This Week in Yankees History
July 3rd - July 9th
July 3rd
1911 - At Philadelphia, the A's 3B Frank “Home Run” Baker hits for the cycle in a 5-1 victory over the New York Yankees in 2nd game of a doubleheader.
1912 - Walter Johnson picks up a win and is given a rare rest in the 6th inning as Washington Senators coasts to a 10-2 win over the Highlanders. Johnson will rack up an AL record 16 straight wins, before he is beaten.
1914 - Philadelphia A’s starters Chief Bender and Bob Shawkey whitewash the New York Yankees by the scores of 2-0 and 1-0, for an A's doubleheader sweep.
1914 - Former Yankees reserve C Buddy Rosar (1939-1942) was born (1914-1994). Buddy Rosar was the back up catcher for the Yankees. In 1942, Buddy was selected to AL All Star team. On December 17,1942, he was traded by the Yankees along with Roy Cullenbine to the Cleveland Indians for Roy Weatherly and Oscar Grimes.
1922 - Former Yankees pitching coach and MLB player Art Fowler (1975-1978) was born. Art Fowler pitched in the MLB starting in 1954 with the Cincinnati Reds and finishing up with Angels (1961-1963). Art was later was a MLB pitching coach, primarily on the staff of his close friend, long-time MLB manager Billy Martin. He was a Los Angeles Angels coach in 1964. He was a member of the Minnesota Twins staff in 1969. Then he had stints with the Detroit Tigers from 1971-1973. Next he was the Texas Rangers from 1973-1975. He became the New York Yankees MLB pitching coach in 1977, he remained with the team through 1979. He followed Billy Martin to the Oakland A’s from 1980 to 1982. He returned to the Yankees as MLB pitching coach in 1983 and again in 1988.
1922 - New York Yankees OF Bob Meusel hits for the cycle for the 2nd time in his MLB career to pace the Yankees to a 12-1 whipping of the Philadelphia A’s. Bob Meusel and Babe Ruth go back-to-back in the 7th inning as Yankees starter Carl Mays cruises to his 22nd straight win over the A’s. As noted by baseball historian Ted Farmer, all of Carl Mays wins against the A’s have been complete games.
1923 - For the 2nd time of the 1923 AL season, Babe Ruth hits a 15th inning game winning HR, as Yankee starter Joe Bush going all 15 innings gets a 2-1 victory over the Washington Senators.
1925 - The New York Yankees released veteran OF Whitey Witt (1922-1925). On April 17, 1922, Whitey was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia A’s. He appeared in 464 games for the Yankees, hitting .300, Whitey appeared in the 1922 and 1923 World Series for the Yankees, hitting .233 in 11 games.
1932 - With a Boston law restricting games within 1000 feet of a church on Sundays no longer in effect, the 1st Sunday game is played at Fenway Park with the Boston Red Sox losing to the Yankees by a score of 13-2.
1940 - Former Yankee reserve INF Cesar Tovar (1976) was born (1940-1994). On September 1, 1976, Cesar Tovar was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He was only in 13 games for the Yankees, hitting just .154. On December 17,1976, he was released by the Yankees.
1941 - Former Yankees reliever Casey Cox (1972-1973) was born. On August 30,1972, Casey was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for P Jim Roland. Casey appeared in 6 games going 0-1 for the Yankees.
1950 - Yankees rookie 1B Joe Collins is not hitting well, with veteran OF/1B Tommy Henrich still injured. Yankees Co-Owner Dan Topping asks veteran CF Joe DiMaggio to play 1B in an experiment. In the 7-2 Yankees loss, he handles 13 plays cleanly but Joe is clearly not happy with the move. He goes back into outfield, when RF Hank Bauer sprains his ankle. After this 1-game experiment, Joe returns to the outfield. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel was hoping the new position for Joe DiMaggio would extend his MLB playing career with the Yankees. Joe never forgave Casey for not asking him to his face to play 1B for the team. Fortunately Tommy Henrich returns and plays an excellent 1B for the 1950 Yankees.
1951 - Former Yankees reliever Hugh Casey (1949) shoots himself in a hotel room in Atlanta, GA. He was 37 years old. At the time of his death, Casey was pitching for the Atlanta Crackers, a minor league team. Hugh Casey spent most of his MLB career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. On September 4,1949, Hugh was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He appeared in 4 games with 1-0 record. On October 13,1949, Hugh Casey was released by the Yankees. He never appeared in the majors again.
1953 - Former Yankees P Frank Tanana (1993) was born. On September 17, 1993, Frank Tanana was traded by the New York Mets to the Yankees for minor league P Kenny Greer. Frank went 0-3 in 3 games for the 1993 Yankees.
1955 - Former Yankees P Matt Keough (1983) was born. In 1983, Matt Keough was traded by the Oakland A’s to the 1983 Yankees for 2 minor leaguers: P Ben Callahan and 1B/DH Marshall Brant. Matt went 3-4 in 12 games for the 1983 Yankees He continued to struggle, putting up a 5.33 ERA in 99 2/3 innings. In 1984, he voluntarily went down to the Nashville Sounds (AA) in the spring in an unsuccessful attempt to learn a knuckleball, and finally succumbed to the shoulder pain. Keough was placed on the disabled list with a strained rotator cuff and was released at the end of the year.
1960 - Before 50,556 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees sweep 2 games from the Detroit Tigers, winning by scores of 7-6 and 6-2. In the opener, Yankees closer Ryne Duren fans Tigers OF Charlie Maxwell with the bases loaded and 2 outs in the 9th inning. Detroit is ahead by the score of 2-1 in the nightcap, when Norm Cash argues at length about a call at 1B, and he finally gets tossed from the game. When play resumes, Tigers reliever Pete Burnside serves up a 3-run HR to Mickey Mantle, who is batting righty. The Yankees are 23-5 since June 5th; now lead the AL by 3 games.
1962 - The New York Yankees need all 5 HRs, 2 each by Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, plus one by 2B Bobby Richardson to edge the Kansas City A's by a score of 8-7. Mantle's 2nd HR, in the 8th inning, is the tiebreaker.
1966 - Mickey Mantle hits a 1st inning HR, and for the 2nd time this week has hit 3 HRs in consecutive times at bat. New York blows a 5-0 lead in the 8th inning as the Washington Senators storm back. Bobby Richardson HRs in the 11th inning to give New York, a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the 9th inning, Paul Casanova goes is on 1B, when a sac bunt moves him to 2B. He overruns the bag and decides to head to 3B, where he knocks the ball away from INF Tom Tresh. He then continues to home where he is thrown out by a mile.
1967 - Current New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman was born. Brian Cashman has been General Manager of the New York Yankees since 1998. Under his leadership, the Yankees have won 3 World Series championships and 5 AL pennants. He previously served as Yankees assistant GM from 1995 to 1997. Brian replaced GM Bob Watson in 1998.
1975 - Former Yankees P Christian Parker (2001) was born. Christian went 0-1 with the Yankees in 2001. On March 22, 2000, he was sent by the Montreal Expos to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on December 22, 1999. The Expos sent players to be named later and P Jake Westbrook to the Yankees for P Hideki Irabu. The Expos will send P Ted Lilly on March 17, 2000 and P Christian Parker on March 22, 2000 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1977 - New York Yankees starter Ron Guidry pitches his 2nd consecutive shutout of the 1977 AL season, a 6-hit, 2-0 win over the Detroit Tigers. Yankees Roy White broke up the scoreless duel with a run-scoring double in the 8th inning.
