This Week in Yankee History
May 22nd - May 28th
May 22nd
1913 - St. Louis Browns rookie P Dwight Stone gives up 6 hits, 7 walks and plunks 3 batters, but still beats the New York Yankees by the score of 7-0. The visiting Yankees strand a modern-MLB record of 15 runners in the shutout by Stone, who will win just 1 more game in 1913. Ed Klepfer is the losing pitcher in his only decision of the year. The record will be matched 3 times and finally topped, in 1994. The Nation League record of 14 runners stranded in a shutout was set less than 2 weeks ago by Pittsburgh Pirates against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1922 - The New York Yankees, who have been sharing the Polo Grounds with the Giants since 1913, begin construction on their own stadium in the Bronx. Yankee Stadium will open in the following April for the 1923 American League season.
1923 - Yankees slugger Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox by clouting a 2-run HR in the 15th inning. The blow breaks up a tense pitching duel between little Mike Cvengros and Herb Pennock, who goes all the way giving up just 4 hits. The Yankees have now won 12 of 13 contests in their western road trip.
1930 - At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees and the A’s continue the HR barrage as the Yankees take both games of a 2nd straight doubleheader by the scores of 10-1 and 20-13. Babe Ruth hits a pair of HRs in the opener, as does Ben Chapman and winning pitcher George Pipgras. The Yankees score 9 runs in the 1st two innings of the 2nd game, but the A's come back to tie it at 12 apiece. The Yankees win the assault 20-13 as Tony Lazzeri is 4-for-4, scores 5 runs, and knocks in 4 runs. Babe Ruth hits another HR in the 2nd game, while Lou Gehrig powers 3 HRs to drive in 8 runs. On the Philadelphia A's side, Jimmie Foxx has 2-HRs to drive in 6 runs. For the afternoon, the teams combine to hit 14 HRs, a then record 10 HRs in game 2.
1933 – Yankees INF Joe Sewell fans for the 1st time for the 1933 AL season, in a 3-0 Yankees victory, behind starter Lefty Gomez over the Cleveland Indians. Sewell will strike out only 3 more times in 524 at bats during the 1933 American League season. He will finished his MLB career with a total 114 strikeouts.
1934 – The Cleveland Indians stop the New York Yankees by the score of 5-1, with Lou Gehrig driving in the lone run for Bronx Bombers. For the 2nd time in his MLB career, Lou has driven in at least one-run a game for 10 straight games.
1944 - Former Yankees P Tommy John (1979-1982, 1986-1989) was born. On November 21, 1978, Tommy John was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Tommy John won 21 and 20 games in 1979 and 1980 for the Yankees. On August 31,1982,Tommy was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for a player to be named later. The Angels would send P Dennis Rasmussen on November 24,1982 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He would return to the Yankees in 1986, he played with the team until 1989. His final Yankees pitching career record was 91-60.
1946 - The New York Yankees turn a triple play during a 5-3 win at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers had runners on 1st and 3rd, when Richard Wakefield hit a ground ball to Yankees 1B Nick Etten, who threw home to get the lead runner. Yankees C Bill Dickey chased that lead runner back towards 3B, and then he threw to 3B George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, who made the tag. Meanwhile, the runner on 1B had foolishly strayed beyond 2B, apparently undecided whether or not to attempt to advance to 3B during the rundown. A throw to shortstop trapped this runner between 2B and 3B, Phil Rizzuto, eventually tagged him out. During this rundown, Wakefield attempted to reach 2B, Phil Rizzuto’s quick flip to 2B Joe Gordon, completed the triple play.
1947 - The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 9-0, as starter Allie Reynolds fires his second 2-hit shutout over the Red Sox in a month. Red Sox starter Harry Dorish is the loser.
1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1972) was born. On October 13, 1971, Rich Hinton was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for Jim Lyttle. He appeared in 7 games for the 1972 Yankees, posting a 1-0 record. On September 7,1972, Rich was purchased by the Texas Rangers from the New York Yankees.
1953 - New York Yankees' OF Irv Noren ends the game by lining back to Washington hurler Bob Porterfield, who starts a triple play, as the Senators beat the Yankees by a score of 12-4. The Senators scored 5-runs in the 1st inning off of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds. Washington tallies 18 hits, including a 3-run HR and 2-run double by Clyde Vollmer. Yankees veteran Johnny Mize hits pinch single in the 9th inning, his 5th pinch single in a row, breaking a mark set by Cleveland's Les Fleming in 1947. Johnny Mize has had a walk and been hit by a pitch in his last 7 pinch-hitting appearances.
