This Week in Yankees History
May 30th-June 5th
May 30th
1884 - Former Yankees shortstop Rube Oldring (1905, 1916) was born. Rube hit .267 in 51 games for the Yankees with 2 tours with the team. May 30th-June 5th
May 30th
1894 - Former Yankees P Al Mamaux (1924) was born. On July 12, 1924, Al was purchased by the Yankees from the Reading (International League). He went 1-1 in 14 games in 1924.
1902 - Former Yankees P Louis McEvoy (1930-1931) was born. Lou went 1-3 in 34 games with 4 saves in 2 seasons for the Yankees.
1912 - After a minor fire at Hilltop Park, the Yankees play a separate admission, day-night doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s at the Polo Grounds The Yankee lost the morning game by a score of 7-1, the second game of the doubleheader was rained out.
1913 - The New York Yankees purchased 2B Bill McKechnie from the Boston Braves for cash. Bill hit .134 in 45 games for the New York Yankees before jumping to the Federal League in 1914.
1929 - The New York Yankees obtained P Owen Carroll, shortstop George Weustling and OF Harry Rice for the Detroit Tigers for veteran starter Waite Hoyt and shortstop Mark Koenig.
1938 - Before a crowd of 81,841 fans at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees sweep a doubleheader from the Boston Red Sox by scores of 10-0 and 5-4. The game also featured a fistfight under the stadium stands between Yankees OF Jake Powell and Red Sox Player-Manager Joe Cronin, after they had been thrown out of the game. Jake Powell had charged the Red Sox P Archie Mc Kain, after he had hit him in the stomach. Joe Cronin came in from his shortstop position to protect his pitcher. That fight lasted for several minutes. The players were separated by the umpires and thrown out of the game. The visitors in those days had to approach their clubhouse through the Yankees dugout. The players and umpires broke up this second fight. Joe Cronin and Jake Powell were later fined and suspended for 10 days for their actions by the AL President’s office.
1956 - New York Yankees All Star CF Mickey Mantle hit a HR that came within a foot-and-a-half of leaving Yankee Stadium. It hit the face of the upper deck in right field, 370 feet from home plate and 117 feet in the air. Mantle also became the 1st player in MLB history to hit 20 HRs by the end of May, as the Yankees beat the Washington Senators by a score of 4-3.
1961 - New York Yankees hitters Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Bill “Moose” Skowron, each hit 2 HRs to lead the Yankees to a 12-3 rout over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Yankees C Yogi Berra also hits a HR for the Bronx Bombers. Yankees starter Ralph Terry was the winning pitcher, while veteran starter Gene Conley was the losing pitcher for the Red Sox.
1967 - Veteran Yankees P Whitey Ford announced his retirement from MLB baseball because of an elbow injury. His final Yankees appearance was a start in Detroit on May 21, but he lasted just 1 inning for the Yankees. He finished his Yankee MLB pitching career with a 236-106 record to be the all-time Yankee pitchers wins leader. He had passed former team leader Red Ruffing, who had 232 Yankee career wins during the 1966 AL season.
1977 - New York sluggers Graig Nettles and Reggie Jackson hit back-to back HR’s in 2nd inning to lead the Yankees past the Boston Red Sox by a score of 5-4.
1991 - Former Yankees P Jim Magnuson (1973) passed away (1946-1991). The New York Yankees claimed P Jim Magnuson from the Chicago White Sox in the 1971 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He spent all of 1972 with the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA), having a 9-7 record, with a 3.48 ERA, with 3 saves for them. He was 10th in the International League in ERA and led his club. Jim finished his career in 1973, going 7-4 with a 4.04 ERA for Syracuse. Jim went 0-1 with a 4.28 ERA for the 1973 Yankees.
1992 - New York Yankees starter Scott Sanderson became the 9th MLB pitcher to beat all 26 MLB teams, as the Bronx Bombers defeated the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 8-1. Scott Sanderson joined MLB hurlers Doyle Alexander, Rich Gossage, Tommy John, Gaylord Perry, Nolan Ryan, Don Sutton, Mike Torrez and Rick Wise, as MLB pitchers, who had defeated every MLB club.