1978 - At Fenway Park, Carl Yastrzemski strokes a run-scoring double in the 3rd, his 2,800th MLB career hit, as the Boston Red Sox pummel the Yankees by the score of 9-5. Yaz adds 2 singles in Boston's 12-hit attack, as Dennis Eckersley (9-2) tops Yankees starter Ed Figueroa. The win moves Boston ahead of 2nd place Milwaukee Brewers by 7 1/2 games with the Yankees now trailing by 8 games.
1980 - The MLB's largest crowd in 7 years (73,096) watches Tribe starter Wayne Garland 2-hit the Yankees 7-0 at Cleveland Stadium.
1996 - The New York Yankees signed Venezuelan OF Jackson Melian, who had just turned 16, to a contract for $1.6 million. His bonus is a record for Latino ball players. He never reaches the MLB as a player.
2010 - The New York Yankees score all 11 of their runs in the 3rd inning as they defeat the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 11-3. Yankees OF Brett Gardner hits his first MLB career grand slam in the outburst.
July 4th Happy Birthday America!
1884 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Warhop (1908-1915) was born. Jack Warhop went 69-93 in 221 games for the New York Yankees. Warhop played for the Freeport Pretzels in 1906 and went 29-7. He had an even better year with the club in 1907, going 30-6 with 330 strikeouts and 13 shutouts. In 1908, he was 29-7 for the Williamsport Millionaires before reaching the majors with the New York Highlanders late in the season. Warhop quickly became a mainstay in the Highlanders (and later the Yankees) starting rotation but he was often plagued by a lack of offensive support when he was on the mound. In 1912, he posted a 2.86 ERA, but Jack went 10-19, and 2 seasons later, he was 8-15 with an even-better 2.36 mark. Also in the 1914 season, he shut the Chicago White Sox out for 12 innings only to lose the game 1-0 in the 13th inning. During the 1915 AL season, his last in the MLB, Warhop was taken deep by Boston Red Sox pitcher Babe Ruth for his 1st 2 MLB career home runs, on May 6th and June 2nd. Warhop also is one of only 4 pitchers to steal home twice during their MLB careers. After his big league days were over, Warhop returned to the minors. He joined the Bridgeport Bears of the Eastern League as a 42 year old in 1927. Weeks later, in his 3rd start for the team, he pitched a complete 17-inning game, and later in the season, he became possibly the oldest man to pitch and win a complete double-header. With the Bears that year, he went 11-7 with a 2.49 ERA and completed 15 of his 18 starts. He played one more year in the minors before retiring.
1904 - Jack Chesbro, the Highlanders spitball starter, wins his 14th game in a row, an AL pitching record until the Senators Walter Johnson wins 16 straight in 1912. The A's lose both games today, as the Highlanders sweep the 3 game series.
1911 - At Philadelphia, the A's 3B Frank Baker hits for the cycle in a 5-1 win over the Yankees in game 2 of a doubleheader.
1914 - Philadelphia A’s starters Chief Bender and Bob Shawkey whitewash the New York Yankees, by score of 2-0 and 1-0 for an A's sweep.
1922 - Yankees OF Bob Meusel hits for the cycle for the 2nd time in his MLB career to pace the Yankees to a 12-1 whipping of the A’s. Meusel and Babe Ruth go back-to-back in the 7th inning as Yankees starter Carl Mays cruises to his 22nd straight win over the A’s.
1925 - Philadelphia A’s veteran starter Lefty Grove battles the New York Yankees' Herb Pennock 15 innings before taking a 1-0 loss. Herb Pennock is a model of control, issuing no walks and giving up only 4 hits to the A’s line-up.
1927 - The New York Yankees sweep the Washington Senators in a doubleheader, winning by score of 12-1 in both games.
1930 - Former New York Yankees owner George Steinnbrenner was born in Cleveland, Ohio (1930-2010). The owner of the New York Yankees since 1973 when he bought them from CBS for $10 million, George Steinbrenner is well known for his love of firing managers. He hired and fired Billy Martin 5 times. In more recent times he has changed that reputation sticking with Joe Torre as manager from 1996-2007. Since he has owned the club, the Yankees have won the World Series 6 times. Steinbrenner was routinely parodied on the NBC-TV comedy show “Seinfeld.” The show’s co-creator Larry David portrayed his voice. Also in 1990, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent banned him from MLB baseball for associating with gamblers to damage the reputation of former Yankees player Dave Winfield. He was re-instated by MLB in 1993. After the 2008 AL season, he stepped down and handed control of the team to his son Hal Steinbrenner. Also Steinbrenner was an assistant football coach at Northwestern University and Purdue University. George passed away in July 0f 2010.
1932 - New York Yankees All Star C Bill Dickey punches and breaks Carl Reynolds's jaw after the Washington Senator OF collides with him on a close play at home plate. The AL suspends the Yankees catcher for 30 days and fines him $1,000 for his 1-punch fight.
1933 -The Washington Senators widen their lead over the 2nd-place Yankees to 2 1/2 games with a double-bill victory before 77,365 holiday fans at Yankee Stadium, 6-5 in 10 innings and 3-2. The Yankees would finish in 2nd place in 1933 with a 90-59 record.
1934 - The 1934 AL pennant race has seesawed between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers with New York only 1 game ahead. The improved Red Sox are 6 1/2 games behind, and the Senators, last year's AL Champion, are 7 games back and dropping fast. The Yankees would finish in 2nd place in 1934 with a 94-60 record.
1937 -After the July 4th games are played, the New York Yankees have opened a 3 1/2 game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL.
1939 - It's “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium with "The Iron Horse's” Yankees uniform number 4 will be the 1st uniform ever to be retired. After emcee Sid Mercer informs the sell-out crowd the man of the hour is too moved to speak, Lou Gehrig changes his mind, when Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy encourages him, and delivers the keynote address history describing himself as "the luckiest man on the face of the earth".
1942 - Former Yankees INF Hal Lanier (1972-1973) was born. Hal Lanier was a good fielding INF with a weak bat. He was son of former NL pitching star Max Lanier.
1948 - Former Yankees minor league player OF/DH/C Wayne Nordhagen was born. On June 7,1968, Wayne Nordhagen was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1968 MLB amateur player draft. On June 7,1973, he was traded by the Yankees along with players to be named later and OF/1B Frank Tepedino to the Atlanta Braves for veteran starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send P Dave Cheadle on August 15,1973 and P Al Closter on September 5,1973 to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade.
1954 - New York Yankees purchased P Marlin Stuart from the Baltimore Orioles on waivers. Marlin went 3-0 in 10 games with 1 save for the Yankees in 1954.
