This Week in Yankees History
September 11th - September 17th
September 11th
1905 - The New York Highlanders sell workhorse P Jack Powell (8-13) to the St. Louis Browns. Powell won 23 games in 1904 for New York, while pitching 390 1/3 innings.
1912 - In St. Louis, Browns starter Jack Powell leaves after 7 innings, losing 3-0 to his former teammates, the Highlanders. Reliever George Baumgartner gives up 2 more runs in the 8th inning, but the Browns score 4 runs in the bottom of the 8th inning to cut the losing margin to 5-4. The New York Times reports the loss to Baumgartner, who pitched poorly.
1923 - After Yankees leadoff hitter Whitey Witt reaches 1st base on a controversial infield hit that is ruled a single. Boston Red Sox P Howard Ehmke retires the next 27 batters for a 3-0 win, his 20th of the 1923 AL season. The Yankees crowd exhorts the scorer Fred Lieb to reverse his call on the hard grounder that 3B Howard Shanks booted, but the 1 hit stood. Ehmke has now given up just 1 hit in his last 2 games.
1926 - New York Yankees OF Bob Meusel ties a MLB record for sacrifice flies in 1 game, when he hits 3 during a 6-4 win at Cleveland. In the same game, Yankees Shortstop Mark Koenig handles 16 chances without an error, 1 short of the record set by the Browns shortstop Bob Wallace in 1902.
1927 - After losing 21 straight games in a row to the New York Yankees, the St. Louis Browns win their last meeting of the 1927 AL season, winning the game by the score of 6-2 behind Milt Gaston's 5-hitter. No team has ever swept a 22-game season series. One NL team, the 1909 Chicago Cubs, went 21-1 against the Boston Braves.
1928 - In the Yankees 5-3 win at the Stadium, veteran Ty Cobb makes his last appearance as a MLB batter, popping out against New York P Hank Johnson to shortstop Mark Koenig as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning. Babe Ruth's 2 run HR clout, off of Philadelphia A’s starter Lefty Grove in the 8th inning, seals the victory for the Yankees. The Yankees seal the fate of the A's with their 4th straight win over the Quakers, leaving them in 2nd place in the AL, 2 1/2 games back.
1936 - Former Yankees reserve OF Braggo Roth (1921) was killed in an auto accident. On December 31, 1920, Braggo Roth was traded by the Washington Senators to the New York Yankees for OF Duffy Lewis and P George Mogridge. He appeared in 43 games with the Yankees, hitting .283. His brother Frank Roth was the 1921 Yankees MLB pitching coach.
1940 - In a doubleheader, the Yankees' 1st-game win at Cleveland puts them in 1st place, the only time they reach that spot. A second game loss to the Tribe drops them out of 1st place.
1950 - The Yankees move back in 1st place with a twin bill sweep of the Washington Senators by scores of 5-1 and 6-2. Two Yankee rookies; starter Whitey Ford and OF Jackie Jensen lead the way in the opener as Whitey wins his 6th straight game of the 1950 AL season. Jackie Jensen has 3 hits including his 1st MLB HR. Veteran Yankees starter Eddie Lopat wins his 16th game of the 1950 AL season in the second game.
1955 - In a move to shore up their pitching down the stretch, the New York Yankees buy veteran relief pitcher Gerry Staley from the Cincinnati Reds for the waiver price. He went 0-0 in 3 games (1955-1956) before being sent to the Chicago White Sox on waivers during the 1956 AL season.
1956 - New York Yankees Yogi Berra ties the MLB HR career record for HRs by a MLB catcher in the Yankees' 9-5 victory over the Kansas City A’s. His 236th HR- and the Yankees' 177th HR of the 1956 AL season to tie him with Chicago Cubs Hall Of Fame great Gabby Hartnett.
1958 - Former Yankees C Don “Sluggo” Slaught (1988-1989) was born. On November 2,1987, Don Slaught was traded by the Texas Rangers to the Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees would send P Brad Arnsberg on November 10,1987 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Don hit .286 and .261 for the Yankees before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for hurlers Jeff Robinson and Willie Smith.
1960 - The New York Yankees sweep the Cleveland Indians in a double-header by scores of 5-0 and 3-2. In the 1st game, Yankees starter Ralph Terry throws a complete game, shutout winning by the score of 5-0. Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 38th HR of the 1960 AL season. Hector Lopez hits a triple and HR. In the 2nd game, Mickey Mantle’s HR in the 11th inning giving the Yankees a 3-2 victory. Yankees starter Eli Grba is the winner, while Yankees closer Ryne Duren picks up his 8th save of the 1960 AL season.
1963 - New York Yankees starter Whitey Ford tops the host the Kansas City A's by the score of 8-2, as Mickey Mantle's HR in the 1st inning provides all the scoring Whitey Ford needs. Mantle is 3-for-4 at the plate for the Yankees with 4 RBIs.
1966 - Rookie John Miller becomes the 1st New York Yankees player to ever hit a HR in his 1st MLB at bat. He contributes 2-runs in a 4-2 defeat of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. It will be Miller's only HR in Yankee pinstripes, but as a LA Dodger in 1969, he will hit a HR in his last MLB at-bat.
1969 - The New York Yankees obtained P Terry Bongiovanni and undisclosed amount of cash from the Chicago Cubs for veteran OF Jimmie Hall. Terry never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.
1978 - Former Yankees reserve INF Mike Gazella (1923-1928) passed away (1895-1978). Mike Gazella appeared in 160 games for the Yankees hitting .241 as a backup infielder.
1980 - Former Yankees P Matt DeSalvo (2007) was born. The New York Yankees signed him as an un-drafted MLB free agent. At the time, DeSalvo was still working on a circle change, which would later be cited as his best pitch. The 1st time he had thrown it was in a Division III College World Series game - he hit the batter. He would be the 2nd ABCA Player of the Year from Division III to make the majors, following Eric Owens. DeSalvo began his professional career with the Staten Island Yankees (3-3, 1.84, 52 K in 49 IP) before he was promoted to the Battle Creek Yankees (2-0, 0.82). Had he qualified (he was 12 innings shy), he would have led the New York-Penn League in ERA, beating out Yoann Torrealba's 2.04. Matt started 2004 on an exceptional note, with a 6-3, 1.43 record for the Tampa Yankees. In 75 1/3 IP, he allowed only 48 hits (a .176 average) and fanned 80, walking 30. He move up to the Trenton Thunder and struggled, with a 2-2, 6.59 record. In 2005, DeSalvo was named the Yankees Minor League Pitcher of the Year, beating out top prospect Philip Hughes among others.
He was 9-5 with a 3.02 ERA for Trenton, allowing a .202 average and striking out 151 in 149 IP. He finished 3rd in the Eastern League in ERA, trailing Jon Lester and Yusmeiro Petit. He failed to make the EL All-Star team as Joel Zumaya was selected as the top right-handed starter. DeSalvo had a rough 2006. He was dropped from the Yankees 40-man roster due to a personal issue that plagued him all year - it is unknown what it was, but it was known not to involve a woman, substance problems or health. He led Yankee farmhands with 93 walks and was 6-10 with a 6.40 ERA. With Trenton, he was 5-4 with a 5.77 ERA and 59 BB in 78 IP. With the Columbus Clippers, DeSalvo went 1-6 with a 7.68 ERA, walking 34 and allowing a .303 average in 38 2/3 IP. He was 3rd in the affiliated minors in walks.
