This Week in Yankees History
May 15th - May 21st
May 15th
1908 - The New York Yankees purchased P Hippo Vaughn (1908,1910-12) from Macon of the Georgia State League for undisclosed amount of cash. Hippo went 22-30 with the Yankees in 72 games.
1912 - Ty Cobb charges into the stands at Hilltop Park in New York City, attacking a crippled heckler named Claude Lueker. Other Highlander fans and Tigers players mix it up before order is restored, and American League President Ban Johnson suspends Ty Cobb indefinitely for the incident.
1922 - In a 4-1 win at New York, Ty Cobb beats out a grounder to Yankees Shortstop Everett Scott. Veteran baseball writer Fred Lieb scores it a hit in the box score, he files with the Associated Press. But official scorer John Kieran of the New York Tribune gives an error to Scott. At the season's end, the AL official records, based on AP box scores, list Cobb at .401. New York writers complain unsuccessfully, claiming it should be .399, based on the official scorer's stats. Lieb will reverse himself at the end of the year, but American League President Ban Johnson goes with the hit call.
1935 - Lou Gehrig steals home in a 4-0 New York Yankees win over the Detroit Tigers. It is his 15th and last steal of home, all of which were double steals
1941 - Joe DiMaggio gets a single in four at bats against Eddie Smith of the Chicago White Sox to start his 56-game hitting streak. Joe D's hit goes unnoticed as the Yankees lose the game, by the score of 13-1. Taffy Wright homers and drives in 4 White Sox runs, the 8th straight game he's driven in a run.
1955 - New York Yankees OF Irv Noren hits an inside-the-park grand slam homerun in an 8-4 victory over the Kansas City A's. Yankees win the nightcap to sweep the A's. Mickey Mantle is 4-for-9 for the afternoon and is hitting .311.
1963 - Down 4-0 to the Minnesota Twins, Mickey Mantle hits a 2-run HR off of P Pedro Ramos to put the Yankees on the board. Mantle later scores the winning run as New York wins the game by a score of 4-3.
1965 - At Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle slices an opposite field homerun in the 8th inning off of reliever Richard Hall to give Yankees, a 3-2 win over the Orioles.
1969 - Former Yankees P Hideki Irabu (1997-1999) was born. Following the 1996 Japanese baseball season, Hideki Irabu announced he wanted to go to the MLB, so Chiba, which had a working agreement with the San Diego Padres. They sold him to the Padres. Irabu, who stated that he would only play in the MLB for the New York Yankees. He ended up getting his way. He was traded by the Padres to the New York Yankees for OF Ruben Rivera, P Rafael Medina and $3 million in cash. Irabu signed a $12.8 million deal with the Yankees in May 1997. Irabu struggled in his 1st season with the Yankees, going 5-4 with a 7.09 ERA in 13 games. In 1998, Irabu blossomed into what would be his best MLB year, going 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA in 29 games. Finishing out his Yankees career in 1999, Irabu went 11-7 with a 4.84 ERA in 32 games. New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner wasn't a big fan of Irabu, though, he once called him a "fat toad" for his poor fielding performance during a Yankees spring training game. He traded him to the Montreal Expos for Pitchers Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly, and Christian Parker. Hideki Iraub went 29-20 in 74 games for the New York Yankees.
1996 - The Seattle Mariners spot the New York Yankees four runs, then hammer starter Jimmy Key and five other Yankee pitchers for 19 hits to win the game by the score of 10-5. Seven Mariners collect 2 or more hits, and Edgar Martinez drives in 4 runs. A wild Key takes his 5th straight loss, while Yankee reliever Mariano Rivera records 4 outs to stretch his scoreless innings to 21 2/3 innings. The Yankees will place Jimmy Key on the 15-day DL.
1996 - The New York Yankees outbid four other MLB teams and sign Japanese Pitcher Katsuhiro Maeda to a $1.5 million contract. The Yankees obtain the fastball hurler from the Seibu Lions for more than $350,000. Maeda, who has his hair dyed orange, was 0-2 with the Lions from 1993 through 1995, but refused to sign for the 1996 season, unless he was traded to a U.S. team. He will never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. Maeda dyed his hair hot pink, silver or purple at times during his 1st year in the US. He had a 1-1, 3.00 line for the GCL Yankees, a 4.22 ERA in 2 starts for the Tampa Yankees, he went 3-2 with a 4.05 ERA for the Norwich Navigators (AA). He cut his walk total down to 21 in 53 1/3 IP but only struck out 30 batters. Baseball America still rated him as the #5 prospect in the New York Yankees minor league system, right ahead of P Eric Milton and INF Cristian Guzman.
In 1997, he spent the season with Norwich; he had an 8-10 record, with 4.56 ERA. He walked 62 and fanned 76 in 124 1/3 innings of work. In 1998, Kazuhiro was 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA and one save for Norwich, walking 31 and striking out 27 in 37 1/3 relief innings. He also made 13 appearances with the Columbus Clippers (AAA), posting a 2.51 ERA and 0-1 record, he walked 8 and struck out 16 batters in 14 1/3 IP. Maeda spent all of 1999 season with Norwich going 3-2 with 1 save with a 4.34 ERA. He walked 40 and struck out 48 batters in 76 2/3 IP. In 2000, he split the year between Norwich (2-2, 4.80, 44 BB and 54 K in 50 2/3 IP) and Columbus (2 runs in 2 innings). The Yankees released him, and then he returned to Japan to play baseball.
May 16th
1907 - The New York Highlanders traded P Walter Clarkson and OF Frank Delahanty, both siblings of future Hall of Famer’s to Cleveland for P Earl Moore. New York is hoping that Moore will return to the form, he showed before a Highlander line drive injured his foot last season, limiting him to 6 games.
1919 - Former Yankees P Frank “Stubby” Overmire (1951) was born (1919-1977). On June 15, 1951, Stubby Overmire was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees for P Tommy Byrne and $25,000. Frank appeared in 15 games for the Yankees, posting a 1-1 record. On May 12,1952, Stubby was selected off waivers by the St. Louis Browns from the New York Yankees.
1919 - Former Yankees player/MLB Coach Germany “Liberty” Schaefer passed away (1876-1919). On January 21, 1916, Germany “ Liberty” Schafer was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Newark Pepper. He appeared in one game with the 1916 Yankees, spending the rest of season as a MLB Coach.