1954 - At Yankee Stadium, Allie Reynolds tosses a 7-hit shutout over the Boston Red Sox to win 7-0. Mickey Mantle is the Yankees main offense, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Mickey will knock in 10 runs in the 3-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
1954 - Former Yankees minor league P Mark Softy was born. Mark Softy is a former minor league baseball pitcher, who played in the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers farm systems. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur player draft. Mark never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. He is perhaps most known for being part of a trade involving MLB outfielders Mickey Rivers, Oscar Gamble, and others. The New York Yankees traded players to be named later and Mickey Rivers to the Texas Rangers for players to be named later, MLB OF Oscar Gamble, and minor league player Amos Lewis. On October 8, 1979, the Texas Rangers would send pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson to the New York Yankees to complete the deal. On October 8,1979, the New York Yankees would send minor league players Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade
1956 - Detroit's Red Wilson belts a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees. The loss goes to Whitey Ford, his 1st following 6 straight wins. Ford had given up just 5 earned runs through 54 innings before today’s game.
1959 - Baltimore Orioles' starter Hoyt Wilhelm 1-hits the Yankees winning the game by the score of 1-0, with Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe's single in the 8th inning as the spoiler. Yankees All Star switch-hitter Mickey Mantle hits righty against Wilhelm and does no better than he has been lefty. On May 28th, Hoyt Wilhelm, who is a veteran knuckleball pitcher, will beat the Yankees again, this time by a score of 5-0.
1962 - The New York Yankees RF Roger Maris, who went all of the 1961 AL season without receiving an intentional walk, collects 4 walks in a 12-inning, in a 2-1 win against the LA Angels to set an AL record. Maris receives 5 walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley and Bob Turley) combine to give up just 1 hit in 12 innings. Yankees starter Whitey Ford leaves after 7 innings, because of back spasms, Jim Coates gives up the lone Angels hit, a 1-out 9th-inning single to rookie catcher Buck Rodgers.
1963 - At Yankee Stadium, Yankees blow a 7-0 lead and allows the Kansas City A’s to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Mickey Mantle, leading off the 11th inning, is fooled by Bill Fischer on a slow curve, then cannons a 2-2 pitch that almost clears the Yankee Stadium RF roof. It was "The hardest ball I ever hit," Mantle later comments -- a ball that, by some accounts, was still rising when it struck a foot below the top. It is conservatively estimated by Dr. James McDonald, a physicist, who studies long-ball trajectories, that the ball would have traveled 620 feet if it had not struck the facade. "That was the only homer I ever hit that the bat actually bent in my hands," Mantle tells his Yankees teammate veteran Dale Long, from whom he borrowed the bat.
1977 - After 3 straight losses to the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees give the starting assignment to lefthander Ron Guidry, who throws a 4-hitter defeating the O’s by a score of 8-2.
1996 - The Oakland A’s spoil “Dwight Gooden Day” at Yankee Stadium by hitting 5 solo HRs, including 3 by Yankees-killer Geronimo Berroa to beat the Yankees by the score of 5-1. The A’s 5 runs, all-coming on HRs, tie the MLB mark.
1997 - The visiting Boston Red Sox collect 19 hits, but strand 16 base runners, while beating the Yankees by the score of 8-2. Former Yankee Mike Stanley hits a 3-run HR, and Wil Cordero adds 5 hits; Tim Naehring has 4 hits and Mo Vaughn belts his 10th HR of the 1997 AL season in the 8th inning.
1999 - The New York Yankees defeat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 10-2, in the 1st game of a double header. Roger Clemens gets the win for the Yankees, giving him an AL record 19 consecutive victories over the course of two seasons; he will extend the streak by 1 game before losing. This win was delayed by a stint on the Disabled List and a rainout. The Chicago White Sox come back to take the nightcap by a score of 2-1.
May 23rd
1901 - Former New York Yankees broadcasting announcer Arch McDonald (1940) was born (1901-1960). Arch McDonald was a longtime broadcaster for the Washington Senators (1934-1939, 1941-1959). He also broadcast games for the New York Yankees in 1940. McDonald is remembered for his recreations. The Ol' Pine Tree died on a train coming home from a Washington Redskins-New York Giants game in New York.
1919 - Chicago White Sox starter Eddie Cicotte overwhelms the New York Yankees as the he wins the game by the score of 5-0.
1923 - Former Yankees reserve C William “Dutch” Drescher (1944-1946) was born. Bill Drescher hit .266 in 57 games for the Yankees during 1944-1946 AL seasons.
1924 - Former Yankees MLB Coach, Manager and General Manager Clyde King was born. He was a New York Yankees MLB coach in 1978 and 1981. King managed the team for part of the turbulent 1982 AL season. He then served as General Manager of the Yankees in 1985 and 1986. He was a member of the team's MLB coaching staff again in 1988. From 1998 to 2005, he was a special assistant to the General Manager of the Yankees.
1927 - Despite first inning back-to-back home runs by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig off of Nats P Sloppy Thurston‚ the Washington Senators edge the New York Yankees by the score of 3-2
1936 - Yankees INF Tony Lazzeri hits 3 home runs‚ two in the nightcap‚ good for 4 RBI’s as the visiting Bronx Bombers pound the Philadelphia A’s by the scores of 12-6 and 15-1. The crowd of 24‚240‚ one of the largest in several seasons‚ pelts the Shibe Park playing field with cushions‚ bottles and other articles‚ making play difficult. Bill Dickey‚ Ben Chapman‚ Red Rolfe‚ and Frank Crosetti also homer for New York.
