in 2001. He has a lifetime BA of .266 in 398 MLB games for the Yankees.

August 12th

1934 - A Crowd of 41,766 fans turn out to Fenway Park to see what will probably be Babe Ruth's last MLB game played in Boston. In game 1 of the double-header, Ruth goes 2-5 with a double, but misplays a Billy Werber line drive into a triple. Ruth is 0-1 with 2 walks in the 2nd game, before leaving in the 6th inning.

1962 - Former Yankees P Dave Palvas (1995-96) was born. Dave went 0-0 in 20 games with the Yankees with 1 save.

1964 - Yankee slugger Mickey Mantle sets a MLB record when hits a HR from both sides of the plate for the 10th time in his MLB career. Mantle hits a left-handed HR off of Ray Herbert over the 461 ft. marker in CF and lands 15 rows into the bleachers, 502 ft. from home plate. The Yankees 7-3 victory over the White Sox marks the 1st start and MLB career victory by rookie hurler Mel Stottlemyre, who was called up from Richmond (AAA).

1977 - Yankee starters Catfish Hunter and Ed Figueroa combine to sweep the Angels by scores of 10-1 and 9-3, as the Yankees bang out 25 hits. Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss hits 2 HRs in the opener, while Reggie Jackson hits 2 HRs in the nightcap. Both Yankee starters throw 6-hitters in their victories against the Angels.

1994 -The MLB players go on strike. Yankees are in 1st place in the AL East. The Yankees in AL and the Expos in NL East have the best MLB team records. This strike will cancel the 1994 World Series for MLB.

2002 - Former Yankees OF and HOF Enos “Country” Slaughter (1954-55, 1956-59) passes away. On April 11, 1954, Enos was traded by the Cardinals to the Yankees for OF Bill Virdon, P Mel Wright, and OF Emil Tellinger (minors). His 1st tour with the Yankees was unsuccessful, with Enos only hitting .249 in 69 games. On May 11, 1955, he was traded by the Yankees along with veteran P Johnny Sain to the A’s for P Sonny Dixon and cash. On August 25, 1956, Enos was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the A’s. His return to the Yankees brought the release of long-time Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto. Enos performed better for the team with his 2nd tour before fading during the 1959 AL season, being sold to the Braves. Enos retired as an active player at the end of 1959 MLB season. He was elected to the HOF in 1985.

August 13th

1875 - Former Yankees Shortstop (1903-1909) and Manager (1908) Norman “Tabasco Kid” Elberfeld was born. On June 10, 1903, he was traded by the Tigers to the Highlanders for shortstops Herman Long and Ernie Courtney. The Kid’s best Yankees season was in 1906, when he hit .306 for the Yankees as the Yankees starting shortstop. During the 1908 AL season, he managed the Yankees to a 27-71 mark, after Manager Clark Griffth had quit as the manager in a dispute with Yankee owners Frank Farrell and Bill Devery. The Kid finished his Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .260. On December 14, 1909, he was purchased by the Senators from the Highlanders for $5,000.

1906 - Former Yankees P Kemp Wicker (1936-38) was born. Kemp went 9-5 in 24 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Dodgers in 1939.

1921 - At Shibe Park, a crowd of 33,000 fans, the largest crowd to watch a game in Philadelphia since 1914, see Yankees starter Carl Mays win his 15th straight game over the A’s as the Yankees prevail, by a score of 7- 2, in game 1. Yankees starter Bob Shawkey coasts home to a 13-7 win in the nightcap. Yankees OF Bob Meusel hits HRs in each game.

1922 - The Yankees shortstop Everett Scott nears 1,000 consecutive games played, but it takes an extra effort to keep the streak alive. He spends $40 to hire a car to get to Chicago in time for the game after a train he is on is wrecked.

1924 - The Yankees regain the AL lead with 1-0 and 2-1 victories over the Browns.