1926 - Former Yankees INF (1950-1957) and Manager Billy Martin (1975-1978,1983, 1985, 1988) was born (1926-1989). Billy Martin came to the New York Yankees in 1950 after playing for Manager Casey Stengel with the Oakland Oaks in the Pacific Coast League. Billy was an AL All Star and World Series hero for the New York Yankees in 1953. Billy played for the Yankees 1950-1957, missing 1954-1955 AL seasons due to military service. He was Casey Stengel’s favorite Yankees player, who was hated by Yankees GM George Weiss, who traded him away on June 15,1957 to the Kansas City A’s, after the fight at the Copacabana Night Club. After his trade from the Yankees, Billy played for the Kansas City A’s, Detroit Tigers, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Milwaukee Braves and finishing up with the Minnesota Twins in 1961. He was released by the Twins as an active player in spring of 1962; he became MLB scout for the team. New York Mets Manager Casey Stengel wanted to sign Billy for the new team, but Mets GM George Weiss wanted no part if him. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle asked Yankees Manager Ralph Houk for a spot for Billy as a reserve infielder, but Houk said no, choosing to go with rookie INF Phil Linz instead. His New York Yankees Manager record was 941-556, with a WP of .591. He won AL flags with the Yankees in 1976 and 1977. His only World Series Championship was in 1977. He was fired during the 1978 AL season, being replaced by Bob Lemon. With the Yankees Billy Martin managed the team in 1975-1978, returned in 1979, 1982-1983,1985 and 1988. Also Billy Martin managed the Detroit Tigers (1971-1973), Minnesota Twins (1969), Texas Rangers (1973-1975) and Oakland A’s (1980-1982) during MLB manager career. Billy Martin died in an auto accident in December of 1989.
1927 - New York Yankees OF Bob Meusel swipes 2B, 3B, and home in the 3rd inning as New York tops the Detroit Tigers, by the score of 6-2. Lou Gehrig contributes a HR and 2 doubles to back veteran starter Dutch Ruether's pitching.
1931 - At Detroit, Tommy Bridges gives up 3 hits in stopping the New York Yankees by the score of 3-1, dropping the Bombers to 2nd place, as they will not retake 1st place in AL. The Yankees will finish the 1931 AL season in 2nd place with a 94-59 record.
1932 - The New York Yankees record their fourth straight shutout to equal the record set by the 1903 Cleveland Indians and the 1906 Boston Red Sox. Johnny Allen, George Pipgras, Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez were the Yankee hurlers. Lefty stops the Cleveland Indians on 5 hits to win by the score of 8-0. It is the Yankees fifth shutout in seven games.
1941 - The New York Yankees bench top infield prospects Phil Rizzuto and Jerry Priddy, putting back in veterans Joe Gordon and Frankie Crosetti into the Yankees starting lineup. New York then rallies in the 9th inning to beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 5-4.
1944 - The Chicago White Sox beat the New York Yankees by the score of 10-4 to stop starter Hank Borowy's two-year winning streak at 11 games.
1946 - The New York Yankees released OF Bud Metheny (1943-1946). Outfielder Bud Metheny appeared in 376 games for the New York Yankees, hitting .247. Before joining the Yankees in 1943, Metheny played for pennant winning teams with Norfolk Tars and the Kansas City Blues, as well as appearing in the Little World Series with the Newark Bears. In 1948, Bud would start working at Old Dominion University for 32 years as head baseball coach, head basketball coach and later the ODU athletic director.
1949 - Former Yankees P Rick Reuschel (1981) was born. On June 12, 1981, Rick Reuschel was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Yankees for a player to be named later, P Doug Bird, and $400,000. The Yankees sent P Mike Griffin on August 5, 1981 to the Cubs to complete the trade. Rick went 4-4 in 12 games for the Yankees before arm injury ended his season, he didn’t pitch in 1982. The Yankees would release him during the 1983 AL season.
1951 - At Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle drives in 4 runs and scores 3 as Yankees rout the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11-3. Mantle connects for the 1st of his 206 homers at the Stadium, the blast coming off of Tribe hurler Richard Rozek.
1953 - At Yankee Stadium, Chicago White Sox lefty P Tommy Byrne pinch-hits for slugger Vern Stephens and hits a grand slam HR off of Yankees reliever Ewell Blackwell to climax a 5-run 9th inning and give White Sox, a 5-3 victory. Stephens has 10 career grand slams: Byrne now has 2.
1953 - Former Yankees P Rick Rhoden (1987-1988) was born. On November 26, 1986, Rick Rhoden was traded by the Pittsburgh Pirates along with pitchers Pat Clements and Cecilio Guante to the Yankees for pitchers Doug Drabek, Brian Fisher, and Logan Easley. Rick went 28-22 in 60 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Houston Astros for 2 minor league pitchers.
1954 - The Baltimore Orioles draw a record 46,796 fans at Memorial Stadium for a doubleheader with the New York Yankees. Allie Reynolds wins the opener for Yankees by the score of 2-0 on a 3-hitter, before Orioles starter Don Larsen stops the Yankees with a 6-2 victory in the nightcap.
1956 - On a blustery day in Cleveland, the Yankees top the Indians by the score of 4-1. Mickey Mantle hits a HR, off of Tribe starter Bud Daley, while his pal 2B Billy Martin is benched for the first time by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel. Bobby Richardson takes his place at 2B.
1957 - The New York Yankees top the Kansas City A’s by the score of 3-0 behind Bob Turley's 4-hit shutout. Mickey Mantle has a homer off of P Alex Kellner, the 11th time in his last 12 at bats he's reached base safely. That night a group of Yankee players celebrate Billy Martin's 29th birthday in a raucous fashion. An ensuing fight at Manhattan's Copacabana Night Club leads to $5,500 in fines and the eventual trade of Billy Martin to the Kansas City A’s on June 15th. Hank Bauer allegedly starts the fight by hitting a patron, although Bauer denies it. The Yankees fine veterans Whitey Ford, Hank Bauer, Yogi Berra, Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin $1,000 each and rookie P Johnny Kucks $500. The Yankees front office will return the fine money collected from the players after the 1957 World Series except for Billy Martin, who is now with the Kansas City A’s.
