This Week in Yankees History
October 30th - November 5th
October 30th
1888 - Former Yankees P Marty McHale (1913-1915) was born. Marty McHale went 12-27 in 51 games for the Yankees.
1941 - Former Yankees DH/3B James “Jim Ray” Hart (1973-1974) was born. On April 16, 1973, Jim Hart was purchased by the Yankees from the San Francisco Giants for cash. Jim hit .254 for the Yankees in 1973. On June 7,1974, Jim was released by the Yankees.
1962 - Former Yankees OF/DH Danny Tartabull (1992-1995) was born. Danny Tartabull was the son of former MLB player OF Jose Tartabull. On January 6,1992, the New York Yankees signed Danny Tartabull as a MLB free agent. His best Yankees season was in 1992, when he hit .262 for the Yankees. On July 28,1995, Danny was traded by the Yankees to the Oakland A’s for OF/DH Ruben Sierra and Jason Beverlin.
1982 - Former Yankees P Jonathan Albaladejo (2008-2010) was born. In the fall of 2007, hurler Jonathan Albaladejo was traded by the Washington Nationals to the New York Yankees for P Tyler Clippard. Albaladejo was injured for most of 2008 AL season, but did make 7 appearances for the Yankees. He wasn't as good as the previous year, allowing 15 hits and 6 walks in 13 ⅔ innings, being charged with a loss in his only decision. Still, he did strike out 13 batters, demonstrating that his fastball still has some bite. He also pitched in 6 games in the minors, 2 rehabilitation starts for the Staten Island Yankees (New York-Penn League), and 4 games with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, totaling only 11 innings of work between the 2 stops. Back with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010, Albaladejo was dominant as a closer, beating the old International League mark of 38 saves in a season that had been held by Matt Whiteside since 2004. In the fall of 2010, he left the New York Yankees to pitch for a team in Japan.
2001 - George W. Bush becomes the 8th President of the United States to attend a World Series game, the 1st since Dwight D. Eisenhower to throw out the ceremonial 1st pitch. Wearing a New York Fire Department windbreaker in honor of the heroes of the September 11th attacks, the President walks to the mound by himself, gives a thumbs up, and throws a perfect strike much to the delight of the Yankee Stadium faithful. In Game 3, the Yankees will win by the score of 2-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks, behind strong pitching by starter Roger Clemens and closer Mariano Rivera.
October 31st
1882 - Former Yankees OF Bert Daniels (1910-1913) was born. Bert Daniels hit .257 in 455 games with the New York Yankees, before being sold to the Cincinnati Reds in October of 1913.
1948 - Former Yankees OF John “Mickey” Rivers (1976-1980) was born. On December 11, 1975, he was traded by the California Angels along with P Ed Figueroa to the New York Yankees for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. In 1976, he hit .312 and was named to the AL All Star Team. He would hit .326 in 1977, but dropped to .266 playing with injuries. On August 1,1979, the Yankees traded Mickey along with players to be named later to the Texas Rangers for players to be named later, OF/DH Oscar Gamble and Amos Lewis (minors). The Rangers would send pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson on October 8,1979 to the Yankees to complete the trade. The Yankees would send minor league hurlers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy on October 8, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade.
1957 - New York Yankees All Star C Yogi Berra says the team returned fine money to the Yankee players involved in the Copacabana nightclub fight in May. Billy Martin, now with the Kansas City A’s doesn’t get a refund of the fine money by Yankees General Manager George Weiss.
1958 - Former Yankees reserve INF Paul Zuvella (1985-1986) was born. On June 30,1986, Paul Zuvella was traded by the Braves along with OF Claudell Washington to the Yankees for 1B/OF Ken Griffey Sr. and INF Andre Robertson. Paul appeared in only 35 games for the Yankees, hitting just .172, spending most of his time with the Columbus Clippers (AAA). On October 15,1987, Paul was released by the Yankees.
1960 - Former Yankees INF Mike Gallego (1992-1994) was born. On January 9, 1992, Mike Gallego was signed as a MLB free agent by the Yankees. He appeared in 261 games, hitting .261 for the team. On October 24,1994, Mike was granted MLB free agency, he would sign with the Oakland A’s in the spring of 1995.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Fred McGriff was born. The New York Yankees signed Fred McGriff as a 9th round pick in the 1981 MLB amateur player draft. On December 9,1982, he was traded by the Yankees along with 1B/OF Dave Collins, P Mike Morgan and cash to the Toronto Blue Jays for OF Todd Dodd and reliever Dale Murray.