1954 - Former Yankees P Jim Beattie (1978-1979) was born. The New York Yankees in the 4th round of the 1975 MLB amateur player draft drafted Jim Beattie. Jim went 9-15 in 40 games with the Yankees (1978-1979). On November 1,1979, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with P Rick Anderson, OF Juan Beniquez, and C Jerry Narron to the Seattle Mariners for OF Ruppert Jones and minor league P Jim Lewis. His MLB pitching career would end with shoulder problems. Jim has worked in the front offices for the Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles, as a General Manager.
1959 - New York Yankees starter Bob Turley turns in another one-hit masterpiece at Washington’s Griffth Stadium. A lazy fly ball in the 9th inning by PH Julio Becquer drops in front of LF Norm Siebern for the only Senators hit. Yankees Shortstop Tony Kubek goes 8-for-10 in the doubleheader, as the Yankees sweep the Nats by scores of 10-6 and 7-0.
1960 - Mickey Mantle's 3-run 1st-inning HR off of P Hal Woodeshick is the 300th HR of his MLB career. Mantle becomes the 18th MLB player to join the 300 HR MLB club, but the Yankees drop a 9-8 decision to Washington Senators.
1961 - Before 74,246 fans, the largest crowd at Yankee Stadium since 1947, the Yankees split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers, winning the opener by the score of 6-2, before losing the nightcap 4-3 in 10 innings.
1964 - At Yankee Stadium, the Minnesota Twins are leading the Yankees by a score of 5-4, when Mickey Mantle parks a 3-run HR shot off of Twins reliever Al Worthington in the 8th inning to win it, by a score of 7-5.
1967 - At Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota, Twins starter Jim “Mudcat” Grant stops the Yankees to give the Twins, an 8-3 victory. Mickey Mantle drives in all 3 Yankees runs with 2 HRs.
1967 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran starter Steve Barber from the Baltimore Orioles for 1B Ray “Buddy” Barker, minor league Outfielders Chet Trail and Joe Brody plus cash. Barber was washed up, never fully recovering from his arm problems. He went 12-14 in 37 games for the Yankees (1967-1968) before being drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 AL expansion player draft. Steve Barber passed way in February of 2007.
1974 - Former New York Yankees co-owner Del Webb (1945-1964) passed away. (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. The group included Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail. Dan Topping and Del Webb bought out Larry McPhail after the 1947 World Series. Del Webb made his fortune in real estate and construction business. Dan Topping and Del Webb sold the club to CBS, Inc. in November of 1964.
1977 - New York Yankees stay 1 game ahead of the Boston Red Sox by edging the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-5. The Yankees get HRs from Chris Chambliss, Roy White, Lou Piniella, and Graig Nettles.
1979 - Yankees P Amaury Sanit (2011) was born. Amaury Sanit pitched for 7 seasons in Cuba. He went 25-25 with 58 saves and a 4.11 ERA in 226 games. He was t3rd all-time in the Cuban Serie Nacional in saves behind Euclides Rojas and Orestes González through 2003-2004. Sanit led the league in games pitched (39) in 1998-1999. Amaury left Cuba in 2003. In 2008, he signed with the New York Yankees. He tossed 2 shutout innings for the DSL Yankees that year, saving a game, and had a 5.19 ERA in 7 relief stints for the Licey Tigers of the Dominican League that winter. In 2009, Sanit pitched for 3 Yankees farm teams - the Tampa Yankees (0 R, 6 IP), the Trenton Thunder (1-2, 10 Sv, 2.95, 13 H in 21 IP) and the SWB Yankees (0-3, 4.12 in 19 G). In 2010, Sanit was suspended for 50 games for failing a PED test. When he did pitch, he was hit hard, putting up a 7.75 ERA in 33 2/3 innings, during which he gave up 47 hits. He was back with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre the next season, putting up a 4.96 ERA over his 1st 16 1/3 innings. He then replaced INF Ramiro Pena on the Yankee roster to give them more pitching depth. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees on May 12, 2011, coming in relief of starter Ivan Nova with the Yanks down 8-0 to the Kansas City Royals in the 4th inning. He managed to stop the bleeding and pitched into the 8th inning, although he tired at the end and gave up 3 runs altogether in his 4 2/3 innings of work. Still, his effort gave the Yankees' bullpen a much-needed respite.
1983 - Lefty starter Dave Righetti pitches the New York Yankees' 1st no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, handcuffing the Boston Red Sox by a score of 4-0 before a holiday crowd of 41,077 fans at Yankee Stadium. It's the first no-hitter by a Yankee lefty starter since George Mogridge in 1917.
1984 - New York starter Phil Niekro strikes out 5 Rangers batters in the Yankees 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers to become the 9th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 MLB career strikeouts.
1986 - At Comiskey Park, with the score 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Chicago White Sox OF John Cangelosi leads off with a drive to the RF corner. A fans leans out of the stands and appears to touch the ball as he tumbles onto the field. Anticipating an interference call, Yankees OF Claudell Washington slows down, while the speedy Cangelosi easily makes 3B. The umps don't see any interference and Cangelosi remains on 3B, and scores on a sac fly. White Sox win the game by a score of 2-1.
1986 - Former Yankee P/INF Oscar Roettger (1923-1924) passed away. Although a pitcher, he appeared in 6 games as a hitter for the Yankees. On June 16,1924, Oscar was traded by the New York Yankees to St Paul (American Association) for Cliff Markle. On May 29,1925, Oscar was traded by the New York Yankees along with a player to be named later, Fred Hofmann and $50,000 to St Paul for INF Mark Koenig. The New York Yankees sent Ernie Johnson on October 28, 1925 to St Paul to complete the trade.
1988 - Texas Rangers starter Charlie Hough strikes out 4 Yankee batters in the 1st inning of a 13-2 loss to the Yankees.
1996 - The Yankees provide the fireworks, signing MLB free agent Darryl Strawberry. On June 24th, Yankees General Manager Bob Watson said five times that Strawberry "doesn't fit" with the New York Yankees. Strawberry will be assigned to the Columbus Clippers (AAA, International League).
2002 - The Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-1. Tribe slugger Jim Thome has his streak of consecutive games hitting a HR stopped at 7 games, 1 short of the MLB record.
2003 - In a 10-3 victory over the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox score all their runs with the long ball hitting a record 7 HR’s off the Yankee pitchers. Prior to today's Independence Day fireworks, the Bronx Bombers had given up 6 HRS in a game four times including 2 to Boston (1997 and 1977) and the Cleveland Indians (1970).
July 5th
1884 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Quinn (1909-1912,1919-1921) was born. John Quinn went 81-65 in 228 games for the Yankees. He won 18 games in a season twice for the Yankees in 1910 and 1921. On August 12,1912, he was traded by the Highlanders along with Jack Martin to Rochester (IL) for Tommy McMillan. On December 20,1921, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh and Bill Piercy to the Boston Red Sox for P Joe Bush, P Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott. Jack pitched in MLB until 1933.
1896 - Former Yankees P Herbert “Lefty” Thormahlen (1917-1920). He went 28-20 in 76 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1919, when he went 12-10 in 30 games. On December 15,1920, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel and OF Sammy Vick to the Boston Red Sox for P Harry Harper, P Waite Hoyt, INF Mike McNally and C Wally Schang.