Mark DeSalvo rediscovered the joy of baseball while playing whiffle-ball with old friends in the off-season after 2006. The Yankees waived Matt that year but no one claimed him. DeSalvo went 3-0 with a 1.05 ERA to begin 2007 with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, allowing 15 hits in 25 2/3 IP. With the 2007 Yankees struggling for help, he was called up to replace a struggling Kei Igawa. He made his MLB debut by starting a May 7th game against the Mariners and giving up just 3 hits in 7 innings. He went 1-3 with a 5.87 ERA in 6 games before being sent back down to the minors. He helped the Yankees become the 1st team in MLB history to use 10 starters in the 1st 30 games of the 2007 AL season, joining Igawa, Chase Wright, Hughes, Andy Pettitte, Darrell Rasner, Chien-Ming Wang, Mike Mussina, Carl Pavano and Jeff Karstens. DeSalvo's repertoire includes a slider, curveball, splitter, circle change and fastball. Off the field, Matt is known as a bibliophile, with the goal of reading 400 notable books (as of 2007, he was halfway done). Also Matt wrote a book called “Love's Travels” around 2003-2004, but as of 2007, Matt and an editor had only seen it. The Yankees released Matt at the end of the 2007 AL season. Also he has pitched for the Atlanta Braves at the MLB level.
1985 - The Milwaukee Brewers beat the New York Yankees by a score of 4-3 to end the Bronx Bombers winning streak at 11 games. The Yankees, now trail the 1st-place Toronto Blue Jays by 2 1/2 games in the AL East.
1987 - Current Yankees reserve INF Brandon Laird was born. The brother of Gerald Laird, 3B Brandon Laird was selected by the New York Yankees in the 27th round of the 2007 amateur draft and made his pro debut that summer with the GCL Yankees, hitting .339 with 8 HRs and 29 RBIs in 45 games; making the Gulf Coast League All-Star team. He was 5th in the GCL in BA, he was only 40 points behind slugging leader Michael Burgess. In the 2003 World Youth Championship, Brandon batted .323 with 7 runs as a 3B-OF for the USA as they won Gold. Laird hit .208 for the USA in the 2004 World Junior Championship as the starting 2B, forming a middle infield combo with Justin Upton. On December 30, 2009, Brandon and Gerald Laird were arrested during a fight at US Airways Arena during a Phoenix Suns-Boston Celtics game; Brandon was charged with disorderly conduct. Brandon made his MLB debut at 3B for the Yankees on July 22, 2011, taking over for shortstop Derek Jeter while 3B Eduardo Nunez moved to short. He walked in his 1st MLB plate appearance, then got a hit, drove in a run and scored 1 in a 17-7 Yankees win over the Oakland A’s.
1988 - The New York Yankees edge the Detroit Tigers by the score of 5-4 in 18 innings. Steve Shields gets the win in relief. Yankees OF Rickey Henderson ties a 1948 AL record for extra innings with 12 putouts in LF.
1990 - The New York Yankees beat the Texas Rangers by a score of 5-4 to snap starter Bobby Witt's personal 12-game winning streak. The Bronx Bombers score 2 runs in both the 7th and 8th innings to come from behind. Yankees closer Dave Righetti saves his 31st game of the 1990 AL season.
1995 - At Jacobs Field in Cleveland, the New York Yankees record a rarity in their 4-0 win over the Indians with no assists. New York starter Jack McDowell allows 4 Tribe hits, walks 4 and strikes out 8 in the 9 innings as the Yankees register the third no-assist game in the American League this century. “Black Jack” retires the side in the 9th inning on 3 pitches. The outfield makes 8 of the 27 putouts. It last happened in the MLB in a New York Mets- Philadelphia Phillies game on June 25, 1989, the only time in the National League.
2001 - In the wake of terrorist attacks on New York City's World Trade Center, Flight 93 and the Pentagon Building, MLB cancels all games for security reasons and for the deep mourning for all the lives that have been lost. Yankee Stadium is evacuated as a precautionary measure. MLB Games will not resume until Monday September 17th.
2002 - At Yankee Stadium, in a 50-minute pre-game ceremony, New York Yankee legends Whitey Ford and Phil Rizzuto unveil a monument dedicated to the victims of the September 11th terrorist attacks. The team also has a ceremonial tree planting in Monument Park in honor of the heroes and victims of horrific events of a year ago. The Baltimore Orioles wear 5-sided patches honoring the victims of the attack on the Pentagon. The game goes 11 innings, before Yankees Nick Johnson ends with an RBI single. The Yankees win the game, by the score of 5-4, despite striking out 14 times. Orlando Hernandez issues a walk in the 8th inning, when he goes to his mouth on a 3-2 count while standing on the mound. It was the 1st walk in 6 full games (65 innings) by a Yankees pitcher, the longest steak since WWII, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Yankees reliever Steve Karsay, later hands out another walk.
September 12th
1903 - Boston Red Sox starter Tom Hughes defeats the New York Highlanders by the score of 10-1, for his 20th win of the 1903 AL season.
1907 - In a 2-0 win against the New York Yankees at Hilltop Park, Washington Senators starter Walter Johnson strikes out 5 batters, though it'll be recorded as 4 K's. Researcher John Schwartz, in the 1990s, will find the extra K, resulting in Johnson's lifetime total of 3,509. The issue crops up again on Opening Day, 2001, when Roger Clemens ties (or beats) the mark.
1907 - Former Yankees P Spud Chandler (1937-1947) was born (1907-1990). Spud Chandler pitched for the New York Yankees from 1937 to 1947, with a MLB pitching career record of 109-43 (.717). His best Yankees season was in 1943, when he went 20-1 (.833) with a 1.64 ERA. He was named to the AL All Star team and was the winner of the AL MVP and ML MVP awards. He appeared in the 1941-1943 and 1947 World Series with the Yankees going 2-2 with 1.62 ERA. At the age of 38 in 1946, he went 20-8 for the Yankees. He retired after the 1947 AL season.
1914 - New York Yankees Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh, 23, replaces fired Manager Frank Chance and becomes the all-time youngest manager, and the 7th in the club's 12-year existence. He will win 9 of 17 games. He will next manage in the AL with the Cleveland Indians in 1928.
1916 - Former Yankees OF and MLB Coach Charlie “King Kong” Keller (1939-1949,1952) was born (1916-1990). The New York Yankees signed Charlie Keller as a MLB amateur free agent in 1937. Charlie came up to the Yankees in 1939, at the age of 22. He hit .334 in 111 games with 11 HRs and 83 RBI’s. Charlie finished his Yankees career with a .285 BA, 184 HRs, 723 RBI’s and 69 Triples. Charlie appeared in 4 World Series for the Yankees (1939,1941-1943) hitting .306. He had a good career despite being troubled by back problems.
1932 - With their 100th victory of the 1932 AL season, the New York Yankees clinch the 1932 AL pennant with veteran starter George Pipgras beating the Indians at Cleveland Stadium by the score of 8-3. The Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy, who had captured a NL flag with Chicago Cubs in 1929, becomes the 1st MLB manager to win pennants in both major leagues.
1950 - The New York Yankees blow a 6-run lead, as the Cleveland Indians score 4 runs in the 9th inning off of Allie Reynolds to win the game by a score of 8-7. Luke Easter's 3-run HR his 2nd of the game is the big blow, as the Yankees skid to 2nd place, a half game behind the Detroit Tigers and a half game ahead of the Boston Red Sox.
1954 - A standing-room-only crowd of 84,587 fans at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium, which establishes the record for the largest crowd to have ever watch a MLB game, witness the pennant-bound Indians sweep a doubleheader from the New York Yankees by scores of 4-1 and 3-2. On this bright sunny day, over 12,000 fans are without seats and stand 10-11 rows deep behind the outfield fences as well as 3-5 rows deep in walkways. The Yankees would finish in 2nd place in the AL with a 103-51 record, 8 games behind the Cleveland Indians, who finished 1st with a 111-53 record.
1961 - In a rain shorten game, the New York Yankees edge the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park. Yankees starter Ralph Terry picks up his 14th victory of the 1961 AL season, as the Bronx Bombers picked up their 100 victory of the 1961 AL season
1962 - At Cleveland’s Muncipal Stadium, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle lead the way to a Yankees 5-2 win. Mickey Mantle hits a 3-run HR in the 5th inning off of Tribe hurler Pedro Ramos, his 2nd favorite all-time cousin (12 HRs allowed).