May 31st
1913 - The New York Yankees obtained INF Rollie Zeider and 1B Bill Borton from the Chicago White Sox for 1B Hal “Prince” Chase. Yankees Manager Frank Chance had Chase traded because he thought that Hal Chase was betting on Highlander games. Chase would later be banned from MLB for gambling on games, costing him his MLB career and a chance to be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1932 - The New York Yankees obtained P Dan Mac Fayen from the Boston Red Sox for undisclosed amount of cash and other considerations.
1933 - The New York Yankees signed MLB free agent P Johnny Broaca (1934-1937). Johnny went 40-27 in 4 seasons with the New York Yankees.
1938 - New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig played in his 2000th consecutive MLB game. Lou collected a RBI single helping the Yankees defeated the Boston Red Sox, by a score of 12-5.
1938 - New York Yankees P Joe Beggs gives up the 1st of 3- grand Slam HR’s to Boston Red Sox slugger Jimmy Foxx would hit off of him during the 1938 AL season.
1950 - Former Yankees P Tippy Martinez (1974-1976) was born. Originally signed by the New York Yankees, he spent most of his MLB career with the Baltimore Orioles. His Yankee career record was 8-3 in 83 games with 10 saves. Tippy Martinez and Yankees Manager Billy Martin didn’t get along. On June 15,1976, Tippy was traded by the Yankees along with C Rick Dempsey, pitchers Rudy May, Scott McGregor, and Dave Pagan to the Orioles for pitchers Ken Holtzman, Doyle Alexander, Grant Jackson, C Ellie Hendricks, and OF Jimmy Freeman. This was a classic Yankees trade of “trade for now and forget about the future.” Tippy Martinez and Scott McGregor would have good MLB careers with the Baltimore Orioles; they were players that the Yankees could have use.
1956 - New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle unleashes the 1st of several “space shots” in “attempt” to clear the roof in RF at Yankee Stadium. This shot, a 3-run HR off of a Senators hurler Pedro Ramos change-up palm ball, struck the Yankee Stadium façade in RF, less than 18” inches from the top.
1973 - Former Yankees minor league P Marty Janzen was born. In 1991, Marty Janzen was signed by the New York Yankees, as an MLB amateur free agent. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On July 28,1995, Marty was traded by the New York Yankees along with minor league players Jason Jarvis and Mike Gordon to the Toronto Blue Jays for veteran starter David Cone. On March 7, 1998, Marty was traded by the Arizona Diamondbacks along with P Todd Erdos to the New York Yankees for INF Andy Fox.
1983 - AL President Lee MacPhail suspended Yankees owner George Steinbrenner for 1 week, citing "repeated problems" with the outspoken owner's public criticism of AL umpires. George Steinbrenner, who had been fined $50,000 by MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn during spring training for berating some NL umpires, cannot attend games or be in his Yankee Stadium office during the suspension.
1986 - Former Yankees minor league player C. J. Henry was born. In 2005, C.J. Henry was selected by the New York Yankees in the 1st round of the MLB amateur player draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the GCL Yankees, where he hit .249 in 48 games. He began 2006 with the Charleston RiverDogs, hitting .240 in 77 games. In July, he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of the trade that brought Bobby Abreu to New York. After the trade, he played for the Lakewood (A), hitting .253 in 25 games. After being released outright by the Phillies in 2007, he returned to the Yankees organization, who signed him to a minor league contract. In 2008, he played for Tampa Yankees (A). In 272 minor-league games, Henry hit .222 and made 57 errors. Following his continuing baseball struggles, Henry quit baseball and returned to basketball.
June 1st
1891 - Former Yankees reserve C Hank Severeid (1926) was born. On July 22, 1926, Hank was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. He hit .268 in 41 games for the 1926 Yankees.
1914 - The New York Yankees purchased OF Charles Meara (1914) from Reading (IL) for cash. Charles went 2 for 7 for the Yankees before being released by the team.
