This Week in Yankees History
February 27th - March 5th
February 27th
1896 - Former Yankees reserve catcher (1931) and MLB Coach (1932) Cy Perkins was born. Cy Perkins was a veteran catcher picked up by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia A’s. He batted .255 for the 1931 Yankees. He would become a Yankees MLB Coach on the 1932 World Championship team.
1907 - The New York Yankees acquired C Branch Rickey from the St. Louis Browns in exchange for INF Joe Yeager. As noted by baseball writer Lyle Spatz, Branch Rickey will not play on Sundays, while new C Fritz Buelow will. Rickey will go on to have a more successful MLB career as a baseball executive than as a MLB player. He was the man responsible for creating MLB farm system concept with the St. Louis Cardinals and breaking the MLB player color barrier with Jackie Robinson and the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. He will be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame as a baseball executive in 1967.
1912 - The New York Yankees announced that, they would begin to wear pinstriped uniforms for the 1912 American League season.
1935 - Former New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth signs a $20,000 MLB player contract with the Boston Braves. Ruth's new contract with the Braves also gives him a share of the team's profits. Released by the New York Yankees only one day earlier, Babe Ruth will serve the Braves as a player, coach, and team vice-president. In 1935, he will play just only 28 games for the Braves, before announcing his retirement on June 2nd at the age of 40. Ruth will hit the final 3 HRs of his MLB career on May 25,1935 against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field, giving him a final MLB HR career total of 714. His last homerun will clear the right field grandstand at Forbes Field and will travel an estimated 600 feet.
1948 - Newly elected to the Baseball Hall Of Fame, are former MLB stars, New York Yankees starter Herb Pennock and Pittsburgh Pirates 3B Pie Traynor. Needing 91 votes for selection, Herb Pennock, who died a month before, gets 94 votes, as Pie Traynor gets 93 votes. Just missing in the Hall Of Fame voting are former Philadelphia A’s slugger Al Simmons, Detroit Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer and New York Giants player/manager Bill Terry. Herb Pennock was the General Manager for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time of his death, a position he had held since 1944. He was helping the new Phillies ownership rebuilt the team. He had suffered a fatal heart attack.
1953 - Former Yankees C/DH/1B Ron Hassey (1985-1986) was born. On December 4, 1984, Ron was traded by the Chicago Cubs along with pitchers Porfi Altamirano, Rich Bordi and OF Henry Cotto to the Yankees for INF/OF Brian Dayett and P Ray Fontenot. In 1985, he hit .296 for the Yankees in 92 games. On December 12,1985, Ron was traded by the Yankees along with P Joe Cowley to the Chicago White Sox for minor league players Glen Braxton, Mike Soper and MLB starter Britt Burns. On February 13,1986, Ron was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with minor league players Chris Alvarez, Eric Schmidt and Matt Winters to the New York Yankees for Glen Braxton (minors), P Neil Allen, C Scott Bradley and cash.
On July 30, 1986 Ron was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later and INF/OF Carlos Martinez to the White Sox for OF/1B/DH Ron Kittle, C Joel Skinner and INF Wayne Tolleson. The Yankees would send minor league C Bill Lindsey on December 24, 1986 to the White Sox to complete the trade. Ron hit .298 in 64 games for the 1986 Yankees.
1953 - Former Yankees P Barney Wolfe (1903-1904) passed away. Barney Wolfe appeared in 27 games with the Yankees, posting a 6-12 record in 27 games. On July 20,1904, Barney Wolfe was traded by the Yankees along with P Tom Hughes to the Washington Senators for veteran starter Al Orth.
1956 - The Piedmont League (Class B) disbands after 37 years in operation. The New York Yankees had a farm club in the league, the Norfolk Tars from 1935-1955. The Tars had been league champions from 1951-1954. The Norfolk Tars had won seven league championships with 2 Tars teams finishing as runner-up to the league championship team.
1962 - Former Yankees P Greg Cadaret (1989-1992) was born. Greg Cadaret came to the New York Yankees from the Oakland A’s in the Rickey Henderson trade. He went 22-23 with 7 saves as a Yankees pitcher, before being sold to the Cincinnati Reds.