1965 - Baltimore Orioles teenager starter Jim Palmer picks up his 1st MLB win, topping the Yankees by the score of 7-5. Also Palmer also bangs his 1st MLB homer, a 2-run drive off of Yankee P Jim Bouton, to give himself the victory margin.
1967 - Former Yankees minor league P Frank Seminara was born. On June 1, 1988, Frank Seminara was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 12th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Frank never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. In 1990, while playing for the Prince William Cannons, he led the Carolina League with 16 wins and a 1.90 ERA. He was named the league's Pitcher of the Year. On December 3,1990, Frank was drafted by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees in the 1990 MLB Rule 5 player draft.
1970 - Former Yankees P Dutch Ruether (1926-1927) passed away (1893-1970). Dutch Ruether pitched 11 seasons in the MLB, winning 59% of his games. He went 19-6 for the 1919 Cincinnati Reds who opposed the Chicago Black Sox in the 1919 World Series. Dutch went 21-12 for the 1922 Brooklyn Robins (aka Dodgers). He went 18-7 for the 1925 Washington Senators. He appeared in 1925 World Series for the Senators as a pinch hitter. On August 27, 1926, Dutch was traded by the Washington Senators to the Yankees for players to be named later. The Yankees send pitchers Nick Cullop and Garland Braxton on October 19,1926 to the Washington to complete the trade. Dutch closed out his MLB career with a 13-6 record for the famous 1927 New York Yankees. His final Yankee pitching career totals were 15-9 in 32 games. He appeared in one game of the 1926 World Series, losing the game to the St. Louis Cardinals.
1970 - Former Yankees P Jim Mecir (1996-1997) was born. Jim Mecir came to the New York Yankees from the Seattle Mariners in the Tino Martinez trade. He went 1-5 in 51 games before being traded to the Boston Red Sox.
1976 - The New York Yankees send P Larry Gura to Kansas City Royals for back-up C Fran Healy. Healy's best moment will come in the broadcast booth, while Gura will help the Royals to the 1978 AL playoffs with a 16-4 record. Larry Gura did not get along with Yankees manager Billy Martin.
1983 - Former Yankees minor league P and MLB Pitching Coach Mel Wright (1974-1975) passes away (1928-1983). The New York Yankees traded minor league hurler Mel Wright along OF Bill Virdon to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1954, as part of the Enos “Country” Slaughter trade. He would serve as New York Yankees Manager Bill Vidron’s MLB pitching coach during the 1974-1975 American League seasons. Also he worked for Bill Vidron as a MLB pitching coach with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros and the Montreal Expos. In 1983, Mel Wright passed away from cancer.
1985 - Former Yankees P Johnny Broca (1933-1937) passed away (1909-1985). Johnny Broca went 39-23 in 99 games for the New York Yankees. In 1932, Johnny had attended Yale University. He spent 1933 in the high minors with the Newark Bears (International League), going 7-2. In his 1934 rookie year with the Yankees, Broca went 12-9 as a starter. In 1935, he went 15-7. With the pennant-winning 1936 Yankees, he was 12-7. In 1937, he started the AL season out with a 1-4 mark. He jumped the Yankees during the 1937 AL season. It was announced a week before he left that he had an arm injury. Johnny Broca sat out the rest of the season as well as all of 1938 AL season. On November 19,1938, John was purchased by the Cleveland Indians from the Yankees. He went 4-2 as a reliever for the Tribe before leaving MLB for good in 1940. There have been several stories that Johnny Broca stopped playing baseball because he didn’t have to pay alimony to his wife. Also that he didn’t get along with Yankees teammate pitcher Lefty Gomez. The New York Times had an article saying that the team voted a World Series share to Broca's estranged wife (the first time a share was ever voted to a woman) after Broaca left the Yankees in 1937. The book Joe McCarthy: Architect of the Yankee Dynasty says that Broaca had abandoned his wife. The December 1957 Baseball Digest relates a story where Lefty Gomez, unhappy that Broca was saving his arm and refused to throw balls before a game, played a practical joke on Broca by calling the bullpen, pretending to be the manager, ordering Broca to warm up for 9 innings straight. The story goes that Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy didn't know about this incident for many years, why Broaca claimed to be unable to start the next day's game. The New Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract tells a story about Lefty Gomez getting upset at Johnny Broaca for calling him "Goofy". When asked why Gomez was upset when other players such as Pat Malone also called him "Goofy", Gomez said "Malone didn't go to Yale".
2010 - The Minnesota Twins stun the New York Yankees with an 8th-inning grand slam home run by Jason Kubel against closer Mariano Rivera for a 6-3 win at New Yankee Stadium. Rivera had converted a record-tying 51 consecutive save opportunities at home and had not given up a grand slam home run since 2002; the runs are also the first he gives up for 2010 American League season.
May 17th
1899 - Former Yankees Owner Del Webb (1945-1964) was born (1899-1974). Del Webb became part owner of the New York Yankees in 1945, when he was part of a group that purchased the team from the estate of the late Jacob Ruppert. He had made his money through construction and real estate investments. The new team owners group also included Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping bought out Larry MacPhail after the 1947 World Series. They later sold the club to CBS in November 1964. Dan Topping was minority owner until 1966, when he sold the rest of his team shares to CBS.
1920 - Former Yankees P James “Hot Rod” McDonald (1952-1954, 1955) was born. On November 23, 1951, Jim McDonald was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the New York Yankees for reserve C Clint Courtney. Jim went 16-12 in 69 games for the Yankees. In December of 1954, he was traded by the Yankees to the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade. On July 30,1955, he was traded by the Orioles back to the Yankees for veteran starter Ed Lopat. He would go 4-1 in 16 games for the Yankees in 1955. Before the start of 1956 AL Season started, Jim was sent from the Yankees to the Orioles in an unknown transaction.
1957 - Former Yankees P Pascual Perez (1990-1991) was born. On November 21,1989, Pascual Perez was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 17 games for the Yankees, posting a 3-6 record.
1961 - 1960 American League MVP Yankees RF Roger Maris hit his 1st HR of the 1961 AL season at Yankee Stadium (4th overall for the 1961 AL season) on his way to a MLB season-record HR of 61. The 1961 New York Yankees would hit 240 home runs during the 1961 AL season.
