This Week in Yankees History
March 20th - March 26th
March 20th
1875 - Former Yankees INF Patrick “Willie” Greene (1903) was born. Paddy Greene appeared in four games, hitting .308 in 1903. On July 16,1903, he was traded by the Highlanders to the Detroit Tigers for P John Deering.
1944 - Former Yankees P Steve Blateric (1972) was born. Steve Blateric was acquired in a conditional deal with the Cincinnati Reds. He appeared in only 1 game with the Yankees with no record. He was returned to the Reds in the spring of 1973.
1954 - Former Yankees P Paul Mirabella (1979) was born. On November 10,1978, Paul was traded by the Texas Rangers along with Greg Jemison (minors), OF Juan Beniquez, Pitchers Mike Griffin, and Dave Righetti to the Yankees for INF Domingo Ramos, C Mike Heath, Pitchers Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich and cash. Paul won the 1979 James P. Dawson Award for being the best Yankee rookie in the 1979 Yankees spring training camp. He went 0-4 in 10 games with the Yankees during the 1979 AL season. On November 1,1979, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B Chris Chambliss and INF Damaso Garcia to the Toronto Blue Jays for P Tom Underwood, C Rick Cerone, and OF Ted Wilborn.
1958 - The Philadelphia Phillies acquired veteran 1B/OF Joe Collins (1948-1957) from the New York Yankees. Opting not to report to the Phillies Clearwater, Fla. spring training camp, Joe Collins decides to retire from MLB, thereby canceling the deal. Joe Collins was quoted by the NYC media saying that, “I want to be remembered as a Yankee.” He turns down a player contract offered by the Phillies of $100,000. Joe batted .258 in 908 games with the Yankees (1948-1957), never becoming the player that the Yankees had projected him to be. Manager Casey Stengel used him against right hand pitching. Joe appeared in 7 World Series with the Yankees. During the 1955 World Series opener against the Brooklyn Dodgers, Joe hit 2 HRs in a Yankees 6-5 win. Casey Stengel often referred to Joe Collins as “My meal ticket.” Bill “Moose” Skowron replaced him as the Yankees regular 1B during the 1956 American League season. Joe was a life along resident of New Jersey.
1961 - New York Yankees announced that the team will opposed any plans that would enabled the new National League expansion franchise to use Yankee Stadium. This decision leaves the only the old Polo Grounds as the only viable option for the new NL team, the New York Mets.
1984 - Former Yankees and Hall Of Fame P Stan Coveleski dies in South Bend, Indiana, at the age of 94. Stan Coveleski pitched for the Philadelphia A’s, Cleveland Indians, Washington Senators and the New York Yankees (1928) over a 14-season MLB career, winning 215 games, which include five 20-win seasons. On December 21,1927, Stan was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. In 1928, he went 5-1 in 12 games for the team.
2006 - Two-time All-Star P Al Leiter (1987-1989,2005) announces his retirement after a 19-season MLB career at the New York Yankees spring training camp in Tampa, Fla. Al Leiter was originally signed by the Yankees, later he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for OF Jesse Barfield. He also pitched for the cross-town rivals New York Mets and the Florida Marlins during his MLB career.
March 21st
1892 - Former Yankees INF Bill Stumpf (1912-1913) was born. At the age of 20, he played for the Yankees appearing in 54 games and hitting .234. On May 25,1913, Bill was traded by the New York Yankees along with INF Jack Lelivelt to the Cleveland Naps for INF Roger Peckinpaugh.
1897 - Former Yankees OF William “Goodtime Bill” Lamar (1917-1919) was born. Bill Lamar hit .219 in 50 games for the New York Yankees, before being sold to the Boston Red Sox during the 1919 American League season.
1936 - New York Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio runs his spring training hitting record to 12-for-20, in an 11-2 Yankees victory over the newly named Boston Bees, formerly the Braves. Before the next game is played, the prize rookie is left unattended with his foot in a diathermy machine. The resulting burn ends his spring training and delays his MLB debut with the Yankees until May.
