This Week in Yankees History
March 28th - April 3rd
March 28th
March 28th - April 3rd
March 28th
1919 - Former Yankee Pitcher Vic “Springfield Rifle” Raschi (1946-1953) was born. Vic was one of main starters along with Allie Reynolds and Eddie Lopat during the Yankees 5 straight World Championship run of 1949-1953. He won 120 games as a Yankee with 24 shutouts and 99 complete games. He won 21 games each season for the Yankees from 1949-1951. In February of 1954, Yankees GM George Weiss sold Vic Raschi to the St. Louis Cardinals for $85,000 as a signal to stop other Yankee stars from staging salary holdouts. Vic lasted less than 2 years with the Cardinals and A’s, pitching under .500 baseball.
1923 - Former Yankees pitcher Bob Kuzava (1951-1954) was born. After being obtained from the Washington Senators, Bob worked out of the Yankee bullpen going 8-4 with 5 saves in 1951. Over all his Yankee pitching career record was 23-20 with 33 saves in 111 games. In 1954, he was waived to the Baltimore Orioles.
1927 - In a final exhibition match between the previous World Series' opponents, the New York Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning off Grover Cleveland Alexander and the St. Louis Cardinals. Then, Alexander shuts down the Yankees until leaving in the 8th inning, and the Cardinals score two in the 9th inning to win by the score of 6-4. Both teams use their regular lineups - the only teams to make no starting changes from last year's teams. The 4 runs off Alexander are the 1st the 40-year-old veteran has allowed in 15 innings of spring training work.
1986 - The Boston Red Sox acquire DH Don Baylor from the New York Yankees for OF-DH Mike Easler. Baylor will hit 31 HRs and drive in 94 runs, helping the Red Sox to the AL East title.
1988 - The Yankees waived veteran knuckleball pitcher Phil Niekro 4 days shy of his 47th birthday.
1990 - Former Yankees minor league Manager and MLB player Johnny Neun passed away. First baseman Johnny Neun began his pro career in 1920. He reached the ML with the Detroit Tigers, spending 4 years with the club beginning in 1925. On July 9,1927, he stole 5 bases in one game against the New York Yankees. Four days later, against the Washington Senators, he swiped home twice in a doubleheader, once in each game. After spending 1929 season back in the minors, he played 2 seasons with the Boston Braves. Neun then played for the Newark Bears from 1932-1934, serving as a player/coach in his final season. After time as manager of the Akron Yankees and the Norfolk Tars, he returned to Newark in 1938 as the club's skipper, a post he held through 1941. After managing the Kansas City Blues (AAA) for 2 years, he was a member of the New York Yankees MLB coaching staff from 1944-1946, when he replaced Bill Dickey as the club's manager late in the season. He then went on to manage the Cincinnati Reds for a season and a half before spending more than 40 years as a scout for the Yankees, Kansas City Royals, California Angels, and Milwaukee Brewers.
2001 - The Yankees send DH/OF/1B Glenallen Hill to the Anaheim Angels for minor league player Darren Blakely.
2003 - Three days prior to Opening Day, the YES Network claims Cablevision has pulled out of a proposed deal signed 17 days ago which would have provided televised New York Yankees games nearly 3 million cable subscribers in the New York City metropolitan area. According to a YES press release, the giant cable television company failed to sign a finalized version of the hand-written document that both parties exchanged on March 12, but Cablevision president, James L. Dolan, said when YES sent him a revised typewritten draft on 2 days later, the document contained alterations that he found unacceptable.
March 29th
1917 - Former Yankees minor league OF Tommy Holmes was born. In 1937, the Yankees signed Tommy Holmes as an MLB amateur free agent. Unable to crack the Yankees starting outfield of Charlie Keller, Tommy Henrich and Joe DiMaggio, he was traded to the Boston Braves in 1942 for 1B Buddy Hassett, OF Gene Moore and cash. He would have a successful MLB career with the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers in the NL, finishing with a lifetime BA of .302 in 11 seasons.