1946 - New York Yankee batters Joe DiMaggio, Nick Etten and Joe Gordon hit consecutive HRs during the Yankees 8-run, 5th inning against the Detroit Tigers. Detroit starter Virgil Trucks gave up the 1st–two HR shots, then reliever Hal White gives up Joe Gordon’s HR shot. The Yankees win the game by a score of 12-6.
1946 - Former New York Yankees reserve C Johnny Grabowski (1927-1929) passed away from fatal injuries suffered in a house fire (1900-1946). John Grabowski spent all of the 1925-1926 AL seasons with the Chicago White Sox, hitting .304 in 1925 and .262 in 1926. The unexpected came about on January 13,1927, when he was traded along with INF Ray Morehart to the New York Yankees for veteran INF Aaron Ward. With the Yankees, Johnny became a reserve catcher for the duo of Pat Collins and Benny Bengough. Known more for his defense then his hitting, Johnny did have 25 RBI's in 70 games in 1927 along with a .277 batting mark. In 1928, he got into 75 games for the Yankees, but his BA dropped off to .238 with 21 RBI's. Grabowski was not used much during the 1929 AL season by the Yankees, getting into only 22 games and hitting only .203. When his stint with the Yankees was over, he played the 1930 baseball season with the St. Paul Saints (AAA) of the American Association. Grabowski got into 102 games with 339 at bats, hitting.289.
1948 - Joe DiMaggio hits 3 consecutive HRs in a 6-5, 1st game of a doubleheader victory over the Cleveland Indians. Two of his HRs came off of Tribe’s starter Bob Feller. The 3rd HR came off of reliever Bob Muncreif, which proved to be the game-winner. The Tribe would bounce back in the nightcap with a 5-1 win.
1954 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle's 3-run homer in the 3rd inning ties the game for the Yankees‚ but Mickey strikes out for the final out of the game‚ as the Boston Red Sox win the game by the score of 10-9.
1956 - Former Yankees minor league player and Manager, Yankees Manager Buck Showalter (1992-1995) was born. Buck Showalter played outfield and managed in the Yankees farm system before becoming the team’s MLB manager in 1992. His Yankees manager record was 313-268, with one AL Playoff appearance in 1995. His 1994 Yankees team had a record of 70-43, when the MLB strike stopped the 1994 AL season. In 2010, he took over the manager’s position with the Baltimore Orioles.
1957 - At Ebbets Field‚ the Yankees top the Dodgers by the score of 10-7‚ in the Mayor's Trophy game. Yankees starter Al Cicotte allows 2 Dodger hits in 6 innings‚ and smacks two himself. Yankees All Star slugger Mickey Mantle is 4 for 5.
1960 - The New York Yankees released veteran OF Elmer Valo. Elmer was at the end of a long MLB career. On December 11,1959, Elmer Valo was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in only 8 games for the Yankees in 1960 with no hits. With the return of Bob Cerv from the Kansas City A’s, Elmer became expendable. The Washington Senators would pick him up.
1962 - New York Yankees Rookie OF/1B Joe Pepitone hits 2 HRs in the 9-run 8th-inning of the Yankees' 13-7 triumph over the Kansas City A’s. With his 2 homeruns, Joe becomes the only other Yankee besides Joe DiMaggio to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning. Joe Pepitone led off the 8th inning with a HR off of A’s starter Dan Pfister, later he hit a HR 3-run HR off of A’s closer John Wyatt. Also Yankees rookie INF Phil Linz gets his 1st MLB career hit, a HR.
1965 - At New York‚ the Angels score 4 runs in the first inning‚ and the Yankees counter with 5 in the bottom of the inning off of Angels starter Bo Belinsky. That's all the scoring for the Bronx Bombers as the Angels win the game by the score of 9-5. This is the second game of the 1965 AL season that the injury-plagued Yankees have started their regular outfield of Mickey Mantle‚ Roger Maris and Tom Tresh. Mantle will pull a muscle on the 26th‚ keeping him out of the lineup for 2 weeks.
1979 - The New York Yankees trade pitchers with the Chicago Cubs‚ sending veteran P Richard “Dirt” Tidrow to Chicago for Ray Burris. Tidrow will regain his form in the Windy City‚ while Burris will be just 1-3 in pinstripes before being banished to the New York Mets.
1985 - Former Yankees P Mike Dunn (2009) was born. On June 7, 2004, Mike Dunn was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round of the 2004 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 4 games for the 2009 Yankees with no record. On December 22, 2009. Mike was traded by the New York Yankees along with Arodys Vizcaino (minors), OF Melky Cabrera and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Pitchers Boone Logan and Javier Vazquez.