1904 - Former Yankees P Bump Hadley (1936-1940) was born (1904-1963). Bump Hadley went 47-31 in 140 games for the Yankees. He went 2-1 in 3 World Series with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1936, going 14-4. During the AL 1937 season, Bump Hadley threw a pitch that struck Tigers C Mickey Cochrane, leaving him unconscious for 10 days and ending his MLB playing career. In 1939, he posted 12-6 mark for the Yankees. In 1940, he will be sold to the Philadelphia A’s. He later became a baseball TV announcer in the 1950’s.
1906 - The Yankees exploit 9 Boston errors to beat the Red Sox by a score of 8-3 at Fenway Park.
1917 - In the 1st of two games at the Polo Grounds, Frank “Home Run” Baker hits a 13th inning inside the park HR off of Washington Senators starter Walter Johnson to give the Yankees, an 5-4 win. It is Baker's 5th HR off of Senators Ace Walter Johnson.
1934 - Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits an inside-the-park grand slam HR, as the Yankees beat the Senators by a score of 8-3. It is his 4th grand slam HR of the 1934 AL season, his 17th MLB career GS overall, passing Babe Ruth's MLB career total. Lou Gehrig will eventually set a MLB career record of 23 grand slams. Lou Gehrig now has 321 MLB career HRs to Babe Ruth's 698 MLB Career HRs.
1937 - Joe DiMaggio hits his 1st MLB career grand slam HR, in the 6th inning off of Boston Red Sox hurler Rube Walberg to lead the Yankees to an 8-4 win in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The Yankees won the 1st game by a score of 15-0.
1939 - New York Yankees rookie starter Atley Donald wins his 10th game of the 1939 AL season without a loss. He will finish the 1939 AL season with a 13-3 record with .813 WP.
1943 - Former Yankees OF/DH/1B/3B/C Curt Blefrey (1970-1971) was born (1943-2001). Before the 1962 AL Season, the Yankees signed Curt as an MLB amateur free agent. Curt was removed from the 40-man Yankees roster, when they acquired veteran INF Harry Bright from the Reds during April of 1963. The Orioles immediately claimed him. He would play for the Orioles, Astros, A’s and Yankees during his MLB career.
1948 - Despite a hitless day by slugger Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox sweep doubleheader from the New York Yankees, winning by scores of 6-5 and 8-7. Denny Galehouse wins the opener for the Red Sox; he saves the win in game 2. But his 9th inning sac bunt results in his tripping over 1B, he will be out of action for 3 weeks.
1950 - In a sloppy game that features 18 walks, Cliff Mapes drives in 5 runs with a HR and single to pace the Yankees to an 11-8 win over the A’s. Tommy Byrne (9-3) is the winner despite giving up 6 hits and 6 walks in 5 innings (he walks 2 in the 6th inning). He also hits 4 batters to tie the MLB record. A’s starter Alex Kellner pitches 4 innings, giving up 6 runs in the loss. The A's lose INF Eddie Joost who tears ligaments in his left knee in a collision with Cliff Mapes at 2B in the 7th inning.
1951 - Former Yankees HOF closer Rich “Goose” Gossage (1978-1983,1989) was born. Goose went 53-37 with 151 saves for the Yankees. Gossage was signed as a free agent in the winter of 1977. Goose won the 1978 AL Rolaids Award. His arrival and success mad the Yankees current closer expendable, leading to the 1978 trade of Sparky Lyle to the Texas Rangers. He was named to the AL All Star teams in 1978, 1980-1982. Rich left the Yankees after the 1983 AL season, signing with the San Diego Padres. He pitched for several MLB teams and in Japan before returning to the Yankees during the 1989 AL season. In 2008, Goose was elected into Baseball’s Hall of Fame.
1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris cracks a 7th inning solo HR against the Indians, and also is credited erroneously, as it turns out with a 3rd inning RBI on a single. The 2 RBIs are officially recorded, though just 1 appears in the game's box score, and the error will not be noted until 1995. With the correction, Roger Maris and the Orioles 1B Jim Gentile become co-leaders in RBIs for the 1961 AL season.
1966 - Former Yankees P (1988, 1991 and 1995) and former MLB Pitching Coach Dave Eiland was born. The New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1987 MLB player amateur player draft drafted Dave. He went 6-10 in 36 games for the Yankees. After retiring as a player, Dave worked in the Yankees organization as pitching coach. From 2008-2010, he was the Yankees MLB pitching coach.
1971 - The Yankees and Red Sox, each collect 16 hits, but for the 2nd day in a row the Red Sox hit 4 HRs to win the game by a score of 12-7. The Red Sox score 6 runs in the 6th inning, when Rico Petrocelli hits a bases loaded triple, the next two Red Sox batters George Scott and Joe Lahoud follow up with HRs.
1998 - After defeating the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 1-0, the 1998 Yankees improve their to record 61-20 equaling the best 81-game start in MLB history. The mark matches the MLB record of the 1902 Pittsburgh Pirates and the 1907 Chicago Cubs.
2002 - The New York Yankees obtained starter Jeff Weaver from the Detroit Tigers in a 3-team deal. Yankees send P Ted Lilly to the Oakland A's, while the A’s send INF Carlos Pena to Detroit. The Tigers also acquired P Franklin German and a player to be named from A’s, while the A's get minor league players: OF John Ford Griffin and P Jason Arnold from Yankees. The A’s sent minor league P Jeremy Bonderman on August 22, 2002 to the Tigers to complete the trade.
July 6th
1881 - Former Yankees INF/OF Roy Hartzell (1911-1916) was born. On February 11, 1911, Roy Hartzell was traded by the St. Louis Browns with cash to the Highlanders for 3B Jimmy Austin and INF/OF Frank La Porte. Roy played every position for the Yankees except for catcher and pitcher. He appeared in 699 games for the Yankees, hitting .261.
1891 - Former Yankees reserve C and MLB Manager Steve O’Neill (1925) was born. On December 15, 1924, Steve was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Boston Red Sox. Steve appeared in 36 games, hitting .286 for the Yankees, before being released on July 31,1925. After retiring as an active MLB player, he will become an MLB Manager.
1914 - The Philadelphia A's sell P Boardwalk Brown, who had a 17-13 record last season, to the Yankees. New York also brings back OF Birdie Cree by sending Bill Holden and cash to Baltimore Orioles (International League). Birdie hit .348 in 1911 and .332 (1912) before injuring his leg. He slumped to .272 in 1913, he was sold to Baltimore Orioles (IL), but he will hit .309 in 77 games for the Yankees this season.
1917 - Former Yankees reserve C Kenneth “Ziggy” Sears (1943) was born. Ken Sears hit .278 in 60 games for the Yankees in 1943.
1920 - The New York Yankees score 14 runs in the 5th inning beating the Washington Senators by a final score of 17-0. It's the biggest inning ever until the Boston Red Sox score 17 runs in a 1953 AL season game.
1928 - Veteran Yankees hurler Urban Shocker (1916-1917,1925-1928), who is in very poor health, resulting from a swollen heart condition; is released by the team after one appearance on the mound. He retires as a MLB player. He will pass away on September 9,1928, at the age of 38. His Yankees pitching career record is 61-37 in 152 games. His overall MLB career record was 187-117 in 13 MLB seasons with the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Browns. His trade in 1918 by the Yankees to the Browns was considered to be one of the worst mistakes made by the Yankees front office in club history.