1938 - Former New York Yankees Co-Owner Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Huston passed away (1867-1938). He was co-owner of the New York Yankees, along with Colonel Jacob Ruppert, from 1914-1923. They purchased the club from Frank Farrell and Bill Devery for $460,000. It was during this period that the team began to acquire the stars that would lead them to their 1st real success in the early 1920s, such as Carl Mays, Babe Ruth and others. In June of 1923, Houston sold his share of the team to Jacob Ruppert for $1,250,000. This allowed Ruppert to become the sole owner of the Yankees. In 1937, he offered $1.7 million dollars to buy the Brooklyn Dodgers. He planned to install lights for night games at Ebbets Field. His offer was refused by the current Dodger ownership.
1948 - The Yankees and Red Sox go 17 innings and end in a 2-2 tie during one of the longest spring training games ever played. The game lasted a total of 4 hours, 2 minutes.
1952 - Former Yankees reliever Bill Castro (1981) was born. Bill was signed as a free agent by the Yankees. He went 1-1 in 21 games with 1 save. On March 24, 1982, the Yankees to the California Angels for veteran INF Butch Hobson traded Bill.
1958 - Former Yankees reserve INF Domingo Ramos (1978) was born. On May 27, 1975, Domingo was signed as an MLB amateur free agent by the Yankees. He appeared in 1 game for the Yankees in 1978 with no hits. On November 10, 1978, he was traded by the Yankees along with C Mike Heath, Pitchers Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, and Dave Rajsich, with cash to the Texas Rangers for P Dave Righetti, OF Juan Beniquez, P Mike Griffin, P Paul Mirabella, and minor league player Greg Jemison.
1959 - Former Yankees P Johnny Allen (1932-1935) passed away (1905-1959). Pitcher Johnny Allen was working as a bellboy in a hotel, when Yankees super scout Paul Krichell discovered him. He reached the MLB with the Yankees in 1932. Johnny went 17-4 that season, leading the AL with a .810 winning percentage. He won 15 games in 1933, but after holding out for a pay raise and suffering a sore arm, he was traded to the Cleveland Indians for hurlers Monte Pearson and Steve Sundra following the 1935 AL season. Johnny’s Yankees career pitching record was 50-19 in 94 games. He will go 67-36 in 5 seasons with the Cleveland Indians.
1963 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy Moore (1927-1929, 1932-1933) passed away (1897-1963). Wilcy Moore led the AL in 1927 with 13 saves and an ERA of 2.28, as his pitching record for the 1927 Yankees was 19-7. He saved game in the 1927 World Series as well as pitching a complete game in that Fall Classic. He is the 1st of many great Yankee closers. His final Yankees pitching career totals were a 36-21 record with 35 saves in 171 games.
1975 - Veteran All Star starter Mel Stottlemyre Sr., suffering from a torn rotator cuff, is given his unconditional release by the Yankees. He compiled a 164-139 record and a 2.97 ERA as well as 40 shutouts in an 11-season MLB career with the Yankees (1964-1974). He will return to the team as a pitching coach under Manager Joe Torre. Former Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, now with the Tigers will give Mel a tryout with the team, but Mel doesn’t make it and retires from MLB. He will later become a MLB pitching coach for several teams, including the Mets and Yankees.
1984 - The Yankees traded one of the key members of their recent World Championship teams, when they dispatched All Star 3B Graig Nettles to the Padres for P Dennis Rasmussen and a player to be named. Nettles, which had angered Yankees owner George Steinbrenner by criticizing him in his recent book, he will hit 20 HRs and help the San Diego Padres reach the 1984 World Series.
2009 - Former Yankees baseball executive Lou Saban passed away (1921-2009). Lou Saban is best remembered as a college and professional football coach. Over 52 years, Saban coached 27 different teams to 197 wins and two American Football League titles. In the interim, he was briefly president of the New York Yankees in 1981 and 1982. He also served as a scout for the club from 1984 to 1987.