1963 - Former Yankees reserve OF Keith Hughes (1987) was born. On June 30, 1984, Keith Hughes was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies along with P Marty Bystrom to the Yankees for P Shane Rawley. Keith would appear in 4 games with no hits in 1987, before being traded on June 10,1987 along with OF Shane Turner to the Phillies for veteran OF Mike Easler.
1967 - Former Yankees reserve INF Pat Listach (1996) was born. On August 23, 1996, Pat Listach was traded by the Milwaukee Brewers with a player to be named later and Graeme Lloyd to the New York Yankees for Bob Wickman and Gerald Williams. The Milwaukee Brewers sent P Ricky Bones on August 29, 1996 to the New York Yankees to complete the trade. Pat never played a game for the 1996 Yankees. Pat Listach returned to original team on October 2, 1996.
1979 - Boston Red Sox OF Carl Yastrzemski reaches the 3,000 MLB hits milestone when he singles off of Yankees hurler Jim Beattie during a 9-2 Red Sox victory.
1981 - Boston Red Sox rookie P Bob Ojeda no-hits the New York Yankees for 8-innings at Yankee Stadium before Rick Cerone and Dave Winfield lead off the 9th inning with back-to-back doubles. Red Sox reliever Mark Clear preserves a 2-1 win for the Red Sox.
1982 - For the 2nd time this season, the Milwaukee Brewers get 3 consecutive HRs from Cecil Cooper, Ted Simmons, and Ben Oglivie in a losing cause, as the New York Yankees win by the score of 9-8. Six HRs are hit in the game. Rookie starter Curt Kaufman wins his 1st MLB decision and his only win as a Yankee.
1990 - New York Yankees starter Steve Adkins doesn't allow a hit in his MLB debut, but he walks 8 batters in just 1 1/3 innings, as the Texas Rangers wins the game by the score of 5-4. Adkins walks the 1st 3 batters, and then he retires the side. After a fly out in the 2nd inning, he walks the next 5 batters before being lifted, 2 shy of Dolly Gray's consecutive walk record.
1996 - New York Yankees CF Bernie Williams drives home 8 runs in the Yankees 12-3 win over the Detroit Tigers. Bernie Williams hits 2 HR’s and a single.
1999 - Before a crowd of 50,027 fans, the Boston Red Sox finish their 3-game series at Yankee Stadium with a 4-1 win for a sweep. It is the 1st three-game sweep at Yankee Stadium for the Red Sox since the 1986 AL season.
2000 - The New York Yankees pound the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 10-2 at Yankee Stadium as starter Danny Neagle picks up his 7th victory of 2000 AL season. Jose Canseco hits a HR for the Yankees to lead the Yankees hitting attack.
2000 - Suspended New York Yankees DH/OF Darryl Strawberry is sentenced to 2 years' house arrest after admitting he violated probation by driving under the influence of medication, and leaving the scene of an accident.
2002 - At Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 7-3 behind starter David Wells 17th victory of the 2002 AL season. Yankees 1B Nick Johnson leads the Bombers hitting attack with a 3-run HR.
2009 - In a rare win for the Baltimore Orioles over the New York Yankees, by the score of 7-3, 2B Brian Roberts hits a grand slam and his club-record 51st double of the 2009 AL season.
September 13th
1893 - Former Yankees P Walter “Dutch” Ruether (1926-1927) was born. (1893-1970). Dutch Ruether went 15-9 for the Yankees (1926-1927), including winning 13 games in 1927, after being obtained from the Washington Senators on waivers. He retired from MLB after the 1927 World Series.
1893 - Former Yankees reserve INF/OF Mike McNally (1921-1924) was born (1893-1965). On December 15, 1920, Mike was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with P Harry Harper, P Waite Hoyt and C Wally Schang to the New York Yankees for 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen and OF Sammy Vick. He appeared in 202 games for the Yankees, hitting .252 for the Yankees. On December 10,1924, Mike was traded back by the Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for INF Howie Shanks.
1893 - Former Yankees C Pat Collins (1926-1928) was born (1893-1966). In 1925, Pat Collins was traded by the St. Paul (American Association) to the Yankees. He shared catching duties with Benny Bengough. In winter of 1928, he was sold to the Boston Braves.
1920 -The New York Yankees hurler Carl Mays, who had started yesterday’s game, he starts again today for the Yankees in Detroit. This time he is more effective, stopping the Tigers on 2 runs. Babe Ruth hits his 49th HR and Carl Mays drives in the final run of a 4-2 win.
1927 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 2-HRs, as the Yankees win a pair from the Cleveland Indians to clinch the 1927 AL pennant with a 98-41 record with a 17-game lead. It is Miller Huggins' 5th AL pennant, tying him with Philadelphia A’s Manager Connie Mack.
1931 - Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri steals 2B, reaches 3B, then steals home in the 12th inning to give Lefty Gomez, a 2-1 win over the Detroit Tigers in the opener. The Yankees edge the Tigers, by the score of 4-3, in nightcap although Earl Whitehill holds them to just 6 hits. One of the 6 Yankees hits is a 2-run HR by Yankees slugger Lou Gehrig in the 6th inning.
1932 - The New York Yankees clinched their 7th AL pennant by defeating the Cleveland Indians by the score of 9-3 behind veteran starter George Pipgras.
1934 - New York Yankees starter Lefty Gomez pitches a 3-hitter against the Cleveland Indians for his 25th win of the 1934 AL season.
1949 - Former Yankees reserve C Rick Dempsey (1973-1976) was born. Rick Dempsey was the back up catcher for Thurman Munson before he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 15,1976. The Yankees had obtained him from the Minnesota Twins for OF/1B Danny Walton in 1972. Rick appeared in 141 games with the Yankees, hitting .231.
1951 - New York Yankees leadoff hitter Mickey Mantle drives a Virgil Truck's pitch deep into the RF upper deck to start the Yankees scoring. Witnesses say that if Mantle had hit it more to CF, the ball would've traveled 600 feet. Mantle then K's 3-times in the game, as Trucks drives over the Yankees for a 9-2 Detroit Tigers victory
1955 - Former Yankees reserve INF Mike Fischlin (1986) was born. The New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1975 MLB amateur player draft drafted Mike Fischlin. Mike was part of a trade with the Houston Astros that bought OF/1B/DH Cliff Johnson to the Yankees. On December 11,1985, Mike was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees sent minor league player Kevin Trudeau on April 11,1986 to the Indians to complete the trade. He appeared in 71 games for the 1986 Yankees, just hitting .206. He left the Yankees for MLB free agency after the 1986 AL season, signing with the Atlanta Braves.
1959 - The New York Yankees sweep a pair from the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium. In 1st game, Yankees starter Bob Turley goes 10 innings, but doesn’t get the decision as the Yankees win the game in the 11th inning on a Mickey Mantle HR. Eli Grba picks up the victory for the Yankees. In the 2nd game, the Yankees win by the score of 1-0, as Hank Bauer drives in Yogi Berra for the only run of the game. Yankees starter Duke Maas pitches a 6-hit shutout for his 13th win of the 1959 AL season. Jim Perry is the losing pitcher for the Indians; he is now at the 11-8 mark.
1963 - New York starter Jim Bouton's 20th win of the 1963 AL season, is a 2-0 shutout victory at Minnesota, clinches the Yankees 28th AL pennant.
1968 - Former Yankees P (2000) Danny Neaglewas born. Danny Neagle was obtained from the Cincinnati Reds along with OF Mike Frank for Yankees minor leaguers P Ed Yarnall, 3B Drew Henson, Brian Reeth and OF Jackson Melian. Danny went 7-7 for the Yankees before leaving the team for free agency in the fall of 2000, signing with the Rockies.