1969 - Former Yankees P Willie Banks (1997-1998) was born. The New York Yankees signed Willie Banks as a MLB free agent. He was a former New Jersey All State HS Pitching star (St. Anthony’s HS in Jersey City), who had been originally been signed by the Minnesota Twins. He went 4-1 in 14 games with the Yankees, before being traded to Arizona Diamondbacks during the 1998 American League season.
1985 - Veteran INF Toby Harrah, an original Texas Rangers member is traded by the New York Yankees back to the Texas Rangers for OF/DH Billy Sample and a player to be named later. Harrah was a major disappointment with the bat for the Yankees after coming to the team in a trade with the Cleveland Indians in 1984.
1988 - Former Yankees MLB Coach (1984-1985) and Minor League Manager Doug Homquist passed away. Doug Holmquist managed for the New York Yankees in their minor league system from 1978 to 1983. As the Yankees awarded World Series rings to their minor league managers as well, they gave Doug Holmquist one. While managing in the minors, he worked with future MLB players such as OF Willie McGee, INF Pat Tabler and 1B Steve Balboni.
February 28th
1947 - Former Yankees reserve INF Marty Perez (1977) was born. On March 14, 1977, Marty Perez was traded by the San Francisco Giants to the New York Yankees for OF Terry Whitfield. He appeared in one game with the team before being traded on April 27, 1977 by the Yankees along with P Dock Ellis and reserve OF Larry Murray to the Oakland A’s for starter Mike Torrez.
1959 - American League All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the Yankees ends his MLB player contract holdout after one day. Mantle agrees to a salary of $72,000 and a bonus of $2,000. He had been asking the Yankees for $85,000, after batting .304, hitting 42 HRs and 97 RBIs in 1958.
1970 - The New York Yankees acquired veteran INF Ron Hansen (1970-1971) from the Chicago White Sox. Ron was at the end of his MLB career battling with back problems. He batted .297 in 59 games in 1970, before fading in 1971 to .207 in 61 games and being released by the Yankees. Ron originally came up to the MLB with the Baltimore Orioles in 1960.
1982 - Former Yankees P Roy Sherid (1929-1931) passed away (1907-1982). Roy Sherid made a lot of appearances in his three years with the New York Yankees. He pitched in 87 games (44 as a starter) with 7 saves in relief, with 413 innings. His Yankees career pitching record was 23-24 on New York teams that were well over .500 (although none of the three won the American League pennant). Roy played for the Montreal Royals (International League) in 1928 and 1931. He was in three games for the 1932 Newark Bears (International League), who won 109 games.
1983 - The New York Yankees signed MLB free agent OF Rowland Office. He appear in 2 games for the 1983 Yankees with 2 at bats and no hits, he spent majority of the year at Columbus (AAA). On November 9,1983, Rowland Office was released by the Yankees.
1983 - The New York Yankees signed veteran MLB free agent INF Bert Campaneris. Bert appeared in 60 games as a Yankee reserve INF, hitting .322 in his final MLB season. Bert played in the MLB for 19 seasons starting with the Kansas City/Oakland A’s, Texas Rangers and the New York Yankees. On November 7,1983, Bert was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
2003 - Former Yankees minor league OF Jim Fridley passed away. On December 1, 1954, Jim Fridley was sent by the Baltimore Orioles to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on November 17,1954. The Baltimore Orioles sent players to be named later, INF Billy Hunter, P Don Larsen and P Bob Turley to the New York Yankees for players to be named later, P Harry Byrd, P Jim McDonald, INF Willy Miranda, Catchers Hal Smith and Gus Triandos and OF Gene Woodling. Jim never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On May 30, 1957, Jim was purchased by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the New York Yankees organization.
2009 - Former Yankees P Tom “Snake” Sturdivant (1955-1959) passed away (1930-2009). After attending Capitol Hill High School in Oklahoma City, Tom Sturdivant signed with the New York Yankees in 1948. He began his professional baseball career that summer. Originally an infielder, he hit in the .240-.250 range through 1950 minor league season. Tom missed the 1951 baseball season due to military service. He returned to baseball in 1952. On advice of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds, he was converted to a pitcher in the Texas League. He reached the majors with the 1955 Yankees, appearing in 2 World Series games that year, as Yankees lost to the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1956, he posted 16 wins for the Yankees. He pitched a complete game in Game 4 of the World Series against the Dodgers. In 1957, he won 16 games for the Yankees again. Tom led the American League pitchers with a .727 winning percentage.
