This Week in Yankees History
December 26th - January 1st
December 26th
1889 - Former Yankees reserve INF/OF James “Queenie” O’Rourke (1908) was born (1899-1955). He appeared in 34 games for the 1908 Yankees, hitting .231. Queenie was the son of Hall of Fame player Jim O’Rourke.
1901 - Former Yankees INF/P Edward “Doc” Farrell (1932-1933) was born. Edward “Doc” Farrell appeared in 70 games for the New York Yankees, hitting .231. On December 19,1934, he was sent by the New York Yankees to San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete an earlier deal made on November 21,1934. The Yankees sent players to be named later and cash to San Francisco Seals (PCL) for OF Joe DiMaggio. Doc Farrell refused to report to his new team in 1935. He will play for the Boston Red Sox in 1935, appearing in only four games, hitting .286. He retired from baseball, becoming a successful dentist.
1919 - Boston Red Sox owner Harry Frazee makes a secret agreement to sell Babe Ruth to the New York Yankees for $100,000 (one-fourth cash, plus $25,000 a year at 6 percent) plus guaranteeing a $300,000 loan with Fenway Park as collateral. The transaction will be announced publicly one week later.
1947 - Former Yankees reserve INF Roxey Roach (1910-1911) passed away. In August of 1909, the New York Highlanders purchased Roxey Roach from Lancaster (Tri-State League) for $2,500. He appeared in 83 games for the New York Yankees hitting .219. On June 15,1911, Roxey was purchased by Jersey City (Eastern) from the Highlanders.
1948 - Former Yankees AL All Star 1B and MLB Coach Carroll “Chris” Chambliss (1974-1979,1988) was born. On April 26,1974, Chris Chambliss was traded by the Cleveland Indians along with pitchers Richard Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw to the New York Yankees for pitchers Fritz Peterson, Steve Kline, Fred Beene, and Tom Buskey. Chris hit the game winning HR in the 1976 ALCS to bring the Yankees back into the World Series for the 1st time since 1964. He was an AL All Star 1B in 1976. In 1978, he won the AL Golden Glove for 1B. In the post season for the Yankees, Chris hit .281 with 3 HRs with 15 RBIs. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees (1976-1978) hitting .275 with 1 HR, 5 RBIs. To get a replacement for the late Thurman Munson the Yankees traded Chris away after the 1979 AL season. On November 1,1979, Chris was traded by the Yankees along with INF Damaso Garcia and P Paul Mirabella to the Toronto Blue Jays for P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn. The Blue Jays would soon trade him to Atlanta Braves. During the 1988 AL season, Chris had a brief one game comeback with the Yankees.
1971 - Former Yankees P Jay Tessmer (1998-2000, 2002) was born. The New York Yankees in the 19th round of the 1995 MLB amateur player draft drafted Jay Tessmer. Although he was very successful coming out the bullpen at Columbus, he couldn’t repeat that performance in pinstripes. He appeared in 22 games with 1-0 record. On January 3,2001, Jay was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Seth Taylor to the Colorado Rockies for David Lee. Jay would return to the Yankees as a MLB free agent in 2002.
1974 - The New York Yankees signed C Juan Espino as an MLB amateur free agent. On March 31,1984, Juan was purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Yankees. On January 8,1985, he was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. Juan would appear as a reserve catcher with the Yankees in parts of the 1982-1983,1985-1986 AL seasons appearing in only 49 games, hitting just .219.
1981 - Former Yankees P Dustin Mosely (2010) was born. On February 16, 2010, Dustin Mosely was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 16 games with the Yankees posting a 4-4 record. On December 2, 2010, the Yankees granted Dustin Mosely MLB free agency. Recently, he was signed by the San Diego Padres for 2011 NL season.
1992 - Former Yankees P Tom Gorman (1952-1954) passed away. In 1946, Tom Gorman was signed by MLB scout Jim Bergen for the New York Yankees. He began his professional career with Norfolk Tars in the Piedmont League (B) in 1946 and 1947. Then Tom played for Binghamton Triplets in the Eastern League (AA) in 1948, moving up to the Newark Bears in the International League in 1949. In 1950, he pitched for the Kansas City Blues in the American Association (AAA) and Beaumont in the Texas League (AA) in 1951. He started the 1952 baseball season with Kansas City Blues but was recalled by the Yankees in July. Tom went 10-7 in 75 games with 9 saves for the Yankees (1952-1954) before being sold to the Kansas City A’s in March of 1955. He appeared in two World Series (1952-1953) with the Yankees with no record. Tom pitched for the A’s from 1955-1959, working out of their bullpen.