1915 - Former Yankees reserve OF Art Metheny (1943-1946) was born. Art hit .247 in 376 games for the Yankees. Bud appeared in 2 games for the Yankees in the 1943 World Series. After retiring from MLB, Bud Metheny was the baseball coach at Old Dominion University from 1948 to 1980. He also coached basketball (1948-1965) and served as athletic director (1963-1970) at ODU.
1918 - Losing 5-4 against the New York Yankees, the Chicago White Sox loaded the bases in the 9th inning with no outs. Chick Gandil lined a shot to 3rd baseman Frank Baker, who turned it into a game ending triple play.
1925 - Lou Gehrig of the Yankees pinch-hit for shortstop Pee Wee Wanninger, beginning his streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive MLB games. The next day, 1B Wally Pipp showed up with a headache, Lou Gehrig took over at 1B for the Yankees.
1931 - Former Yankees P Marshall Bridges (1962-1963) was born (1931-1990). Marshall Bridges was obtained from the Cincinnati Reds in 1961 for reserve C Jesse Gonder. He went 10-4 in 75 games with 19 saves before being purchased by the Washington Senators in the fall of 1963.
1932 - Former Yankees OF Louis “The Nervous Greek” Skizas (1956) was born. Lou appeared in 6 games with the New York Yankees hitting .167, before being sent to the Kansas City A’s on June 15, 1957 in the Billy Martin trade.
1933 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe (1956-1959) was born. Jerry Lumpe was one of many young Yankee infielders, who couldn’t break into the regular Yankees starting infield lineup of Manager Casey Stengel. He did appear in the 1957-1958 World Series against the Braves. Bobby Richardson blocked Jerry Lumpe at 2B. He was one of the young Yankee players along with Norm Siebern, Marv Throneberry, who were openly criticized by Casey Stengel in the media, as he stopped being a supporter of the Yankee youth movement, relying on veteran players instead. Casey on Lumpe to the media “Jerry Lumpe looks like the best hitter in the world until you put him in the lineup.” Also Jerry also had some contract money problems dealing with General Manager George Weiss, which Jerry commented, “They really know how to make you feel not wanted.” Mickey Mantle helped him out one season by loaning him free use of his house in New Jersey for the season. On May 26,1959, Jerry has able to leave the Yankees, when he was traded along with pitchers Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant to the A’s for P Ralph Terry and INF/OF Hector Lopez. With the A’s, he became their regular 2B. His best MLB season would be with the Detroit Tigers in 1962, hitting. 302. He would later become a MLB coach for the A’s, when Reggie Jackson, Joe Rudi and others teased about his MLB career, Jerry just showed them his 1956 Yankees World Championship ring and the joking immediately stopped.
1934 - The New York Yankees released veteran P George Uhle (1933-1934). George came to the New York Yankees at the end of his long MLB career. He appeared in 22 games, going 8-5 before finishing out with the Cleveland Indians in 1936.
1935 - In a rare display of solo HR’s, the New York Yankees hit 6-solo HR’s against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium in a 7-2 victory. Yankee HR sluggers were Bill Dickey (2), while Frank Crosetti, Ben Chapman, George Selkirk and Red Rolfe. Mel Almeda scored the two Red Sox runs on a 2-run HR in the 8th inning.
1936 - The New York Yankees score 7 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning, but wind up on the short end of 11-9 score, against the Chicago White Sox at Yankee Stadium.
1938 - Former Yankees player, MLB coach, Manager, General Manager and Special Advisor Gene “Stick” Michael (Player: 1968-1973, MLB Coach: 1975-1978, Manager: 1981-1982). Gene was obtained in the fall of 1967 from the Dodgers for cash. He would hit .272 in 1969. He remained the Yankees shortstop through the 1973 AL season. In 1974, he was sharing the shortstop position with Jim Mason. Gene was traded to the Tigers in 1975. His favorite trick as a Yankee shortstop was the hidden ball trick; which caught quite a few AL base runners. After his active playing days were over, he rejoined the Yankees organization as coach and managed in their farm system. Currently Gene is a special advisor to the Yankees front office.