1990 - Former Yankees AL All Star OF Charles “King Kong” Keller (1939-1949, 1952) passed away (1916-1990). Charlie’s Keller’s successful New York Yankees career was cut short by bad back problems. He finished with a lifetime BA of .285 for the Yankees with 184 HR’s with 723 RBI’s. He was on the American League All Star team in 1940-1941, 1943,1946-1947. He appeared in four World Series with the Yankees hitting .306 with 7 HRs with 11 RBIs in 19 games. Keller was a standout player in a short time in the minor leagues. He began his professional career by winning the Minor League Player of the Year award from The Sporting News after hitting .353 with 13 HRs and 88 RBI’s for the 1937 Newark Bears, helping the Bears become one of the greatest minor league teams ever. He led the International League in BA average, runs (120), triples (14) and hits (189). A year later, with no openings in the Yankee outfield of Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich and George Selkirk, King Kong was returned to Newark, he did even better, hitting .365 and paced the IL in hits (211), runs (149), walks (108) and OBP. He was 2nd to Buddy Rosar in average, 2nd to Ollie Carnegie in RBI’s with 129, he struck out just 56 times, was 3rd in the league in HRs with 22, Charlie had 15 outfield assists. Keller appeared in 111 games as a MLB rookie with the 1939 Yankees, hitting .334 with 81 walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .447, and had a slugging percentage of .500. As a rookie, his batting average was 5th in the AL; his Yankees teammate Joe DiMaggio was 1st. His on-base percentage was 4th in the AL (1 point behind DiMaggio's .448).
In 1940, he hit .286 with 106 walks, giving him a .411 on-base percentage. He had 21 HRs with 15 triples. He was named to the All-Star team, led the AL in walks, and was 2nd in the league in triples. In 1941, Keller had 33 HRs (his MLB career high), with 10 triples and 122 RBI. He had a .298 BA with 102 walks, for a .416 on-base percentage and a .580 slugging percentage. On the All-Star team again, he was 5th in the AL in the MVP voting. He was in the top 5 in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was 2nd in the AL in HRs and 3rd in the league in RBIs. He continued to hit in the war years, although the league averages went down. In 1942, he had 26 HRs with 108 RBIs, with 114 walks and a .417 on-base percentage. He was 2nd in the AL in on-base percentage and also in slugging percentage. He was 3rd in the AL in HRs and RBIs.
In 1943, he hit 31 HRs with 106 walks. Charlie was again in the top 3 in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was in the top 3 in the AL with runs scored, total bases, HRs, triples, and walks. He missed 1944 and much of 1945 AL seasons. He served in the US Merchant Marines in World War II, entering in January of 1944 and being released in August of 1945. Coming back for 44 games in 1945, he hit 10 HRs with a .301 BA, a .412 on-base percentage with a .577 slugging average. Both the on-base percentage and the slugging percentage would have led the AL, if he had had enough plate appearances to qualify.
In 1946, as the AL resumed play after the war, Keller hit 30 HRs with 101 RBIs. He added 10 triples and 101 walks. Charlie was named to the AL All-Star team once more. He was again in the top 3 in the AL in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as in triples, HRs, and walks. It was, unfortunately, to be his last full Yankee season. He was only 29 years old.
In 1947, he appeared in only 45 games for the Yankees with a .238 BA. However, he produced value with a .404 on-base percentage and a .550 slugging percentage. Those percentages would have been in the top 3 in the AL, if he had had enough plate appearances to qualify. In 1947, he was named as part of the inaugural class of the International League Hall of Fame.
In 1948, he appeared in 83 games, and his hitting slipped. In 1949, he appeared in 60 games; the Yankees released Charlie Keller, after the 1949 AL season ended. He joined the Detroit Tigers in 1950, as a bench player, appearing in 50 games with 51 at-bats hitting .314 with a .453 on-base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage. Those great numbers represented his last hurrah in the majors. The next year, 1951, he didn't perform as well for the Tigers in 62 at-bats, he was released after the 1951 AL season. He came back in September 1952 for one final at-bat (a strikeout) with the New York Yankees, and his MLB career was over. After retiring from the majors, Charlie Keller was a Yankees MLB coach in 1957 and 1959. He was also a successful horse breeder in Maryland.
1995 - New York Yankees rookie starter Mario Rivera makes his MLB debut for the team, starting against the California Angels. Mo only lasts 3 ½ innings giving up 8 hits, 3 walks in a 10-0 loss to the Angels.
2001 - The New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 7-3 as shortstop Derek Jeter gets 5 hits‚ including a double and home run. Former Yankees starter now with the Red Sox David Cone takes the loss going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte is the winner.
2010 - The Mets win their 1st subway series against the cross-town Yankees since 1998 with a 6 - 4 victory. Jason Bay homers twice - only his 2nd and 3rd HRs of the 2010 MLB season – against Yankees Ace C.C. Sabathia. Johan Santana is the winner for the Mets, meanwhile Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez picks up the save by striking out Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez with two men on to end the game.
May 24th
1876 - Former Yankees C Fred Jacklitsch (1905) was born. On September 15, 1905, Fred Jacklitsch was sent from the Providence (Eastern) to the New York Highlanders in an unknown transaction. He appeared in one game for the Yankees. Before the 1906 AL Season, he was sent from the Highlanders to the York (Tri-State League) in an unknown transaction.