1994 - Former Yankees AL All Star pitcher Allie “Super Chief “Reynolds (1947-1954) passed away. On October 19,1946, Allie was obtained from the Cleveland Indians for 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon. He went 19-8, with a .704 WP for the 1947 Yankees. He was one of the mainstays of the Yankee starting rotation that won five straight World Championships (1949-1953) along with Eddie Lopat, Vic Raschi, later Whitey Ford. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 7-2. Allie went 131-60 in eight seasons with the Yankees, including a 20-8 record with an ERA 2.06 in 1952. During the 1951 AL season, he pitched two-no-hitters, including one against the Red Sox. A back injury during a Yankees team bus accident in Baltimore during the 1954 American League season forced Allie to retire at the end of the season. He later became the Baseball Commissioner of the American Association (AAA).
1995 - The Associated Press selects Baltimore Orioles Cal Ripken, Jr.'s consecutive game streak as the top sports story of the year, followed by the death of New York Yankees Hall of Fame CF Mickey Mantle.
2000 - Former Yankees minor league C Roy Partee passes away (1917-2000). On December 13, 1948, catcher Roy Partee was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees along with P Fred Sanford for P Red Embree, C Sherm Lollar, P Richard Starr and $100,000. Roy will never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level.
December 27th
1890 - Former Yankees C Ernie Krueger (1915) was born. He appeared in 10 games hitting .172 for the 1915 Yankees.
1927 - Former minor league Yankee OF Ted Del Guercio was born. Ted Del Guercio played 12 years in the minor leagues and was the only member of the largest trade in MLB baseball history not to make the majors. On November 17, 1954, the Baltimore Orioles traded P Don Larsen, INF Billy Hunter and P Bob Turley to the New York Yankees for players to be named later, P Harry Byrd, P Jim Mc Donald, INF Willy Miranda, catchers Hal Smith and Gus Triandos and MLB OF Gene Woodling. On December 1, 1954 The Yankees would send P Bill Miller, 1B Kal Segrist, INF Don Leppert and OF Ted Del Guercio (minors) to the Orioles to complete the trade. In return, the Orioles would send P Mike Blyzka, C Darrell Johnson, OF Jim Fridley, and 1B Richard Kryhoski to the Yankees to complete the 17-player trade.
1939 - The New York Giants obtained INF Mickey Witek from the New York Yankees AAA team, the Newark Bears (International League) in exchange for INF Alex Kampouris, C Tom Padden and $40,000 in cash. The Giants has high hopes for Witek, who was named the 1939 Most Valuable Player in the International League. He will return to the New York Yankees organization in 1949, appearing in one game that season. Alex Kampouris and Tom Padden never play for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1943 - Former Yankees OF and MLB Coach Roy White (1965-1979) was born. In 1961, the New York Yankees signed Roy White as an MLB amateur free agent. He was originally infielder converted to outfielder. Roy played for 14 years for the Yankees finishing with a lifetime BA of .271 with 160 HRs and 758 RBIs in 1,881 games. He was a two-time AL All Star team member (1969-1970). His best Yankees season was in 1970, when Roy hit .292 with 22 HRS and 94 RBIs. He played in three World Series for the Yankees (1976-1978) hitting .244. After leaving the Yankees in 1979, Roy played with the Tokyo Giants before retiring as an active player.
1963 - Former Yankees C/DH/INF Jim Leyritz (1990-1996, 1999-2000) was born. In 1985, the New York Yankees signed Jim Leyritz, as an MLB amateur free agent. With the arrival of C Joe Girardi, Jim became expendable. On December 5,1996, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for players to be named later. The Angels sent minor league players Jeremy Blevins and Ryan Kane on December 9, 1996 to the Yankees to complete the trade. On July 31,1999, Jim was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees for minor league player Geraldo Padua. Jim only batted .213 in the 1999 post season, but that included 8 HRs with 20 RBIs. On June 20, 2000, the Yankees to the Dodgers traded Jim for INF Jose Vizcaino and cash
1984 - MLB Free agent starter Ed Whitson, who went 14-8 for the National League champion San Diego Padres, begins a nightmarish association with the New York Yankees by signing a five-year, $4.4 million contract. By the middle of his second year with the club, Whitson gets so rattled in Yankee Stadium that manager Lou Piniella will refused to use him in home games. He can only pitch for the team on the road. His Yankee pitching record will be 15-10 in 44 games. The Yankees shipped him back to the Padres, on July 9,1986, for P Tim Stoddard, where he will have four solid seasons.