March 30th
1931-Former Yankees P Richard Woodson (1974) was born. On May 4, 1974, Rich was traded by the Minnesota Twins to the Yankees for minor league P Mike Pazik and cash. Rich went 1-2 in 8 games with the Yankees in 1974.
1955 - The Yankees sell veteran hurler Ewell Blackwell to the Kansas City A’s. Blackwell, who was injured in 1954, will pitch in only 2 games for the A’s in 1955, before retiring from MLB. Along with Blackwell the A’s would also receive P Tom Gorman and 1B Richard Kryhoski for $50,000.
1965 - The Yankees sell veteran starter Stan Williams (1963-1964) to the Cleveland Indians for cash. Stan went 10-13 in 50 games for Yankees after being obtained from the Dodgers for 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron in 1962. He never was the successful starter for the Yankees, like he was with the Dodgers. Stan would be converted to a relief pitcher and be very successful with the Minnesota Twins. He would later become a MLB pitching coach for the Yankees.
1988 - The Yankees traded 1B/OF Orestes Destrades to the Pittsburgh Pirates for P Hipolito Pena. Destrades had appeared in 9 games in 1987, hitting .263 for the Yankees. He was blocked at 1B by All Star Don Mattlingly.
2009 - Former Yankees MLB coach Herman Franks (1989) passed away (1914-2009). Herman spent bulk of MLB career with the Giants organization as a MLB coach, Manager and General Manager. Also he worked with the Chicago Cubs organization.
March 31st
1894 - Former Yankees P Thomas Sheehan (1921) was born. On September 7, 1920, Tom was purchased by the Yankees from the Atlanta (Southern Association). Tom went 1-0 in 12 games for the Yankees during the 1921 AL season.
1971- The Yankees released veteran INF Pete Ward (1970). On December 18, 1969, Pete was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Yankees for P Mickey Scott and cash. Pete was a slugging 3B with the White Sox in the 1960’s, by the time he reached the Yankees; he was playing with a bad back at 1B. Pete will appear in 66 games for the Yankees, hitting .260 with 1 HR with 18 RBIs.
1972 - The Yankees re-purchased OF/1B Frank Tepedino (1967,1969-1971-1972) from the Milwaukee Brewers for cash. Frank originally was signed the Baltimore Orioles, later he was drafted by the Yankees in MLB Rule 5 player draft. He saw limited action with the Yankees in 44 games. Frank was traded twice by Yankees, once to the Brewers for OF Danny Walton (1971) and then to the Atlanta Braves for P Pat Dobson in 1973.
1979 - Former Yankees minor league P Charlie Manning was born. The Yankees drafted Manning in the 9th round of the 2001 MLB amateur player draft. Manning quickly rose through the Yankees system and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for 3B Aaron Boone. After 2 years in the Reds organization, he was sent back to the Yankees for P Gabe White. In 2006, he made the Eastern League All-Star team. He split 2007 between Trenton and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, going 4-2, 3.69 with 3 saves. Charlie moved to the Washington Nationals organization after the season and made his MLB debut with that team on May 24, 2008. He had gone 19 games with a 1.95 ERA and 6 saves for the Columbus Clippers (IL) prior to getting the call.
1980 - Former Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang (2005-2009) was born. In 2000, the New York Yankees signed him as an MLB amateur free agent. Wang went 55-26 in 109 games for the Yankees. His best season as a Yankees starter was in 2006, when he posted a 19-6 record. He was 1-3 in the AL postseason playoffs for the Yankees. After the 2009 World Series, Wang left the Yankees signing with the Washington Nationals.
1992 - Former Yankees C and minor league manager Ken “Hawk” Silvestri passed away (1916-1992). Ken was a catcher for the Yankees 1941,and in 1946-1947. In 1948, Ken was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. After his MLB playing career, Ken was a longtime Yankees minor league manager.
April 1st
1912 - Former Yankee P Jacob “Whistlin’ Jake” Wade (1946) was born. On December 15, 1944, he was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Yankees for Johnny Johnson. He posted a 2-1 mark in 13 games with 1 save for the Yankees. On August 5, 1946, he was purchased by the Washington Senators from the Yankees.