1932 - Yankees C Bill Dickey is suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 for assaulting Senators OF Carl Reynolds and breaking his jaw. Reynolds has bowled over on a successful squeeze play to score the tying run in 2nd game of a doubleheader. Dickey got up and attacked Reynolds, breaking his jaw with 1 punch. Technically, the suspension was until Reynolds recovered. The Yankees lose the doubleheader to the Senators by scores of 5-3 and 12-6.
1933 - The 1st MLB All-Star Game is played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Yankees OF Babe Ruth is the star for the AL team. His 2-run HR is the margin of victory in the AL squad’s 4-2 win over the NL team.
1938 - At Crosley Field, Yankees' hurler Lefty Gomez is defeated for the 1st time in 4 All-Star game starts as the NL wins the All-Star game by a score of 4-1. NL shortstop and former Yankee Leo Durocher becomes the 1st Dodger to start in an All-Star Game and gets a 'bunt' home run.
1941 - A Center Field monument dedicated to Lou Gehrig is unveiled by the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The memorial is a tribute by his teammates of their beloved team captain who died last month of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) disease.
1944 - The New York Yankees sell reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) to the Philadelphia A’s for cash. Larry hit .198 in 36 games for the 1944 Yankees.
1954 - Former Yankees All Star 2B MLB Coach and Manager Willie Randolph (1976-1988) was born. Willie Randolph was obtained on December 11,1975, from the Pittsburgh Pirates along with hurlers Ken Brett and Dock Ellis to the New York Yankees for P George “ Doc” Medich. Willie was the Yankees regular starting 2B until 1988. Willie appeared in 1,694 games with a Yankee lifetime BA of .275. He appeared on 5 AL All Star teams as 2B for the Yankees. He left the Yankees for MLB free agency in 1988, signing with the Dodgers. Willie would spend 18 seasons in MLB staring with Pirates, followed by the Yankees, Dodgers, Oakland A’s, Milwaukee Brewers and finishing up with the New York Mets. He was the recent manager of the New York Mets until his firing in June of 2008.
1962 - The Yankees edge the Twins by a score of 7-5 in Bloomington, Minnesota, as Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, each hit a pair of HRs. The M&M boys hit back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning, off of Twins veteran starter Camilo Pascual (12-4), the 3rd time in four games that they've hit back-to-back HR shots. Yankees are now, a half-game in back of the Cleveland Indians.
1966 - Former Yankees P Sam “Sad Sam” Jones (1922-1926) passed away. On December 20, 1921, Sam was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with P Joe Bush and INF Everett Scott to the Yankees for P Rip Collins, P Jack Quinn, INF Roger Peckinpaugh and Bill Piercy Sam went 67-56 in 130 games for the Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1923, when he posted a 21-8 mark. On February 8,1927, Sam was traded by the Yankees to the St. Louis Browns for OF Cedric Durst and P Joe Giard.
1966 - The Boston Red Sox sweep a pair from the Yankees, with veteran reliever Don McMahon picking up both wins. He pitches 1 2/3 innings in the opener and another 2 innings in game 2. The only other pitcher to win a doubleheader from the Yankees was the St. Louis Browns Dave Davenport in 1916, who had threw two complete game victories.
1971 - At Detroit, the Tigers 1B Norm Cash belts a pair of 3-run HRs to power the Tigers to a 12-7 win over the Yankees. Tiger’s starter Mickey Lolich goes all the way for the win, for his 13th victory of the 1971 AL season. Yankees starter Stan Bahnsen gave 7 runs in 1st inning. Roy White and Ron Hansen hit HRs for the Yankees
1990 - In his 1st start since losing a no-hitter in Chicago, Yankees starter Andy Hawkins pitches 11 2/3 innings of shutout ball only to lose in the 12th inning by a score of 2-0 to the Twins. Hawkins is now 1-6 as a Yankees starter.
1996 - During the Yankees 2-0 win over the Brewers, the team announces the purchasing of veteran OF Darryl Strawberry's contract from Columbus Clippers (AAA). Yankees closer John Wetteland preserves starter Jimmy Key's win with a save in his 20th consecutive appearance, breaking Lee Smith's MLB record.
1997 -Toronto Blue Jays starter Roger Clemens becomes the American League’s 1st 13-game winner, pitching a four-hitter as the Blue Jays beat the Yankees by a score of 2-0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and 1 walk in his 1st shutout of the season. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss for the Yankees.
2002 - The New York Yankees clip the Baltimore Orioles by a score of 13-9, scoring 8 runs in the 2nd inning to come back from a 7-run deficit. Oriole’s starter Sidney Ponson helps with 4 straight walks in the inning. The Yankees 3B Scott Brosius ties the MLB record for 3B by starting 4 DP’s in the game.
2010 - Yankees AL All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez hits the 21st grand slam homerun of his MLB career he adds a solo homer to bring his MLB career total to 597 long balls. The Yankees defeat the Athletics by the score of 6-1. Yankees starter CC Sabathia wins his 7th consecutive start to improve to 11-3 on the year. A-Rod's slam ties him with Manny Ramirez for second on the all-time list, two behind New York Yankees legend Lou Gehrig.
July 7th
1884 - Former Yankees INF/OF George Moriarty (1906-1908) was born. On August 8,1905, George Moriarty was purchased by the Highlanders from the Toledo Mud Hens (American Association). He hit .249 in 290 games for the Yankees. On January 14,1909, George was purchased by the Tigers from the Highlanders.
1903 - In a game with the Highlanders, Chicago White Sox OF Danny Green is called out at 1B by Umpire John Sheridan, and after returning to the bench, he continues to yell at the umpire. Sheridan finally rushes the White Sox bench and hits Green with his mask, who in return belts the umpire. The umpire is taken from the grounds and locked up on charges of disorderly conduct. An hour later, he is released after Highlander’s President Joseph Gordon posts his bail.
1904 – Highlander’s starter Jack Chesbro's winning streak of 14 games comes to an end as the Red Sox beat the Highlanders by a score of 4-1. Jack Chesbro will win 41 games this year, to set a MLB record and Yankees team record. Newly acquired Kip Selbach drives in 3 runs for the Red Sox.
1913 - On August 20, 1908, INF John Knight was purchased by the Highlanders from Baltimore Orioles (IL). John played for the Yankees from 1909-1911, then spending one season with the Washington Senators returning to the Yankees in 1913. On February 17,1912, he was traded by the Highlanders along with a player to be named later to the Senators for a player to be named later and Gabby Street. The Highlanders sent Rip Williams on February 22,1912 to the Senators to complete the trade. He played in 435 games hitting .267 for the Yankees.
1915 - Owner Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's continues to dismantle his team, by shipping front line starter Bob Shawkey to the New York Yankees for $85,000.