1957 - Former Yankees Minor League coach and Manager Oscar Acosta was born. Oscar Acosta managed in the Yankees farm system for the Columbus Clippers (1996-1998) and the Lansing Lugnuts (1999). In 2004, he became manager of the Gulf Coast League Yankees and Latin American Coordinator, positions that he held when he was killed in a car accident in 2006.
1978 - Former Yankees minor league INF Cristian Guzman was born. In 1994, the New York Yankees signed INF Cristian Guzman as an MLB amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On February 6,1998, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B/OF Brian Buchanan, P Eric Milton, P Danny Mota, and cash to the Minnesota Twins for 2B Chuck Knoblauch.
1986 - The New York Yankees announce that their most celebrated off-season acquisition, 26-year-old P Britt Burns, will not pitch at all this 1986 American League season because of a chronic deteriorating hip condition. He never again pitches in the MLB. On December 12, 1985, Britt Burns was traded by the Chicago White Sox along with minor league pitchers Glen Braxton and Mike Soper to the Yankees for C Ron Hassey and P Joe Cowley. The Yankees front office had advised Yankees Owner George Steinnbrenner not to make the deal because of Burns major health concerns, but he ignored their advice.
2001 - In a trade of highly touted prospects, the New York Yankees re-obtained 3B Drew Henson along with OF Michael Coleman from the Cincinnati Reds for minor league OF Wily Mo Peña and cash consideration.
March 22nd
1903 - Advance tickets for the New York Highlanders’ home opener go on sale on the same day the team announces that it will build a new ballpark at 168th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Their new home, Hilltop Park, was an all-wood structure with a small cover stand in the infield and open bleachers down the foul lines. It sat approximately 15,000 fans, including on the field, “bring your seat” tickets. Hilltop Park was finished in time for the 1903 AL season opener; it remained home for the Highlanders-Yankees until 1912, when the Yankees moved to the Polo Grounds. After a fire at the Polo Grounds in 1911, the Yankees shared the field with the Giants. In 1914, the wooden ballpark was demolished. Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, a major hospital, opened up on that location in 1928.
1915 - Former Yankees P Norman “Red” Branch (1941-1942) was born. Red Branch went 5-2 in 37 games with 4 saves for the Yankees during 1941-1942 AL seasons.
1960 - Former Yankees C Scott Bradley (1984-1985) was born. In 1981, the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Scott Bradley. He appeared in only 28 games for the Yankees, hitting just .224. On February 13,1986, Scott was traded by the Yankees along with minor league player Glen Braxton, P Neil Allen, and cash to the White Sox for C Ron Hassey, OF Matt Winters, minor league players Chris Alvarez and Eric Schmidt. Scott is currently the head baseball coach for Princeton University.
1962 - At spring training camp, New York Yankees All Star slugger Roger Maris declines to pose with Hall Of Fame New York Mets batting coach Rogers Hornsby, because he had criticized him in his book “My Wars with Baseball.” Hornsby was jealous of the money that the modern MLB players were making, using Roger Maris as an example in his book. He called modern MLB players like Roger Maris, a “punk” in his book.
1963 - Former Yankees P and MLB Bullpen Coach Rich Monteleone (1990-1993 was born. On April 29, 1990, Rich Monteleone was traded by the California Angels along with OF/DH Claudell Washington to the New York Yankees for OF/DH Luis Polonia. Rich went 17-9 in 120 games for the Yankees. Later, he became a pitching coach in the Yankees minor league system. Also he served as the Yankees MLB bullpen coach as well.
1965 - Former Yankees OF/DH Glenallen Hill (2000) was born. Glenallen Hill hit .333 in 40 games with the New York Yankees during the 2000 AL season. On July 21,2000, he was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Yankees for pitchers Ben Ford and Oswaldo Mairena. On March 28, 2001, he was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for minor league OF Darren Blakely.
1972 - Former Yankees P Cory Lidle (2006) was born (1972-2006). He went 4-3 in 10 games with the 2006 Yankees before his death in an airplane crash in October of 2006. On July 30,2006, Cory was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies along with OF Bobby Abreu to the Yankees for P Matt Smith, Shortstop C.J. Henry, Carlos Monastrios and Jesus Sanchez.