1963 - Former Yankees C/1B/DH Matt Nokes (1990-1994) was born. On June 4,1990, Matt Nokes was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the New York Yankees for Pitchers Lance McCullers and Clay Parker. Matt appeared in 452 games for the Yankees hitting .249, before leaving the team after the 1994 AL season for MLB free agency.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Steve Rosenberg was born. Steve Rosenberg was 2-2 with a 2.06 ERA for the University of Florida in 1985 and followed with a 5-4, 4.81 season. The New York Yankees picked him in the 4th round of the 1986 MLB amateur player draft. After signing with the Yankees, he was assigned to the Oneonta Yankees, where he saved 3 of 3 games; striking out 10 and allowing 4-hits and 1 run in 9 innings. Steve was promoted to Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FL). He was 6-1 with 3 saves and a 2.12 ERA in 25 games. Rosenberg continued his rapid rise through the Yankees farm system in 1987, going 4-4 with 15 saves and a 2.25 for the Albany-Colonie Yankees. He was getting promoted to the Columbus Clippers (AAA). The 22-year-old did okay in AAA posting a 4-1 record, with 2 saves and a 4.08 ERA. In the fall of 1987, Steve was dealt along by the Yankees along with 1B/OF Dan Pasqua, C/DH/1B Mark Salas for Chicago White Sox pitchers Richard Dotson and Scott Nielsen.
1973 - Former Yankees OF/DH David Dellucci (2003) was born. On July 29, 2003, Dave Dellucci was traded by the Diamondbacks along minor leaguer John Prowl and P Bret Prinz to Yankees for OF Raul Mondesi and cash. At the end of 2003 AL season, David left the Yankees for MLB free agency signing with the Texas Rangers.
1983 - Former Yankees OF (1919) and NFL team owner George Halas passed away. George Halas was better known as a legendary NFL football coach and owner, played one season in the major leagues. He had been a 3-sport athlete at the University of Illinois. After playing minor league ball, came to the MLB as an outfielder in 1919. It was the year before Babe Ruth came to the Yankees, and their outfield consisted of Sammy Vick, Ping Bodie and Duffy Lewis. In 22 MLB at-bats with the Yankees, George Halas' MLB career batting average was .091.
1998 - Former Yankees minor league OF George Thurman passed away. On July 29, 1949, it was announced that the New York Yankees had purchased his contract from the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro League). He was one of the 1st black players in the Yankees farm system, along with Artie Wilson, Ruben Gomez, Vic Power, and later Elston Howard. He was assigned to the Newark Bears of the International League, where he hit 3 HRs in his 1st week. For rest of the 1949 minor league season, he hit .317 for the Bears in 59 games, before a hand injury sidelined him. In 1950, the Yankees sold him to the Chicago Cubs. Bob would reach the MLB in 1955 playing with the Cincinnati Reds.
2001 - For the 1st time since the Philadelphia A’s Mule Haas hit a game-tying 2-run home run in Game 5 of the 1929 World Series, a team comes from behind to tie a Fall Classic game in the 9th inning and goes on to win in extra innings. A 2-out, 2-run HR by Tino Martinez in the bottom of the 9th inning ties the game. Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter hits a HR in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Yankees, a 3-2 victory over the D-Backs and knots the World Series at 2 games apiece. Both HRs come off of D-Backs closer Byung-Hyun Kim, who relieved starter Curt Schilling in the 8th inning. Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera gets the win in relief for the Yankees.
2009 - The New York Yankees take the lead in the 2009 World Series by winning Game 3, 8 - 5 over the Philadelphia Phillies in a game in which 6 home runs are hit - three by each team. Yankee veteran starter Andy Pettitte is the winner over Phillies starter Cole Hamels.
2010 - Former Yankees minor league INF Artie Wilson passed away. Artie Wilson first played professional ball in 1944, the 1st of his 5 seasons with the Birmingham Black Barons.
He was selected to play in the All-Star game 4 times and the only year he missed, the shortstop chosen was a Kansas City Monarchs rookie, Jackie Robinson. He also played in the Negro World Series 3 times, including the last one in 1948, each time losing to the powerful Homestead Grays. In 1948 was the season that Wilson helped mentor another Alabama native, 17-year-old Barons rookie Willie Mays. During the 1948 regular season Wilson hit .402 for the Barons. He is credited with being the last player in a top league to hit .400 as he did it 7 years after Ted Williams hit .406 for the 1941 Boston Red Sox. A speedster on the bases, Wilson was a singles hitter, who often hit to the opposite field. After the 1948 Series, Wilson went to Puerto Rico to play winter ball, where he led the Mayaguez Indians to the Puerto Rican Winter League title, while hitting .379. Cleveland's flamboyant owner, Bill Veeck, flew to Puerto Rico; he signed Wilson, 28, to play for the Indians, who had won the 1948 World Series that season with OF Larry Doby and P Satchel Paige on their roster. Unfortunately for Wilson, the New York Yankees protested the signing, as the Yankees believed they had secured the right to sign Wilson from the Barons' owner. At the same time a contract dispute arose between Cleveland and New York over the Yankees signing another former Negro Leagues star, outfielder Luis Marquez. MLB commissioner Happy Chandler resolved the conflict by voiding both player contracts. Cleveland received Marquez. The Yankees promptly traded Wilson to the Oakland Oaks (PCL), where he played his 1st season of integrated baseball.
