This Week in Yankees History
June 6th - June 12th
June 6th - June 12th
June 6th
1887 - Former Yankees INF/OF Delmar “Del” Paddock (1912) was born. Del hit .288 in 46 games with the Yankees in 1912.
1907 - Former Yankees HOF Catcher, Coach and Manager Bill Dickey (1928-1946) was born (1907-1993). Bill was the first great Yankees catcher. He was a tough as nails player. Bill had a lifetime BA of .313 for the Yanks. He hit .300, or better 10 times during his 13 years as player. His best season was in 1936, when he hit .362. Bill topped the 100 RBI’s mark for 4 years (1936-39.) He was AL All Star catcher (1933-1943, 1946.) Bill led the AL in fielding as a catcher (1931, 35, 37, 39, 41.) During the 1946 season, he managed the Yankees to a 57-48 record, after longtime Manager Joe McCarthy had resigned. He served as a coach for Yankee Manager’s Bucky Harris and Casey Stengel. HOF Yogi Berra credits Bill with teaching him the fundamentals of catching. He also taught Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard in the 1950’s as well. Later he would come to the Yankees spring training camp as a special advisor and work with the team’s organizational catchers.
1913 - The Yankees were defeated for the 13th consecutive time in the 2-1 loss to the Naps (Indians).
1931 - The Yankees turn a triple play, but lose to the Indians by a score of 7-5.
1934 - Yankees OF Myril Hoag hit a MLB record of 6 singles in the Yankees' 15-3 rout of the Red Sox.
1937 - Red Ruffing’s pinch-hit HR leads the Yankees to a 6-5 win over the Tigers. Ruffing, who was the ace pitcher on Yankee pitching staff, was also a dangerous hitter and frequently got the call by Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy, when the Yankees need an extra bat off the bench. He hit .269 lifetime, including .254 as a pinch hitter (58 pinch hits in 228 pinch hit bats.) Ruffing, also hit 36 MLB career HRs.
1944 - All MLB games were canceled as the country's focus is turned toward Europe, while allied forces invaded German occupied France. (Normandy Beach Invasion, D-Day.
1949 - Former Yankees C Jim Deidel (1974) was born. Jim Deidel was drafted by the Yankees in the 15th round of the 1967 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in only 2 games for the team during the 1974 AL season.
1954 - Former Yankees OF/1B Dave Bergman (1975, 1977) was born. Dave was drafted by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 1974 MLB amateur player draft. The Yankees would send Dave to the Houston as part of 3 minor league players involved in the Cliff Johnson trade with the Astros on June 15, 1977.
1965 - In the 2nd game of a doubleheader, Yankees switch-hitter Tom Tresh connected for 3 consecutive HRs in the 12-0 rout of the White Sox. Tresh hit his 1st HR right-handed off of starter Juan Pizarro in the 1st inning, then went to the other side of the plate and hit 2 HRs against reliever Bruce Howard in the 3rd and 5th innings. The Yankees won the 1st game of the doubleheader by a score of 6-1.
1965 - The Yankees claimed shortstop Bill Betha on waivers from the Twins. He never plays for the Yankees at the MLB Level.
1972 - The Yankees obtained P Wade Blasingame from the Astros for a player to be named later. Wade’s claim to fame as Yankee was during a start against the Tigers, when he walked the 1st batter and then surrendered 3 consecutive HR’s, with the last HR being a shot over the roof in left center field at Tiger Stadium.
1977 - Veteran Yankees starter Catfish Hunter comes off the DL, pitches a 6-hit, complete game win over the Rangers 9-2. Yankees slugger Reggie Jackson hits his 10th and 11th HR’s of the 1977 AL season.
1990 - Longtime Yankees minor league system manager Stump Merrill replaces Bucky Dent as the Yankees manager. The Yankees are in 7th place in the AL East with a dismal 18-31 record. Bucky Dent’s Yankees Managing career record was 36-53 (1989-90).1900 - Former Yankees P Ed Wells (1929-32) was born. On August 28, 1928, Ed was purchased by the Yankees from the Birmingham (Southern Association). Ed went 37-20 in 107 games for the Yankees. On April 14, 1933, he was purchased by the Browns from the Yankees.
June 6th
1900 - Former Yankees P Ed Wells (1929-1932) was born. On August 28, 1928, Ed was purchased by the Yankees from the Birmingham (Southern Association). Ed went 37-20 in 107 games for the Yankees. On April 14, 1933, he was purchased by the St. Louis Browns from the Yankees.