1930 - Former Yankees P Robert “Bob” Wiesler (1951, 1954-55) was born. Before the 1949 AL season, Bob was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Bob went 3-4 in 26 games for the Yankees. On February 8, 1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later, C Lou Berberet, INF Herb Plews, and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for P Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would send minor league OF Whitey Herzog on April 2, 1956 to the Senators to complete the trade.

1932 - It looks like the Yankees scoring streak might be broken, but P Red Ruffing hits a HR in the 10th inning to beat Al Thomas of the Senators by a score of 1-0. Tom Hughes, in 1906, was the last MLB pitcher to hit an extra-inning, game-winning HR.

1939 - Former Yankees P William “Bill” Stafford (1960-65) was born (1939-2001). Before the 1957 AL Season, Bill was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Bill came up to the Yankees in 1960, as a 20-year old rookie posting a 3-1 mark. In 1961, he went 14-9 for the Yankees. He was the winning pitcher of Roger Maris HR #61 game, winning a 1-0 shutout of the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Bill appeared in the 1960-61-62 World Series for Yankees going 1-0. He would go 14-9 as a regular starter for the 1962 AL season. In the April of 1963, while starting the Yankees opener at Kansas City, Bill hurt his pitching arm in cold weather. In 1964, he bounced back to go 5-0. In 1965, he had arm problems dropping to a 3-8 mark. On June 10, 1966, Bill was traded by the Yankees along with P Gil Blanco and OF Roger Repoz to the A’s for P Fred Talbot and C Billy Bryan. At the time of his trade, Bill was 5-0 at Richmond (AAA). Clippers Note: The Yankees should have held on to Bill Stafford, because Fred Talbot was a failure (8-16) as a starter and Bill Bryant never hit much for the Yankees. In 2001, Bill passed away from heart problems. His son, Mike is a pitching coach for the Blue Jays farm system and former minor league player.

1939 - The Yankees beat the A's by a score of 21-0 in the 2nd game of a doubleheader to equal the MLB record for lopsided shutouts. Yankees Joe DiMaggio and Babe Dahlgren each have 2-HRs, one each inside the park. Yankees P Red Ruffing collects 4 hits along with the victory. The Yankees had dropped the 1st game to the A’s by a score of 12-9.

1940 - Former Yankees Bullpen Coach and NL MLB P Tony Cloninger was born. Tony was the bullpen coach for the Yankees under Manager Joe Torre until 2002 when he left for the bullpen job with the Red Sox. Tony has recently been recovering from cancer.

1947 - Former Yankees reserve INF Fred “Chicken” Stanley (1973-80) was born. On October 24, 1972, Fred was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for C George Pena. Fred played a key role as INF reserve for the Yankees. Fred appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees (1976-78). On November 3, 1980, he was traded by the Yankees to the A’s for P Mike Morgan. After retiring as an active MLB player in 1983, he worked in the A’s front office. On October 12, 2007, he was appointed as the Giants Director of Player Development.

1957 - Yankees All Star CF Mickey Mantle goes 3-for-3 and drives in 3 runs as the Yankees edge the Red Sox by the score of 3-2. Mantle improves his average to .384 while Ted Williams, with 1-for-2, is at .388. A week later, Mantle will injure himself when he angrily swings a golf club at a branch and gouges his shinbone. This will effectively take him out of the running for a 2nd-straight AL triple crown.

1961 - In the 1st of 2 games with the Senators, Roger Maris belts his 44th HR to tie his Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle. An inning later, Mantle, hits a Bennie Daniels offering for his 45th HR, but that's all Daniels allows, winning by the score of 12-2. Roger Maris adds his 45th HR in the 1st inning in game 2, as the Yankees win the game by the score of 9-4.

1964 - CBS Inc. buys 80 percent of the New York Yankees from Yankee Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping, effective November 2, 1964.

1964 - Former Yankees OF Jay Buhner (1987-88) was born. On December 20, 1984, Jay was traded by the Pirates along with INF Dale Berra and P Alfonso Pulido to the Yankees for OF Steve Kemp, INF Tim Foli, and cash. Jay only appeared in 32 games for the Yankees, just hitting .207. On July 21,1988, Jay was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later and P Rich Balabon (minors) to the Mariners for 1B/DH Ken Phelps. The Yankees would later send minor league P Troy Evers on October 12, 1988 to the Mariners to complete the trade.