Sturdivant developed a sore arm during the 1958 AL season, losing his effectiveness of his sinkerball pitch. On May 26,1959, Tom was traded by the Yankees along with P Johnny Kucks and INF Jerry Lumpe to the A’s for INF/OF Hector Lopez and P Ralph Terry. His final Yankees pitching career totals were 36-25 in 115 games with 13 complete games, 4 shutouts and 5 saves. Tom appeared in 3 World Series (1955-1957) for the Yankees with a 1-0 record, 4.34 ERA in 6 games. He never again won 10 games in a MLB season. He later went on to play for the Boston Red Sox, 1961 expansion Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers and finishing up his MLB career with Casey Stengel’s 1964 New York Mets. Following his professional baseball career, Tom Sturdivant was an executive for a trucking company in Oklahoma. Tom passed away in 2009.
February 29th It only happens every 4 years
1924 - Former Yankees President/General Manager and MLB Player Al Rosen (1978-1979) was born. Al Rosen took over the Yankees President and General Manager duties after Gabe Paul left the Yankees in the winter of 1977 to return to the Cleveland Indians. His personnel moves including bringing in Bob Lemon as Manager during the 1978 American League East race, allowed the Yankees to catch the Boston Red Sox and win the AL flag. He played parts of 10 seasons in the MLB with the Cleveland Indians. He was the Indians regular 3B for seven of them. His finest MLB season was in 1953, when he hit .336 BA with 43 HRs and 145 RBIs. Al was named the 1953 American League Most Valuable Player. After his playing days were over, Al Rosen moved into MLB front office positions, serving as President of the New York Yankees from 1978-1979. He was General Manager of the Houston Astros from 1980-1985. Al Rosen held the same post with the San Francisco Giants from 1985-1992.
1976 - Former Yankees reserve OF Terrance Long (2006) was born. Terrance Long was a former No. 1 1994 amateur draft pick of the New York Mets. On May 18, 2006, he was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in only 12 games for the Yankees, hitting just .167. On October 31, 2006, Terrance was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.
1992 - The New York Yankees traded P Alan Mills to the Baltimore Orioles for players to be named later. The Orioles would send minor league players Francisco de la Rosa and Mark Carper to the Yankees to complete the trade.
2000 - After being suspended yesterday by MLB for one year for testing positive for the use cocaine, New York Yankees OF/DH Darryl Strawberry is invited to join the Newark Bears during his suspension. The New Jersey franchise, which is a member of the Atlantic League, which is independent from organized baseball, is located near Strawberry's Fort Lee, N.J. home.
March 1st
1944 - Former Yankees P Ron Klimkowski (1969-1970,1972) was born (1944-2009). Ron Klimkowski came to the New York Yankees during the 1967 American League season in the Elston Howard trade with the Boston Red Sox. He appeared in 48 games for the Yankees, going 6-8 with 1 save before being traded to the Oakland A’s for veteran OF/DH Felipe Alou. He would return to the Yankees in 1972, going 0-3 in 16 games with 1 save. Ron passed away in 2009.
1947 - New MLB managers in spring training camps are Billy Herman with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Muddy Ruel with the St. Louis Browns, Bucky Harris with the New York Yankees, and Johnny Neun with Cincinnati Reds. Johnny Neun had ended the 1946 American League season as manager of the New York Yankees, after both Managers Joe McCarthy and Bill Dickey had quit during the season.
1953 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Murray (1974-1976) was born. The New York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1971 MLB amateur player draft drafted outfielder Larry Murray. He appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 12, before being traded to the Oakland A’s in the Mike Torrez trade during the 1977 AL season.
1969 - New York Yankees long time All Star OF/1B Mickey Mantle announces his retirement as a MLB player (1951-1968) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. at the Yankees spring training camp. He is the last of the New York Yankee stars from the dynasty teams of 1949-1964 to retire from MLB. Mantle, who had slumped to a .237 BA in 1968, finishes his 18-season MLB career with 536 HRs and a .298 career BA, numbers that would have certainly been higher if not for persistent knee injuries. The Yankees offer Mantle a MLB coaching position on Manager Ralph Houk’s staff.