1940 - Former Yankees INF Horace Clarke (1965-1973) was born. Horace was signed as a MLB free agent in 1958. Mislabel by the media as a symbol of failure during the Yankee decline years (1965-1975). Fellow Yankee teammate Bobby Mercer describes him as “A 100% player. He wanted to play every day.” Horace led the AL 2B in assists for 6 straight seasons (1967-1972). In 1967, he led the AL 2B in fielding. Horace led the AL in bats in 1969 and 1970 seasons. His best Yankees season was in 1969, when he hit .285. Although, he only hit 27 HR’s in his MLB career, his 1st 2 HR’s were Grand Slams. During the 1970 AL season, he ruined 3 no-hit game bids in one month by pitchers Joe Niekro, Sonny Siebert and Jim Rooker. As Yankee, Horace appeared in 1,820 games from 1965 to 1974. He finished his MLB career in 1974 with the San Diego Padres with a lifetime MLB BA of .256.
1973 - Former Yankees P Fred Heimach (1928-1929) passed away. On August 6, 1928, Fred was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for $20,000 and a player to be named. Fred posted a 2-3 mark for the 1928 Yankees. In 1929, he went 11-6. His Yankees pitching career totals were 13-9 in 48 games.
2001 - At Yankee Stadium, Cleveland Indians defeated the New York Yankees, just in 5 ½ innings, when the game was called because of rain with Tribe ahead, by the score of 7-2. In a rarity, Indians starter C.C. Sabathia earned a win despite pitching only 4 innings. Reliever Ricardo Rincón got the save retiring the side in the 5th inning. The baseball rules state that in a five-inning game, a starter need not go the full five to earn a victory. Baseball historian David W. Smith noted that there are just 5 other cases since 1978 to match the Sabathia feat.
2003 - Former Yankees OF/INF Johnny Hopp (1950-1952) passed away (1916-2003). John was purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates in September of 1950. Johnny hit .333 down the stretch to help the Yankees. In 1952, he started off poorly and was sold to the Detroit Tigers. Johnny retired from MLB at the end of the 1952 AL season.
2009 - The New York Yankees play their 18th straight game without an error, breaking the record held by the 2006 Boston Red Sox.
2009 - Former Yankees minor league P Gene Carlson passed away. Gene pitched in the New York Yankees minor league system in 1953-1954 and 1957. In 1957 he was traded to the Washington Senators organization. He never appeared in the Majors.
June 2nd
1915 - At the Polo Grounds, Babe Ruth and the well-traveled Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees by a score of 7-1. It was the last stop on a 29-day road trip for the Boston Red Sox. Ruth allowed 5 hits and hits his 2nd MLB career HR, a 3-run shot off of Yankees starter Jack Warhop in the 2nd inning. After his homer, Ruth received 2 intentional walks. He ended up kicking the bench and breaking his toe, sidelining him for 2 weeks.
1925 - A 21-year-old rookie named Lou Gehrig started a game for the New York Yankees, when regular 1B Wally Pipp was hit in the head during batting practice and complained of a headache. Rookie 1B Lou Gehrig collected 3 hits in 5 at-bats, helping the Yankees to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Senators. Lou Gehrig will go on to play in a MLB record of 2,130 consecutive games. Wally Pipp would never start another game at 1B for the Yankees. Wally would be sold to the Cincinnati Reds after the 1925 AL season. He gave the Yankees 10 strong seasons (1915-1925) after being obtained from the Detroit Tigers.
1926 - Former Yankees INF and long time Yankees Minor League Manager Frank Verdi (1953) was born. Frank Verdi made his only MLB appearance in a game for the New York Yankees against the Boston Red Sox on May 10,1953. He entered the game playing shortstop in the bottom of the 6th inning. With 2 outs and the bases loaded in the top of the 7th inning, the Yankees were up 5 to 3. Red Sox P Ken Holcombe entered the game to relieve Ellis Kinder; Yankees Manager Casey Stengel replaced Verdi with Bill Renna. Verdi never appeared in another MLB game again. After his playing career was over, he became a Minor League Manager. He was with the Yankees organization from 1963 to 1972. He returned to the Yankees farm system to manage the Columbus Clippers in 1981-1982. He won the IL Championship with the Clippers in 1981.