1972 - In one of the best trades in the New York Yankees franchise history, the Bronx Bombers acquired reliever Sparky Lyle from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for 1B/OF Danny Cater and minor league INF Mario Guerrero. In seven seasons with the Yankees, Lyle will post a 57-40 record with 141 saves and a 2.41 ERA, winning a 1977 American League Cy Young Award, helping the team to win two World Series Championships.
March 23rd
1941 - New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio, a 1941 MLB contract hold out and late arrival in spring training camp, plays his 1st exhibition game for the team. In 1941, Joe would hit .341 in 139 games with 30 HRs and 125 RBI’s. He would hit in 56 straight games, establishing a new MLB hitting record. Joe would win the 1941 American League Most Valuable Player Award beating out his Boston Red Sox rival Ted Williams.
1942 - The Brooklyn Dodgers re-obtained OF/1B Stanley “ Frenchy” Bordagaray (1941), buying the veteran 1B from the New York Yankees. On January 27,1940, Frenchy was sent by the Cincinnati Reds to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 5,1939. The Cincinnati Reds sent players to be named later and $40,000 to the New York Yankees for 1B Vince DiMaggio. They sent Frenchy Bordagaray and Nino Bongiovanni on January 27,1940, to the Yankees to complete the trade. Frenchy would hit .260 in 36 games for the 1941 Yankees.
1944 - Former Yankees DH/1B George “Boomer” Scott (1979) was born. On August 26, 1979, George Scott was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. George hit .318 in 16 games for the Yankees in 1979, before retiring from MLB. He would play baseball and manage in Mexico.
1952 - Former Yankees P Steve “Smokey” Sundra (1936,1938-1940) passed away. On December 11, 1935, Steve Sundra was traded by the Cleveland Indians along with P Monte Pearson to the Yankees for P Johnny Allen. Steve went 21-11 in 77 games with Yankees before being traded to the Washington Senators in 1941. His best Yankees season was in 1939, when he posted an 11-1 mark. He appeared in game #4 of 1939 World Series in relief against the Cincinnati Reds with no decision.
1969 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Turner (2000) was born. Chris Turner was a back up catcher who played in 37 games, hitting .236 for the Yankees during the 2000 AL season. He originally came up with the California Angels.
1974 - The New York Yankees purchased OF Elliot Maddox (1974-1977) from the Texas Rangers for $100,000. Texas Manager Billy Martin didn’t get along with him, so the team traded him. During the 1974 AL season, Yankees Manager Bill Virdon switched CF Bobby Mercer to RF to play Elliot Maddox in centerfield, who responded with a .303 BA. Bobby Mercer became a very effective right fielder for the Yankees. Elliot was injured on the outfield playing turf during the 1975 American League season at Shea Stadium, resulting in a serious knee injury. He was never again be an effective player as he was during the 1974 AL season. Yankees manager Billy Martin had him traded to the Baltimore Orioles in January of 1977 for veteran OF Paul Blair. Elliot Maddox would later sue the New York City over the playing conditions at Shea Stadium, but he lost the lawsuit.
1989 - New York Yankees P Charlie Hudson (1987-1988) is traded to the Detroit Tigers for INF Tom Brookens. Charlie went 17-13 in 63 games with 2 saves for the Yankees. Tom Brookens will hit .226 in 66 games, before leaving the Yankees for MLB free agency.
1990 - Howard Spira is arrested for extorting money from New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, who paid Spira $40,000 in January.
March 24th
1891 - Former Yankees P Ernie Shore (1919-1920) was born. (1891-1980) On December 18, 1918, Ernie Shore was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with P Dutch Leonard and OF Duffy Lewis to the New York Yankees for OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, P Ray Caldwell, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000. He went 7-10 in 34 games for the Yankees.
1925 - Former Yankees 1B Richard Kryhoski (1949) was born. In 1946, the New York Yankees signed Richard Kryhoski as a MLB amateur free agent. He batted .294 in 54 games during the 1949 AL season for the Yankees. On December 17,1949, he was traded by the Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for 1B Richard Wakefield (1950).