1980 - Former Yankees reserve C Art Jorgens (1929-1930) passed away. On August 24, 1928, Art Jorgens was purchased by the New York Yankees from Oklahoma City (Western League). Art holds the all-time record for World Series games in which he was on the team roster without ever appearing in a game. He was on the post-season roster for the New York Yankees in 1932 and from 1936 to 1939 (23 games total), but he never appeared in a post-season game for them. Art is one of only three major leaguers born in Norway (through 2006). He played his entire major league career - eleven seasons - with the New York Yankees. He came up one year after Catcher Bill Dickey, and he was a teammate of Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and later Joe DiMaggio. He appeared in 307 games for the New York Yankees, finishing with a .238 BA. After his MLB baseball career was over, Art worked many years in the retail industry.
1993 - New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner is reinstated as general partner of the team. MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent had banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day activities with the Yankees because of his relationship with convicted gambler Howard Spira.
1998 - The Yankees christen Legends Field their new $30 million 31-acre complex in Tampa, Fla. The field has the exact dimensions of Yankee Stadium. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the 1st ball are former Yankees Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the New York Yankees beat the AL Champions Cleveland Indians by the score of 5-2.
2003 - The New York Yankees signed C Francisco Cervelli as an MLB amateur free agent.
2004 - The New York Yankees released veteran 3B Aaron Boone. Aaron had injured his leg during the off-season playing basketball. The Yankees had obtained INF A-Rod from the Texas Rangers in a trade, so Aaron Boone became expendable.
March 2nd
1917 - Former Yankees P James “Jim“ Konstanty (1954-1956) was born. On August 22, 1954, Jim Konstanty was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia Phillies. Jim helped out the Yankees bullpen in 1955, with 7 wins and 11 saves. He was a member of the 1950 “Whiz Kids” Phillies, who won the NL pennant. Jim started the 1st game of 1950 World Series against the Yankees Vic Raschi, losing 1-0, only giving up 5 hits in 8 innings. He was the 1950 National League Most Valuable Player, posting a 16-7 mark with 22 saves for the Philadelphia Phillies. His final Yankees pitching career totals were an 8-3 record in 62 games with 15 saves. On May 18,1956, Jim was released by the Yankees. The St. Louis Cardinals, finishing the 1956 National League season with them, would sign Jim.
1918 - Former Yankees reserve OF Frank Colman (1946-1947) was born. After being purchased from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1946, Frank Coleman appeared in 63 games for the Yankees, hitting just .187.
1921 - Former Yankees P Richard Starr (1947-1948) was born. In 1941, the New York Yankees signed Richard Starr as an MLB amateur free agent. He went 1-0 in 5 games before being traded on December 13,1948, by the Yankees along with P Red Embree, C Sherman Lollar, and $100,000 to the St. Louis Browns for C Roy Partee and P Fred Sanford.
1947 - Former Yankees minor league OF Jim Nettles was born. On January 24, 1980, Jim was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He was the younger brother of Yankees 3B Graig Nettles. Jim spent the 1980 baseball season with Columbus (AAA). Later he became a minor league manager.
1949 - The Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio leaves the Yankees spring training camp in St. Petersburg to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida, but the heel will continue to bother him. The AL All Star Yankees CF is hitting just 7-for-31 in the Grapefruit League.
1956 - Former Yankees MLB Coach and player Fred Merkle (1925-1926) passed away. On June 17, 1925, INF Fred Merkle was purchased by the New York Yankees from Rochester (International League) for $6,000. Fred joined the Yankees as a MLB Coach, briefly appeared as a player in 8 games hitting .333. He was star infielder for the New York Giants (1907-1915), later playing with the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs. He appeared in 5 World Series as a NL player.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Tim Layana was born (1964-1999). The New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft drafted Tim Layana. Tim never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 4,1989, Tim was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB Rule 5 player draft. While playing in the MLB, he pitched for the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. In 1999, Tim died in an auto accident.
1998 - Larry Doby, the 1st black to play in the American League, is elected to the Hall of Fame along with former AL President Lee MacPhail. Also chosen by the Veterans Committee are Negro League P Bullet Joe Rogan and turn-of-the-century shortstop Gorgeous George Davis. Lee MacPhail had been the New York Yankees General Manager from 1969-1973 before becoming the American League President replacing the retiring Joe Cornin. He previously worked with the Baltimore Orioles organization.
2004 - The New York Yankees signed MLB free agent OF/1B/DH Travis Lee. He appeared in only 7 games for the Yankees in 2004, after injuring his shoulder during spring training, hitting just .105.