1975 - Former Yankees reserve INF Scott Seabol (2001) was born. In 1996, the New York Yankees in the 88th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Scott Seabol. Scott won the South Atlantic League’s MVP award in 1999, while playing for the Greensboro Hornets. He appeared in one game with the Yankees having one at bat and no hits. On October 15,2002, Scott was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. The St. Louis Cardinals would sign him, he would return to MLB in 2004. Also Scott has played professional baseball in Japan and South Korea
1977 - After dropping two games to the Oakland A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle, who hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.
1982 - Former Yankees OF Dixie Walker (1931-1936) passes away (1910-1982). Dixie Walker was unable to break into the New York Yankees starting outfield of the 1930’s. He was waived to the Chicago White Sox. Later in the National League, he would have a successful MLB career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
1998 - David Wells pitched the 13th perfect game in modern MLB history, as the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins by a score of 4-0. Wells, whose perfecto was the 1st by a Yankees pitcher since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, also set an AL record by retiring 37 batters in a row, dating back to his last start on May 12th against the Kansas City Royals. The Twins shortstop Pat Meares flied out to RF Paul O'Neill to complete the perfect game afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
2007 - Former Yankees P Bill Wright (1946-1947) passed away. Before the 1941 AL Season, Bill Wright was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He posted a 3-2 record in 15 games for the Yankees. On February 24,1948, Bill was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Fred Bradley and C Aaron Robinson to the Chicago White Sox for P Eddie Lopat.
2008 - The New York Yankees 1B Jason Giambi hits his 185th MLB career HR as a Yankee in a 7-4 loss, during a inter league game against the New York Mets at Yankee Stadium. He had been tied with former Yankees OF Charlie “King Kong” Keller at 184. Now he is tied at 185 with former Yankees OF Paul O’Neill.
2010 - It's another epic battle between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at New Yankee Stadium. The Yankees take a 5-0 lead in the 1st inning against Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka, but the Red Sox storm back to take the lead with 5 home runs, 2 by Victor Martinez, and one each by David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Kevin Youkilis. Then, in the bottom of the 9th inning, Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon gives up a pair of two-run homers, to Yankee batters Alex Rodriguez and Marcus Thames, and the Yankees end up on top, winning the game by the score of 11-9.
May 18th
1885 - Former Yankees P Eros “Cy” Barger (1906-1907) was born. Cy Barger went 0-0 in 3 games with one save with the Yankees.
1905 - Former Yankees reserve C Art Jorgens (1929-1939) was born (1905-1980). On August 24, 1928, Art Jorgens was purchased by the Yankees from the Oklahoma City (Western League). Art was a back up catcher for the Yankees for 11 seasons for AL All Star C Bill Dickey, appearing in only 307 games and hitting .238. Art Jorgens holds the all-time record for World Series games in which he was on the 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 never appeared in a post-season game for them.
1930 - New York Yankees Starter George Pipgras tossed his 3rd shutout of the 1930 AL season as the Yankees again, supported his pitching by bombing the host Boston Red Sox by a score of 11-0. Babe Ruth hit an Ed Morris pitch over the RF bleachers, for one of the longest HRs ever hit at Fenway Park.
1935 - Cleveland Indians batter Earl Averill ruins New York starter Lefty Gomez’s bid for a no-hitter, by hitting 2 singles, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 3-0.
1946 - Former Yankees Hall Of Fame OF/DH Reggie Jackson (1977-1981) was born. Reggie Jackson will make his MLB debut in 1967 with the Kansas City A’s. He had been star college player at Arizona State University. His stay in Yankees pinstripes was a wild one with filled the fights with Manager Billy Martin and disagreements with Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner. His greatest Yankees moment was in the 1977 World Series, when he hit 3 HR’s in 1 game against the Dodgers. He will finish his MLB career with 563 HRs, 6th on the all-time MLB career HR list. His final Yankees career totals were a lifetime BA of .281 with 144 HRs with 461 RBIs in 653 games. Reggie appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees hitting .391 with 8 HRs, 17 RBIs in 13 games. Reggie Jackson was elected to Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1993. He currently serves as a Special Advisor to the New York Yankees front office.
1947 - Former Yankees 1B and Manager Hal “Prince Hal” Chase (1905-1913) passes away at the age of 64 (1883-1947). On October 4, 1904, Hal Chase was drafted by the New York Highlanders from Los Angeles (PCL) in the 1904 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He hit .284 in 1,061 games as Yankee from 1905-1913. Hal Chase managed the Yankees in 1910-1911, posting an 85-78 record. On June 1, 1913, Hal was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for INF Rollie Zeider and 1B Babe Borton. Yankees Manager Frank Chance had suspected that Hal Chase of betting on Yankee games and had him traded away. Many of the MLB players and baseball writers from his playing days, didn’t rate Hal Chase as being an “honest” player, Hal was a great defensive 1B and hitter. His gambling problems would later cost him his MLB career and a chance to be voted into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. In 1920, MLB Commissioner Judge Landis banned Hal Chase from organized baseball for gambling activities during the 1918 MLB season, while Hal was playing with the Cincinnati Reds in the National League.
1956 - AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees hit homeruns from both sides of the plate for the 3rd time in his MLB career, setting a MLB record. Mantle included a perfect 4-for-4 day, helping the Yankees to an 8-7 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1958 - The New York Yankees sweep the Washington Senators in a doubleheader at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C, winning by scores of 5-2 and 3-0 before 27,704 fans. This doubleheader sweep brings the Yankees record to a 19-5 for 1958 AL season. In the opener, former NL veteran starter Sal “The Barber” Maglie goes 8 innings for the Yankees, allowing only 8 hits and 2 runs. In the 9th inning, Yankees bullpen ace Ryne Duren closes out the game for his 6th save of the 1958 AL season. Sal Maglie hits a 2-run HR shot off of Senators starter Pedro Ramous in the 4th inning. Mickey Mantle had hit a solo HR in the 3rd inning. In the nightcap, “Bullet Bob” Turley throws a 3-0 shutout, allowing only 5 hits, while striking out 6 Senator batters. Yankees Tony Kubek and Mickey Mantle provided the Yankees offense driving in 3 runs. Yankees rookie 1B Marv Throneberry gets a rare start at 1st base, going 1 for 2 in the game.
1968 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran closer John Wyatt from the Boston Red Sox for cash. He was obtained from the Red Sox, appearing in only 7 games posting a 0-2 mark, before the Yankees sold him to the Detroit Tigers. John had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before being signed by the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s.