1930 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Tillman (1967) was born. Reserve C Bob Tillman .254 in 37 games for the 1967 Yankees. On December 7,1967, Bob Tillman was traded by the Yankees along with P Dale Roberts to the Atlanta Braves for INF Bobby Cox, who would later become Yankees MLB Coach and later a successful MLB manager for the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves.
1933 - New York Yankees All Star Slugger OF Babe Ruth, another victim of America’s Great Depression, takes a pay cut of $23,000 from his 1932 MLB player contract salary of $75,000.
1972 - Former Yankees P Steve Karsay (2002-2005) was born. The New York Yankees signed Steve Karsay as a MLB free agent for their bullpen. He went 6-4 in 91 games with 12 saves as a Yankees reliever. On May 3,2005, Steve was released by the Yankees. The Texas Rangers would sign him for the rest of the 2005 AL season.
1982 - Former Yankees minor league P Heath Phillips was born. Signed as a MLB free agent, he spent the 2008 baseball season at Scranton (AAA).
1996 - At Tampa's Legends Field, New York Yankees INF Tony Fernandez (1995) fractures his right elbow in a game against the Houston Astros, and is placed on the 60-day disabled list.
March 25th
1920 - In a spring training game between the Yankees and Dodgers, a sweeping inside curve ball throw by Dodgers P Jeff Pfeffer hits Chick Fewster striking the Yankees shortstop behind the ear and flattening him. Fewster revives 10 minutes later, but soon loses the ability to speak. He was taken to the hospital with a skull fracture and a blood clot on his brain. Chick Fewster will recover slowly and return to play in mid-season of 1920.
1922 - The New York Yankees released veteran OF Ping Bodie (1918-1921), he had retired from MLB. On March 8,1918, Ping was traded by the Philadelphia A’s to the Yankees for 1B George “Tigoa” Burns, who had been obtained from the Detroit Tigers on March 7,1918. Burns was blocked at 1B with the Yankees by 1B Wally Pipp. Ping hit .252 in 385 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1920, hitting .295 in 129 games with 7 HRs and 79 RBI’s.
1929 - The New York Yankees released veteran hurler Fred Heimach (1928-1929) to Toledo Mud Hens (International League). On August 4,1928, Fred was purchased by the Yankees from St. Paul for cash and a player to be named later. Fred went 13-9 in 48 games for the Yankees.
1932 - Former Yankees INF/OF Woodson “Woodie” Held (1954) was born (1932-2009). Woodie Held appeared in four games with the Yankees in 1954. He was unable to break into the regular Yankees 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 play with the Kansas City A’s, Cleveland Indians, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox, LA Angels and the Washington Senators during his MLB career. Woodie Held passed away in 2009.
1935 - The New York Yankees purchased starting P Pat Malone from the Chicago Cubs. Malone had led the NL in wins in 1929, with 22, and in 1930 with 21 (115 in a 7-year span). But Malone will only post a 19-13 record with the Yankees for the next three seasons.
1955 - Former Yankees OF/DH/1B (1982) and MLB 1B Coach, MLB Manager Lee Mazilli was born. On August 8, 1982, Lee Mazilli was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Yankees for AL All Star shortstop Bucky Dent. Lee hit .266 in 37 games for the Yankees, before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. On December 22,1982, Lee was traded by the Yankees to the Pittsburgh Pirates for P Tim Burke and minor leaguer players Don Aubin, John Holland and Jose Rivera. Lee served as MLB bench coach under Yankees Manager Joe Torre from 2000-2003. Later he managed the Baltimore Orioles from 2004-2005.
1975 - Former Yankees P Adrian Hernandez (2001-2002) was born. In 2000, the New York Yankees signed Adrian Hernandez as an MLB amateur free agent player. The Yankees were hoping that he would become a younger version of El Duque; he wasn’t just going to be that, just posting a 0-4 record in 8 games with the Yankees before the team released him.
1977 - Former Yankees P Brett Jodie (2001) was born. In 1998, the New York Yankees in the 6th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Brett Jodie. He went 0-1 in one game with the Yankees, before being traded to the San Diego Padres on July 30, 2001 along with minor league OF Darren Blakely for veteran P Sterling Hitchcock.