1968 - Former Yankees All Star OF/DH Bernie Williams (1991-2006) was born. In 1985, Bernie Williams was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. His 1st year with the Yankees was in 1991. As a Yankee centerfielder, Bernie has been a 5-time AL All Star team member, won 4 Golden Gloves, a 2002 Silver Slugger Award winner. In 1998, he won the AL batting crown with a .339 BA. Bernie finished his Yankees career with a lifetime BA of .297 in 2,026 games.
1969 - Former Yankees reserve INF Russ Davis (1994-1995) was born. The New York Yankees in the 29th round of the 1988 MLB player amateur draft drafted Russ Davis. He appeared in 44 games for the Yankees, hitting .259. Russ was traded to the Seattle Mariners after the 1995 AL season along with P Sterling Hitchcock for 1B Tino Martinez, pitchers Jeff Nelson and Jim Mecir.
1977 - Mickey Rivers 2-run HR in the 5th inning is the game winner, as starter Ron Guidry throws a 5-hitter as the Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium before a crowd of 55,269 fans.
1978 - The New York Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers by the score of 7-3 and move into 1st place, 1/2 game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
1980 - The New York Yankees score 4 runs in the 4th inning to beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 4-3. Yankees starter Tommy John picks up his 21st victory of the 1980 AL season, his 288 MLB career win.
1996 - Toronto Blue Jays Charlie O'Brien unveils a hockey-style catcher's mask in the game against the Yankees. The mask is a success, but the Blue Jays lose to the Yankees by a score of 4-1. New York starter Andy Pettitte wins his 21st game of the 1996 AL season.
2000 -The New York Yankees edged the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 3-2 at Yankee Stadium as Yankees starter Roger Clemens picks up his 13th win as closer Mo Rivera gets his 34th save of the 2000 AL season. Esteban Loaiza takes the loss for the Blue Jays.
2009 - Former Yankees reserve INF Lonnie Frey (1947-1948) passed away. On June 25, 1947, Lonnie Frey was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Chicago Cubs. Lonnie appeared in 25 games for the Yankees hitting just .179. On May 17,1948, Lonnie was released by the New York Yankees. Frey died in 2009 at age 99. At the time of his death, he was the oldest surviving Pacific Coast League baseball player. He was the last surviving player to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and Yankees.
2010 - Reid Brignac hits a walk-off HR in the 11th inning to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 1-0 win over the New York Yankees. The victory puts Tampa Bay into 1st place in the AL East. Brignac enters the game in the 9th inning, after Carl Crawford is ejected for arguing a called 3rd strike, but his blast off of Yankees reliever Sergio Mitre ends a great pitching duel that started with Yankees ace CC Sabathia and Rays P David Price facing each other.
September 14th
1884 - Former Yankees P Andy O’Connor (1908) was born. Andy O’Connor went 0-1 in 1-game with the Yankees, before being sold to Rochester (International League).
1904 - The Pilgrims (aka the Red Sox) with a half-game lead over the New York Highlanders send Bill Dineen to the mound. Patsy Dougherty leads off with a single off of Bill Dineen then Willie Keeler follows with a bunt that C Lou Criger fires into the crowd to allow Patsy to score. Keeler scores a play later. The Red Sox only tally comes in the 9th inning on a 2-base error and a wild pitch. Yankees win the game by a score of 3-1. The nightcap is called after 5 innings with a 1-1 tie score.
1907 - Washington Senators rookie hurler Lew Lanford, 21, in one of the worst MLB debuts any pitcher ever endures. Lanford walks two Yankee batters, hits two others, including Frank LaPorte in the head, throw’s a wild pitch, and balks-all in the 1st inning, six runs score, but it is not all Lanford's fault. Two errors and a passed ball add to his pitching woes.
1920 - The New York Yankees increase their AL lead to 11/2 games by topping the Detroit Tigers by a score of 13-3. The Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox are both shut out, the Philadelphia A's beating the Indians by the score of 8-0 and the Washington Senators whitewashing the Chicago White Sox by a score of 7-0. The White Sox are now 2 1/2 games back.
1924 - Former Yankees INF and Hall Of Fame Broadcaster Jerry Coleman was born (1949-1957). The New York Yankees signed Jerry Coleman as an MLB amateur free agent in 1942. Jerry lost MLB career playing time while serving as a Marine fighter pilot in WW II and in the Korean War. He was an AL All Star 2B in 1950, the same year he won the AL Babe Ruth Award. Jerry played in 6 World Series with the Yankees with a .275 BA. As a Yankee player for 9 seasons, Jerry had a lifetime MLB BA of .263. After retiring as an active MLB player after the 1957 AL season, Jerry worked in the Yankees front office as an assistant to Yankees GM George Weiss. Then he joined the Yankees broadcasting team working with former Yankee teammate Phil Rizzuto on the radio. Jerry left the Yankees, when San Diego Padres joined the NL in 1968. He worked as a broadcaster for the Padres. Jerry even managed the Padres for 1 NL season going 73-89, before returning back to the broadcasting booth.
1935 -The New York Yankees split a doubleheader with the AL-leading Detroit Tigers, winning the 1st game by the score of 2-1, and then losing the nightcap by the score of 5-1. Yankees starter Johnny Broaca is the winner in the opener over Crowder, while Lawson tops Brown in game 2. The Tigers slugger Hank Greenberg, leading the AL in hitting with a .346 mark, is 0-for-the afternoon, with 5-strikeouts. "The hooting and jeering which some of the fans turned loose against Hank wasn't much of a tribute to the sportsmanship of his home town," writes a sportswriter from the New York American.
1935 - New York Yankees INF Frankie Crosetti returns to New York City after an operation at Baltimore's John Hopkins Hospital to remove floating cartilage in his right knee. He'll soon return to his home in California to rest and recover for the 1936 AL season.
1935 - Former Yankees hurler and MLB Pitching Coach Stan Williams (1963-1964) was born. Stan Williams was obtained by the Yankees from the Dodgers in winter of 1962 for veteran Yankees 1B Bill ”Moose” Skowron. Stan went 10-14 for the Yankees. Stan was sold to the Cleveland Indians in 1965. Later Stan became a successful relief pitcher for the Minnesota Twins. After retiring as an MLB player, he came a pitching coach for several MLB teams, including the Yankees.
1938 - Former Yankees minor league pitcher Frank Carpin was born. The New York Yankees signed Frank Carpin, as an MLB amateur free agent in 1959. He never appeared in a MLB game with the Yankees. On November 30,1964, Frank was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees organization in the 1964 MLB minor league player draft.
1942 - The New York Yankees clinch their 13th AL pennant behind the hitting of Joe DiMaggio and the pitching of starter Tiny Bonham. The Yankee Clipper hits a HR and 3 singles to lead the Yankees to an 8-3 win. Yankees starter Tiny Bonham picks up his 20th victory of the 1942 AL season.
1950 - At Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Vic Raschi posts his 20th win of the 1950 AL season to give the Yankees a hard-fought 7-5 victory. Raschi walks in 2 runs in the opening inning as the Tigers tallies for 4-runs, but Yankees come back as Joe DiMaggio cracks his 29th HR of the 1950 AL season, while Johnny Mize follows a walk to Hank Bauer with his 10th HR. Yankees will take over 1st place in the AL by a half game.
1951 - At Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees move into 1st place with a 5-1 win over the Cleveland Indians. Joe DiMaggio triples in the 5th inning with 2 men on to send the Yankees on their way.
1952 - The New York Yankees win a crucial showdown with the Cleveland Indians, as Yankees starter Eddie Lopat out-pitches Yankees nemesis Mike Garcia, who had been 4-0 against the team during the 1952 AL season. The Indians had closed the gap to 1/2 game behind the front-running Yankees. The 1952 AL season ends with the Yankees finishing in 1st place, 2 games ahead of the Indians.
1953 - The New York Yankees clinch their 5th straight AL pennant (1949-1953) with an 8-5 win over the Cleveland Indians. Yankees 2B Billy Martin has 4 RBI’s with 2 doubles and a single.