1907 - The Boston Red Sox purchased 43-year-old Deacon McGuire from the New York Highlanders and makes him their MLB manager.
1911 - Former Yankees P Ralph “Buck” Buxton (1949) was born. Buck went 0-1 in 14 games with 2 saves for the Yankees in 1949.
1913 - At the Polo Grounds, the Highlanders finally win one game, by the score of 3-2, over the White Sox. The Yankees end the13-game winless streak (12 loses, 1 tie.) It was the club’s longest winless streak ever. The Yankees are now 10-34 for the 1913 AL season.
1927 - At Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig hit back-to-back HR’s in the 4th inning, off of P Tommy Thomas, to beat the White Sox by the score of 4-1, increasing the Yankees' lead over Chicago to 2 games. Yankees C Pat Collins, also HRs for the Yankees, while Bud Clancy matches with one for the White Sox.
1936 - A HR by OF George Selkirk in the 16th inning, gives Red Ruffing and the Yankees, a 5-4 win over Indians P Oral Hildebrand. Red Ruffing has 3 hits, including a HR. In creditably, there are no strikeouts recorded in this 16th inning long game.
1939 - In his 1st at bat since April 29th, Joe DiMaggio hit a triple to pace the Yankees to a 5-2 victory over the White Sox at Comiskey Park.
1947 - Former AL All Star Yankees Catcher and Captain Thurman Munson (1969-1979) was born (1947-1979). Thurman Munson was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1968 MLB amateur player draft. Munson was a graduate of Kent State University. Munson, who died in aircraft crash in August of 1979, finished his Yankee career with a lifetime BA of .292. He was named the 1970 AL Rookie of Year. In 1976, he won the AL MVP award. He was named Yankee captain. Munson was an AL All Star catcher in 1971, 1973-78. He won AL Golden Glove as a catcher from 1973-75. Truman was a modern day version of Bill Dickey. His World Series lifetime BA was .373 in the AL Playoffs series his BA was .339.
1967 - The last-place Yankees have the 1st pick in the1967 MLB free-agent player draft and use it to take 1B Ron Blomberg. Ron “Boomer” Blomberg will become the 1st designated hitter in MLB history. Ron Blomberg has scouted for the Yankees. He is the author of the book “Designated Hebrew,” about his MLB player days.
1968 - The Yankees drafted Kent State University catcher Thurman Munson in the 1st round (4th pick) of the 1968 MLB amateur player draft.
1971 - The Yankees obtained OF Danny Walton from the Brewers for INF/OF Frank Tepedino and OF Bobby Mitchell. Walton never turned out to be the power hitter the Yankees were hoping for. He would be traded to the Twins for reserve C Rick Dempsey in the fall of 1972.
1973 - In 2 separate player transactions; the Yankees purchased P “Sudden Sam” McDowell from the Giants for $100,000. Then they obtained starter Pat Dobson from Braves for 1B Wayne Nordhagen, OF Frank Tepedino, Pitchers David Cheadle and Alan Coster. Former AL All Star hurler Sam McDowell was still batting serious drinking problems. He was a major disappointment with the Yankees. Meanwhile Pat Dobson went 9-8 in 1973, and then he posted a 19-15 record in 1974, before fading in 1975, being traded in November to White Sox for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. The Yankees players sent to the Braves did nothing as MLB players.
1982 - In the 1982 MLB free agent player draft, the Yankees selected 2-sport star Bo Jackson in the 2nd round, but Bo opts for Auburn College to play college football instead; later he will sign with the Royals in 1986.
1990 - At Fenway Park, 2- Red Sox pitchers, starter Greg Harris and closer Jeff Reardon combine to hurl a 1-hitter, beating the Yankees by a score of 3-0.
1998 - Yankees starter David Cone strikes out 14 batters, as he hurls a 2-hitter to lead the Yankees, to a 4-1 decision over the Marlins.
1998 - Former Yankees P Tom Buskey (1973-74) passed away in Harrisburg, PA from injuries involving an auto accident (1947-1998). Tom was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1969. His pitching record with the Yankees was 0-2 in 12 games with 2 saves. Tom was a short relief man, who was traded by the Yankees to the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade during the 1974 AL season.
June 8th
1927 - Tony Lazzeri hits 3 HR’s during the Yankees come from behind win against the White Sox 12-11 in 11 innings. Tony hit 2 HR’s off of starter Red Faber, and hit a game tying 2-run HR in the 9th inning off of reliever George Connally.