1900 - Former Yankees P Allan Shealy (1928) was born. Allan Shealy went 8-6 in 23 games with two saves for the 1928 Yankees.
1918 - Stan Coveleski of the Cleveland Indians pitched a 19-inning, complete game to defeat the New York Yankees by a score of 3-2. Former pitcher Smokey Joe Wood, now an outfielder hit a home run for the win.
1926 - Former Yankees INF Willie Miranda (1953-1954) was born (1926-1996). On June 12, 1953, INF Willie Miranda was purchased by the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Browns. Willie was a slick fielding INF for the Yankees, who appeared in 130 games, hitting .241 for the Yankees before being sent to the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade in December of 1954.
1928 - In the 1st game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, a record 12 future Hall of Famers played in the Yankees 9–7 victory over the A’s. This number does not include non-playing Hall of Famers Pitchers Herb Pennock and Stan Coveleski, Managers Miller Huggins and Connie Mack, nor American League umpire Tom Connolly.
1930 – New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits home runs in both games of a doubleheader, giving him nine homers in one week. New York sweeps two by scores of 10-6 and 11-1. Newly acquired starter Charles “Red” Ruffing is the easy winner for the Yankees in the nightcap.
1932 - New York starter Lefty Gomez allows 3 hits and strikes out 13 batters as the Yankees stop the Philadelphia A's by the score of 3-1.
1936 - Yankees INF Tony Lazzeri, batting 8th in the Yankees lineup, posted an AL record with 11 runs batted in, while hitting three HRs -2 of them grand slams - and a triple in a 25-2 rout of the Philadelphia A’s. His Yankees teammate, OF Ben Chapman sets the modern MLB record of reaching 1B safely, 7 times in a 9-inning game. Chapman receives 5 walks as the Yankees are handed 16 bases on balls. Also Yankees INF Frank Crosetti hits 2-HRs and Joe DiMaggio had a solo HR shot. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig exits the game early, he is replaced by his favorite sub‚ Jack Saltzgaver. Yankees starter Monte Pearson is the winner over George Turbeville in the laugher.
1946 - The New York Yankees announced the resignation of long time Manager Joe “Marsh” McCarthy (1931-1946). He is replaced by Bill Dickey, who is named the team’s interim manager. McCarthy resigned because of reported gall bladder troubles. During his 15-year run with the Yankees, he guided the Yankees to 8 AL pennants and 7 World Series Championship titles. His final Yankees Manager record was 1,460 wins with 867 losses with .627 WP. His 1,460 wins leads the Yankee managers all time victory list.
1946 - Former Yankees reserve C Ellie Rodriguez (1968) was born. On November 30, 1964, Ellie Rodriguez was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City A’s in the 1964 1st year MLB player draft. Ellie played for the Yankees in 1968, appearing only in 9 games, just batting .208 before going in the 1968 American League Expansion player draft to the Kansas City Royals.
1947 - Matching Allie Reynolds' game the day before‚ New York starter Spud Chandler gives the Yankees a 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox allowing only 2 hits.
1951 - New York Yankees rookie OF Mickey Mantle is 0 for 5 but reaches base twice after striking out on a wild pitch. The second time‚ in the 6th inning‚ he reaches second base before Detroit C Joe Ginsberg can retrieve the ball‚ Joe DiMaggio follows with a HR to deep left field. New York wins the game by the score of 11-1‚ behind pitching of hurler Joe Ostrowski.
1952 - Boston Red Sox OF Jimmy Piersall and New York's 2B Billy Martin 1st exchange insults before a game in Boston‚ then they exchange punches in the tunnel under the stands. It takes MLB coaches Bill Dickey and Oscar Melillo‚ along with Red Sox starter Ellis Kinder to break up the fight. Piersall goes to the Red Sox clubhouse to change his bloody uniform shirt and gets into another brawl with teammate Mickey McDermott. He sits as Ellis Kinder stops the Yankees by the score of 5-2.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve OF Bobby Brown (1979-1981) was born. On June 14, 1978, Bobby Brown was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies along with OF Jay Johnstone to the Yankees for P Rawly Eastwick. Bobby’s best season with the Yankees was in 1980, when he hit .260 in 137 games. Overall Bobby hit .245 in 198 games for the Yankees. On April 6, 1982, Bobby was sent by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners to complete an earlier deal made on April 1,1982. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, pitchers Bill Caudill, and Gene Nelson to the Mariners for P Shane Rawley. The Yankees sent OF Bobby Brown on April 6, 1982 to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1956 - Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5 for 5 with an intentional walk in an 11 - 4 win against the Tigers. Mantle is hitting .421. He combines with Joe Collins for back-to-back HRs off of Tigers hurler Duke Maas.
1958 - The Detroit Tigers snap a 9-game losing streak and break the New York Yankees' 10-game win streak with a 3-2 win behind starter Frank Lary. Lary is now has an 11-4 MLB career record against the Bronx Bombers. His victories against the Yankees will allow him to have MLB career mark of over .500, finishing with a 128-116 mark. He will finish with a 28-13 MLB career record against the New York Yankees.