1958 - The New York Yankees win their 24th AL pennant. Their 9th pennant under Manager Casey Stengel, winning Game 1 against the Kansas City A's by the score of 5-3. This victory ties Casey for 1st with Hall Of Fame Philadelphia A’s Manager Connie Mack for the most AL pennants won. Yankees completes the sweep of the A’s with a 12-7 victory, 14-inning win in game 2. Yankees veteran starter Virgil Trucks allows 2 hits over the last 6 innings for the win.
1965 - In Washington, D.C., the New York Yankees behind rookie starter Rick Beck wins his 1st MLB victory defeating the Washington Senators by the score of 3-1. Yankees closer Pedro Ramos picks up his 17th save of the 1965 AL season. Bobby Murcer hits a HR for the Yankees. Rick Beck would appear in 3 games for the Yankees in 1965, going 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA. After the 1965 AL season, Rick was drafted into the military, he never returned to pitch in the MLB.
1965 - Former Yankees minor league P Mike Draper was born. On June 1, 1988, Mike Draper was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 26th round of the 1988 MLB amateur player draft. Mike never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 7,1992, Mike was drafted by the New York Mets from the New York Yankees organization in the 1992 MLB Rule 5 player draft.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve OF Bill Holden (1913-1914) passed away. Bill Holden appeared in 68 games for the Yankees, just hitting .211.
1974 - The New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles HRs in the 1st inning, while his brother OF Jim Nettles HRs for the Detroit Tigers in the 2nd inning. This is the 2nd time that the 2 brothers have HR in the same game for different teams, having done it on June 11,1972, when Graig was with the Cleveland Indians while Jim was with the Minnesota Twins. Graig's Yankees win the game by a score of 10-7.
1977 - Reggie Jackson’s 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning off of Boston Red Sox starter Reggie Cleveland gives the Yankees, a 2-0 win, putting the Yankees 3 1/2 games ahead of the Red Sox in the AL East. Yankees starter Ed Figueroa went the distance, scattering just 7 hits, as he picked up his 15th win of the 1977 AL season.
1978 - The New York Yankees defeated the Detroit Tigers by the score of 4-2 to take a 1 1/2 game lead into their weekend series with the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
1980 - The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park by a score of 5-3. Ron Davis relieves starter Gaylord Perry in the 4th inning and picks up the victory, allowing no hits in 4 innings. Yankees hitting attack is led by Bucky Dent and Eric Soderholm, who both hit HRs. Red Sox starter Dennis Eckersley takes the loss.
1999 - The New York Yankees rally with a pair of grand slam HRs, just the 3rd time in club history, to beat the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 10-6. Bernie Williams ties the game with a grand slam HR in the 8th inning. Paul O'Neill wins it in the 9th inning with another grand slam HR.
2002 - The New York Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 8-4, in a rain-shortened affair. White Sox C Miguel Olivo hits a 3-run HR in his 1st MLB at bat.
September 15th
1881 - Former Yankees P Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle (1906-1911) was born (1881-1947). Judd “Slow Joe” Doyle went 22-21 during his five season Yankees pitching career.
1904 - The Boston Red Sox edge the New York Highlanders by the score of 3-2 to move back into 1st place in the AL. Red Sox hurler Jesse Tannehill only allows 9 hits in besting the Highlanders hurler Al Orth. The nightcap is called after 9 innings with the score tied at 1-1.
1908 - The New York Highlanders rookie starter Pete Wilson makes his MLB debut by shutting out the Boston Red Sox by the score of 1-0.
1917 - At the Polo Grounds, Boston Red Sox starter Babe Ruth takes an 8-0 lead into the 9th inning before allowing 3 Yankee runs. He finishes with a complete game with 8-3 win and slugs his 2nd and last HR of the 1917 AL season.
1921 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits HR No. 55 during the Bronx Bombers 10-6 win over the St. Louis Browns. The Yankees take the 2nd game of the doubleheader by a score of 13-5.
1924 - Former Yankees Player/Manager and HOF INF Frank Chance (1913-1914) passed away (1898-1924). Frank Chance came to the Yankees at the end of his fine Hall Of Fame MLB career. He was a player/manager during the 1913-1914 AL seasons. In 1913, Chance finished in 7th place with a 57-94 record. In 1914, he finished in 6th place with a 60-74 record. He was elected to the Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1946. Frank spent most of his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs in the NL, Frank was part of the Chicago Cubs famous “Evers to Tinker to Chance” DP trio.
1925 - The New York Yankees acquired P Herb Mc Quad from St. Paul (American Association) for cash. Herb went 1-0 in 17 games for the 1925 Yankees.
1926 - The New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians by the score of 6-4. As Bob Meusel drives home 3 runs with 3 sacrifice flies. This ties the MLB record set by Harry Steinfeldt in 1909. Bob Shawkey is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.
1937 - AL President Will Harridge upholds Cleveland Indian's protest of the August 6th Yankees win, and the entire game is replayed as the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The protested game is called a tie with all game stats retained except those following the disputed call.
1937 - Former Yankees 3B Charlie Smith (1967-1968) was born (1937-1994). Charlie Smith came to the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Cardinals in a trade for All Star OF Roger Maris. It is considered to be one of the worst trades made in New York Yankees history. Charlie appeared in 181 games for the Yankees, hitting .224. He was traded for reserve INF Nate Oliver of San Francisco Giants in December of 1968. A classic “nothing for nothing” baseball trade.
1938 - Former Yankees P Gaylord Perry (1980) was born. Gaylord Perry was obtained from the Texas Rangers for Yankees Pitchers Ken Clay and Marvin Thompson in April of 1980. He went 4-4 in 10 games, before leaving the Yankees as a MLB free agent in the fall of 1980. His older brother Jim Perry pitched in MLB.
1947 - The New York Yankees clinch their 15th AL pennant when the Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 6-3, while the Yankees are idled by rain.
1949 - Former Yankees P Dave Pagan (1973-1976) was born. The New York Yankees signed hurler Dave Pagan as a MLB free agent in 1970. He appeared in 40 games for the Yankees, posting a 2-4 record before being traded to the Baltimore Orioles on June 15,1976, as part of the Doyle Alexander trade.
1949 - Former Yankees P Ernest “Tiny” Bonham (1940-1946) passes away at the age of 36 (1913-1949). Tiny Bonham joined the New York Yankees in 1940 as a 26 year-old rookie going 9-3. His best season for the Yankees was in 1942, when he went 21-5 with 2.27 ERA, with 6 shutouts and 22 complete games. He was 1942 AL All Star team member. Tiny finished his Yankee pitching career record with a 79-50 mark (WP.612). He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, going 1-2. Before being traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1946 baseball season. After a 1-4 start in 1949, Tiny Bonham won 6 straight games for a floundering Pirates club, including an 8–2 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on August 28th, his final MLB game. Eighteen days later, Bonham died in a Pittsburgh hospital at the age of 36, following an appendectomy and stomach surgery. Mrs. Bonham will receive the first benefits under the players’ pension plan, $90 a month for 10 years.
1950 - For an MLB-record sixth time, Johnny Mize hits three-HRs in one game, but the Yankees lose the game by the score of a 9-7 at Detroit. Johnny Mize matches Babe Ruth's mark of doing it in both leagues, but the Babe only had two three-HR games. With the victory, the Detroit Tigers recapture 1st place in the AL from the Yankees.
1956 - Former Yankees P John Pacella (1982) was born. On March 31, 1981, John was traded by the San Diego Padres along with OF Jerry Mumphrey to the New York Yankees for OF Ruppert Jones, OF Joe Lefebvre, minor league pitchers Tim Lollar and Chris Welsh. John appeared in 3 games with the 1982 Yankees, posting a 0-1 record. On May 12,1982, John was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Pete Filson, INF Larry Milbourne and cash to the Minnesota Twins for P Roger Erickson and C Butch Wynegar.