1969 - 1B Joe Pepitone returns to the Yankees, but does not play in their 5-2 loss to the Twins. Twins INF Rich Reese is 4-for-4 with 2-HRs and 2 singles to drive in 4-runs for the Twins as starter Jim Kaat is the winner over Yankees’ Mel Stottlemyre (16-9). Reese will have hits his 1st three at bats tomorrow before flying out.

1972 - Former HOF and Yankees General Manager George Weiss (1949-1960) passed away (1899-1972). George spent 29 years in the Yankee organization before being fired in October of 1960. Before becoming the Yankees GM in 1949, he helped run the Yankees farm system under Yankees long-time GM Ed Barrow. He would join the NL expansion Mets in 1961, as their 1st team GM, with Casey Stengel as the team’s 1st MLB manager

1973 - Yankees OF Roy White hits HRs from both sides of the plate as the Yankees top the Angels, by a score of 6-0.

1973 - The Yankees sell veteran reserve INF Bernie Allen (1972-73) to the Expos for $25,000.

1978 - The Yankees erupt for 5 runs in the 7th inning to take a 5-3 lead over the Orioles before heavy rains force a delay of the game. Thanks to stalling tactics of Manager Earl Weaver and some slow-moving Baltimore groundskeepers, the game is called, and the score reverts to the last complete inning. The Orioles win the game by a score of 3-0, with former Yankees minor league P Scott McGregor is the winner for the O’s. This rule will be changed by MLB in 1980, and the game, today would have been suspended.

1980 - The Yankees traded P Ken Clay and a player to be named later to the Rangers for 41-year old starter Gaylord Perry.

1995 - Flags fly at half-mast at Yankee Stadium as Yankee HOF CF legend Mickey Mantle dies of liver cancer at the age of 63 in Dallas, Texas.

1996 - 3B Robin Ventura belts his team-record 9th grand slam HR to pace the White Sox to an 8-4 win over the Yankees. Yankees P David Weathers serves up the gopher ball.

1997 - The Red Sox traded C/DH/1B Mike Stanley and INF Randy Brown to the Yankees in exchange for minor league P Tony Armas Jr. and a player to be named.

1998 - Yankees starter Orlando Hernandez sets a Yankee rookie pitching record by striking out 13 while the beating the Rangers, by a score of 2-0. The original Yankee rookie pitching record was 12 strikeouts set by Yankees rookie starter Stan Bahnsen in 1968.

2003 - Former Yankees P Charlie Devens (1932-34) passes away. (1910-2003). Charlie went 5-3 in 16 games for the Yankees.

2007- Former Yankees HOF MLB player (1941-1956) and long-time broadcasting announcer Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto passes away (1917-2007). Phil was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1937. He won the Minor League player of the Year Award in 1940 with the Kansas City Blues (American Association, AAA). In 1941, he played his 1st season as a Yankee appearing in 133 games and hitting .307. Phil would miss the 1943-45 AL seasons, while serving with the US Navy during WWII. As a Yankee, Phil would appear in 9 World Series hitting .242 in 52 games. He was named to the AL All Star squad 5 times. He led the AL shortstops in fielding in 1949-1950. In 1950, Phil had his best Yankee career season as he won the AL MVP Award hitting .324 in 155 games with 200 hits, scoring 100 runs. Also in 1950, he won the MLB best player award. In 1951, Phil won the Babe Ruth Award hitting .320 against the Giants in the 1951 World Series. During 1955-56 seasons Phil was slowed down by injuries and age, he was no longer the Yankees starting shortstop. On August 25, 1956, Phil was released by the Yankees. In 1957, Phil started his long-time broadcasting career with the Yankees joining Mel Allen and Red Barber in the booth. In 1994, he was voted into Baseball’s HOF by the Veteran’s Committee.