1964 - New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 2nd HR in 2 days‚ off of P Fred Newman‚ to start the scoring for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees top the Angels by the score of 8-5.
1967 - The New York Yankees top the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 2-0. Mickey Mantle's 3rd-inning drive to the wall is caught by Orioles OF Frank Robinson but the ball pops out of his glove and over the fence for a home run.
1974 - Former Yankees P Cliff Markle (1915-1916, 1924) passed away. Pitcher Cliff Markle played for the New York Yankees in 1915 and 1916. On March 21, 1919, Cliff was purchased by Salt Lake City (PCL) from the New York Yankees. He pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1921 and 1922. He joined the St. Paul Saints in 1923. On June 16, 1924, Cliff was traded by St Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for Oscar Roettger. On July 22, 1924, Cliff was purchased by St Paul (American Association) from the New York Yankees. Cliff went 25-12 with a 3.36 ERA while leading the American Association with 184 strikeouts. He played briefly for the Yankees again in 1924 before returning to the Saints. Overall, he went 211-144 with a 3.69 ERA in his minor league career. His Yankees pitching career totals were 6-6 in 21 games.
1977 - New York Yankees hitters Graig Nettles and Carlos May slam back-to-back HR’s in the 7th inning during the Yankees 6-5 come back victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
1981 - New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner rips into Bombers All Star OF/DH Reggie Jackson, after the Cleveland Indians defeated the Yankees by a score of 12-5. Reggie was mired in a 4 for 28 batting slump that has dropped his 1981 AL season batting average to .197.
1989 - New York Yankees reliever Lee Guetterman gave up 5 runs in the 9th inning of a New York 11-4 loss to the California Angels, ending his consecutive scoreless inning streak at 30 2/3 innings. It is the longest season-opening streak in the MLB since Harry Brecheen's in 1948, and the longest season-opening streak ever by a reliever.
1996 - In Seattle‚ Ken Griffey‚ Jr sinks the New York Yankees with 3 HRs‚ scoring 5 runs and driving in 6 runs as the Mariners win the game by the score of 10-4. It is the first 3-homer game for Griffey. New York starter Scott Kamieniecki takes the loss‚ his last game with the Yankees. His 1996 AL season will end in a month, when he goes on the AAA disabled list.
May 25th
1922 - After being thrown out at 2B, trying to stretch a single, New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth throws dirt in the face of Umpire George Hildebrand, then he goes after a fan. Ruth is ejected from the game. He is eventually fined $500 and suspended for one game by AL President Ban Johnson.
1937 - Detroit Tigers future Hall Of Fame C Mickey Cochran’s MLB career is brought to a jarring premature end, when he is struck in the side of the head by a Yankees P Bump Hadley fastball at Yankee Stadium. Mickey Cochrane suffered a bad concussion and probable fracture and never really came back to the form that made him an All Star catcher for the Tigers and the Philadelphia A’s.
1950 - Former Yankees P John “The Count” Montefusco (1983-1986) was born. John Montefusco went 10-3 in 24 games with the New York Yankees before serious hip problems ended his MLB pitching career. On August 26,1983, John was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees, for players to be named later and $200,000 cash. The Yankees would sent hurlers Dennis Rasmussen and Edwin Rodriguez on September 12, 1983, to the Padres to complete the trade.
1974 - The New York Yankees obtained P Larry Gura from the Texas Rangers for reserve C Duke Simms. Larry would go 5-1 for the Yankees in 1974, before being traded away to the Kansas City Royals by Yankees Manager Billy Martin during the 1976 AL season. His overall Yankees pitching record was 12-9. Larry Gura and Yankees Manager Billy Martin did not get along, as a Royal starter he would give the Yankees constant trouble.
1978 - Former Yankees reserve OF Mike Vento (2005) was born. The New York Yankees in the 40th round of the 1997 MLB amateur player draft drafted outfielder Mike Vento. In 2005, he appeared in 2 games with the Yankees with no BA.
May 26th
1928 - The Philadelphia A’s kick in 7 errors to lift the New York Yankees to a 7-4 win.
1932 - Former Yankees minor league manager and MLB Coach Joe Altobelli was born. Joe Altobelli led the Columbus Clippers (AAA) to an International League title in 1980. Also he served as Yankees MLB coach on the 1981-1982 teams. He would later manage the Baltimore Orioles.
1952 - The New York Yankees released veteran OF Johnny Hopp. On September 5, 1950, Johnny Hopp was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .333 in 19 games in 1950. In 1951, he hit .206 in 46 games. At the time of his release, he was hitting only .160 in 16 games. He would be signed by the Detroit Tigers, hitting .217 before retiring from MLB at the end of the 1952 AL season.
1959 - The New York Yankees re-obtained P Ralph Terry and INF/OF Hector Lopez from the Kansas City A’s for hurlers Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant and INF Jerry Lumpe. Terry had his MLB seasoning with the A’s, was now ready to pitch for the Yankees. Johnny Kucks and Tommy Sturdivant were battling arm problems, causing them to be ineffective on the mound. INF Jerry Lumpe was unable to unseat Tony Kubek at shortstop or Bobby Richardson at 2B. He would become a regular 2B with the A’s.