2008 - Former Yankees minor league INF Tom Upton passed away (1926-2008). Infielder Tom Upton was signed by the New York Yankees, as an MLB amateur free agent in 1944. On November 17,1949, Tom was drafted by the St. Louis Browns from the New York Yankees organization in the 1949 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He played for the Browns and the Washington Senators. On May 3, 1952, Tom was traded by the Washington Senators along with OF Irv Noren to the New York Yankees for OF Jackie Jensen, P Spec Shea, INF Jerry Snyder and OF Archie Wilson. Tom never played for the Yankees at the MLB level.
2009 - Former Yankees reserve C/1B/OF Johnny Blanchard (1955,1959-1965) passed away (1933-2009). In 1951, Blanchard was a three sport All-City whiz at Central High School in Minneapolis, MN; he not only attracted the attention of major league scouts as a third baseman but also the Minneapolis Lakers of the NBA who made him an offer. In 1951, New York Yankees scout Joe McDermott signed Johnny Blanchard for $20,000 as an outfielder. While in the Yankee organization, he made the transition to catcher. "I had to work my fanny off," said Blanchard. "I was not talented like Yogi or Elston. I think I got all the mileage I could out of my ability." Blanchard served in the United States Military Service during the Korean Conflict in 1953 and 1954 but when he was released from active duty, he was back in spring training in 1955. After leading the Eastern League with 34 HRs in 1955 playing for the Binghamton Triplets, he received a late season call-up to the Yankees. He returned for good in 1959 and stayed in the Bronx until he was sent to the Kansas City A’s during the 1965 AL season.
His best Yankees career season was in 1961, when he hit .305 with 21 HRs, 54 RBIs in 243 at bats fewer than 100 games. During July of 1961, Johnny hit 4 HRs in 4 consecutive appearances during a 3 game series. The lefty-swinging Yankee loved Fenway Park. Of his first six hits at Fenway, five were homers. On July 21, 1961, the Yankees trailed the Boston Red Sox 9-8 going into the top of the 9th inning when Blanchard, pinch-hitting for Clete Boyer, hit a grand slam HR off Boston right-hander Mike Fornieles giving the Bombers a 12-9 victory. The following day, the Yankees were again down 9-8 when Blanchard, pinch-hitting again for Boyer, homered off veteran hurler Gene Conley to tie the score as the Yankees went on to win. A couple of days later against the Chicago White Sox, he homered in consecutive at-bats against Ray Herbert. His 4 HRs on 4 straight at-bats tied a MLB record. Blanchard hit 4 pinch-hit HRs during the regular season in 1961 and one more during the World Series against Cincinnati Reds. He appeared in 5 World Series with the Yankees hitting .345.
On May 3, 1965, John was traded by the Yankees along with P Rolland Sheldon to the Kansas City A’s for C Doc Edwards. Following an exhibition game against the New York Mets, he was called into Yankees manager Johnny Keane’s office and was given the news he had been traded to Kansas City by the Yankees along with P Rolland Sheldon to the Kansas City A’s for C Doc Edwards. Johnny took the news hard. He cried uncontrollably in the Yankees clubhouse. His Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle sat down next to Blanchard and attempted to cheer him up. "Don't take it so hard, John. Just think, in Kansas City you're going to get a chance to play." "Hell, I can't play Mick, that’s why I'm crying." John would finish his MLB career in 1965 with the Milwaukee Braves. Blanchard's heavy drinking made it difficult to cope with the real world after MLB. Aware that he had a problem he checked himself into the Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis for 34 days for alcohol treatment. He was then dry for over 25 years. John passed away from a fatal heart attack.
2009 - Former New York Yankees baseball executive and baseball writer Arthur Richman (1989-2006) passed away. Arthur was a baseball writer for the New York Mirror for 4 decades until the newspaper folder in 1962. Arthur Richman was hired as the Yankees Vice President of Media Relations in May 1989. He became a senior adviser for the New York Yankees in 1995. Richman stopped working for the Yankees following a heart attack in 2006. Richman has been credited with recommending Joe Torre for the job of manager while with the Yankees in 1995. Upon learning of Richman's death in 2009, Torre said, “He was a dear friend, and I will forever be grateful for having him whisper in George's ear about me managing the Yankees.”