August 14th

1919 - The Yankees overcome Muddy Ruel's hitting into a triple play and beat the Tigers in 15 innings by the score of 5-4.

1919 - The Yankees get a court injunction to barring further interference by the AL team owners, who had sought to prevent starter Carl Mays from playing with the Yankees for the rest of 1919 AL season. The Red Sox had traded the troubled hurler to the Yankees for 2 players and $40,000, after a personnel dispute with the pitcher, who felt that the team hasn’t giving him enough support on the field when he pitched.

1929 - Former Yankees reserve OF Jim Pisoni (1959-60) was born (1929-2007). On June 15, 1957, Jim was traded by the A’s along with P Ryne Duren and OF Harry Simpson to the Yankees for INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held, and OF Bob Martyn. Jim was a weak hitting OF, who appeared only in 37 games, hitting just .143 with the Yankees. He spent most of his time at AAA level, while with the Yankees organization. On December 1, 1958, Jim was drafted by the Braves from the Yankees in the 1958 MLB Rule 5 player draft. On May 7, 1959, Jim was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Braves to the Yankees. Jim passed away in February of 2007.

1929 - It is “Charlie Gehringer Day” in Detroit, and the popular Tigers 2B handles 10 chances in the field, at the plate he hits 3 singles and a HR, and steals home in a 17-13 win over the visiting Yankees.

1934 - The largest weekday crowd in history watches as the Tigers sweep a pair at Yankee Stadium. It is the Tigers' 14th straight win. Tiger’s starter “Schoolboy” Rowe has won 13 games in a row. The next day the Yankees will end the Tigers winning streak.

1937 - The Yankees purchased P Ivy Andrews from the Indians for $7,500. Ivy was originally with the Yankees in 1931-32, going 4-2 in 11 games before being traded to the Red Sox. In his 2nd tour with the team, he went 4-5 in 30 games during the 1937-38 AL seasons.

1942 - The Yankees turn an MLB-record 7-DPs in an 11-2 win over the A’s. Yankees Catcher Bill Dickey guns down 2 runners following called 3rd strikes, 3 are started by the DP combo of Phil Rizzuto and Joe Gordon, reliever Johnny Murphy triggers another, and 3B Red Rolfe initiates another one. The 7-DPs give the Yankees 150 on the year; they'll finish with 190 DPs for the season, just missing the (since surpassed) MLB mark they set in the 1941 AL season with 194.

1944 - Former Yankees INF (1966, 1968) and MLB Coach and Manager Mike Ferraro was born. Mike was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1962. In limited play of only 33 games, Mike hit .170 for the Yankees. On October 15, 1968, Mike was drafted by the Seattle Pilots from the Yankees as the 57th pick in the 1968 AL expansion player draft. On May 7, 1973, Mike was signed as a free agent with the Yankees; he did not play for the team at MLB level. Mike was released as a player in April, 1974, he joined the Yankees minor league system becoming a MLB coach before taking the managers job with the Indians in 1983. Later he finished out the 1986 AL season as the Manager of the Royals.

1950 - Former Yankees shortstop Jim Mason (1974-76) was born. On December 6, 1973, Jim was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers. Jim hit .250 in 152 games in 1974, before fading during the 1975-76 AL seasons. On November 5, 1976, Jim was drafted by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as the 30th pick in the 1976 AL player expansion draft.

1959 - The Red Sox veteran 1B Vic Wertz hits a pinch-hit grand slam HR off of Yankees Ryne Duren to pace the 11-6 Boston win. Pete Runnels of the Red Sox walks twice in one inning to tie a MLB record.

1960 - The Yankees lose a doubleheader to Senators and fall to 3rd place in the AL, a half game behind the Orioles and the White Sox. Senators’ starter Camilo Pascual's grand slam is the difference in a 5-4, 1st-game win for the Nats. In the 2nd inning, Mickey Mantle, believing there are 2 outs, jogs to 1B on a grounder to 3B. The Senators turn a DP, with Yankees Roger Maris suffering bruised ribs trying to break it up at 2B. Roger Maris will miss 18 games as a result of the rib injury. Yankee Stadium fans heavily boo Mickey Mantle; Manager Casey Stengel replaces him in the starting lineup with reserve OF Bob Cerv. The clubs set a MLB record by using 17 pinch hitters, 9 by the Yankees in the doubleheader (more than 18 innings), while playing a MLB record 24 errorless innings.