1974 - Former Co-Owner of New York Yankees Dan Topping (1945-1964) passes away from lung disease at the age of 61 (1912-1974). Along with business partners Del Webb and Larry McPhail, they brought the New York Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert family estate in 1945. After the 1947 World Series, they bought out partner Larry MacPhail. Del Webb and Dan Topping would sell the New York Yankees to CBS, Inc. in 1964. He would hold minority interest in the Yankees until 1966, before selling it to CBS. Dan’s son Dan Topping Jr. would be the New York Yankees General Manager briefly during the 1966 AL season replacing Ralph Houk who stepped down from the position to become Yankees Manager after the firing of Johnny Keane in May of 1966. Dan was replace when his father sold his remaining interest in the team to CBS. His replacement would be former Yankee partner Larry MacPhail son Lee.
1976 - The New York Yankees obtained OF/DH Carlos May from the Chicago White Sox for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos will hit .287 in 87 games in 1976 for the Yankees before fading in 1977 and being sold to the California Angels in September.
1995 - Former Yankees P Jack Kramer (1951) passed away. On May 28, 1951, Jack Kramer was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Jack had started the 1951 MLB season with the New York Giants. With the Yankees, he appeared in 19 games, posting a 1-3 record. On August 30, 1951, Jack was released by the New York Yankees. Both the Yankees and the Giants will appear in the 1951 World Series.
1999 - The Boston Red Sox defeated the New York Yankees by the score of 6-3, in the return of Yankees Manager Joe Torre, after being treated for prostate cancer. Yankees Bench Coach Don Zimmer had been handling the Yankees manager duties, while Joe Torre was away.
2003 - The Texas Rangers swept three games at Yankee Stadium from the New York Yankees, for the 1st time in the franchise's 43-year MLB existence.
2010 - Another game, another epic New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox battle. Today, the Yankees play the game under protest, claiming the Red Sox did not properly signal an injury before removing starting pitcher Josh Beckett trailing 5-0 in the 5th inning, thus giving reliever Manny Delcarmen more time to warm up than warranted. For the second night in a row, the Red Sox come back from a five-run hole, taking a 7-5 lead in the 9th inning thanks to an error by Yankees RF Marcus Thames on Marco Scutaro's fly ball. Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, who blew a save the previous night, allows a run in the bottom of the 9th inning, but strikes out Randy Winn with runners on second and third to end the game. The contest starts almost an hour late because of rain, is played in a constant drizzle, and lasts a marathon 4 hours and 9 minutes, making it the longest nine-inning game played so far this 2010 AL season.
May 19th
1891 - Former Yankees P George Clark (1913) was born. George Clark went 0-1 in 11 games for the 1913 Yankees.
1903 - Due to Sunday baseball restrictions in Cleveland, a major league game is played in Columbus, Ohio with the 'hometown' Cleveland Naps defeating the New York Highlanders by the score of 9-2.
1928 - Former Yankees INF Gil McDougald (1951-1960) was born (1928-2010). In 1948, INF Gil McDougald was signed by the New York Yankees, as an amateur MLB free agent. Gil was a versatile infielder for the Yankees. In 1951, he won the AL Rookie Of the Year award. He would hit a Grand Slam HR in the 1951 World Series against the Giants. Gil would make AL All Star team several times during the 1950’s. In 1957, a tragic line drive hit by Gil off of Cleveland Indians starter Herb Score in the face affected the rest of his MLB career. Gil had lost his aggressive approach at the plate. In December of 1960, Gil had been drafted by the “new” Washington Senators in the 1960 AL team expansion player draft. He refused to go to the new club. Also Gil turned down a $100,000 player-manager job offer from the new LA Angels team. His former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had recommended him to the Angels Owner Gene Autry for the job. He retired from the Yankees. Gil finished his fine Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .276, 112 HRs with 576 RBI’s in 1,336 games. He appeared in 8 World Series with the Yankees, hitting .237 with 7 HRs and 24 RBIs. After his playing days, McDougald was a coach at Fordham University for 7 years. Away from the diamond, he ran a New Jersey maintenance company. He suffered progressive hearing loss, as he got older, the result of being struck by a line drive hit by Yankees teammate Bob Cerv during batting practice years earlier. He eventually went deaf, which was repaired by cochlear implant surgery in 1995.
1948 - Former Yankees DH/OF Carlos May (1976-1977) was born. On May 18, 1976, Carlos May was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the Yankees for P Ken Brett and OF Rich Coggins. Carlos hit .287 in 87 games in 1976. In 1977, he only hit .227 in 65 games. On September 16,1977, he purchased by the California Angels from the Yankees.
1954 - Former Yankees C Rick Cerone (1980-1985, 1987, 1990) was born. Rick Cerone never lived up to his potential as hitting catcher after replacing Thurman Munson as the Yankees regular catcher in 1980, after Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. Rick was obtained in the Chris Chambliss trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.
1955 - Former Yankees P Ed Whitson (1985-1986) was born. Ed Whitson went 17-10 in 44 games with the 1985-1986 Yankees. Ed had signed a 5-year contract with the New York Yankees worth $4.4 million with a 6th-year option. Whitson got off to a terrible start in the Bronx, going 1-6 with a 6.23 ERA in his 1st 11 starts, and soon became a focal point for heckling Yankee fans. He began receiving verbal abuse and hate mail, he refused to let his wife, Kathleen, attend home games at Yankee Stadium. On June 11,1985 after giving up 5 hits and 1 run against the Toronto Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium, Whitson retired the next 19 batters he faced. Fans began to cheer Whitson during the game, and although the game was lost by the Yankees bullpen in extra innings, Whitson left the game to a standing ovation in the 10th inning. From there, Ed Whitson turned his 1985 AL season around, going 9-1 with a 2.27 ERA over his next 16 starts. The Yankees were just 2.5 games back of the 1st place Blue Jays in the AL East. When Toronto came to NYC for a crucial 4 game series on September 12th. With the Blue Jays taking 2 of the 1st three games, Yankees manager Billy Martin handed Whitson the ball for the 4th game. Whitson gave up 4 earned runs in just 2 innings as the Jays won the game by the score of 8-5 to take a 4.5 game lead in the Eastern AL division race. Billy Martin lifted Whitson from his next scheduled start on September 20th. On September 22nd, while at a hotel bar in Baltimore, Whitson and Martin got into a heated argument that spread to other parts of the hotel and resulted in a broken ulna in Martin's right arm and a bruised right side. While Whitson suffered a cracked rib and a split lip Whitson did not pitch again for the remainder of the 1985 season, finishing with a 10-8 record with a 4.88 ERA. After the 1985 AL season, Billy Martin was fired by the Yankees front office, which many Yankee fans suspected was because of his altercation with Whitson. In 1986, Ed was used both as a starter and reliever by new Yankees manager Lou Piniella. He was 4-0 despite a high 7.36 ERA out of the bullpen, and 1-2 with an 8.71 ERA as a starter. Knowing that Whitson wanted out of New York, the Yankees traded Ed back to the San Diego Padres for reliever Tim Stoddard on July 9, 1986.