1962 - Detroit Tigers All Star RF Al Kaline fractured his collarbone while making a dramatic game-saving catch in right field. Kaline helped preserve a Tigers 2-1 victory over the Yankees, but he will miss 2 months of the 1962 AL season with the collarbone injury.
1971 - The New York Yankees obtained P Rob Gardner from the Oakland A’s for 1B Curt Blefary. In 1970, Rob went 1-0 for the Yankees, before being traded to the A’s for OF Felipe Alou. Gardner would go 8-5 in 1972 for the Yankees. Curt Blefary was a former Yankees minor league player (1963), who couldn’t hit anymore, when he returned to the team in 1969 in a trade with the Houston Astros for veteran All Star 1B/OF Joe Pepitone.
1973 - Former Yankees OF Chicken Hawks (1921) passed away. Chicken Hawks hit .280 with 2 HRs with15 RBIs in 41 games for the Yankees in 1921.
1975 - Former Yankees DH/1B Travis Lee (2004) was born. Travis Lee spent most of his New York Yankees stay in 2004 on DL with a major shoulder injury that occurred in spring training camp.
1996 - Former Yankees 1B Don Bollweg (1953) passed away (1921-1996). On May 14, 1951, Don Bollweg was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals along with $15,000 to the Yankees for veteran INF Billy Johnson. Don hit .297 in 70 games for the Yankees in 1953. Don appeared in 3 games of 1953 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers with no hits. On December 16,1953, Don was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, 1B Vic Power, OF Bill Renna and C Jim Robertson to the Philadelphia A’s for INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, OF Tom Hamilton, OF Carmen Mauro and 1B Eddie Robinson.
2006 - Angel Berroa hit a 3-run HR in the 8th inning, as the Kansas City Royals escaped a jam in the bottom of the 9th inning after a near 2-hour rain delay, edging the Yankees by the score of 7-6, to halt a 13-game losing streak and 14-game streak at Yankee Stadium since 2005. The Royals' 19-game losing streak from July 28th-August 19th last season was the only mark longer in Royals franchise history. Reggie Sanders hit his 299th MLB career HR for the Royals. After his next HR, he will become the just the 5th player in MLB history with at least 300 HRs with 300 stolen bases, joining Bobby and Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson and Willie Mays. For the Yankees, Derek Jeter got his 2,000th MLB career hit in the contest, becoming the 8th player in New York Yankees club history to reach the milestone.
2010 - The New York Yankees take two from the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. First, in a resumption of yesterday's game, which was suspended by rain with no score, they win by the score of 1-0 on a HR by Derek Jeter. They then win the regularly scheduled game, by the score of 3-2, on a long ball by Nick Swisher against Twins P Jon Rauch in the 9th inning that gives Andy Pettitte the win. New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera saves both wins.
May 27th
1914- The New York Yankees sell P Guy Cooper to the Boston Red Sox for cash. Guy Cooper appeared in only one game for the Yankees with no record.
1933 - The New York Yankees enter the 8th inning trailing Chicago White Sox starter Ted Lyons by a score of 11-3, when they score 12 runs in that inning to win the game by a score of 15-11. The Yankees 12-run 8th inning rally was capped by a grand slam home run by Yankees C Bill Dickey to win the game.
1949 - Former Yankees MLB and Minor League Pitching Coach Mark Connors was born. Mark Connors hooked on with the New York Yankees organization in 1979, serving as a MLB scout for the 1st year. Next, he was the pitching coach for the Greensboro Hornets AA (1980-1982), Columbus Clippers AAA (1983-mid-1984), and Fort Lauderdale Yankees A (mid-1985). He also served the first two of three stints as a MLB coach for the Yankees (mid-1984 to mid-1985 and May, 1986-1987). He was the Yankees Bullpen coach in 1990 and 1993. Mark was the team’s MLB pitching coach in 1991-1992.
1960 - Baltimore Orioles catcher Clint “Scraps “ Courtney used an oversized catchers’ mitt in an effort to handle the knuckleball pitches of P Hoyt Wilhelm. The catcher’s mitt was designed by Baltimore Orioles manager Paul Richards, a former MLB catcher was 50 percent larger than the standard catcher’s mitt. Courtney handled Wilhelm's pitches flawlessly in a 3-2 win over the Yankees. The American League will later ban the oversized catchers mitt. Clint Courtney was a former Yankees minor league catcher, who had been blocked by Yogi Berra. Also he was one of the 1st modern MLB catchers to wear glasses behind the catcher’s mask during the 1950’s.
May 28th
1923 – Former Yankees P Bob “Sarge” Kuzava (1951-1954) was born. On June 15, 1951, Bob Kuzava was traded by the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees for pitchers Fred Sanford, Tom Ferrick and Bob Porterfield. Bob went 23-20 in 104 games with 13 saves for the Yankees. He appeared in 3 World Series for the Yankees (1951-1953), going 0-0 in 3 games, with 2 saves, with an ERA of 2.08. On August 7,1954, Bob was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Yankees.