1933 - Jimmie Foxx hit 3 HRs in his 1st 3 at-bats as the A’s outscore the Yankees by a score of 14-10. Foxx had homered his last time up the previous day to give him 4 consecutive HRs.
1935 - Lou Gehrig collides with Carl Reynolds on a play at 1B and he leaves the game with arm and shoulder injuries. His MLB consecutive game streak is preserved, in part, by a rainout of the next day's game and an open date.
1941 -Yankees C Bill Dickey makes unassisted double play in the 1st game of a doubleheader again the Browns and thereby ties the MLB record for unassisted double-plays in 1 game by a catcher.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve INF Lenn Sakata (1987) was born. Lenn was signed as free agent by the Yankees. He appeared in 48 games and hit .267 as a reserve infielder during the 1987 AL season.
1959 - Former Yankees P Britt Burns (1986) was born. On December 12,1985, Britt Burns was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with minor league players Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to theNew York Yankees for P Joe Cowley and C/DH/1B Ron Hassey. Britt never pitched for the Yankees due to a hip injury that ended his MLB career.
1969 - The New York Yankees' uniform No. 7 is officially retired on “Mickey Mantle Day.” A crowd of 60,096 fans come to Yankee Stadium to honor Mickey Mantle and watched Yankees sweep the White Sox in a doubleheader by scores of 3-1 and 11-2.
1975 - Former Yankees P Ownie Carroll (1930) passed away. On May 30, 1930, he was traded by the Detroit Tigers along with OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling to the New York Yankees for veteran starter Waite Hoyt and INF Mark Koenig. Ownie appeared in 10 games for the 1930 Yankees posting a 0-1 record. On September 13, 1930, he was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Yankees. Carroll had been a star HS player in New Jersey then attending Holy Cross College posting a 50-2 record before signing with the Detroit Tigers. From 1948-1972 he was the baseball coach at Seton Hall University.
1977 - New York starter Mike Torrez’s 5-hit, 9-2, victory against the Brewers, puts the Yankees into 1st place in the AL East, the 1st time since May 20th.
1981 - The Yankees use their 1st round player draft pick to take college football QB John Elway, who will only play minor league baseball (Oneonta Yankees) for the Yankees before going on to a long successful NFL career.
1986 - In the longest 9-inning game by time in AL history, Orioles beat the Yankees by a score of 18-9. The game features 9 pitchers, 36 hits, and 16 walks, and takes 4-hours-16-minutes to complete.
1997 - Former Yankees OF Ken Hunt (1959-1960) passes away (1934-1997). Ken Hunt was signed as a free agent by the Yankees in 1952. He appeared in 32 games during the 1959-60 AL seasons batting .303. He was unable to crack the regular Yankees starting OF. In December of 1960, Ken was drafted by the Los Angeles Angels in AL 1960 expansion player draft. Former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel, who helped the Angels with scouting reports on players placed in the draft, recommend him to the Angels management.
2005 - The Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez became the youngest member of the 400-HR MLB career club, when he hit a solo HR in the 8th inning of New York's 12-3 victory over the Brewers.
June 9th
1931 - Former Yankees minor league OF and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-75) was born. Bill was originally signed by the Yankees in 1950, but was later traded along with P Mel Wright and another minor league player to the Cardinals for OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, he won the NL ROY award with the Cardinals. Bill would go on to be an All Star OF with the Pirates. He hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. He managed the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace longtime Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL, after being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 mid season by Billy Martin.
1946 - The Yankees draw 66,545 fans for their doubleheader with the Indians at Yankee Stadium, breaking 1-million attendance mark in the earliest date in MLB history. The Tribe takes the opener by a score of 9-5, while the Yankees come back to win the nightcap by a score of 7-4.
1969 - The Yankees purchased veteran hurler Ken Johnson from Braves for undisclosed amount of cash. He was washed up. Ken was sent to the Cubs in August.
1974 - Former Yankees DH/OF Randy Winn (2010) was born. On February 8, 2010, Randy Winn was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees.