Wilson led the Pacific Coast League in batting average in 1949 with a .348 mark and stolen bases with 47. A slick-fielding middle infielder, he had 6 seasons over .300 in the PCL. In 1950 he led the league in runs (168) and hits (264). He made PCL All-Star teams in at least the following years: 1950, 1952, and 1953. In 1952, he led the PCL in hits again. In 1953, he led the league with 14 triples and his .332 BA was second to Bob Dillinger. He played for several PCL teams during his prime - the Oakland Oaks, San Diego Padres, Seattle Rainiers, and Portland Beavers.
In 1951, Artie Wilson finally got the opportunity to play in the MLB, when the New York Giants signed him. He shined in spring training in Florida, Giants manager Leo Durocher was quoted in the New York Times as saying he didn't see how he could keep Artie out of the starting lineup once the regular NL season began. Wilson only played sparingly, however, getting just 22 at-bats in 19 games. He was sent down to the minors in May when the Giants brought up a stellar center fielder from their AAA club in Minneapolis, Willie Mays. Wilson decided to return to Oakland and finished his career in the PCL in 1957. In 2003, he was elected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame.
November 1st
1884 - Former Yankees OF/1B Robert “Ham” Hyatt (1918) was born. On June 19,1918, the New York Yankees purchased INF Bob Hyatt from the Boston Braves. Bob hit .229 in 53 games with the 1918 Yankees.
1893 - Former Yankees OF Alex Burr (1914) was born. Outfielder Alex Burr appeared in one game with the Yankees in 1914 with no plate appearances. Alex Burr was killed in an airplane accident on October 12,1918 while serving in the United States Air Service in Cazaux, France. Burr's plane crashed into a lake in flames; his body was not recovered. He had been serving in France since November of 1917. Alex was 24 years old at the time of his death. Burr was one of five MLB players who were killed in World War I. The others were: Bun Troy‚ Larry Chappell‚ Eddie Grant‚ and Ralph Sharman.
1927 - Former Yankees minor 1B Vic Power was born (1927-2005). Before 1951 AL Season, Vic Power was purchased by the Yankees from Drummondville (Provincial League). Vic went to Syracuse to play in the Yankees organization in 1951. The year after that he was with the minor league Kansas City Blues AAA team. In 1953, he led the American Association league in batting. Since Vic was flashy and vocal, Yankees GM George Weiss felt that Power was not going to be the 1st MLB Black Yankee. He decided on Elston Howard, Vic Power and other black players in the Yankees minor league organization were traded away. On December 16, 1953, he was traded by Yankees along with 1B Don Bollweg, P Johnny Gray, C Jim Robertson, 3B Jim Finigan to the A’s for INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, Outfielders Tom Hamilton, Carmen Mauro and 1B Eddie Robinson. Vic would play 12 seasons in the MLB, hitting .284 with 126 HRs, while winning 7 AL Golden Gloves at 1B. He hit .300 three times in his MLB career. Former Yankees 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron was asked, who was the best MLB 1B, he played against, he quickly replied “Vic Power.” When Power was traded away, Skowron moved up the Yankees farm system, eventually he replaced Yankees regular 1B Joe Collins.
1943 - New York Yankees AL All Star starter Spud Chandler is named AL pitching ERA leader with a 1.64 ERA. Spud went 20-4 for the 1943 World Champion Yankees.
1961 - Former Yankees P Tom “Salida Tom” Hughes (1900-1910) passed away (1884-1961). In August of 1905, Tom Hughes was drafted by the New York Yankees from Topeka (Western Association) in the 1905 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He would post a 17-17 record in 54 games with 2 saves. Also his brother catcher Ed Hughes played in the MLB.