1921 - Major League-leading slugger Babe Ruth brings the Yankees but apparently little else – least of all his A-game – to Forbes Field for an exhibition bout vs. the National League-leading Pirates. Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press is clearly not at all impressed: "Bambino Didn't Shine. Babe Ruth didn't have a batting average yesterday. His strikeout average was .500. The King of Swatters didn't look good against Carlson's pitching. He struck wide at several pitches and fanned twice. His other efforts were flies to Carey and Robertson. Rip Collins, the Yankee pitcher, witnessed the game from the press box. As Robertson captured Ruth's fly, he remarked: 'you can't make me believe that the National League ball is as lively as the American League sphere. If Ruth had cracked one like that in our league, the ball would have gone to kingdom come.' As a fielder, Ruth was a joke yesterday. Luckily for the Yankees, he didn't have many chances, but he surely looked slow and bad on those he had." One of those chances is Charlie Grimm's 2nd-inning triple, which bounces over Ruth's head, scoring the Pirates' 1st run and setting up the 2nd, which ties the contest at two all. One inning later, Dave Robertson unties it with a tape measure; two-run blast and the Pirates never look back.
1936 - The NL after having losing the 1st three All-Star Games, wins 4-3 at Boston's Braves Field with 4 different Cub players (Galan, Herman, Hartnett, and Demaree) scoring runs. After NL pitchers Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell, each pitch scoreless 3-inning stints, Curt Davis is hammered by the AL, including Lou Gehrig's HR, but then Lon Warneke shuts the door on the AL squad. Meanwhile, the NL team is helped by the Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio's loose fielding and error and Augie Galan's HR. Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio is the 1st MLB rookie to play in an All-Star game.
1936 - Former Yankees hurler and AL umpire Bill Kunkel (1963) was born (1936-1985). Bill went 3-2 in 22 games for the Yankees in 1963, working out of the bullpen. After retiring as an active MLB player, Bill became a MLB umpire in the AL in 1965. He was the father of former Rangers shortstop Jeff Kunkel. Sadly Bill died from cancer in 1985.
1937 - With President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs with a HR and a double to lead the AL team to an 8-3 victory over the NL in All-Star action.
1948 - The Cleveland Indians stun the baseball world by signing Satchel Paige, veteran Negro League pitcher. The move is ridiculed by some as a Bill Veeck publicity stunt, and A.G. Spink in The Sporting News editorializes, "Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity . . . . To sign a hurler at Paige's age is to demean the standards of baseball in the big circuits." The 42-year-old Paige will answer the critics in tomorrow, getting a relief decision in an 8-6 win over Yankees in a DH sweep. He will finish the 1948 AL season at 6-1. Paige is the oldest player to debut in the majors, but not the 1st 40-year-old: Chuck Hostetler in 1944 was 40.
1951 - At Fenway Park, the Yankees lose to Boston by a score of 10-4 with the Red Sox attack being led by Clyde Vollmer's grand slam HR in the 1st inning. Vollmer had a 2-run triple in yesterday's 6-2 win over the New York. Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle, a late inning defensive replacement, hits a 9th inning HR off of Red Sox starter Ellis Kinder, who pitches a complete game for the win.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees scores 2 runs to tie the Red Sox at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Then with 2 on and 2 outs, Mickey Mantle breaks a 1-for-17 batting slump with a 3-run HR shot into the Yankee Stadium RF stands.
1968 - Former Yankees 2B/OF Chuck Knoblauch (1998-2001) was born. On February 6,1998, he was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for OF/1B Brian Buchanan, INF Christian Guzman, pitchers Eric Milton, Danny Mota, and cash. Throwing problem at 2B forced Chuck to move to the outfield, playing LF for the Yankees. He finished his MLB career with Kansas City Royals.
1970 - AL All Star 3B Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning grand slam HR off of Yankees reliever Lindy McDaniel to give the Orioles, a 6-2 win.
1977 - The Yankees completes a 3-game sweep of Cleveland Indians behind the four-hit pitching of starter Catfish Hunter. The Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2.
1978 - The Milwaukee Brewers Ace Mike Caldwell beats the Yankees Ace Ron Guidry by a score of 6-0. For Guidry (13-1), it is his 1st loss of the 1978 AL season. Caldwell had shut out the Yankees 9 days earlier, and will shut them out again on September 19th.
1982 - Former Yankees 3B/ 2B “Jumping “Joe Dugan (1922-1928) passed away (1897-1982). On July 23, 1922, INF Joe Dugan was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with Elmer Smith to the Yankees for INF Chick Fewster, OF Elmer Miller, INF Johnny Mitchell, P/OF Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000. Joe Dugan had a Yankees career BA of .286. In 1923, he led AL 3B in fielding. Replacing an aged Frank "Home Run" Baker at 3rd base, Dugan solidified the Yankee infield, joining "Deacon" Scott (shortstop), Aaron Ward (2B) and Wally Pipp (1B). With the Yankees and Browns embroiled in a very tight pennant race, St. Louis fans were outraged. As it turned out, the Yankees opened a 4 game series with the Browns in St. Louis right after the trade. The Browns’ fans booed Dugan as soon as he got off the train. Dugan played in 60 games for the 1922 Yankees, batting .286 with 3 HRs and 25 RBI’s. The Yankees finished in 1st place, one-game ahead of the St. Louis Browns. In the 1922 World Series, Dugan batted .250, with one double. As the regular 3B for the Yankees the next 4 seasons, Dugan batted .283 (1923), .302 (1924), .292 (1925) and .288 (1926). He also hit well in the 1923 and 1928 World Series at .280 and .333, respectively.
Joe Dugan suffered with a "trick knee" that began to give him trouble soon after joining the Yankees. The knee would lock and interfere with his play. In 1925, he had a very delicate operation and was in bed for 6 weeks. The surgery helped, but Dugan never played without the knee acting up on occasion. Joe Dugan always made light of his hitting on the great Yankee powerhouses. He told one anecdote to highlight the power of those teams and what he felt was his more modest contribution: in one inning the first five or six Yankee batters all hit safely – doubles, triples, and a home run. According to Dugan, when he came to bat and hit a single, Miller Huggins fined him for breaking up a rally.
In his last season of playing over 100 games, he was the 3B for the mighty 1927 Yankees, considered by many to be the greatest team of all time. He hit .269 with 2 HRs and 43 RBI’s that season. He went 3 for 15 as the Yankees swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1927 World Series. Dugan appeared in only 94 games with the Yankees in 1928. He was waived in 1929 to the Boston Braves, where he batted .304 in 60 games. Joe Dugan retired after the 1929 MLB season, but he came out of retirement to play 8 games with the Detroit Tigers in 1931.
1983 - Former Yankees OF and MLB Manager Ben Chapman (1930-1936) passed away (1908-1983). On June 14,1936, he was traded by the Yankees to the Washington Senators for OF Jake Powell. Ben finished his Yankees career with a .306 BA and stole 184 bases. Many people forget about his fine MLB playing career, only to remember him as the bigot manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947, who taunted the Brooklyn Dodger’s Jackie Robinson.
July 8th
1904 - In the fight for 1st place in the AL, the Red Sox continue to roll, beating the Yankees by the score of 12-3, as Kip Selbach has a single and triple
1931 - Former Yankees P Zach Monroe (1958-1959) was born. The New York Yankees signed Zach Monroe as an MLB amateur free agent in 1952. He went 4-2 in 24 games with the Yankees. He appeared in 1 game in the 1958 World Series against the Milwaukee Braves. He was on the Richmond Virginians (AAA) roster in 1960, when he was sold to Jersey City (AAA-Reds). The transaction appears to be unofficial payment to the Reds for the Yankees buying veteran reliever Luis Arroyo, who was at the Reds AAA club in Jersey City (IL).