1977 - Yankee shortstop Bucky Dent’s 3-hits highlight a Yankees 10-1 win at Milwaukee over the Brewers with Yankees starter Don Gullet picking up his 5th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1979 - Former Yankees P Jason Anderson (2003, 2005) was born. On June 5, 2000, Jason Anderson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 10th round of the MLB amateur player draft. In 2003, Jason appeared in 22 games for the Yankees, posting a 1-0 record. On July 16, 2003, Jason Anderson was traded by the New York Yankees along with minor league players Ryan Bicondoa and Anderson Garcia to the New York Mets for All Star reliever Armando Benitez. On June 1,2004, Jason was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians. He appeared in 3 games for the Yankees, posting a 1-0 record.On February 15, 2006, Jason was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
June 10th
1892 - Former Yankees OF Frank Gilhooley (1913-1918) was born. On August 25,1913, Frank was purchased by the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals. Frank appeared 250 games for the Yankees, hitting .277 with 2 HRs with 55 RBI’s. On December 18,1918, Frank was traded by the New York Yankees with P Ray Caldwell, P Slim Love, C Roxy Walters and $15,000 to the Boston Red Sox for veteran P Dutch Leonard, OF Duffy Lewis and P Ernie Shore.
1900 - Former Yankees P and Minor League Manager Garland Braxton (1925-1926) was born. Garland appeared in 40 games with the Yankees posting a 6-2 record with 2 saves. On October 19, 1926, he was sent by the New York Yankeesto the Washington Senators to complete an earlier deal made on August 27,1926. The New York Yankees sent players to be named later to theWashington Senators for Dutch Ruether. After retiring as an active MLB player, Garland managed in the Yankees minor league system with the Norfolk Tars (1944-1945) and the Binghamton Triplets (1946).
1903 - The Yankees obtained shortstop Kid Elberfeld from Tigers for 2 shortstops, Herm Long and Ernie Courtney.
1905 - Former Yankees P Danny MacFayden (1932-34) was born. On June 5, 1932, Dan was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for P Ivy Andrews, Hank Johnson, and $50,000 in cash. Dan went 14-10 in 64 games with 1 save for the Yankees. On June 4, 1935, Dan was selected off waivers by the Braves from the Yankees.
1921 - Babe Ruth of the Yankees became MLB baseball's career HR leader by hitting his 120th HR off of Indians P Jim Bagby Sr. in the 3rd inning. The Indians won the game by a score of 8-6.
1929 - Former Yankees minor league catcher Hank Foiles was born. In November of 1947, Hank Foiles was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Hank never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 19,1951, Hank was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Yankees organization in the 1951 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He was a reserve catcher in the MLB from 1953-1964, playing for the Reds, Cubs, Pirates, Indians, Orioles, A’s and the Angels. His best MLB season was in 1957 with the Pirates, hitting .270 and making the NL All Star team.
1956 - Former Yankees reserve C Brad Gulden (1979-80) was born. Brad was obtained from the Dodgers before the start of the 1979 AL season. He was one of the 2 catchers (Jerry Narron) used by the team after Thurman Munson’s death in August of 1979.
1966 - Yankees obtained P Fred Talbot from the A’s for OF Roger Repoz, pitchers Bill Stafford and Gil Blanco. Fred Talbot went 14-24 for the Yankees before being unloaded to the Pilots in 1968. Jim Bouton wrote about him in his famous baseball book “Ball Four.”
1977 - Yankees starter Ron Guidry does it again, stopping the Twins by the score of 4-1, with 9th inning help from closer Sparky Lyle. The key Yankee hit in the game was a 2-run double by 2B Willie Randolph.
June 11th
1927 - After Babe Ruth hits 2 consecutive HR’s, Indians’ catcher Luke Sewell demands that the umpires inspect Babe Ruth’s bat. The bat was ruled legal, but the commotion created gave the Cleveland crowd a thrill exceeded only by Babe Ruth striking out at his 3rd at bat.
1961 - Yankees All Star RF Roger Maris hits his 20th HR of the 1961 AL season in route to the magic 61 HR mark.
1974 - Yankees veteran All Star starter Mel Stottlemyre made his 272nd consecutive start, with no relief appearances, to set an AL record.
1976 - Former Yankees P Jim Konstanty (1954-56) passed away. After being acquired from the Phillies during the 1954 season, he posted a 1-1 mark in 9 games with 2 saves. In 1955, Jim went 7-2 with 11 saves in 45 games. In 1956, he was 0-0 with 2 saves in 8 games before being released by the Yankees. In 1950, he was the NL MVP with the Phillies, posting a 16-7 record with 22 saves. He appeared in 2 games with the Phillies against the Yankees in the 1950 World Series. He lost the opening game by a score of 1-0 to Yankees starter Vic Raschi.