1957 - Former Yankees minor league P Ben Callahan was born (1957-2007). On June 3, 1980, Ben Callahan was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 31st round of the 1980 MLB amateur player draft. Ben never appeared with the Yankees at MLB level. On June 15,1983, Ben was traded by the New York Yankees along with DH/1B Marshall Brant and cash to the Oakland A's for MLB P Matt Keough. Ben went 1-2 with the 1983 Oakland A’s in his only MLB career season. The A’s sent him to minor leagues. Ben passed away in 2007.
1960 - The New York Yankees re-obtained veteran OF Bob Cerv from the Kansas City A’s for veteran 3B Andy Carey. Andy had lost his Yankees 3B starting job to Clete Boyer. Bob Cerv will provide power off the bench and outfield defense for the Yankees for the rest of 1960 AL season, before being lost to the LA Angels in the American League player expansion team draft in December of 1960. He would be re-obtained by the Yankees from the Angels in May of 1961 in the Ryne Duren trade.
1969 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Jose Vidal from the Seattle Pilots for OF Richard Simpson. Jose Vidal never plays for the Yankees at MLB level.
1977 - After dropping 2 games to the Oakland A’s, Yankees starter Ron Guidry throws 9 innings, is relieved by Sparky Lyle for hurls 6 scoreless innings as the Yankees win the game in 15th inning by a score of 5-2.
1977 - Former Yankees P Dan Giese (2008) was born. On November 24, 2007, Dan Giese was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 20 games for the 2008 Yankees, posting a 1-3 record. On April 8, 2009, Dan was selected off waivers by the Oakland A’s from the New York Yankees.
1993 - Former Yankees INF Oscar Grimes Jr. (1943-1946) passed away. On December 17, 1942, Oscar Grimes was traded by the Cleveland Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the New York Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and C Buddy Rosar. Oscar appeared in 281 games for the Yankees, hitting .266. On July 11,1946, Oscar was purchased by the Philadelphia A’s from the Yankees.
2006 - In inter-league play game, Mets 3B David Wright wins the 1st Subway Series game of the season between the 2 New York City teams, when he hits a 2-out RBI single off of Yankees Closer Mario Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Mets a 7-6 victory over the Yankees.
2010 - The New York Yankees learn that Catcher Jorge Posada has a broken bone in his right foot and will be out of action for three to four weeks. Francisco Cervelli has already assumed the bulk of the playing time behind the plate this season. Posada joins DH/1B Nick Johnson, out with a wrist injury, OF Curtis Granderson who is on the disabled list, while OF Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher are both day-to-day because of a sprained ankle and a sore biceps, respectively. The Tampa Bay Rays take advantage of their banged-up opponents, beating them by the score of 10-6, increasing their lead in the AL East to 4 games.
May 20th
1890 - Former Yankees P Jesse ‘”Jim” Buckles (1916) was born. Jim Buckles appeared in two games with no record for the 1916 Yankees.
1893 - Former Yankees P Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born. Walt Bernhardt appeared in one game with no record for the 1918 Yankees.
1897 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-1929,1932-1933) was born. He was the relief ace of the 1927 New York Yankees, posting a 19-7 record with 13 saves. His Yankees pitching career totals were 36-20 in 142 games with 27 saves. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the first of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.
1904 - Former Yankees P Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski) (1933) was born. Pete Appleton appeared in one game with 1933 Yankees posting no record. The Yankees sent him back to the Newark Bears (International League) in 1934. Pete originally came up with Cincinnati Reds. Also he played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox in his 14 year MLB career finishing with a 57-67 record.
1913 - The New York Yankees obtained shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Cleveland Indians for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would help stabilized the 1913 Yankees infield. He would be with the Yankees for 8 seasons, appearing in 1,219 games, hitting .257 for the team.
1923 - Babe Ruth’s 15th inning 2-run HR gives New York Yankees starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees allowing only 4 hits in 15 innings.
1925 - The Cleveland Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the New York Yankees by a score of 10-9. Indians OF Tris Speaker scored the winning run from 1st base on a single.
1930 - Former Yankees reliever and Pitching Coach Tom “Plowboy” Morgan (1951-1952, 1954-56) was born (1930-1987). The New York Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent signed Tom Morgan before the 1949 AL season. Tom was a relief pitcher for the Yankees during the early 1950’s. His Yankee pitching career totals were 38-22 in 156 games with 26 saves. Tom was traded to the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, posting a 0-1 mark in 5 games. Later, Tom would become a Yankees MLB pitching coach during the 1980’s. He finished his MLB pitching career in 1963 with the Angels, working for the team as a pitching coach in their minor league system.
1943 - Former Yankees 1B David McDonald (1969) was born. In 1962, the New York Yankees signed David McDonald as an amateur MLB free agent. He only appeared in 9 games for the 1969 Yankees, just hitting only .217. On May 15,1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for reliever Gary Waslewski.
1945 - One-armed OF Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoyed an incredible day against the New York Yankees. Gray made three outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBI, and scored the game-winning run during the Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.
1946 - Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, MLB Coach and Yankees broadcast announcer Robert “Bobby “ Murcer (1965-1966, 1969-1974,1979-1983) was born (1946-2008) Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, he still had a very good career with the New York Yankees. He made the AL All Star team in 1971-1974. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331. In the winter of 1974, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs during the 1979 MLB season. Finishing out his Yankees playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees broadcasting announcer. Bobby passed away in 2008, after batting brain cancer.