March 3rd
1867 - Former Yankees C/1B Jack “Peach Pie” O’Connor (1903) was born. Before the 1903 AL Season, Jack O’Connor jumped from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the New York Highlanders. Jack appeared in 64 games for the Yankees, hitting just .203. On October 6,1903, Jack was traded by the Highlanders to the St. Louis Browns for OF John Anderson.
1872 - Future Yankee HOF INF/OF William “Wee Willie” Keeler (1903-1909) was born. Willie “Wee Willie” Keeler had a .295 lifetime BA as a New York Yankees player. From 1903-1906, he hit over .300 each MLB season. A remarkable hitter, Willie Keeler will hit over .300 16 times in 19 MLB seasons, hit over .400 once, and will finish with a .341 BA over his career, currently 14th in all time list. Keeler will be selected to the Hall of Fame in 1939 with 75.55% of the vote.
1918 - The New York Yankees purchased 1B George “Tigoa” Burns from the Detroit Tigers for cash, then traded him to the Philadelphia A’s for OF Ping Bodie.
1919 - Former Yankees 1B/OF Steve “Bud” Souchock (1946, 1948) was born (1919-2002). Steve Souchock played semi-pro ball before being signed by the New York Yankees in 1939. He played for Greenburg, Easton, Akron, Norfolk, and Binghamton, where he was Eastern League Most Valuable Player in 1942. Souchock played a bit of service ball before becoming a tank commander. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his combat efforts during the Battle of the Bulge. He missed three years of professional baseball due to the war, but within six months of his discharge, he made his major league debut with the New York Yankees at age 27, hitting .302 as a rookie. He appeared in 71 games for the Yankees, hitting .245. On December 14,1948, Steve was traded by the New York Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for OF Jim Delsing. Most of his major league career was spent with the Detroit Tigers, where he slugged .492 from 1951 to 1953. In each of those years, he had the second-highest slugging percentage on the team. After his finishing his MLB playing career, Steve started managing in the minor leagues for the Detroit Tigers in 1955-1956. Souchock managed in the minor leagues in the New York Yankees organization starting in 1957 to 1963, then scouted for the team from 1964 to 1974.
1956- Former Yankees INF Dennis Sherrill (1978,1980) was born. INF Dennis Sherrill was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (12th pick) of the 1974 MLB amateur player draft. Dennis only appeared in 5 games with the Yankees, hitting just .200. He was blocked at the Yankees starting shortstop position by AL All Star shortstop Bucky Dent.
1960 - Former Yankees P Chuck Cary (1989-1991) was born. On January 26, 1989, Chuck Cary was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. Cary stayed with the Yankees from 1989 through 1991, but he was released by the team on October 28,1991, following elbow surgery in September. His Yankees career pitching record was 11-22 in 60 games.
1960- Former Yankees P Neal Heaton (1993) was born. On February 2, 1993, Neal Heaton was signed as an MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He posted a 1-0 record in 18 games, before being released by the team on July 27, 1993.
1968 - Former Yankees P Bobby Munoz (1993) was born. The New York Yankees in the 15th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft drafted Bobby. Bobby went 3-3 in 38 games for the Yankees in 1993. On February 9,1994, Bobby was traded by the Yankees along with minor league INF Kevin Jordan and P Ryan Karp to the Philadelphia Phillies for a player to be named later and veteran starter Terry Mulholland. The Phillies would send Jeff Patterson on November 8,1994 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1977 - Former Yankees P Frank “Stubby” Overmire (1951) passed away. After being obtained from the St. Louis Browns for P Tommy Byrne and $25,00. Stubby went 1-1 in 15 games for the 1951 Yankees. He did not appear in the 1951 World Series with the Yankees against the New York Giants. In 1952, the Yankees traded him back to the Browns, where he finished out his MLB career.
1980 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-1942) passed away. In 1937, the New York Yankees signed Jerry Priddy as an MLB amateur free agent. Jerry appeared in 115 games for the Yankees, hitting just .246. On January 29, 1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Washington Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash. Jerry was expendable because the Yankees had AL All Star 2B Joe Gordon and future 2B Jerry Coleman in their minor league system.
1997 - The New York Yankees offer the San Diego Padres a choice of one from a list of players or the negotiating rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu. The list includes P Brian Boehringer, P David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, INF Andy Fox and OF Matt Luke. The Yankees also offer one player from a list of 5 minor leaguers, plus $3 million. The Padres are talking to several other MLB teams beside the Yankees.