1934 - Former Yankees minor league INF Rod “Hot Rod “ Kanehl was born (1934-2004). In 1954, the New York Yankees originally signed Rod Kanehl as amateur MLB free agent. He played in their farm system until the fall of 1961, when he was drafted by the New York Mets on advice from new Mets Manager Casey Stengel. Rod never saw MLB action with the Yankees, but Stengel remember him from a Yankees spring camp training session, where he jumped on a bike to run down a fly ball. He played for the Mets from 1962-1964. The Yankees wanted to give him a shot at 3B job in 1967, but the Mets refused to release him from his lifetime reserve clause in his MLB player contract.
1939 - Former Yankees P Phil Niekro (1984-1985) is born in Blaine, Belmont County, Ohio. "Knucksie" will make his MLB debut in 1964 with the Milwaukee Braves. He will win 318 games over a 24-year MLB career and will gain election to the Hall of Fame in 1997. Phil went 32-20 in 65 games as a Yankees pitcher during the 1984-1985 AL seasons.
1955 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Murray (1974-1976) was born. Larry was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1971 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 20 games as a reserve OF with the Yankees from 1974-1976. Larry was part of a trade that brought P Mike Torrez to the Yankees from Oakland A’s in April of 1977.
1969 - New York Yankees All Star OF/1B Mickey Mantle (1951-1968) retires from MLB. He ends his MLB career with 2,415 hits and 536 HRs in 18 years with the Yankees, numbers that would have certainly been higher if not for persistent knee injuries. He was the last active player from the Yankee Dynasty years (1949-1964) to retire from MLB.
2008 - The Yankees set a MLB record by winning their 11th straight home opener. Oddly, the MLB record had been held by the 1945-1954 Pirates, a club which lost 100 or more games 3 times in that period. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays, by the score of 3-2. Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang only allows 2 runs in 7 innings for the win over the Toronto Blue Jays Ace Roy Halladay.
April 2nd
1918 - The Yankees purchased 1B "Tioga" George Burns from the Detroit Tigers and immediately trade him to the Philadelphia A’s for OF Ping Bodie (1918-1921). The Yankees already had Wally Pipp as their starting at 1B.
1930 - Former Yankees minor league P Art Ceccarelli was born. Despite being in the Yankees organization twice, Art never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 4, 1954, Art was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Brooklyn Dodgers. On November 22, 1954, Art was drafted by the Kansas City A’s from the New York Yankees organization in the 1954 MLB rule 5 player draft. On May 19, 1960 Art was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for P Mark Freeman. Art was assigned to the Richmond Virginians (AAA) in May of 1960, where he went 9-4 with a 3.96 ERA.
1931 - At Engel Stadium, Miss Jackie Mitchell strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game held in Chattanooga, TN. The 17-year-old girl, a member of the Chattanooga Lookouts roster, also walks Tony Lazzeri in Chattanooga's 14-4 loss to the Yankees. In 1933, Mitchell will pitch for the House of David baseball team.
1945 - Former Yankees P Mike Kekich (1969-1973) was born. Mike is known more for off the field actions as a Yankee than as a player. Fritz Peterson and Mike swapped wives and families one year, causing a quite a media stir. Mike came over from the Dodgers in the Andy Kosco trade in December of 1968. He went 31-24 as a Yankees pitcher before being exiled to the Cleveland Indians after the wife/family swap was revealed to the public.
1955 - Former Yankees OF Billy Sample (1985) was born. On February 27, 1985, Bill was traded by the Texas Rangers along with a player to be named later to the Yankees for veteran INF Toby Harrah. The Rangers would send Eric Dersin to the Yankees to complete the trade. Billy hit .288 in 59 games for the Yankees before being traded on December 6, 1985, to the Atlanta Braves for minor league player Miguel Sosa.