1941 - Former Yankees 1st baseman Lou Gehrig died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) at the age of 37 in New York City. From that time on, the illness was known primarily as Lou Gehrig's disease. Lou Gehrig had seen his MLB record of 2,130 consecutive games end in 1939 because of the disease. It was on this day exactly 16 years ago he broke into the Yankees starting line-up.
1958 - All Star starter Whitey Ford of the Yankees struck out 6 in a row to tie an AL record as he shut out the White Sox, by a score of 3-0. Meanwhile White Sox starter Jim Wilson allowed just 6 hits, but 3 of them were HRs by Hank Bauer (2) and Mickey Mantle (1). On a botched hit-and-run attempt, Luis Aparicio was thrown out at 2nd base, ending his streak of 26 consecutive stolen bases.
1967 - Former Yankees reliever Mike Stanton (1997-2002, 2005) was born. Mike went 30-12 in 428 games with 12 saves for the New York Yankees. He was one of the bullpen bridges to Yankees Closer Mo Rivera from 1997-2002.
1993 - Former Yankees HOF 1B/PH Johnny “Big Cat” Mize (1949-1953) passed away. (1916-1993). Johnny finished his MLB career with a lifetime BA of .312. He hit 356 MLB career HR’s. He had the 8th best slugging percentage in MLB history .562. Johnny had 9 consecutive .300 plus seasons. Johnny was one of the greatest pinch hitters in MLB history, including 3 AL league leading seasons with the New York Yankees, finishing with a lifetime mark of .283.
2001 - Former Yankees OF Gene Woodling (1949-1954) passed away (1922-2001). Gene was purchased from the San Francisco Seals (PCL) in 1948. He would hit the following during his Yankee career starting in 1949, .270, .283, .281, .309, .306, before dropping off to .250 with a broken arm in 1954. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel would often platoon Gene Woodling and Hank Bauer in OF. The Yankees sent him to the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade in the winter of 1954, thinking he was washed up at the age of 31. But he wasn’t, Gene would go on to hit .300, three more times in the AL. Gene would finish up his MLB playing career with Casey Stengel and the New York Mets in 1962. After being released as a MLB player in March of 1963, he became a MLB 1B coach for the Mets.
2005 - The New Yankees were swept by the team with the worst record in MLB (16-37), falling 5-2 to the Kansas City Royals for their 1st 5-game losing streak in more than 2 years. The Royals pitchers allowed just 6 runs in the series. It was the 3rd time in their storied history the Yankees had been swept in 3 games by the team with the worst record in MLB. The other times were in 2000, by the Tigers, and 1937 by the A’s. The Royals had gone 78 series without sweeping anyone, the longest drought in the MLB since the Phillies went 79 series without a sweep from 1996-97.
June 3rd
1929 - The Yankees released veteran 1B George “Tioga” Burns (1928-1929). George played briefly with the Yankees in 1928, before finishing his long MLB career with the Philadelphia A’s in 1929.
1932 - New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hit 4 consecutive HRs in a game and narrowly missed a 5th HR, Yankees teammate Tony Lazzeri hits for the cycle as the Yankees beat the Philadelphia A’s by a score of 20-13. The Yankees set a MLB record for total bases with 50; both teams set a still-standing record for extra bases with 41.
1933 - After giving up 11 runs to the Philadelphia A’s in the 2nd inning, the New York Yankees rebound in the 5th inning with 10 runs, as they out slug the A’s by the score of 17-11. In the 8th inning, Babe Ruth will cap off the Yankees comeback with a 3-run HR.
1956 - Former Yankees C/OF Roxy Walters (1915-1918) passed away. On July 23, 1915, Roxy was purchased by the New York Yankees from Waco (Texas). He appeared in 193 games for the Yankees, hitting .243. On December 18, 1918, Roxy was traded by the New York Yankees with P Ray Caldwell, OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love and $15,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and P Ernie Shore.