1958 - Former 1945 American League batting champion and New York Yankees INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss (1943-1950) is killed in a train wreck in New Jersey. (1918-1958) George Stirnweiss was killed at age 39 when the passenger train he was on plunged off the CRRNJ Newark Bay Bridge between Elizabethport and Bayonne, New Jersey.
1959 - At Yankee Stadium, Whitey Ford makes a rare relief appearance against the Chicago White Sox, going 1/3 inning giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning as the White Sox score 2 runs in the 8th inning and 1 run in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees by the score of 4-3. Mickey Mantle hits 2 HRs in the Yankees lost, a 2-run shot in 1st inning off of veteran starter Billy Pierce and a solo HR shot in the 9th inning off of reliever Bob Shaw, who gets his 3rd save, while lefty starter Billy Pierce picks up his 14th victory of the 1959 AL season. Ralph Terry started for the Yankees, going 7 innings giving up 8-hits and allowing only 1-run.
1960 - The Baltimore Orioles (83-58) and New York Yankees (82-57) open a crucial 4 games series with the O's just .002 in back of New York. Yankees outfielders Hector Lopez and Roger Maris crack HRs to back Whitey Ford’s 4-2 victory over the Birds. The 2 runs off of Whitey Ford were the 1st the Birds have scored off him at Yankee Stadium in 33.2 innings. Veteran reliever Bobby Shantz rescues Whitey Ford in the 9th inning for his 10th save of the 1960 AL season.
1961 - The New York Yankees set a new AL record for most HRs in a season (222), as they split a doubleheader in Detroit, winning the opener by the score of 11-1 then losing the nightcap by the score of 4-2. Yankees HR blows by Bill Skowron and Yogi Berra in the opener, help starter Whitey Ford win his 24th victory and increase the Yankees homer total to 222. This breaks the old mark set by the 1947 New York Giants and later tied by the 1956 Cincinnati Reds. Norm Cash and Steve Boros HRs in the nightcap to back Tigers starter Ron Kline's 7-hitter.
1963 - Yankees Ace Whitey Ford throws a 2-hitter defeating the Twins 2-1 at Metropolitan Stadium. Minnesota Twins Starter Lee Stange takes the loss, giving up 8-hits and 2 runs. Yankees 3B Clete Boyer gets the key hit of the game, scoring both Yankees runs. The victory is the 23rd for Whitey Ford, who is now at 23-7 mark for the 1963 AL season.
1969 - Detroit Tigers starter Denny McLain records his 9th shutout of the 1969 AL season, a Tiger club pitching record beating the New York Yankees by a score of 2-0 at Yankee Stadium.
1978 - The New York Yankees are now 1 1/2 games in front of the Boston Red Sox; open a 3-game series in the Bronx with the Red Sox. Yankee starter Ron Guidry again gives up only 2-Red Sox hits and wins a 4-0 shutout. Chris Chambliss and Graig Nettles hit successive HRs, off of Red Sox starter Luis Tiant, in the Yankees 4-run 4th inning.
1985 - The New York Yankees traded minor league P Jim Deshaies and 2 other minor leaguers to be named later to the Houston Astros for 40-year-old veteran hurler Joe Niekro. This move reuniting the Niekro brothers as teammates for the 1st time since the 1974 ML season, when they were both with the Atlanta Braves.
1999 - At the Sky Dome, the Yankees defeat the Toronto Blue Jays as Andy Pettitte picks up his 13th victory by going 8 innings, while Yankees closer Mo Rivera gets his 41st save of the 1999 AL season. Blue Jays starter Pat Hentgen take the loss. The Yankees offensive is led by HRs by Tino Martinez and Bernie Williams.
2002 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees score 4 runs to break a 4-4 tie with the Chicago White Sox in the 6th inning. The Yankees win the game by the score of 8-4 with Andy Pettitte picking up his 11th victory of the season. The Yankees hitting attack is led by HRs by Jason Giambi with 1 on and solo HR shots by Bernie Williams and Alfonso Soriano
2008 - New York Yankees All Star closer Mo Rivera passes Lee Smith for 2nd on the all-time save list behind Trevor Hoffman of the San Diego Padres as the Yankees top the Chicago White Sox by the score of 4-2 to try to keep their playoff hopes alive; The White Sox lead in the AL Central falls to a game and a half.
2010 - The Tampa Bay Rays take back 1st place in the AL East in their seesaw battle with the Yankees for top spot in the AL East with a 4-3 win at Tropicana Field. Dan Johnson hits a pair of two-run homers off of Yankees starter Phil Hughes to account for all of Tampa Bay's runs.
September 16th
1877 - Former Yankees P George McConnell (1909, 1912-1913) was born (1877-1964). George McConnell went 12-28 in 61 games for the Yankees.
1905 - The New York Highlanders find themselves a little short on infielders, so RF Willie Keeler, who is left-handed, plays 2B in both games of a twin bill. The talented Keeler played 2 games at shortstop for the Highlanders in 1903.
1905 - Former Yankees P Joseph “ Sandy” Vance (1937-1938) was born (1905-1978). Sandy Vance went 1-0 in 5 games for the Yankees.
1908 - Former Yankees reserve OF Colonel “Buster” Mills (1940) was born (1908-1991). On October 26, 1938, Buster Mills was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Oral Hildebrand to the New York Yankees for C Joe Glenn and P Myril Hoag. He played 34 games in 1940, with the Yankees hitting .397 (25 for 63.) On April 3,1942, Buster was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for INF Larry Rosenthal.
1914 - At the age of 23, Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh (1913-1921) is hired as the manager of the Yankees to finish out the 1914 AL season. He would go 10-10 in the last 20 games of the 1914 AL season. The Yankees would finish in 6th place. Roger would return to playing shortstop, as William “Wild Bill” Donovan would be named Yankees Manager for the 1915 AL season. Roger was traded to the Boston Red Sox in December of 1921, as part of the Joe Bush-Sam Jones trade. Everett Scott, who was obtained in the trade, would replace him at shortstop.
1920 - Chicago White Sox starter Richard Kerr tops the New York Yankees by the score of 8-3. This loss drops Yankees to 2nd place behind the Cleveland Indians in the AL pennant race.
1922 - Pennant fever rages in St. Louis, as the Yankees come to town with a half-game lead. Bob Shawkey beats former Yankees starter Urban Shocker by the score of 2-1. The Brown’s George Sisler ties Ty Cobb's 1911 record by hitting in his 40th straight game. While chasing a fly ball in the 9th inning, Yankees OF Whitey Witt is hit in the head and knocked cold by a soda bottle thrown from the bleachers. AL League President Ban Johnson will initially offer a $1,000 reward for the name of the bottle-thrower. Then, to calm the crowds, the AL offers the theory that Witt stepped on the bottle and it flew up and hit him. The incident leads to a ban on the sale of bottled drinks in all AL ballparks.
1939 - The New York Yankees clinch their 4th AL successive pennant with an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Yankees starter Marius Russo picks up the win.
1940 - Rookie Johnny Lucadello of the St. Louis Browns hits HRs from each side of the plate against the Yankees in a 16-4 Browns win. Only Wally Schang of the Philadelphia A’s, in 1916, had accomplished the same feat in the AL. Yankees Mickey Mantle in 1955, will be the next AL player to do it. These are the only HRs that Lucadello will hit all season for the Browns.
1948 - Joe DiMaggio hits his 300th MLB career HR joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Rogers Hornsby, Chuck Klein and Hank Greenberg, as the only MLB players to reach this MLB career hitting milestone.
1950 - Rookie New York starter Whitey Ford tosses a 6-hitter to give the Yankees the rubber game in Detroit, winning by the score of 8-1 and move them back into 1st place. Joe DiMaggio hits his 30th HR as the Yankees score 7 runs in the 9th inning as Ford drives to his 7th win without a loss. The Boston Red Sox will follow the Yankees into Detroit and sweep 3 games from the Tigers.