1989 - The New York Yankees signed MLB free agent INF Jim Walewander. He will spend the 1990 season at Columbus (AAA).
2001 - After 21 years being heard on WABC-AM radio, the New York Yankees will broadcast its spring training, regular-season and postseason games on all-news station WCBS-AM, which is owned by Infinity Broadcasting. The five-year deal with the Yankees' YES Network, created earlier this year, is worth approximately about $50 million.
December 28th
1947 - Former Yankees reserve INF Aurelio Rodriguez (1980-1981) was born (1947-2000). On August 4, 1980, he was purchased by the New York Yankees from the San Diego Padres. Aurelio would play in 77 games for the Yankees, hitting .283. On November 17,1981, he was traded by the Yankees to the Toronto Blue Jays for a player to be named later. The Blue Jays would sent Mike Lebo (minors) on December 9,1981 to the Yankees to complete the trade. In 2000, he passed away from injuries after being struck by car that had jumped onto the sidewalk in Detroit.
1978 - Former Yankees reserve C Walt Alexander (1915-1917) passed away. On July 30, 1915, Walt Alexander was purchased by the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Browns. He appeared in 81 games for Yankees, hitting .233.
1992 - Former Yankees hurler and long-time NL post-season rival Sal “The Barber” Maglie (1957-1958) passed away (1917-1992). In September of 1957, the New York Yankees purchased Sal Maglie from the Brooklyn Dodgers for $25,000 cash and two minor league players. Sal went 2-0 with 4 saves for the Yankees. In 1958, he faded going just 1-1 in 7 games, before being sold to the St. Louis Cardinals. Sal had pitched for the New York Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants during the 1950’s.
1995 - The Chicago White Sox traded veteran OF/DH Tim Raines to the New York Yankees in exchange for future considerations. The Yankees would sent minor league player Blaise Kozeniewski on February 6,1996 to the White Sox to complete the trade.
2001 - Outgoing New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces the Yankees and Mets have reached a tentative agreement with the city to build a pair of $800 million, retractable-roof stadiums. Mayor-elect Michael Bloomberg, who is concerned if the city can afford what is believed to be the largest private-public venture history, will have final word on the $1.6 billion cost of the proposed new ballparks agreements. Neither of the new stadiums would be built with retractable-roofs, due to projected construction costs.
2005 - New York Yankees LF Hideki Matsui has decided not to play for Japan at next year's World Baseball Classic games, so he can concentrate his efforts on winning a World Series with the New York Yankees.
2005 - MLB Free agent veteran reserve INF Miguel Cairo and the New York Yankees reached an agreement on a $1 million, one-year contract.
2007 - Former Yankees player Jim Leyritz is arrested in Florida. He had crashed his car into another vehicle, killing the occupant. He was charged with DUI manslaughter. Leyritz was also driving with a suspended license. In December of 2010, Leyritz will be acquitted of DUI charges.
December 29th
1885 - Former Yankees OF Frank “Pudgie” Delahanty (1905-1906, 1908) was born. Frank Delahanty was one of five Delahanty brothers to play in the MLB. On August 22, 1905, he was purchased by the New York Highlanders from the Birmingham (Southern Association). He hit .230 in 101 games for the Yankees. On May 16,1907, Frank was traded by the Highlanders along with P Walter Clarkson to the Cleveland Naps (aka Indians) for P Earl Moore. On July 9,1908, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Highlanders. Frank would hit .256 in 37 games for the rest of the 1908 American League season.
1893 - Former Yankees reserve C Salvatore “Joe” Smith (1913) was born. Joe Smith appeared in only 14 games for the New York Yankees during the 1913 American League season, hitting just .156.
1911 - Former Yankees reserve INF Billy Knickerbocker (1938-1940) was born. On February 15, 1938, Billy Knickerbocker was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees for reserve INF Don “Jeep” Heffner and $10,000. Billy took over Don Heffner’s role as Yankees reserve INF. On December 31,1940, Billy was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for C Ken Silvestri.