1935 - The AL All Star team winning streak reaches 3 games as the Junior Circuit beats the NL in All Star action at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, by the score of 4-1. The rule that no pitcher can throw more than 3 innings unless the game goes extra innings will be instituted after Yankees starter Lefty Gomez pitches 6 outstanding innings in the Mid-Summer Classic.
1939 - Prior to the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetles form in front of the home dugout. Although over 5,000 insects will be captured, the beetle problem will return later in the month.
1943 - Former Yankees minor league P George Culver was born. On May 9, 1963, George Culver was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 2,1963, George was drafted by the Cleveland Indians from the New York Yankees organization in the 1963 first-year player draft. He would pitch for several NL teams during his MLB career.
1946 - In a special meeting of MLB clubs deals with Mexican League defections and attempts by players to gain new rights. Some results: $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, maximum pay cut of 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players will be funded by World Series broadcast rights and net proceeds from All-Star Games. Each league will have a player representative to baseball councils. The 1st player reps named are Yankees P Johnny Murphy and the Dodgers OF Dixie Walker.
1947 - Clutch pinch hits by Luke Appling and Stan Spence lead the AL to a 2-1 win over the NL in the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. Schoolboy Rowe pinch-hits for Johnny Sain, becoming the 1st player to appear for each side. Rowe pitched 3 innings for the AL in 1936. Yankees Frank “Spec” Shea is the 1st winning rookie pitcher in All Star game history.
1951 - The feud between New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio and Manager Casey Stengel reaches a head in the 2nd inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Because of a misplay in the 1st inning, Casey Stengel sends reserve OF Jackie Jensen out to CF to relieve the Yankee Clipper after he had already taken his position. The Red Sox clip the Yankees by the score of 6-3, as the red-hot Clyde Vollmer belts a 2-run HR.
1958 - The AL team edges the NL squad by the score of 4-3 in the All-Star Game played at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. The Yankees Gil McDougald singles to score Red Sox 3B Frank Malzone with the deciding run. Billy O'Dell of the Orioles pitches perfect ball for 3 innings and gets the save. This is the 1st All-Star Game played without an extra-base hit.
1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Whitey Ford tops the Boston Red Sox by a score of 8-5. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning, off of rookie starter Tracy Stallard for his 10th HR this year in support of Ace starter Whitey Ford.
1962 - The New York Yankees complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota, winning by a score of 9-8 to regain 1st place in the AL. They will remain there the rest of the 1962 AL season finishing with a 96-66 record.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Ken Patterson was born. On June 3, 1985, Ken Patterson was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On August 26,1987, Ken was traded by the New York Yankees along with a player to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for P Mike Soper (minors) and veteran MLB INF Jerry Royster. The New York Yankees sent minor league player Jeff Pries on September 19,1987 to the Chicago White Sox to complete the trade.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Washington Senators win the opener of a doubleheader, by the score of 7-6, then they blow a 4-run lead in the nightcap to lose the game by a score of 7-5. Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle is 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a HR in each game. The 2nd HR, off of P Jim Hannan, is a 461 FT sky shot over the monuments into the CF Stadium bleachers. Mickey follows with a sure double in the 5th inning, but tears a hamstring muscle rounding 1B and will be sidelined for 2 weeks.
1969 - Former Yankees All Star 3rd baseman and MLB Manager Red Rolfe (1931,1934-1942) passed away (1908-1969). Red Rolfe finished his 10-year New York Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .289. He led the AL 3B in fielding (1935-1936). Red was named to AL All Star team, 4 times as a Yankee. He led the AL in hits (139) and runs (213) in 1939, posting his highest season BA of .329. After his MLB playing career was over, Red was an MLB Manager with the Tigers (1949-1952) in 539 games, with a record of 278 -256 with a WP of .521. His best season as a MLB Manager was in 1950, finishing 2nd place to the Yankees with a 95-59 mark. He was let go by the Tigers during the 1952 AL season. Also he was a MLB coach for the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s.
1970 - The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat the Yankees, this time striking in the 9th inning on a Frank Robinson HR and a 2-out single by Don Buford. The O's overcome an 8-6 deficit to win the game by the score of 9-8.
1974 - New York Yankees shortstop Jim Mason ties the MLB record with 4 doubles in a 12-5 victory over the Texas Rangers. Off the field, the Yankees purchased veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. from the Angels for cash to strength their bench defensive.
1977 - The Yankees led by HRs off the bats of Thurman Munson and Graig Nettles beat the Orioles by the score of 7-5. New York starter Don Gullett wins his 7th victory of the 1977 AL season.
1980 - At Dodger Stadium, the 51st All-Star Game features J.R. Richard (10-4) and Steve Stone (12-3) are starters, with Richard going just 2 innings because of various back and shoulder problems he's been having. The NL squad battles back to wins its 9th consecutive All-Star Game 4-2, pinning the loss on Yankees P Tommy John. Reds OF Ken Griffey Sr. goes 2-for-3 with a solo HR to win the game's MVP Award.
1982 - Long-time MLB Manager Billy Martin records his 1,000th MLB career win as a manager as the Oakland A's beat the New York Yankees by the score of 6-3.
1984 - Yankees minor league reserve INF/OF Kevin Russo (2010) was born. On June 6, 2006, Kevin Russo was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB amateur played draft. Kevin made his MLB debut during the 2010 AL season with the Yankees.
2000 - The Yankees whip the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual day-night doubleheader. With the 1st game played at Shea Stadium and the nightcap at Yankee Stadium, it is the 1st time since 1903, that 2 teams played 2 games in different stadiums on the same day. Dwight Gooden wins the 1st game with a 6-inning effort in his 1st start since returning to the Yankees. Roger Clemens wins the nightcap and precipitate a near brawl when he drills Mets C Mike Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza suffers a concussion.
2002 - New York Yankees 1B Jason Giambi out-homers NL All Star OF Sammy Sosa, 7-1, in the final round to take the 2002 All-Star Game Home Run Derby crown.
July 9th
1874 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Powell (1905-1906) was born. On March 6, 1904, John Powell was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Highlanders for Harry Howell and cash. John went 31-32 in 84 games before returning to the Browns in 1906.
1899 - Former Yankees P Walter Beall (1924-1927) was born. On August 28, 1924, Walter Beall was purchased by the Yankees from the Rochester (IL) for $50,000. Walter went 4-5 in 33 games for the Yankees.
1929 - Former Yankees INF/OF Hector Lopez (1959-1966) was born. In 1952, Hector Lopez was purchased by the Philadelphia A’s from the Drummondville (Provincial) for $1,500. With the A’s, he played 2B and 3B, and the OF. On May 26,1959, Hector was traded by the A’s with along P Ralph Terry to the Yankees for P Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant, with INF Jerry Lumpe. Hector played 3B for the Yankees, before being moved to the OF in 1959. His best Yankees season was in 1960, when he appeared in 131 games, hitting .284. He appeared in 5 World Series with Yankees (1960-1964), hitting .286 in 15 games. After only hitting .214 in 54 games during the 1966 AL season, Hector was released by the Yankees on October 19,1966. He would become a player-manager at Buffalo (AAA) in the minor leagues before hanging up his spikes for good.