1966 - The Yankees sweep 2 games from the Indians, winning the nightcap by a score of 6-4. The Indians help in the 2nd game by making 6 errors in one inning, one short of the record. Mickey Mantle helps with a HR, off of lefty Jack Kralick, but he'll sit the next 12 days after re-injuring his knee.

1969 - In a 3-2 win over the White Sox, the Yankees 2B Horace Clarke triples with 2 on in the 9th inning, then scores the winning run on a passed ball. Wilbur Wood takes the loss for the White Sox, while Yankees reliever Jack Aker is the winner.

1977 - The Yankees collect 15 hits, including HRs by Mickey Rivers and Graig Nettles, to swamp the Angels by a score of 15-3. Yankees starter Richard “Dirt” Tidrow allows just 2 hits in 6 innings for the win.

1990 - The Angels post a 9-5 win over the Yankees with the winning margin coming on an inside-the-park grand slam HR by Luis Polonia. Yankees RF Jesse Barfield misses a shoestring catch and his leisurely pursuit of the ball allows Polonia to score. Jim Abbott is the winner for the Angels. Jesse Barfield will misplay another drive into a 4-run IPHR in 2 weeks.

2002 - Yankees overcome a straight steal of home by Mike Sweeney to beat the Royals, by the score of 3-2. Yankees CF Bernie Williams hits an RBI single to give Yankees hurler Ramiro Mendoza (8-3) the win.

August 15th

1912 - Little-known Guy Zinn, Yankees OF, steals home twice in a 5-4 win at Detroit; this will add to last-place New York's MLB record of 18 steals of home for the year. The Yankees will win tomorrow game by the score of 9-8, when Zinn hits a 9th inning double.

1930 - Former Yankees minor league OF Bob Martyn was born. Bob was originally signed by the Yankees in 1952. An impressive minor league player, he was named to 3 All-Star teams while in the Yankees farm system. In the 1956 American Association All-Star Game, he hit 2 HRs, winning the MVP Award for the game. That season, Bob was playing for Manager Ralph Houk’s Denver Bears (AAA). He was sent to the A’s in a trade that took place on June 15, 1957. The Yankees sent OF Bob Martyn, INF/OF Woodie Held, INF Billy Martin and P Ralph Terry to the A’s for P Ryne Duren, OF Jim Pisoni and OF Harry Simpson. On April 12, 1959, he was traded back to the Yankees along with Mike Baxes for OF Russ Snyder and INF Tom Carroll. Mike was sent down to Richmond (AAA) never appearing with the Yankees in a MLB game. He retired from MLB baseball in 1960.

1948 - Before 72,468 fans, the largest crowd of the 1948 AL season at Yankee Stadium, the A's sweep a pair from the Yankees by 5-3 scores and regain 2nd place in the AL. The A's win the opener in 10 innings after Joe DiMaggio ties the score with his 20th HR of the year. Joe DiMaggio also triples home a run in the extra frame, but Lou Brissie preserves the win for starter Carl Scheib. The A's total 20 hits in the 2 games, including a triple and double by Sam Chapman. The Yankees are now in 4th place, 5 games back in the 1948 AL pennant race.

1955 - Yankees CF Mickey Mantle HRs from both sides of the plate in the same game for the 2nd time in his MLB career, tying the MLB mark. The Yankees beat the Orioles by the score of 12-6 in game 2 and sweep the doubleheader to move back into 1st place in the AL.

1958 - Former Yankees P Joe Cowley (1984-85) was born. On November 22, 1983, he was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Joe went 21-8 in 46 games for the Yankees. On December 12, 1985, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with C Ron Hassey to the White Sox for P Britt Burns, minor league players: P Glen Braxton and P Mike Soper.