March 4th
1891 - Former Yankees P and HOF Arthur “ Dazzy” Vance (1915-1918) was born. He went 0-3 in 10 games with the New York Yankees, while battling arm problems. He would recover, after being picked up by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1922. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player in 1924. He pitched a no-hitter in 1925, led the National League in wins twice, in earned run average 3 times, and is the only pitcher to top the NL in strikeouts seven consecutive seasons. Dazzy Vance will be elected to the Hall of Fame by the BWAA in 1955 with 205 votes on 251 ballots. He posted a 197-140 record during a 16-year MLB career.
1897 - Former Yankees P Lefty O’Doul (1919-1920, 1922) was born. Lefty O’Doul went 1-1 as pitcher for the Yankees before being sent the Boston Red Sox in a trade. In National League, he would become an outfielder, finishing his MLB career with a lifetime BA of .346. Later he would become a successful minor league manager in the Pacific Coast League, most notably with the San Francisco Seals.
1897 - Former Yankees P Neal Brady (1915,1918) was born. Neal Brady went 1-0 in 4 games for the Yankees.
1913 -The Yankees become the 1st MLB team to conduct spring training outside of the United States, when they begin the spring training in Bermuda, where is projected a series of exhibition games.
1918 - Former Yankees P Mel Queen Sr. (1942,1944,1946-1947) was born. In 1938, the New York Yankees signed Mel Queen, as an MLB amateur free agent. Mel went 8-4 in 33 games for the Yankees, before being sold to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1947. His son, Mel Queen Jr. played for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1960’s.
1925 - Former Yankees minor league INF Leo Righetti was born (1925-1998). Leo Righetti was a minor league infielder for 12 years, 8 of them in either the AAA or Open classification. His son Dave Righetti became a major league pitcher for the New York Yankees, while son Steven Righetti played in the minors. Leo debuted in 1944 with the New York Yankees farm club, the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League) hitting .232 in 67 games and fielding .887 at shortstop. He also was briefly with the Newark Bears, (International League) hitting .143 in four contests. He did not play in 1945. In 1946, Leo only managed a .166 batting line in 57 games for Binghamton Triplets, the lowest average that year by any Eastern League player with 100 at-bats, let alone 200 plate appearances. He fielded only .855 in 30 games at third base and .915 in 10 at second base. Righetti made strides in 1947, hitting .251 with a career-high 10 HR and 81 RBI for the Victoria Athletics. In 1948, he batted .162 for Binghamton Triplets and .237 for the Augusta Tigers. Back with Augusta in 1949, the infielder hit .225 with 4 HR and 46 RBI. He did not play in 1950. He would leave the Yankees organization and play baseball out in the Pacific Coast League before retiring from professional baseball.
1962 - Former Yankees P George Mogridge (1915-1920) passed away. (1889-1962) With the Yankees, he pitched a no-hitter against the Red Sox at Fenway Park on April 24, 1917. He had his Yankee career year in 1918, when he went 16-13 and he had 7 saves. George Mogridge's 2.73 ERA in his 6 years with the Yankees is one of the 5 best ERA's for a Yankees pitcher in the 20th century.
1983 - Former Yankees reserve OF George “ Kiddo” Davis (1926) passed away (1902-1983). George "Kiddo" Davis made 8 stops during his 8-year MLB career as an outfielder. He hit .381 in the 2 World Series that he appeared in. Notably, in the 1933 World Series with the New York Giants, he batted 5th in the lineup behind Bill Terry and Mel Ott. George got his first taste of the MLB in 1926 appearing in one game with the New York Yankees at age 24. The Yankees won the 1926 AL pennant, but Davis did not appear in the 1926 World Series. George Davis was 1 year older than the 23-year-old Lou Gehrig, and he was 2 years older than fellow rookie Tony Lazzeri. He was to run into both of them 10 years later.
After his one game with the Yankees in 1926, he disappeared from the MLB for 6-years until 1932, when he emerged as a regular outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies hitting .309 at the age of 30. He was in the top ten in the NL in runs scored, in doubles, and in stolen bases. The .309 wasn't as impressive as it sounded, though, as the team hit .292 with 6 of the 8 regulars over .300. Fellow Phillies OF Chuck Klein hit .348.