1974 - Former Yankees P Leslie “Bullet Joe” Bush (1922-1924) passed away. The Philadelphia A’s originally signed Joe Bush. The A’s traded him to the Boston Red Sox. On December 20,1921, the Red Sox traded him along with P Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott to the New York Yankees traded Joe for P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Bill Piercy, and P Jack Quinn. Joe went 62-38 in 115 games for the Yankees. The 1922 AL season was his best Yankee career season. Joe posted a 26-7 mark with WP of .788 in 39 games. He appeared 2 World Series (1922-1923) with the Yankees going 1-3. On December 17,1924, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with fellow hurlers Milt Gason and Joe Gardi to the St. Louis Browns for veteran starter Urban Shocker.
1978 - New York Yankees starter Ron Guidry is the unanimous choice for the 1978 American League Cy Young Award. Ron Guidry led the AL in wins (25), winning percentage (.893), shutouts (9), and ERA (1.74).
1979 - The New York Yankees acquired OF Ruppert Jones from the Seattle Mariners and C Rick Cerone and P Tom Underwood from the Toronto Blue Jays, giving up a total of 7 players, including the popular 1B Chris Chambliss, INF Damaso Garcia, OF Juan Beniquez, and Pitchers Jim Beattie and Paul Mirabella. Chris Chambliss will be with the Blue Jays for only a month, before they swap him to the Atlanta Braves. The Yankees will use Rick Cerrone as their starting catcher, replacing the rookie player duo of Jerry Narron and Brad Gulllen, who stepped in the role as Yankee catchers after Munson’s tragic death during the 1979 AL season. The Yankees 1st Base position will remain unstable with the departure of steady Chris Chambliss, until the arrival of Don Mattlingly.
2001 - The 1st MLB game ever started in the month of November is a memorable one as the Yankees, for the 2nd consecutive night, make a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the 9th inning to tie the game and go on to victory in extra innings. In an amazing case of history repeating itself, D-Backs closer Byung-Hyun Kim is again victimized, this time by Yankees 3B Scott Brosius, who hits a game-tying 2-out, 2-run HR to knot the game at 2-2 in the 9th inning, as Alfonso Soriano’s hit a RBI single with Chuck Knoblauch scoring the winning run in the 12th inning to give the Yankees, a 3-2 victory and 3-2 lead over Arizona in the World Series. Steve Finley and Rod Barajas hit HRs in the 5th inning for Arizona's runs.
2005 - The New York Yankees hired Larry Bowa, as their MLB 3rd base coach for the 2006 AL season. A 5-time NL All-Star shortstop, Bowa who had managed for San Diego Padres and the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL. Also he was a MLB coach for the Angels, Mariners and Phillies. Bowa is the 1st addition to Yankees manager Joe Torre's coaching staff, which recently lost Pitching coach Mel Stottlemyre (who retired) and bench coach Joe Girardi (who became manager of the Marlins). Luis Sojo, who coached 3rd base the last season is expected to be offered another job in the organization by the Yankees.
2005 - American League Gold Glove Award winners are announced. Players Kenny Rogers (P), Jason Varitek (C), Mark Teixeira (1B), Orlando Hudson (2B), Eric Chavez (3B), Yankees Derek Jeter (SS), Ichiro Suzuki (OF), Torii Hunter (OF) and Vernon Wells (OF) earn honors.
November 2nd
1937 - American League batting champ Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer is named the 1937 AL MVP receiving 78 out of a possible 80 points. Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio, who hit .346 is a close second with 4 points behind in the voting, while Gehringer’s Tigers teammate 1B Hank Greenberg, who had 183 RBI’s is a distant 3rd in the voting. Gehringer also becomes the 3rd Tiger player in 4 years to be named AL MVP.
1938 - Boston Red Sox 1B Jimmie Foxx is voted the American League MVP for the 3rd time with Yankees catcher Bill Dickey, who had hit .313, finishing 2nd place in the AL MVP voting.
1958 - Former Yankees minor league OF Willie McGee was born. Willie McGee was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1st round (15th pick) of the 1977 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Willie never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On October 21,1981, Willie was traded by the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals for P Bob Sykes.
1960 - The New York Yankees make it official by announcing that General Manager George Weiss will retire after 29 years of service with the Yankees organization. George Weiss ran the Yankee farm system under General Manager Ed Borrow, before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1946. Roy Hamey is named his successor. Weiss tells the NYC media that the Yankees have a good run of 5 years left, before the Yankees farm system talent is finished. He will join his former Yankees manager Casey Stengel in running the new 1962 NL expansion team in NYC, the Mets as their 1st General Manager.