1946 - Former Yankees OF Jim Lyttle (1969-1971) was born. Outfielder Jim Lyttle was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (10th pick) of the 1966 amateur MLB player draft. Jim’s best season with the Yankees was in 1970, when he hit .310. In 1971, he missed most of the season being sick with mono. On October 13,1971, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for P Rich Hinton.
1948 - New York Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and collected 6 RBIs in the 13-2 Yankees victory over the Chicago White Sox. DiMaggio hit 2 HRs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly missed another extra-base hit, when Chicago Left Fielder Ralph Hodgin made a spectacular catch at the outfield wall.
1959 - The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees by a score of 13-6 to place the Yankees in last place in the American League for the 1st time in 19 years, since May of 1940. The team was plagued by injuries to virtually every starting player in the Yankees regular starting line up, plus the pitching staff had several arm injuries, including 1958 Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley. The 1959 New York Yankees would finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record, behind the 2nd place Cleveland Indians and the 1959 American League Champion’s Chicago White Sox.
1960 - Former Yankees C Pat Collins (1926-1928) passed away. On August 30, 1925, Pat Collins was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later and $25000 and 3 players to be named. The New York Yankees sent INF Pee-Wee Wanninger on December 16, 1925 to St. Paul to complete the trade. He appeared in 264 games for the Yankees, hitting .269. Pat appeared in 11 World Series games for the Yankees (1926-1928), hitting .500. On December 13,1928, Pat was purchased by the Boston Braves from the New York Yankees.
1963 - Former Yankees P David “Boomer” Wells (1997-1998, 2002-2003) was born. On December 24, 1996, Dave was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Dave pitched a perfect game for the Yankees. His final Yankees pitching career record was 66-28. Dave’s best Yankees season was in 2002, when he went 19-7. In 1998, he went 18-4 and won the ALCS MVP Award. Dave was named to the 1998 AL All Star team. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 1-1. In ALCS play, he went 6-1 for the Yankees. On February 18,1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with INF Homer Bush and P Graeme Lloyd to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2002, he would return to the Yankees as a MLB free agent. David would post a 19-7 record in 2002 for the Yankees. In 2003, he went 15-7 for the Yankees. At the end of the 2003 post season, David left the Yankees for MLB free agency. He signed with the San Diego Padres.
1969 - The New York Yankees acquired veteran reliever Jack Aker (1969-1972) from the Seattle Pilots for Yankees P Fred Talbot. Jack Aker and Lindy McDaniel helped stabilized the New York Yankees bullpen for four seasons. Aker went 16-10 with 59 saves in 164 games for the Yankees. On May 17, 1972, the New York Yankees sent P Jack Aker to the Chicago Cubs to complete an earlier deal made on January 20,1972. The Yankees had traded for Cubs veteran OF Johnny Callison.
1976 - Another New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox brawl took place at Yankee Stadium. Which a pile-on brawl resulting in Boston Red Sox starter Bill “Spaceman” Lee seriously injuring his pitching arm. It all started when Yankees OF Lou Piniella, crashed into Red Sox C Carlton Fisk while trying to score from 2nd base on a single by Graig Nettles. Red Sox RF Dwight Evans throw had Lou out at the plate, but he barreled into Fisk resulting in a fight between them, which emptied both team benches.
1980 - Former Yankees reserve OF Austin Kearns (2010) was born. On July 30, 2010, OF Austin Kearns was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The New York Yankees sent minor league P Zach McAllister on August 20, 2010 to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade. Austin appeared in 36 games for the Yankees, hitting just .234. On November 1,2010, Austin was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. He resigned with the Cleveland Indians for 2011 AL season.
2006 - A New York Yankees uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series (1951) was sold for $195,500 during the 2nd day of an auction of his memorabilia. Yesterday, DiMaggio's 1947 AL MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 percent buyer's premium. It was his 3rd AL MVP award, but it was the only plaque. The two day auction featured more than 1,000 items of Joe DiMaggio memorabilia also included a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio's Yankees teammates and members of the Red Sox, a typed note signed by entertainer Frank Sinatra, an a signed photograph of DiMaggio's one-time wife, actress Marilyn Monroe. This Joe DiMaggio memorabilia auction was held by Hunt's Auctions Inc. in New York City. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
May 21st
1906 - Former Yankees P Henry ‘”Hank” Johnson (1925-1926, 1928-1932) was born. Hank Johnson went 37-36 in 157 games with 7 saves as Yankee. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he went 14-9 in 31 games. On June 5,1932, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ivy Andrews and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Danny Mac Fayden.
1912 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) was born. On April 3, 1942, Larry Rosenthal was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for OF Buster Mills. Larry appeared in only 36 games for the 1944 Yankees, just hitting .198. On July 6,1944, Larry was purchased by the Philadelphia A’s from the New York Yankees.
1923 - The formal transfer of T.L. Huston's interest in the New York Yankees ownership to his partner, Jacob Ruppert is completed for $1.5 million. Ten days later, Ruppert buys two more sets of uniforms so his players can wear a clean outfit every day, an unprecedented move.
1926 - It is “George Burns Day” in Cleveland as he is presented with a diploma as the American League MVP of 1926, a silver bat containing $1,150 in cash, and a new automobile. Tribe 1B Burns has a pair of doubles in the game but the visiting New York Yankees win the game by the score of 6-4 in 12 innings.
1930 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A's, then batting against P Jack Quinn in the 9th inning. Ruth decides to hit right-handed. After 2 strikes, he switches to lefty, but he strikes out. This is the 1st of 2 career 3-HR games for the Babe. Max Bishop draws 5 walks for the 2nd time in his career (he is the only player to do this twice), and Jimmie Foxx homers to help the A's to a 15-7 victory. Ruth is homer-less in the 2nd game, a 4-1 Yankee loss, but Max Bishop has 3 more walks. Bishop will also walk 8 times in a doubleheader in 1934, the only player to collect more than 6 walks in an afternoon.
1932 - Before 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees roll over the Washington Senators by scores of 14-2 and 8-0. Washington collects just 11 hits off of Yankees starters Herb Pennock and Johnny Allen. In the opener, Babe Ruth homers in the 5th inning off of P Lloyd Brown. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig connect in the 6th inning off of P Frank Ragland. Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri is 6-for-7 on the afternoon, including a home run, two doubles and a triple.