1951 - At Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio's long triple off of Tribe starter Bob Feller scores 2 runs in the 5th inning, while New York starter Allie Reynolds holds on for a 5-1, Yankees victory. The Yankees take over 1st place in the AL for good by a margin of .003 points over the Cleveland Indians.
1955 - The New York Yankees open a key series with the Boston Red Sox. The day starts with the Yankees trailing 1st place Cleveland Indians by 1/2 game with 11 games remaining in the 1955 AL season. The Indians supposedly had the easier schedule because they did not have to play the Red Sox. In game #1 of the series, Yankees open with an early 3-0 lead. Only to fall behind by the score of 4-3 to the Sox in the 8th inning. Addition to losing their lead, the Yankees lose 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron, after he breaks a toe kicking a water cooler in the dugout after a close call out. Mickey Mantle gets hurt after running out a bunt. In the bottom of the 9th inning with 1 out, Hank Bauer hits a HR off of Red Sox reliever Ellis Kinder to tie the score at 4-4. One out later, Yankees Yogi Berra hits a game winning HR. Meanwhile the Cleveland Indians lose to the Detroit Tigers and the Yankees were in 1st place for the rest of the 1955 AL season.
1955 - New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle pulls a hamstring muscle while running out a bunt. He will make just two pinch-hit appearances for the Yankees in September of 1955. Mickey will go to bat in the 1955 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers, just 10 times, including a HR in Game 3.
1958 - Yankees killer Frank Lary is the 3rd pitcher to beat them 7 times in the same AL season, as the Detroit Tiger star defeats them by the score of 4-2. Ed Walsh (9-1 in 1908) and Ed Cicotte (7-1 in 1916) were the other pitchers. Frank Lary would finish with a MLB lifetime pitching record of 28-13 (.683) against the Yankees, which would allow him to have an overall .500 MLB career winning percentage.
1960 - With Hall Of Fame Ty Cobb among the 49,055 fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle cracks a 2-run HR, his 35th of the 1960 AL season, off of the O's starter Chuck Estrada to give the Yankees, a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Yogi Berra adds a HR. In the last of the 8th inning, Bobby Richardson's hit off of Baltimore Orioles hurler Chuck Estrada's glove drives in 2 runs for a 5-3 Yankees win.
1960 - Former Yankees DH/OF Mel Hall (1989-1992) was born. On March 19, 1989, Mel Hall was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for C Joel Skinner and OF/INF Turner Ward. He hit .273 in 519 games for the Yankees.
1961 - At Briggs Stadium, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for HR #57, off of Yankee killer Tiger starter Frank Lary, to stay a game ahead of Babe Ruth's 1927 HR pace. But Frank Lary wins his 21st game of the 1961 AL season, a 10-4 victory, over the Yankees starting pitcher Ralph Terry.
1964 - The Chicago White Sox move into a 1st-place tie (88-61) with the Baltimore Orioles by besting the Detroit Tigers by the score of 4-1, while the Orioles lose to the Minnesota Twins by the score of 2-1. The Yankees are 1 percentage point behind in the AL standings.
1967 - Detroit Tigers 1B Norm Cash drives in 5 runs and John Hiller goes the distance, enabling Detroit to take the AL lead with a 9-1 win over the New York Yankees.
1972 - The New York Yankees purchased P Steve Blateric (1972) from the Cincinnati Reds for waiver price. Steve appeared in 1 game with the Yankees with no record. In March of 1973, he was returned to the Reds.
1977 - The Yankees rally for 4 runs in the 8th inning to come-from-behind win over the Detroit Tigers by the score of 5-4. Paul Blair’s 2-run HR provided the margin of victory. Yankees starter Don Gullett went the distance for his 12th win of the 1977 AL season.
1978 - With 55,091 fans looking on, the New York Yankees snap a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning triple by Willie Randolph and a sacrifice fly by Thurman Munson to beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 3-2. The Yankees, now lead by 3 1/2 games in the AL East. The Yankees first score on a Reggie Jackson 2-run HR blast in the 5th inning. Both teams’ starters, Catfish Hunter and former Yankees pitcher Mike Torrez, go the distance for their teams.
1979 - At Yankee Stadium, the Bronx Bombers hold “Catfish Hunter Day” to honor their future HOF pitcher, who will be retiring at the end of the1979 AL season at the age of 33. A 20-year-old left-hander rookie pitcher named Dave Righetti makes his MLB debut for the Yankees.
1980 - At Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees behind the pitching of starter Ron Guidry and closer Goose Gossage beat the Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 5-4. The Gator picks up his 14th win of the 1980 AL season, going 6-innings, allowing 8-hits, 4-runs, and 4 strikeouts. Yankees closer Rich Gossage gets his 28th save of the 1980 AL season, pitching 2 innings allowing only 1-hit with 5 strikeouts.
1992 - Chicago White Sox 1B Frank Thomas gets 5 hits, all singles in Chicago's 9-6 win over the Yankees. The Yankees rookie starter Sterling Hitchcock loses his 1st MLB decision.
1996 - Backed by two-three run HRs from Tim Raines, celebrating his 37th birthday, Yankees starter Jimmy Key stops the Toronto Blue Jays by the score of 10-0. Raines 2nd HR, is a 457 FT blast to the Stadium CF, is the longest hit by a Yankees player this season. The Yankees are now 3 games up in the AL East.
1997 - The New York Yankees sweep a doubleheader from the Boston Red Sox, winning by scores of 2-0 and 4-3. Andy Pettitte pitches 8 innings in the opener, striking out career-high of 12 batters. Willie Banks is the winner for the Yankees in the nightcap with 6 2/3 innings performance.
2000 - Before a crowd of 55,097 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 6-3. Yankees starter Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez goes the distance to pick up his 12th victory of the season, giving up 4-hits, 3-runs with 6-strikeouts. The Yankees hitting attack was led by solo HRs by DH Glenallen Hill and C Jorge Posada.
2008 - At the last home stand at Yankee Stadium, Derek Jeter passes HOF Lou Gehrig for the most career hits at the storied stadium. He collects his 1,270th hit in the ballpark, a single past Juan Uribe while facing White Sox hurler Gavin Floyd. The Yankees still lose the game by the score of 6-2 to the Chicago White Sox.
September 17th
1887 - Former Yankees P Nick Cullop (1916-1917) was born. On January 21, 1916, Nick Cullop was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City Packers. Nick went 18-15 in 58 games for the Yankees. On January 22,1918, Nick was traded by the Yankees along with INF Joe Gedeon, P Urban Shocker, 2B Fritz Maisel, C Les Nunamaker and $15,000 to the St. Louis Browns for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.
1904 - More than 23,000 fans, reputedly the largest crowd in Boston Red Sox history, show up for the showdown twin bill with the Highlanders. New York scores 3 runs in each of the 1st 2 innings against Red Sox starter Bill Dineen. Jack Chesbro (35-8) holds on for a 6-4 win, his 7th win in a row. Highlanders briefly take over 1st place. Veteran starter Cy Young tops the Highlanders by the score of 4-2 in the nightcap, beating starter Ned Garvin, recently acquired from the Dodgers. The 2 teams complete their 3 doubleheaders with a 2-2-2 mark.
1917 - Former Yankees P Allen Gettel (1945-1946) was born. The New York Yankees signed Al Gettel as an MLB amateur free agent in 1936. Al went 15-15 in 53 games with 3 saves. On January 22,1943, Al was traded by the Yankees along with Ed Levy and $10,000 to the Philadelphia Blue Jays (aka the Phillies) for 1B Nick Etten. Al Gettel and Ed Levy returned to original teams on March 26,1943. The Yankees sent Tom Padden and Al Gerheauser on March 26,1943 to the Blue Jays to complete the trade. On December 6,1946, Al was traded by the Yankees along with P Gene Bearden and OF Hal Peck to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and 2B Ray Mack.