1926 - Former Yankees minor league player INF Tom Upton was born. Tom "Muscles" Upton began his professional career with the New York Yankees organization in 1944. He split the 1944 season between the Norfolk Tars and Kansas City Blues, hitting a combined .140 with a .162 slugging percentage in 222 at-bats. In 1947, he played for the Tars and Binghamton Triplets, hitting .227 in 100 games. For the 1948 Ventura Yankees, Quincy Gems and Triplets, he hit .271 in 398 at-bats. In 638 at-bats for the Beaumont Exporters in 1949, Tom hit .265 BA, with a career-high four home runs. In the winter of 1949, the St. Louis Browns in the MLB Rule 5 player draft drafted Tom from the New York Yankees organization. On April 19,1950, he made his MLB debut with the Browns' becoming their regular shortstop that season, hitting .237 with 2 home runs and 7 stolen bases in 389 at-bats. He showed a good eye at the plate, walking 52 times and striking out only 45 times.
In 52 games in 1951, he hit only .198, so he spent 34 games with the Kansas City Blues that year as well, hitting .233. On November 27,1951, he was traded along with Sherm Lollar and Al Widmar to the Chicago White Sox for Joe DeMaestri, Gordon Goldsberry, Dick Littlefield, Gus Niarhos and Jim Rivera. Then he was traded by the White Sox to the Washington Senators for Sam Dente. He appeared in 5 games for the Senators in 1952, hitting .000 in five at-bats. On May 3,1952, he was traded along with OF Irv Noren to the Yankees for OF Jackie Jensen, P Spec Shea, INF Jerry Snyder and OF Archie Wilson. In the minors the rest of the year, he hit .226 in 72 games split between the Beaumont Roughnecks and the Syracuse Chiefs. Overall, Tom hit .225 in 181 major league games. In the minors, he hit .239 in 530 games.
1928 - The New York Yankees waived veteran 3B Joe Dugan to the Boston Braves.
1933 - New York Yankees Owner Jacob Ruppert refuses to release OF Slugger Babe Ruth from his MLB player contract, thus preventing him from becoming the manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Babe Ruth will never receive another chance to manage a MLB team.
1952 - Former Yankees reserve INF Dennis Werth (1979-1981) was born.
The New York Yankees in the 19th round of the 1974 MLB amateur player draft drafted Dennis Werth. He hit .222 in 76 games as a reserve INF with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1980, hitting .308 in 39 games. On March 24,1982, Dennis was traded by the Yankees to the Kansas City Royals for minor league player Scott Behan.
1972 – Former Yankees reliever Jim Brower (2007) was born. Jim appeared in only three games in 2007 AL season for the New York Yankees with no record, before returning to Scranton (AAA).
1974 - Former Yankees 1B/DH Richie Sexton (2007) was born. His stay with the New York Yankees was short-lived however; after 22 games in 2007, in which he went to bat only 25 times, Richie was released on August 15th. He had hit .250 with 1 HR and 6 RBI’s in the Bronx.
1975 - Former Yankees P Jarret Wright (2005-2006) was born. On December 28,2004, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He went 16-12 in 43 games with the Yankees. On November 12, 2006, Jarret was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Baltimore Orioles for P Chris Britton.
1977 - Melissa Ludtke, a female Sports Illustrated sports writer, files suit against MLB, the New York Yankees and New York City officials for denying her access to the Yankee Stadium locker rooms to interview players during the 1977 World Series.
2004 - Former Yankees reserve C Gus Niarhos (1946, 1948-1950) passed away (1920-2004). Gus Niarhos was attending Auburn University on scholarship, when a scout for the New York Yankees signed him. After World War II broke out, he served in the U.S. Navy. Gus spent his 1st three years in the MLB with the Yankees. Yogi Berra was the up-and-coming catcher, and in 1948 Gus platoon at catcher with him while Yogi also played in the outfield. He appeared in one game in the 1949 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, which the Yankees won. The Chicago White Sox picked him off waivers from the Yankees in 1950. Looking back at his start with the Yankees. “That was a tough organization, if you were a catcher. They had Bill Dickey. Then Yogi came up. From '49 on, it was just forget about being a catcher with the Yankees." – Gus Niarhos.
December 30th
1927 - The New York Yankees released two veteran players: INF Ray Morehardt and P Joe Giard, they both have retired from MLB.
1930 - Former Yankees minor league INF Milt Graff was born. Milt Graff was traded by the New York Yankees in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade with the Kansas City A’s. He was unable to break into the crowded Yankee infield. Milt Graff was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1949. He was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1955 MLB minor league player draft.