1980 - Former Yankees minor league P Yhency Brazoban was born. On July 10,1997, he was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Brazoban started his professional career as an outfielder but his cannon arm, as well as his offensive ineptitude, prompted the New York Yankees to convert him to the mound. On December 13, 2003, he was traded by the New York Yankees along with minor league P Brandon Weeden, starter Jeff Weaver and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for veteran starter Kevin Brown. The Dodgers released him at the end of 2008 NL season.
1988 - Rick Rhoden of the Yankees became the 1st pitcher to start a game as a DH since the rule was adopted in 1973.
2003 - Astros pitchers Roy Oswalt, Peter Munro, Kirk Saarloos, Brad Lidge, Octavio Dotel and Billy Wagner combined for the 1st no-hitter against the Yankees in 45 years, winning 8-0, and stopping New York at 6,980 games with at least 1 hit. Orioles P Hoyt Wilhelm accomplished the feat in 1958, beating the Yankees by the score of 1-0. Houston sextet also set a record for the highest number of pitchers to throw a no-hitter in MLB history (4 accomplished the feat twice).
2009 - Former Yankees INF/OF Woodson “Woodie” Held (1954,1957) passed away from brain cancer (1932-2009). Woodie Held was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent in 1951. Woodie appeared in 4 games with the New York Yankees in 1954 and 1 game during the 1957 AL season. He was unable to break into the regular Yankee infield or outfield. On June 15,1957, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s along with INF Billy Martin, P Ralph Terry, and OF Bob Martyn for P Ryne Duren, Outfielder’s Jim Pisoni and Harry ”Suitcase” Simpson. He would be the Cleveland Indians starting shortstop from 1959-1964. He would play with the Kansas City A’s, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, LA Angels and Washington Senators during his MLB Career, which lasted until 1969. Woodie Held passed away in 2009.
June 12th
1907 - The Yankees commit 11 errors in their 14-6 loss to the Tigers.
1912 - Former Yankees Co-Owner Dan Topping was born (1912-1974). Dan Topping became part owner of the Yankees in 1945, when he was part of a group that purchased the team from the estate of the late owner Jacob Ruppert. The group, which also included Del Webb and Larry MacPhail, who was bought out by Webb and Topping in 1947. He sold his majority interest in the club to CBS in November of 1964. Topping sold his remaining stake in the Yankees in 1966.
1922 - Hub Pruett of the Browns struck out Babe Ruth 3 consecutive times as Browns beat the Yankees by the score of 7-1.
1928 - Lou Gehrig of the Yankees collected 14 bases with 2 triples and 2 HRs in a 15-7 victory over the White Sox.
1938 - The Yankees score 7 runs in the 6th inning to come from behind and defeat the Indians by a score of 7-6.
1939 - The Baseball Hall of Fame was officially dedicated at Cooperstown, N.Y. The greatest-ever gathering of members and future inductees of the Hall of Fame accepted their plaques: Grover Alexander, Ty Cobb, Eddie Collins, Walter Johnson, Nap Lajoie, Connie Mack, Babe Ruth, George Sisler, Tris Speaker, Honus Wagner and Cy Young.
1945 - Former Yankees P Gary Jones (1970-71) was born. Gary was 0-0 in 14 games with Yankees, before being traded to the Rangers along with pitcher Terry Ley for veteran INF Bernie Allen.
1953 - Yankees obtained INF Willie Miranda from the Browns from cash above the waiver price. He would back up Scooter at shortstop before being traded to the Orioles in the winter of 1954 in the big 17-player trade that featured Orioles pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen coming to the Yankees.
1962 - Yankees obtained OF Tom Umphlett and cash from Red Sox for veteran reserve INF Billy Gardner. It was a trade of weak players; Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1969 - The Yankees obtained P Rob Gardner from the Indians for reserve C John Orsino.
1973 - The Yankees obtained P Lowell Palmer from the Indians for P Mike Kekich. The days as a Yankee for Kekich were numbered since the pre-spring training announcement of his wife swap with teammate Fritz Peterson.
1974 - Former Yankees OF/DH Hideki Matsui was born. On December 19,2002, Hideki Matsui was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He was a 2-time AL All Star team member (2003-2004). He won the 2009 ML MVP winner for his hitting performance for the New York Yankees against the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2009 World Series. He hit .615, going 8 for 13, with 3 HRs with 8 RBI’s. His final Yankees career totals were .292 BA in 916 games, hitting 140 HR’s with 597 RBI’s. In the winter of 2009, Hideki left the New York Yankees for MLB free agency signing with the Angels.