1968 - The New York Yankees turn their 21st triple play in their team’s history, but lose to the Twins by the score of 4-3. With the bases loaded and the go-ahead run already across the plate, Yankees P Dooley Womack catches a lined shot by Twins C Johnny Roseboro, who threw to Bobby Cox at 3B and then watched in awe as when Bobby Cox’s throw to Yankees Mickey Mantle at 1B was in time to complete the triple play.
1971 - Former Yankees OF minor leaguer Carl Everett was born. Carl was drafted by the Florida Marlins from the Yankees in 1992 MLB expansion player draft. He was a former No. 1 round free agent draft pick by the Yankees in 1990. Carl was label as a troublemaker in the Yankees minor league system; Carl was left unprotected by the Yankees in the MLB expansion team player draft.
1972 - The Yankees score 8 runs in the 13th inning, 6 of which scored on 3-run HR by Thurman Munson and Bobby Mercer to down the White Sox by a score of 18-10. Bobby Mercer had 4 hits, scored 5 runs and 3 runs battered in. There was one other unusual happening; Yankees reliever Sparky Lyle actually hit a double.
2003 - New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is named the 11th team captain in club’s history.
June 4th
1885 - Former Yankees INF Bobby Vaughn (1909) was born. Bobby played in 5 games for the 1909 Yankees, just hitting .143.
1889 - Former Yankees INF/OF Leo “Lee” Magee (1916-1917) was born. Lee hit .238 in 182 games with the Yankees.
1928 - Former Yankees back-up INF Billy Hunter (1955-1956) was born. Billy Hunter was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade of December 1954. He was a reserve INF for the Yankees. In February of 1957, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s in the Bobby Shantz trade. In 1977-1978, Billy was the manager of the Texas Rangers finishing 2nd place in AL West twice.
1933 - New York Yankees starting P Johnny Allen’s no-hit bid is spoiled in the 1st inning on Ed Coleman’s single. Allen will not allow another hit, as he wins the game by a score of 6-0, against the Philadelphia A’s.
1939 - Former Yankees INF Phil “Super Sub” Linz (1962-1965) was born. In 1958, the Yankees signed Phil Linz as a MLB free agent. He made the team in 1962, along other Yankee rookies who were known as the Amarillo Gang (Joe Pepitone, Linz and Jim Bouton). Tom Tresh beat out Phil for the starting shortstop job in 1962. Tony Kubek was away from the Yankees for Army reserve active duty. Phil became the Yankees utility man, he could play the OF and INF. Phil is most known for the 1964 harmonica incident on the team bus in Chicago, with Manager Yogi Berra following a tough Yankee loss. The bus incident sparked the Yankees to regain the AL championship. With the retirement of Tony Kubek at the end of the 1965 AL season due to back injuries. The Yankees GM Ralph Houk traded Phil on November 29, 1965; to the Phillies for Ruben Amaro Sr. The Yankees should have kept Linz because Amaro was a complete disaster for the Yankees including a collision with Tom Tresh in the outfield that ruined Tom Tresh’s knees and his MLB career.
1957 - Yankees Current Bench base Coach Tony Pena (2006-2010) was born. Tony Pena was known for his unique style of catching. He would sit on the ground with one knee tucked to the side while his other leg was straight out to the other side. He could even throw out would-be base stealers from this position with an incredibly strong arm. He ended his career with 1,950 games behind the plate, fourth most of all MLB catchers.
1977 - Reggie Jackson hits a pair of run-scoring doubles to highlight a 7-run 2nd inning in Yankees 8-6 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Yankees starter Don Gullet was the winner, while Yankees closer Sparky Lyle notched his 10th save of the 1977 AL season.