1940 - The New York Yankees swapped veteran starter Monte Pearson (1936-1940) to the Cincinnati Reds for INF Dan Lang and $20,000 cash. Lang will never play for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1995 - MLB free agent starter Kenny Rogers is signed by the New York Yankees to a four-year contract. The Gambler went 18-15 in 62 games for the Yankees. On November 7,1997, he was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Oakland A’s for a player to be named later. The A’s would send INF/OF Scott Brosius to the Yankees to complete the trade in November.
2002 - Citing that this will probably be his last MLB career season, 40-year old All Star starter Roger Clemens agrees to a $10.1 million, one-year deal with the New York Yankees. The 19-season MLB veteran, who has won the Cy Young Award 6 times, is 7 victories shy of 300 MLB career wins mark.
2002 - The New York Yankees resigned MLB free agent P Christian Parker. On March 22, 2000, Christian Parker was sent by the Montreal Expos to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on December 22, 1999. The Expos sent players to be named later and P Jake Westbrook to the Yankees for starter Hideki Irabu. He went 0-1 in one game for the 2001 Yankees.
December 31st
1914 - American League President Ban Johnson's efforts to strengthen the New York Yankees succeed when he arranges the purchase of the team by Colonel Jacob Ruppert and Captain Tillinghast L'Hommedieu Houston for $460,000 from current owners Bill Devery and Frank Farrell. Both Devery and Farrell were involved in gambling; Ban Johnson wanted team owners that were more stable money-wise. After Detroit Tiger’s owner Frank Navin refuses to let manager Hugh Jennings go, the new Yankee owners will name longtime Tiger hurler William “Wild Bill” Donovan to managing the team. Under the new owner regime, the New York Yankees will make the most important trade in franchise history, when they purchased OF/P Babe Ruth from the Boston Red Sox in December of 1919. Also in 1920, they bring long time Red Sox manager Edward Barrow to be the team’s new General Manager.
1919 - Former Yankees P Tommy Byrne (1943, 1946-1951, 1954-1957) was born (1919-2007). Before the 1940 AL Season, Tommy Byrne was signed by the New York Yankees, as an MLB amateur free agent. Tommy went 73-50 in 249 games in 10 seasons with the Yankees. He won 15 games each during the1949 and 1950 AL seasons. Tom was named to the 1950 AL All Star team. On June 15,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $25,000 to the St. Louis Browns for veteran P Stubby Overmire. Tommy was re-obtained by the Yankees in September of 1954 from Seattle (PCL). In 1955, he won the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award by posting a 16-5 record. He would pitch two more seasons for the Yankees, before retiring in 1957. Later he became the Mayor and Owner of the Wake Forrest, NC Country Club. Tommy Byrne passed away on December 20, 2007.
1924 - Former Yankees P Ted Gray (1955) was born. On June 30, 1955, veteran P Ted Gray was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He will appeared in only one game with no decisions before being released in July of 1955 by the Yankees. He will finish the 1955 AL season with the Baltimore Orioles.
1940 - The New York Yankees send veteran hurler Bump Hadley to the New York Giants for the waiver price. Also they traded reserve INF Bill Knickerbocker to the Chicago White Sox for C Ken Silvestri. The military will claim Ken Silvestri for the next four years.
1971 - Former Yankees P Esteban Loaiza (2004) was born. On July 31, 2004, he was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for starter Jose Contreras and cash. He appeared in 10 games for the Yankees posting a 1-2 record, before leaving the team for MLB free agency in the winter of 2004.
1974 - MLB free agent starter James “Catfish” Hunter, who posted a 25-12 record with the Oakland A’s, signs with the New York Yankees ending an unprecedented bidding war, when he inks a five-year, $3.75 million dollar contract. This is triple the salary of any other MLB player. His New York Yankees pitching career record was 63-53. He won 23 games in 1975 and 17 games in 1976 for the Yankees. He will retire at the age of 33 in 1979, after a 15-year MLB career. He will win election to the Hall Of Fame in 1987. In 1999, Catfish Hunter passes away from ALS disease.