1932 - Former Yankees reliever Tex Clevenger (1961-1962) was born. Tex Clevenger appeared out of the Yankee bullpen in 42 games going 3-1 before retiring as a MLB player. On May 8,1961, he was traded by the new expansion Los Angeles Angels along with veteran OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for OF Lee Thomas, Pitchers Ryne Duren, and Johnny James. The Boston Red Sox originally signed Tex, and then he played for the Senators, Twins and Angels, before being acquired by the Yankees.
1932 - Yankees OF Ben Chapman has 3 HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Two HRs are inside the park homers, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-9. He finished the game with 3-HRs and 6 RBIs. In the opener, the Yankees beat the Tigers by a score of 7-6, with HRs by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Swell.
1936 - The temperature is 106 degrees in Central Park, the hottest July 9th on record in New York City as the Indians take on the Yankees at the Stadium. The temperature at the ballpark is 102. The Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning, but the Indians come back to score 11 runs on 15 hits, including 5 HRs, to win the game by a score of 11-4. Hal Trosky, Roy Weatherly and Joe Vosmik, all homer in the 2nd inning to tie the MLB record. Trosky hits another HR to tie for the AL lead with 23 HRs. Also the Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig and Indians Earl Averill each hit HRs in the game.
1937 - New York Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle, as he delivers 2-HRs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees maul the Washington Senators by a score of 16-2. The “ Yankee Clipper “ will accomplish this feat only once again in his MLB career during the 1948 AL season.
1939 - The Boston Red Sox win a doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 to sweep a 5-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees AL lead is now 6 1/2 games. Red Sox shortstop Joe Cronin drives in runs in both games, giving him 12 games in a row with RBI.
1947 - The New York Yankees sell veteran P Mel Queen Sr. (1942,1944,1946-1947) to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Mel went 8-4 in 43 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Pirates. He is the father of former MLB player Mel Queen Jr.
1947 - Yankees relief ace Joe Page hits his 2nd MLB game winning HR in the 9th inning to beat the Browns by the score of 4-3 at St. Louis Sportmans Park.
1955 - Bronx Bombers slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5-for-5; as Yankees starter Bob Turley tosses a two-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Washington Senators.
1958 - On Capitol Hill, New York Yankees Manager Casey Stengel and All Star CF Mickey Mantle appear in front of the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee which is investigating the baseball monopoly power in regards to sport's antitrust exemption. After “The Old Professor'” gives 45 minutes of rambling and confusing testimony, Senator Estes Kefauver laughs when Mickey Mantle's answers his inquiry about the topic with, "My views are just about the same as Casey's."
1959 – The Boston Red Sox club the New York Yankees by a score of 14-6 before 30,253 fans; the largest crowd at Fenway Park, so far this 1959 AL season. Red Sox starter Frank Sullivan is the winner. Red Sox sluggers Vic Wertz, Ted Williams, and Bobby Avila club HRs. Williams and Avila, both drive in 6 runs in the game.
1960 - New York Yankees starter Jim Coates suffers his 1st loss after 9 straight wins, and 14 straight wins over two seasons, as the Boston Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 6-5. The Red Sox are led by veteran 1B Vic Wertz, who slugs a HR, double and single to drive in 4 runs. Jim Coates' MLB career record is now 17-2.
1972 - The Minnesota Twins lose to the New York Yankees by a score of 9-6, despite Rich Reese's pinch-hit grand slam HR. For Reese, it is his 3rd pinch grand slam, tying Ron Northey's MLB record. Yankees starter Steve Kline picks up his 8th victory with relief help from Yankees closer Sparky Lyle, who gets his 19th save of the 1972 AL season.
1985 - New York Yankees starter Ron Guidry works 8 2/3 innings to win his 10th straight start, beating the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-4. Guidry allows only 9 hits and strikes out 1 Royals batter.
1986 - The San Diego Padres traded reliever Tim Stoddard to the New York Yankees for P Ed Whitson, who had become the target of such fan abuse in New York City, that Yankees Manager Lou Piniella could no longer pitch him at Yankee Stadium.
1999 - The Yankees home uniform Lou Gehrig wore when he made his famous "luckiest man on earth" speech on July 4,1939 is sold for $451,541 at auction. Leland's spokesman Marty Appel says the flannel pinstripe uniform worn by the Hall of Fame 1B was purchased by a south Florida man who did not want his name made public. The winning bid was made over the telephone.
2000 - The New York Yankees lose to the Mets starter Mike Hampton by the score of 2-0. Benitez closes for the Mets, while Yankees starter Andy Pettitte is the loser. The Yankees also lose regular LF Shane Spencer, who blows out his knee and the injury ends his 2000 AL season. The game at Shea Stadium draws 54,283 fans, the largest regular season crowd for the Mets since the 1970 NL season. Newly acquired OF/DH Dave Justice from the Cleveland Indians will take over the regular LF position for the Yankees.
2010 - Former Yankees player and minor league manager Frank Verdi (1953) passed away. Before the 1946 AL Season, INF Frank Verdi was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Frank Verdi only appeared in one MLB game as a defensive replacement for shortstop Phil Rizzuto on May 10,1953 at Fenway Park in Boston. He did not have a plate appearance in the game, nor did he handle a chance in the field, before being replaced in the lineup by Yankees manager Casey Stengel. As a minor league player, Verdi was famous for his ability to execute the hidden ball trick. In 1949, as a 2B for the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League), he pulled off the hidden ball trick 7 times in 95 games.
Frank Verdi made a much larger mark as a minor league manager for 21 seasons (1961-1970, 1972, 1974, 1977-1985) at the affiliated level. He spent much of that period in the New York Yankees minor league system, winning Triple-A International League championships in 1969-1970 with the Syracuse Chiefs. In 1981, he won IL championship with the Columbus Clippers. Also Frank managed teams in the Instructional League for the Yankees. Also he managed the New York Mets' Tidewater Tides AAA for 4 seasons (1977-1980). He managed the Baltimore Orioles' Rochester Red Wings AAA farm club from 1984 through June 16,1985. Also Frank spent brief managing stints in the Houston Astros, Minnesota Twins and Washington Senators organizations. His record as a minor league manager was 1,351 wins, 1,332 losses with a .504 WP.
Frank Verdi also survived a nearly tragic accident on July 25,1959, when as a player for the Rochester Red Wings (AAA), he was struck in the head by a stray bullet in Havana during a game against the Havana Sugar Kings. Verdi was standing in as the team's 3B coach after the ejection of Rochester manager Cot Deal when shooting broke out in the stands. Verdi was still wearing the plastic lining in his baseball cap in lieu of a batting helmet and the lining deflected the bullet, which eventually caused a minor shoulder wound. This incident led to the transfer of the Havana team to Jersey City by Cincinnati Reds. After his managerial career with affiliated minor league teams, Verdi managed in independent leagues during the 1990’s and for the Indios de Mayagüez of the Puerto Rico Baseball League from 1984-1985. Also his son, Mike Verdi was a minor league manager.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