1958 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tom Dodd was born. Tom Dodd was at the University of Oregon from 1977-79. He was taken in the 1st round of the 1980 MLB amateur player draft by the Yankees. In the minors, he played in the Yankees minor league organization, before being traded to the White Sox.

1960 - Behind Yankees starter Art Ditmar's 5-hitter aided by Mickey Mantle's 2-HRs, off of Orioles hurlers Jerry Walker and Hoyt Wilhelm, the Yankees get a 4-3 win and 1st place in the AL. The 2nd HR comes after C Clint Courtney drops a Mantle foul pop-up. The Orioles loss is only its 2nd in their last 15 games. The Orioles and the defending 1959 AL Champs White Sox, now trail the Yankees by a half-game.

1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 46th HR, off of White Sox starter Juan Pizarro, for the Yankees only run in a 2-1 loss to the visiting White Sox at Yankee Stadium. Pizarro allows just 4 Yankee hits, as Yankees Ace Whitey Ford loses in his bid for his 21st win of the 1961 AL season.

1963 - Former Yankees P Karl Drews (1946-48) passed away. Karl went 9-9 in 52 games with the Yankees before being sold to Browns in 1948.

1966 - Former AL All Star Yankee 3B Scott Brosius (1998-2001) was born. On November 18, 1997, Scott was sent by the A’s to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on November 7,1997. The A’s sent a player to be named later to the Yankees for veteran starter Kenny Rogers and cash. Scott’s best season for the Yankees was in 1998, when he hit .300 and made the AL All Star team. He was the 1998 World Series MVP and won AL Babe Ruth Award. In 1999, he won a AL Golden Glove for 3B. Scott retired from MLB after the 2001 World Series.

1968 - At Oakland, the Yankees edge the A's by the score of 4-3. A’s hurler Blue Moon Odom gives up a triple to Tommy Tresh, a walk, then he serves up a 3-run HR to Mickey Mantle for the difference in the game.

1971 - A’s Ace Vida Blue raises his 1971 AL pitching record to 22-4 as the A's beat the Yankees, by a score of 6-4. Blue scatters 10 hits and scores the tie-breaking run on a wild pitch.

1972 - Former Yankees minor league OF Chris Singleton was born. On November 11, 1997, Chris was traded by the Giants along with C Alberto Castillo (minors) to the Yankees for 3B Charlie Hayes and cash. Singleton played only 1 season in the Yankees farm system, hitting .254 for the Columbus Clippers (IL). On December 8, 1998, Chris was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for a player to be named later. The White Sox would send minor league player Rich Pratt on January 10, 1999 to the Yankees to complete the trade.

1975 - Former Yankees P Ben Ford (2000) was born. Ben was originally signed by the Yankees in 1994. He was drafted by the D-backs in 1997 MLB player expansion draft. After returning to the Yankees in 2000, Ben went 0-1 in 4 games.

1977 - Yankees starter Mike Torrez throws his 5th straight complete game, a 6-2 win over the White Sox. Yankees are now just 4 1/2 games in back of the Red Sox.

1991 - Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly is benched and fined $250 for refusing to cut his shoulder-length hair, but the Yankees still beat the Royals, by the score of 5-1. He will get one 2-days later, and the hair will eventually be auctioned off for $3,000 to benefit a children's charity. Mattingly is not alone; Yankees P Steve Farr, C Matt Nokes, and P Pascual Perez have all been told their hair length violates club’s hair policy. OF Mel Hall, who wears his hair in a small ponytail before and after games, is warned his appearance is "borderline."

2002 - The Yankees top the Royals by the score of 7-5, as Yankees CF Bernie Williams gets 5 hits in the game, including a double.

2007 - Yankees rookie OF slugger Shelley Duncan hits a dramatic 3-run HR with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game but the Orioles rally with 3 runs of their own in the 10th inning off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera to win the game by a score of 6-3.

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