1960 - Former Yankees minor league INF Tom Barrett was born. Tom was drafted by the Yankees in the 26th round of the 1982 MLB amateur player draft. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. He was the brother of Red Sox INF Marty Barrett. On December 11, 1986, Tom was traded by the Yankees along with OF/1B Mike Easler to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Charles Hudson and minor league player Jeff Knox.
1964 - Former Yankees DH Pete Incaviglia (1997) was born. Pete was with the Yankees for 21 days appearing in only 5 games with a BA .250, before being released by the team.
1970 - Former Yankees P Jon Lieber (2003-2004) was born. Signed as a MLB free agent in 2003, Jon went 14-8 with the Yankees in 2004 before leaving the team as a free agent to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.
2001 - On Opening Day, New York Yankees starter Roger Clemens becomes the all-time AL career strike out leader passing HOF Senators starter Walter Johnson. Royals INF Joe Randa is his 3,509 AL strikeout victim. By passing Walter Johnson, Roger Clemens now takes over the 7th spot in MLB history.
2003 - Baltimore Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick's record streak for games played and total chances without an error by a shortstop ends as Yankees OF Bubba Trammell's 3rd inning grounder tips off his glove.
2003 - Todd Zeile hits a HR in his 1st at-bat for the Yankees, becoming the only MLB to hit a HR for 10 different teams. In addition to hit a HR with the Yankees, Zeile had also gone deep for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets, and the Rockies.
April 3rd
1879 - Former Yankees P John Frill (1910) was born. On August 6, 1909, John was sent from the Newark (Eastern) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. John went 2-2 in 10 games with 1 save for the Yankees. On July 13, 1910, John was purchased by the Jersey City (Eastern) from the Yankees.
1919 - One of the most bizarre off-the-field spring training incidents in Yankees history takes place in Jacksonville, Florida. Yankees OF Ping Bodie competes against an ostrich named "Percy" in a spaghetti-eating contest! Bodie wins the eating competition, when Percy passes out after his 11th plate of pasta.
1929 - Former Yankees P Art Ditmar (1957-1961) was born. Art was originally signed by the Philadelphia A’s in 1948. Ditmar would get his 1st look at the MLB in 1954 when the Philadelphia A’s used him in 14 games. He posted a 1-4 record. Also he spent time in '54 with Ottawa (AAA), going 6-12 with a 3.56 ERA. One of Art's highlights in baseball came in 1954 as he was the winning pitcher in the final game ever played by the Philadelphia A's before their franchise shift to Kansas City. "It was a game against the Yankees," recalled the rubber-armed right-hander. "Casey Stengel wanted to get every good hitter he could into the lineup. Yogi Berra played 3rd base and Mickey Mantle played shortstop. I pitched 6 innings and Marion Fricano finished."
On February 19, 1957, Art was traded by the Kansas City A’s along with players to be named later, Wayne Belardi, Jack McMahan, and P Bobby Shantz to the Yankees for a player to be named later, OF Irv Noren, INF Milt Graff, Pitchers Mickey McDermott, Tom Morgan, Rip Coleman and INF Billy Hunter. The Yankees would send P Jack Urban to the A’s to complete the trade. The A’s would send Curt Roberts and INF Clete Boyer to the Yankees to complete the trade. In 1957 with the Yankees, Art went 8-3 with a 3.25 ERA.
Art would go 13-9 in 1959 and 15-9 in 1960 as a starter for the Yankees. He failed to win both of his 2 1960 World Series starts against the Pirates. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees in 1957-1958 against the Braves, and against the Pirates in 1960. He went 1-2 in 5 World Series games for the Yankees with a 3.18 ERA. In the 1960 World Series against the Pirates, he lost the 1st and 5th games. Yankee manager Casey Stengel is still the target of criticism as to why he started Ditmar in the opening game instead of Whitey Ford. Ditmar defended his manager's decision. "Whitey had arm trouble. I think Casey figured he would be better off pitching the second game in Forbes Field rather than Yankee Stadium with the short right field. The controversy was that Ford could have pitched three games if necessary. The thing is he didn't even pitch the second game. Bob Turley started the second game and won 16-3."