After one year with the Phillies, he was on to the New York Giants for one year, where he played in the outfield with Mel Ott. Davis hit only .258 on a team that hit .263, and he was on the move again. He started 1934 NL season with the St. Louis Cardinals, but the Phillies decided they wanted him back and he played the bulk of 1934 season for them. He hit .293 and in 1935, he was back with the New York Giants. Although he didn't play much, apparently being used often as a pinch hitter, he was with the Giants for 1935, 1936, and part of 1937. Managed by his former teammate, player/manager Bill Terry, the Giants were very competitive in 1935, won the NL pennant in 1936. In the 1936 World Series, Davis appeared in 4 games, getting only 2 at-bats. His one hit was a pinch-hit single off of Yankees starter Lefty Gomez in the 4th inning of the 2nd game of the World Series against his old team. Although it had been 10 years since Davis had appeared with the Yankees in 1926, his old teammates Lou Gehrig and Tony Lazzeri were still with the Yankees, with Gehrig getting 3 RBI’s in the game and Lazzeri getting 5 RBI’s. In 1937, the Cincinnati Reds bought Davis in August from the Giants, who went on to win the NL pennant again. He finished out the 1937 NL season with Cincinnati Reds. Then he appeared in just 5 games with the Reds in 1938, before being released by the team on August 1, 1938.
1992 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) passed away. On April 3, 1942, OF Larry Rosenthal was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for OF Buster Mills. Larry appeared in 36 games for the Yankees as reserve outfielder hitting just .198. On July 6,1944, Larry was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics from the New York Yankees.
2004 - The New York Yankees signed two free agents: Hansel Izuierdo and OF John Rodriguez. Neither player appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level in 2004.
March 5th
1891 - Former Yankees C Walter “Walt” Alexander (1915-1917) was born. Walt Alexander hit .221 in 81 games for the Yankees.
1903 - Former Yankees reserve C Martin Autry (1924) was born. Martin Autry appeared in only 2 games for the 1924 Yankees with no hits.
1912 - Former Yankees MLB Coach Jimmy “Gee Gee” Gleeson was born. Jimmy Gleeson was a manager in the New York Yankee minor league system in the 1940-1950’s. He never played for the Yankees at MLB level. He was a member of the 1938 Newark Bears (International League) the Yankees top AAA team.
1919 - Former Yankees 3B/OF Don Savage (1944-1945) was born. Don Savage hit .256 in 105 games for the New York Yankees during the 1944-1945 American League seasons.
1921 - Former Yankees reserve OF Elmer Valo (1960) was born. Elmer Valo was signed as MLB free agent in December of 1959. Elmer only appeared in 8 games with the team before being released in May of 1960. Elmer was at the end of a very fine MLB career. The return of veteran OF Bob Cerv from the Kansas City A’s made him expendable. He retired in 1961 after finishing the season with the Philadelphia Phillies. He spent 2 years with the Cleveland Indians as a MLB coach. Elmer became a long-time MLB scout for the Philadelphia Phillies (1969-1982).
1922 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in MLB history, when he signs a 3-year contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Babe Ruth led the American League with 59 HRs and 171 RBIs. The next-highest-paid Yankees player is 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker, at $16,000.
1950 - Former Yankees P Doug Bird (1980-1981) was born. On April 29, 1980, Doug Bird was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He went 8-1 in 39 games with 1 save. On June 12,1981, Doug was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later and $400,000 to the Chicago Cubs for veteran starter Rick Reuschel. The Yankees would send P Mike Griffin on August 5,1981, to the Cubs to complete the trade.
1973 - New York Yankees Pitchers Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and the family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the MLB world.
1975 - The New York Yankees released reserve INF Fernando Gonzalez. He appeared in 51 games for the 1974 Yankees hitting just .215.
1995 - Former Yankees reserve INF Roy Hughes (1939) passed away. On June 13, 1939, INF Roy Hughes was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with cash to the New York Yankees for OF Joe Gallagher. Roy never appears with the Yankees in a MLB game. On July 13,1939, INF Roy Hughes was traded by the New York Yankees to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Al Hollingsworth.
2003 - The New York Yankees signed P Ramon Ramirez as a MLB free agent. Ramon never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On July 28, 2005, he was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Eduardo Sierra to the Colorado Rockies for P Shawn Chacon.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