2007 - Former Yankees 3B and MLB Coach Clete Boyer (1959-1966) passed away (1937-2007). Clete Boyer took over the regular Yankees 3B job from Andy Carey and Hector Lopez in 1960. He would become, one of finest 3B to play for the Yankees from 1960-1966. He was over shadowed by the presence of Orioles All Star 3B Brooks Robinson. Clete appeared in 5 World Series with the Yankees (1960-1964). In the winter of 1966, Clete Boyer was traded by the Yankees to the Braves for rookie OF Bill Robinson. The 3B position would not be solid again until the arrival of Graig Nettles in winter of 1972 from the Indians. Clete passed away in 2007. He was the younger brother of former MLB player’s Ken and Cloyd Boyer.
June 5th
1874 - Former Yankees P Jack “Happy Jack” Chesbro (1903-1909) was born. Jack Chesbro holds the MLB and Yankees team record for most wins in a season with 41 wins (1904). From 1903-1909, Jack won 129 games as a Yankee, in 269 games with 169 complete games, 1,953 innings, a .577 WP, with a 2.58 ERA, with 16 shutouts and 913 strikeouts.
1878 - Former Yankees C Fred Mitchell (1910) was born. On August 23, 1909, Fred was purchased by the New York Highlanders from Toronto (Eastern). He appeared in 68 games for the 1910 Yankees, hitting .230.
1891 - Former Yankees C/1B James ‘Truck” Hannah (1918-1920) was born. Truck hit .235 in 244 games with the Yankees.
1926 - The Cleveland Indians add insult to injury by turning a triple play against the New York Yankees in 15-3 win.
1932 - Yankees obtained P Dan Mac Fayden from the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Ivy Andrews and Henry Johnson and $50,000. Dan went 14-11 in 62 games for the Yankees (1932-1935).
1936 - Lou Gehrig plays in his 1,700th consecutive game, as the New York Yankees defeated the Cleveland by the score of 4-3.
1941 - Former Yankees reserve C/DH Duane “Duke” Sims (1973-1974) was born. Duke Sims hit the last Yankee HR at the original Yankee Stadium in 1973. Duke only appeared in 9 games for the Yankees hitting .208.
1951 - Former Yankees DH/OF Darryl Jones (1979) was born. On June 6, 1972, Darryl Jones was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1972 MLB amateur player draft. Darryl Jones was given 18 games with the 1979 New York Yankees in June and 1st part of July. He was mostly used as a DH, and was 28 years old at the time. The regular DH that year for the New York Yankees was veteran Jim Spencer, having his best year by far with a .593 slugging percentage in 295 at-bats. Jones had gotten attention for hitting .330 for Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) in 1977. He hit .322 for Tacoma Yankees (AAA) in 1978. He also spent 3 years with West Haven Yankees (AA) (1974-1976).
1955 - New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle hits a HR off of Chicago White Sox hurler Billy Pierce that traveled an estimated 550 Feet. The ball cleared the Left Field upper deck at Chicago’s Comiskey Park.
1958 - At Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees rout the Chicago White Sox starter Early Wynn for a 12-5 victory. In the 3rd inning, Mickey Mantle legs out his 3rd inside-the-park HR in a month.
1963 - At Baltimore's Memorial Stadium, Yankees CF Mickey Mantle fractures a bone in his left foot and suffers ligament and cartilage damage to the left knee running into the chain link fence chasing down a Brooks Robinson drive. Mantle will be out of the Yankees lineup for 61 games. Whitey Ford beats Milt Pappas and the Orioles, by the score of 4-3, as the Yankees return to 1st place. Roger Maris would take over the CF position while Mantle is on the DL.
1977 - Carlos May, Bucky Dent, Thurman Munson, Reggie Jackson, Craig Nettles and rookie George Zeber, each hit a HR during the Yankees 8-6 win over the White Sox. The 6 HRs were the most the Yankees hit in one game in 3 years. George Zeber’s HR shot was the game winner.
2006 - New York Yankees Jason Giambi and Andy Phillips, each hit a 3-run HR in a 7-run 2nd inning, as the host Yankees roughed up old nemesis Josh Beckett in a 13-5 rout of the Boston Red Sox. New York had 11 hits for its 12th consecutive game with at least 10, breaking the franchise record of 11 straight games set in May 1937.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)