1917 - The New York Yankees Fritz Maisel’s 7th inning single breaks up Cleveland Indians starter Stan Coveleski’s no-hit bid during a 2-0 loss to the Indians.
1922 - The St. Louis Browns southpaw Hub Pruett, who has fanned Babe Ruth 9 of 10 times over the 1922 AL season, is reached for a HR by the Bambino, but he still beats the Yankees, by the score of 5-1. Whitey Witt receives an ovation but the partisan crowd is CF is quick to wave white hankies in the 8th inning for Yankees pinch-hitter McMillan. Police make them stop. Browns George Sisler has a single to extend his hitting streak to 41 games.
1928 - Wilcy Moore, the New York Yankees pitching hero of 1927 World Championship season, goes home with an ailing arm after working just 60 innings for the Yankees during the 1928 AL season. He posted a 4-4 record with 3 saves with a 4.18 ERA.
1931 - In the 1st of 2 games, the Yankees and Red Ruffing rough up the St. Louis Browns and their starter George Blaeholder by the score of 17-0. Bill Dickey's Grand Slam HR is the big blow. The Yankees take the nightcap by the score of 6-1 behind Lefty Gomez's 3-hitter with Babe Ruth's 41st and 42nd HRs of the 1931 AL season.
1934 - The New York Yankees reach Detroit for a last-chance series with the Tigers and lose the opening game, as veteran Al Crowder beats Lefty Gomez with a 3-0 shutout.
1936 - Former Yankees reserve INF Tommy Carroll (1955-1956) was born. Tommy Carroll was a New York Yankees bonus baby signing in 1955. Tom had played college baseball at Notre Dame. He played shortstop and 3B for the Yankees in 50 games, hitting .287. He spent two years in the US Army. During the 1959 AL season, he was traded to the Kansas City A’s. Tom will retire from MLB after the 1959 AL season, to become a member of the U.S. Diplomat Services for the State Department.
1939 - AL President Will Harridge overturns the umpires' decision to call the September 2nd, New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox game, and a forfeit. He orders the contest to be replayed from the 7th inning, as a 5-5 tie. After the Red Sox fans had thrown a barrage of garbage onto playing field at Fenway Park due to the Yankees making deliberate outs to take advantage of the 6:30 PM Sunday curfew, Umpire Cal Hubbard ruled that the Boston crowd's action made it impossible to continue the game and awarded the game to the Yankees by the forfeit score of 9-0.
1950 - Newly acquired NL veteran hitter Johnny Hopp pinch-hits a Grand Slam HR off of St. Louis Browns hurler Al Widmar during a 5-run, 9th inning Yankees rally which carried the team to a 6-1 win.
1951 - The New York Yankees break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the 9th inning when, with the bases loaded, Phil Rizzuto squeezes home Joe DiMaggio with the winning run. The run scored off of Cleveland Indian's Bob Lemon, gives Yankees starter Eddie Lopat his 20th win of the season. The Yankees, now lead the Indians by 1 game and the Boston Red Sox by 2 1/2 games.
1955 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/DH Marshall Brant (1980) was born. On April 1, 1980, Marshall Brant was purchased by the New York Yankees from the New York Mets. Marshall appeared in 3 games for the Yankees with no hits. On November 4,1980, he was released by the team. On February 3,1981, Brant was signed as a free agent with the Yankees, he would play for Columbus (AAA). On June 15,1983, Marshall was traded by the Yankees along with minor league P Ben Callahan and cash to the Oakland A’s for hurler Matt Keough.
1956 - The New York Yankees clinch their 22nd AL pennant, when Mickey Mantle hits his 50th HR of the 1956 AL season to end an 11-inning tie with the Chicago White Sox to win the game by a score of 3-2.
1958 - Despite a wind blowing in at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Mickey Mantle poles a Jim Bunning pitch down the RF line over the roof onto Trumbull Avenue, some 500 feet away. The 2-run HR is all that Jim Bunning allows the Yankee hitters as the Tigers win the game by a score of 5-2.
1960 - With Hall Of Fame Ty Cobb among the 49,055 fans in attendance at Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle cracks a 2-run HR, his 35th of the 1960 AL season, off of the O's starter Chuck Estrada to give the Yankees, a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning. Yogi Berra adds a HR. In the last of the 8th inning, Bobby Richardson's hit off of Baltimore Orioles hurler Chuck Estrada's glove drives in 2 runs for a 5-3 Yankees win.
1961 - In Detroit, Roger Maris triples off of reliever Terry Fox in the 7th inning to put the Yankees ahead, the Tigers ties it and, then in the 12th inning, Roger Maris faces Terry Fox again with Tony Kubek on 2B. Roger Maris steps out of the box to watch a long skein of Canadian geese fly over Tiger Stadium, then he steps back in, Roger belts the 1st pitch from Fox for his 58th HR of the season.
1964 - The New York Yankees whip the Angels by the score of 6-2 to lock on to 1st place in the AL for good with a 2-percentage-point lead over the idle Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles. Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle each have 3 hits. Mantle's include his 2,000th MLB career hit and his 450th MLB career HR, his 31st HR of the 1964 AL season. The Yankees have won 2 in a row and will run their winning streak to 11 games.
1968 - The Detroit Tigers clinch the 1968 AL pennant with a 2-1 victory over the New York Yankees.
1976 - At Milwaukee's County Stadium, 40,383 fans are on hand to celebrate "Hank Aaron Day." Among those gathered are MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn and Jack Ford, representing his father, President Gerald Ford. Hank goes hitless in 5 at-bats, and the 1st-place Yankees spoil the night by winning the game by a score of 5-3, in 11 innings. Graig Nettles hits a solo HR in the 11th inning for the game winner, an insurance run scores on a suicide bunt. Yankees starter Ed Figueroa tallies for his 19th win of the 1976 AL season, as the Yankees pad their AL East lead to 11 games.
1977 - The New York Yankees slam 5 HR’s (2 by Reggie Jackson and 1 by newly acquired Dave Kingman) and make 17 hits in route to a 9-4 win against the Detroit Tigers.
1978 - The Red Sox finally wins against the Yankees, taking a 7-3 victory in Yankee Stadium as Eckersley and Andy Hassler combine to stop the Yankees on 4 hits. The Yankees score 2 unearned runs in 8th inning on Butch Hobson’s 2nd error of the game (and his 42nd of the year). Yaz playing CF in place of the injured Fred Lynn collects his 14th HR of the year in the 9th inning.
1985 - Current Yankees reserve OF Greg Golson (2010) was born. On January 26, 2010, Greg Golson was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for minor league P Mitch Hilligoss and cash. He was a former #1 draft pick by the Philadelphia Phillies.
1990 - The Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 win over the New York Yankees with 49,902 fans at the Sky Dome giving Toronto a MLB season attendance record watch. The Blue Jays will finish the 1990 AL season with 58 consecutive sellouts and a total attendance of 3,885,284 fans.
1993 - in a last try for the pennant, the New York Yankees obtained 40-year-old veteran starter Frank Tanana from the New York Mets for minor league hurler Kenny Greer. Frank Tanana will go 0-2 with the Yankees to finish out his MLB career with a 240-236 record, and setting a MLB record for most wins without racking up a 20-win season.
1998 - Red Huff, the oldest ex-MLB player, dies at the age of 107. Huff pitched for the New York Yankees and the St. Louis Browns in 1911-1913 and in 1915. Red struck out the 1st MLB batter, he ever faced, Detroit Tigers star Ty Cobb.
2002 - New York Yankees All Star 2B Alfonso Soriano gets 5 hits, including a 2B and HR, as the Yankees fall to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays by a score of 9-7. CF Bernie Williams scores his 100th run in the loss to reach that mark for the 7th straight season. He is the 4th Yankee to score 100 runs this year, the 1st Yankee team to do so since 1941. Bernie Williams and Derek Jeter combine to tie the MLB record for consecutive years for teammates both having 100+ runs.