1934 - Former Yankees minor league C Moe Thacker was born (1934-1997). Moe Thacker was another of the many players who began their careers in the New York Yankees organization, who reached the MLB with a different team. In 1952, the New York Yankees signed Moe as an amateur MLB free agent. The young catcher would make it as high as the American Association with the Denver Bears (AAA) in 1956 and the New Orleans Pelicans (AA) of the Southern Association in 1957, where he hit .240 while catching 136 games. All that got him was being traded to the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 1958 MLB season in an unknown transaction.
1938 - The power-laden New York Yankees give little hitting or run support to their starter Spud Chandler, but he hits a homerun in the 8th inning to gain a 1-0 victory over Chicago White Sox starter Thornton Lee.
1941 - Former Yankees INF (1968-1969), Minor League Manager and MLB Coach and Manager Bobby Cox (1977) was born. On December 7, 1967, Bobby Cox was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the New York Yankees for C Bob Tillman and P Dale Roberts. Bobby Cox played two seasons as a 3rd baseman with the New York Yankees. He was named to the 1968 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. After bad knees ended his playing career at age 30, he became an extremely successful manager. Some consider him to be among the greatest managers of all time. In 1959, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers for a $40,000 bonus, and spent 7 years in the Dodgers minor league system. He spent the 1967 season with the Atlanta Braves AAA farm club in Richmond (International League).
With the New York Yankees in 1968, he replaced Charley Smith, the 1967 3rd baseman. People have disparaged Cox's .229 BA that year, but it was the heart of the second dead-ball era and his average was actually 15 points higher than the team average of .214. In 1969, the team average went up to .235, while Cox went down to .215. Jerry Kenney became the regular 3rd baseman. After his MLB playing career, Cox played 1 season for the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) and was a player-manager for the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (A) in 1971 (even appearing in 3 games as a pitcher). He then managed 1 season with West Haven Yankees (AA) and 4 seasons with the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) before coming to the majors as a MLB coach. Bobby Cox was a member of the New York Yankees MLB coaching staff in 1977. He was more successful as a MLB manager with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays than as a MLB player.
1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1971) was born. Rich Hinton was acquired from the Chicago White Sox for New York Yankees OF Jim Lyttle in 1971. He went 1-0 before being traded to the Texas Rangers.
1947 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio and 5 other players are slapped with $100 fines for not fulfilling their player contract requirements to do promotional duties for the New York Yankees.
1948 - New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle as he delivers two home runs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 13-2.
1954 - Boston Red Sox rookie starter Frank Sullivan makes his 1st MLB start beating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium by a score of 6-3. Sullivan strikes out Mickey Mantle three times before Mickey clocks one over the auxiliary scoreboard into the RF-CF bleachers.
1956 - At Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle clouts a drive over the 2nd and more distance fence in right field to help the Yankees win the game by the score of 8-5. The drive, off of A’s hurler Moe Burtschy, matches home runs to that spot hit by American League hitters Larry Doby and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.
1957 - For his part in the Copacabana nightclub fight incident, New York Yankees OF Hank Bauer is arraigned in New York City court. He is eventually cleared and threatens to sue the alleged victim, Edward Jones, who suffered a concussion and a broken jaw. In today's game, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford are benched by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel, while Hank Bauer bats 8th in the Yankees starting batting order. Mickey Mantle has a single, 2 walks, and a homerun to back starter Bob Turley's 4-hit, 3-0 shutout over the Kansas City A's. Bob Turley helps his cause by starting a triple play. The Yankees now trail the Chicago White Sox in the AL by a half game.
1962 - The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran starter Robin Roberts, who was released by the New York Yankees on April 30th. Robin Roberts will go on to win 42 games for Orioles before going to Houston Astros and then finishing his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees management had decided that veteran Bob Turley was better choice than Robin Roberts; it proved to be a big mistake. Many feel that Robin Roberts would have made the 300 wins MLB career mark, if he had stayed as a Yankee. Turley was 3-3 in 24 games in 1962, before finishing up his MLB career in 1963 splitting time with LA Angels and the Boston Red Sox.
1967 - Detroit starter Earl Wilson gives the Tigers their 3rd straight win over the Yankees, with a 9-4 victory. Mickey Mantle hits his 5th home run in 6 games but it's not enough for Yankees starter Whitey Ford, who appears in his last MLB game for the Yankees.
1970 - A generous Yankees starter Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in 8 1/3 innings, but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last 2 outs of the game to preserve the 2-0 win. The 11 walks in a shutout ties Lefty Gomez, who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater's 2-run HR in the 5th inning, accounts for the scoring off of Nats P Richard Such, making his 1st MLB start.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Widger (2002) was born. Chris Widger hit .297 in 24 games as a reserve catcher with the Yankees during the 2002 AL season. He hit .244 for the 2002 Columbus Clippers (International League). On April 7,2003, Chris Widger was released by the New York Yankees. Manager Joe Torre had chosen John Flaherty as the 2003 Yankees reserve catcher.
1997 - Roger Clemens fires the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees by the score of 4-1, for his 8th win of the 1997 AL season against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200 MLB career game, the 94th MLB pitcher to reach 200 wins mark.
2004 - On his first return visit to Texas, former American League All Star Texas Ranger, now a New York Yankees player, Alex Rodriguez is roundly booed by Ranger fans at The Ballpark in Arlington. The fans continue to show their displeasure as the Yankees' 3B drives a 2-1 pitch over the fence during his 1st inning at-bat.
2005 - As Dae-Sung Koo stands in against New York Yankees starter Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza confides to David Wright in the dugout, "If he gets a hit, I'll donate a million dollars to charity." The Korean reliever, batting lefty off the Yankee fire-balling southpaw, was afraid to stand in the batter box in a previous game, but promptly hits a 91-mph fastball to the wall in center for a double causing the Mets catcher to say he will be making a significant donation to a charity over the next 20 years.
2009 - New York Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain is knocked out of the game in the 1st inning with a bruised right knee after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore Orioles batter Adam Jones. The Yankees still defeat the Orioles by the score of 7-4, as Robinson Cano drives in 3 runs. Alfredo Aceves pitches 3 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Chamberlain to earn the Bronx Bombers' 9th straight win.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