1927 - In his 1st starting assignment for the New York Yankees, reliever P Wilcy Moore loses a heartbreaker to the Washington Senators by the score of 3-2, in the nightcap of a doubleheader. Lou Gehrig is spiked at 1st base by Bucky Harris as Firpo Marberry scored the winning run. The Yankees won the opener by the score of 8-2, as Babe Ruth hit his 12th HR of the year, a 3-run shot. OF Tris Speaker played most of Game 1 for the Senators despite fracturing his left thumb in batting practice.
1941 - The New York Yankees defeated the Washington Senators by a score of 6-5, in the 1st night game played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C.
1946 - The 1st night game is played at Yankee Stadium as the Washington Senators beat the Yankees by a score of 2-1. The crowd of 49,917 fans came to the first night game by Yankees, showing the value of night games over daytime games, especially on weeknights.
1956- The New York Yankees waived veteran reliever Gerry Staley to the Chicago White Sox. On September 14,1955, Gerry was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Cincinnati Reds. He would only appear in 3 games for the Yankees with no record. He would become one of the main bullpen pitchers of the 1959 Chicago White Sox AL championship team’s pitching staff.
1960 - Veteran New York Yankees Manager Casey Stengel is hospitalized with a virus, forcing MLB coach Ralph Houk to take over the team for 13 games. Houk made several changes that were retained, when Casey Stengel came back to the team, including putting Clete Boyer at 3B, which clearly helped the Yankees rally from 3rd place to win the 1960 AL pennant. The other changes included moving Hector Lopez from 3B to LF and letting reserve Johnny Blanchard do some of the catching duties. The Yankees went 7-6 under Ralph Houk’s control. Houk had passed his audition for the Yankees Managers job, because Casey Stengel’s Yankees manager contract would expire in October 1960. Also this was a sign that the platoon system in the Yankees infield was expiring.
1968 - The American League owners agreed to divide itself into 2 divisions and reduced its schedule to 156 games. The following divisional alignment is set for the 1969 AL season: Eastern: Orioles, Red Sox, Indians, Tigers, Yankees, and Senators. Western: Angels, White Sox, Royals, Twins, Athletics, and Mariners.
1968 - Former Yankees minor league P Rickey Rhodes was born. Brother of MLB reliever Arthur Rhodes, Ricky Rhodes was drafted in the 35th round by the New York Yankees in the 1987 MLB amateur player draft. In his 4 minor league seasons, he posted an ERA of 4.48. In his final minor league season, his ERA was 5.50 for the Fort Lauderdale Yankees (A).
1971- Former Yankees 3B Clete Boyer, involved in a dispute with the Atlanta Braves Owner Paul Richards and Manager Lum Harris over alleged silly rules and mismanagement is released and retires from MLB. Boyer had hit safely in the last 9 games of his 16-season career, including 5 HRs with 14 RBIs. A Gold Glove 3B Boyer was a .242 hitter with 162 HRs with 654 RBIs in 1,725 games for the Kansas City A’s, New York Yankees and the Atlanta Braves. Clipper Notes: Why the Yankees never made a bid to re-obtained Clete Boyer is still puzzling, because they were still having very serious problems at 3B, which would not be solved until the arrival of Graig Nettles in a trade from the Indians in November of 1972. Clete Boyer would go on to play professional baseball in Japan, before finally retiring as an active player. He would become a MLB coach for Billy Martin with the Oakland A’s and the New York Yankees. Sadly Clete Boyer passed away in 2007.
1971-The New York Yankees obtained P Jim Hardin from the Baltimore Orioles for P Bill Burbach, who was a failed 1st pick MLB amateur player draft choice. Jim Hardin was still recovering from arm problems. Hardin went 0-2 in 12 games with the Yankees before being released by the team. Jim passed away in 1991.
1977 - New York Yankees starter Ron Guidry has a rare bad outing dropping a 9-4, a 16-hit loss to the Chicago White Sox before a “Yankee Jacket Day” crowd of 54,881 fans at Yankee Stadium.
1991 - Former Yankees reserve OF/INF Roy Cullenbine (1942) passed away. On August 31, 1942, Roy Cullenbine was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. Roy appeared in 21 games with the Yankees hitting .364. Roy appeared 5 games of the 1942 World Series, hitting .263 for the Yankees. On December 17,1942, Roy was traded by the New York Yankees along with C Buddy Rosar to the Cleveland Indians for INF Oscar Grimes and OF Roy Weatherly.
1995 - Rookie starter Mario Rivera makes his 2nd MLB start for the Yankees, picking up a 4-1 victory over the Oakland A’s. It is the only Yankee victory in a 10 game west coast road trip. Rivera had lost his MLB debut start on May 23rd to the California Angels, losing by a score of 10-0, lasting only 3 1/3 innings.
2004 - New York Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera posted his 300th MLB career save in a Yankees 7-5 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He also became the 1st Yankee and 17th reliever in MLB history to reach the 300 MLB save milestone.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