During the 1961 AL season, while suffering from arm problems, Art only went 2-3 in 12 games for the Yankees, before being traded back to the Kansas City A’s along with rookie OF/INF Deron Johnson for veteran starter Bud Daley. His overall Yankees pitching career record was 47-32 in 168 games with 12 saves.
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952 - Former Yankees minor league P Rick Earle (1976) was born. Rick never pitched for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1960 - Former Yankee minor league OF Jose Vidal was born. On May 19, 1969, Jose was traded by the Pilots to the Yankees for OF Richard Simpson. Jose never plays for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1961 - The Yankees reacquired veteran hurler Duke Maas (1958-1960) from expansion LA Angels for reserve INF Fritz Brickell (1958-1959). Duke Maas injured his pitching arm, after appearing in 1 game and never pitched again in MLB. His best season as a Yankee starter was in 1959, winning 14 games. He was drafted by the Angels in 1960 AL Player Expansion draft. His Yankees career pitching record was 26-12 before the arm injury finished his MLB career. Both players passed away at young ages, Brickell at 30 in 1965, from cancer. Duke Maas passes away at the age of 47 in 1976.
1962 - Former MLB and Minor league Manager Dave Miley was born. Miley signed with the Cincinnati Reds as a catcher in 1980. He spent 7 seasons in the minor leagues. Miley was a MLB coach for the Reds in 1993. He was managing the team's AAA affiliate at Louisville, when he was named interim MLB manager in 2003. His position was confirmed after a few weeks. Dave led the Reds until 2005, when Jerry Narron replaced him, with the team holding the worst record in the NL. He never managed to push the team over .500 during his 3 seasons at the helm. He then returned to managing in the minor leagues signing with the Yankees organization. In 2006, he was at Columbus. Then in 2007, he moved to Scranton with the Yankees. Dave was named International League manager of the year in 2007 for his work with the Scranton Yankees. In 2008, he led the Scranton team to the IL championship. The 2009 Scranton team lost in the IL playoffs. Dave returned for the 2010 IL season.
1967 - The Yankees obtained INF John Kennedy from the Dodgers for OF/1B John Miller, P Jack Cullen and the temporary transfer of INF Roy White to the Dodgers Spokane AAA farm club in PCL. The Yankees had the Dodgers work with Roy White on his infield play, but in the end, he stayed an outfielder.
1972 - Yankees released veteran pitchers Jim Hardin (1971) and Gary Waslewski (1970-1971). Both players were washed up as MLB pitchers. Jim Hardin never fully recovered from his arm problems.
1979 - Former Yankees OF Harry “Suitcase” Simpson (1957-1958) passed away (1925-1979). On June 15,1957, Harry was traded by the Kansas City A’s along with P Ryne Duren and OF Jim Pisoni to the Yankees for INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, INF/OF Woodie Held, and OF Bob Martyn. Harry appeared in 99 games for the Yankees in 1957-1958 AL seasons. Casey Stengel really didn’t care much for Simpson, using him sparely. On June 15, 1958, Harry was traded by the Yankees along with P Bob Grim to the Kansas City A’s for veteran hurlers Duke Maas and Virgil Trucks.
1984 - After rain washes out yesterday's opener at Royals Stadium, Yul Brynner tosses out the 1st ball as the Royals opens with a 4-2 win over the Yankees. The threat of snow holds the crowd to just 10,006 fans. Royals starter Bud Black, with relief help from closer Dan Quisenberry, tops Ron Guidry, still winless in Openers. Onix Concepción hits Guidry's 1st pitch of the game for a HR, while Dave Winfield has a 2-run HR for the Yankees.
2005 - In his 1st start for the Yankees, All Star starter Randy Johnson allows a run and 5 hits in 6 innings as New York open the 2005 MLB season with a 9-2 triumph over the 2004 World Champion Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Johnson will win 17 games for the Yankees in the 2005 AL season.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