2010 - The New York Yankees released veteran P Chad Gaudin, who was competing for the team's fifth starter position, and, failing that, was expected to make the staff as a long reliever. Philip Hughes, who shined as a set-up man in 2009, is announced as the winner of the fifth starter competition, while Joba Chamberlain returns to the bullpen. Gaudin will sign a minor league deal with Oakland A’s on March 28. He pitched 12 games with the A's with an ERA of 8.83, was released again on May 21st. The New York Yankees, who were again looking for an experienced arm for their bullpen at this point, signed him again. He went 1-2 in 30 games for the 2010 Yankees. He signed a deal with the San Diego Padres over the winter.
March 26th
1913 - Former Yankees P Bill Zuber (1943-1946) was born. On January 29, 1943, Bill Zuber was traded by the Washington Senators along with cash to the New York Yankees for INF Jerry Priddy and P Milo Candini. Bill went 18-23 in 66 games with the Yankees. On June 18,1946, Bill was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Yankees.
1936 - American League All Star starter Red Ruffing accepts a $12,000 MLB player contract from the New York Yankees. He had posted a 16-11 record for the 1935 Yankees. In 1936, Red will go 20-12 in 33 games for the Yankees.
1937 - On the advice of Hall Of Fame Detroit Tigers great Ty Cobb, the Yankees young CF Joe DiMaggio reduces the weight of his bat from 40 ounces to 36 ounces.
1949 - Former Yankees P Roger Hambright (1971) was born. In 1967, the New York Yankees in the 67th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Roger Hambright. During the 1971 AL season, the Yankees brought up Roger from the Manchester Yankees (AA). He went 3-1 in 18 games out of the Yankees bullpen. It would be his only season in the MLB. In the first of Roger Hambright's two career saves, he had an RBI, singling in Ron Swoboda. It would be 38 years before another Yankee pitcher had an RBI in a save, when Mariano Rivera saved his 500th game.
1951 - In a spring training exhibition game at University of Southern California, Yankees rookie OF Mickey Mantle propels a HR estimated at 654 to 660 feet. The shot clears Bovard Field and then goes the width of a practice football field before landing. Mantle has 2-HRs, a bases loaded triple, and drives in 7 runs as the New York Yankees funk the USC Trojans by a score of 15-1.
1952 - The St. Louis Cardinals purchased INF Gene Mauch from the New York Yankees. Gene never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 19,1951, he was drafted by the Yankees from the Boston Braves in the 1951 MLB Rule 5 player draft. Gene later became a MLB manager with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1960. Also he managed the Minnesota Twins, Montreal Expos and California Angels during his long MLB manager career.
1960 - Former Yankees P Dan Tipple (1915) passed away (1890-1960). Dan Tipple posted a 1-1 record in three games for the 1915 Yankees.
1968 - Former Yankees reserve INF Jose Vizcanio (2000) was born. On June 20, 2000, Jose Vizcanio was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers with cash to the New York Yankees for C/1B Jim Leyritz. Jose appeared in 73 games for the Yankees, hitting .276. He had the game-winning hit in Game One of the 2000 Subway World Series between the Yankees and the Mets. On November 1,2000, Jose was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. He signed with the Houston Astros. Jose currently works in the Dodgers organization.
2005 - Former Yankees P Marius Russo (1939-1943, 1946) passed away at the age of 90. Marius Russo went 45-34 in 120 games for the New York Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1941, when he posted a 14-10 mark and being named to the 1941 American League All Star team. He appeared in two World Series for the Yankees posting a 2-0 mark. In 1940, he posted a 14-8 mark for the Yankees. While playing for the Newark Bears of the International League in 1939, pitcher Marius Russo met his future wife, Stasia, when she approached him for an autograph. He joined the New York Yankees later that year. In 1941, he pitched a one-hitter. In the World Series that year, he won a duel with Freddie Fitzsimmons of the Brooklyn Dodgers, knocking the veteran out of the box with a line drive to the knee. After the 1943 AL season, Russo spent two years in the US Army in World War II, entering in February 1944 and being discharged in January 1946. He returned to the Yankees briefly in 1946.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