1980 - Former Yankees P and MLB Manager (1930) Robert “Sailor Bob” Shawkey (1915-1927) passed away at the age of 90 (1890-1980). After being obtained from the Philadelphia A’s for $85,000 in 1915, Bob was a three-time 20 game winner for the New York Yankees. In 1920, Bob led the AL in ERA with a 2.45 mark. Bob Shawkey is noted as the starting pitcher in the 1st game played in Yankee Stadium on April 18,1923. Bob held the Yankees record for 15 strikeouts in a single game. That record stood until Whitey Ford broke it in the early 1960’s. Bob Shawkey finished his Yankee pitching career with a record of 168-131. In 1929, Bob became the Yankees MLB pitching coach. Following Yankees Manager Miller Higgins death, Bob will manage the 1930 Yankees to an 86-68 record, a 3rd place finish, before being replaced by veteran NL manager Joe McCarthy. In 1934-1935, he managed the Yankees top AAA club, the Newark Bears. In the 1940’s, Bob was a MLB scout for the Detroit Tigers and Pittsburgh Pirates. After managing in the minors in 1949 and 1950 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bob became the baseball coach at Dartmouth College from 1952 to 1956. During the 1976 opening day festivities for the renovated “new” Yankee Stadium, Bob Shawkey threw out the ceremonial 1st pitch.
1990 - The New York Yankees purchased starter Scott Sanderson from the Oakland A’s. He would go 16-10 in 1991 and 12-11 in 1992, before leaving the team for MLB free agency.
2004 - After the Tampa Devil Rays decline his 2005 $8 million player contract option, MLB free agent 1B/DH Tino Martinez, who had hit .262, with 23 HRs and 76 RBIs for the Tampa, signs a one-year, $3 million contract to rejoin the New York Yankees. Martinez played in New York from 1996 through 2001, he was replaced by MLB free agent 1B Jason Giambi. This time, he is acquired as insurance in the event Jason Giambi's fragile health due to steroid use continues to fail.
January 1st Happy New Year to All!!!
1874 - Former Yankees P Ned Garvin (1904) was born (1874-1908). On September 9, 1904, Ned Garvin was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Brooklyn Superbas. Ned appeared in two games for the Yankees with a 0-1 record in September of 1904.
1881 - Former Yankees reserve OF Rudy Bell (1907) was born. During August of 1907, outfielder Ruby Bell was purchased by the New York Highlanders from Butte (Northwestern League). He appeared in only 17 games in 1907 for the Yankees hitting just .212.
1910 - Former Yankees P Charles Devens (1932-1934) was born. Charlie Devens went 5-3 with 3.73 ERA in 16 games for the New York Yankees. Charlie spent parts of 1933-1934 baseball seasons with the Newark Bears (International League) posting a 19-13 record. He had been a college star baseball player at Harvard University, before signing with the Yankees.
1923 - Former Yankees Hall Of Fame OF William “ Wee Willie” Keeler (1903-1909) dies in Brooklyn, NY, at age of 50. In 19 MLB seasons, Willie “Wee Willie” Keller hit .341, amassed 2,932 hits. He won consecutive batting titles in 1897-1898 with Baltimore Orioles. He played for the New York Yankees from 1903-1909. He hit over .300, three times for the Yankees, including .343 in 1904. He played for New York, Brooklyn and Baltimore in the National League before coming to the American League with the New York Highlanders in 1903. His last MLB season was in 1910 with the New York Giants hitting .300 in 19 games. In 1939, he was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1924 - Former Yankees 1B and MLB Coach Earl Torgeson (1961) was born. On June 17, 1961, Earl Torgeson was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. The Chicago White Sox had released Earl. He hit .111 in 22 games before becoming a MLB coach for the Yankees on September 2,1961.
1942 - Former Yankees minor league INF Bill Bethea was born. Infielder Bill Bethea was obtained from the Minnesota Twins on waivers in 1965, but he never played for the New York Yankees at the MLB level. He originally signed with the St. Louis Cardinals but was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 1963 first year player draft.
1955 - Former Yankees minor league P LaMarr Hoyt was born. The New York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1973 MLB amateur player draft drafted hurler LaMarr Hoyt. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On April 5,1977, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Bob Polinsky, OF/DH Oscar Gamble, and $200,000 cash to the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Bucky Dent.
1974 - Former New York Yankees General Manager Lee MacPhail takes over as American League President, succeeding the retiring Joe Cronin. MacPhail will serve in this role until 1984. He will join his father, Larry MacPhail, as a member of the Hall of Fame as Baseball executive in 1998.
2006 - Former Yankees reliever Paul Linbald (1978) passed away. Paul Linbald appeared in seven games with no decisions for the 1978 Yankees after being purchased from the Texas Rangers. The Yankees will send him to the Seattle Mariners after the 1978 AL season.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