1960 - The New York Yankees All Star RF Roger Maris defeated his fellow Yankees teammate CF Mickey Mantle for the 1960 American League MVP Award, by 225-222, (3 votes), the second-closest AL MVP vote ever, behind the Yankees Joe DiMaggio and Boston Red Sox Ted Williams 1947 AL MVP election.
1960 - Former Yankees shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott (1922-1925) passed away (1892-1960). MLB Shortstop Everett Scott played in 1,307 consecutive games, the MLB record until Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig came along. He began his streak on June 20,1916 while playing for the Boston Red Sox. On December 20, 1921, the Red Sox along with hurlers Sam Jones and Bullet Joe Bush to the Yankees traded Scott for P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Bill Piercy, and P Jack Quinn. On May 6, 1925, Yankees Manager Miller Huggins in favor of Pee Wee Wanninger benched Scott. Ironically, less than a month later, his Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig began his own streak, when he entered a game as a pinch hitter for Wanninger. Scott's streak is still the third longest MLB streak behind Cal Ripken and Lou Gehrig. His Yankee career totals were .254 BA with 13 HRs with 173 RBI’s in 481 games. He appeared 11 World Series games with the Yankees hitting .230. On June 17,1925, the Washington Senators selected Scott off waivers from the Yankees.
1964 - CBS Inc. purchases 80% of the Yankee ownership for an estimated $11,200,000 from Yankees Co-Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping. The network later purchased the remaining 20% of stock from Dan Topping in the fall of 1966.
1964 - Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach Billy Connors (1989-1990, 1995-1996,2003) was born. Billy Connors started 1 game in his MLB pitching career. It was on September 2, 1967 as a member of the New York Mets against the Chicago Cubs. He went 4 innings, gave up 4 hits, 4 earned runs, walked 2 and struck out 3. He did not get a decision. Connors later had a long big league coaching career, starting as a member of the Kansas City Royals MLB staff in 1980-1981. He was a Chicago Cubs MLB coach from 1982-1986. He was part of the Seattle Mariners MLB coaching staff the next two seasons. In 1989-1990, he was with the New York Yankees before returning to the Cubs from 1991-1993. He spent the next 2 seasons back with the Yankees. Billy returned to the Yankees for a 3rd stint in 2003.
1976 - Former Yankees P Sidney Ponson (2006, 2008) was born. In two tours with the New York Yankees, veteran MLB P Sidney Ponson went 4-5 in 21 games.
1981 - Former Yankees INF Wilson Betemit (2007-2008) was born. On July 31, 2007, Wilson Betemit was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Scott Proctor. He appeared in 124 games for the Yankees, hitting .253 with 10HRs with 49 RBI’s. On November 13, 2008, Wilson was traded by the Yankees along with minor league pitchers Jeff Marquez and Jhonny Nunez to the Chicago White Sox for 1B/OF/DH Nick Swisher and minor league player Kanekoa Texeria.
1982 - Former Yankees P Bill Zuber (1943-1946) passed away. On January 29,1943, the Washington Senators traded hurler Bill Zuber along with cash to the New York Yankees for P Milo Candini and INF Jerry Priddy. Bill posted an 18-23 record in 66 games for Yankees. On June 18,1946, Bill was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the Yankees.
1995 - The New York Yankees named Joe Torre as their new manager, replacing the recently departed Manager Buck Showalter. Joe Torre, a former St. Louis Cardinals' star and NL batting champion, will guide the Yankees to four World Championships in his 1st five years with the team. He will manage the Yankees until 2007.
2005 - Former Baltimore Orioles manager Lee Mazzilli rejoined the New York Yankees as Joe Torre's MLB bench coach.
2007 - Former Yankees player and MLB coach Joe Girardi signs a three year, $7.8 million deal with a $3000,00 signing bonus and $2.5 million per season through 2010 American League season. He becomes the 32nd manager in New York Yankees History.
2009 - The Philadelphia Phillies send the 2009 World Series back to New York City with an 8-6 win over the Yankees in Game 5. Chase Utley hits 2 HRs and drives in 4 runs as the Phillies jump to a 6-1 lead against New York Yankees starter A.J. Burnett. Phillies hurler Cliff Lee wins his second start of the 2009 World Series.
2010 - Former Yankees Manager, Baseball Executive, MLB Coach and MLB player Clyde King passed away (1924-2010). Clyde King was then a member of the New York Yankees MLB coaching staff in 1978 and 1981. He managed the Yankees for part of the turbulent 1982 AL season. He served as Yankees General Manager in 1985-1986. He was a member of the team's MLB coaching staff again in 1988. From 1998 to 2005, he was a special assistant to the General Manager of the Yankees. Clyde King pitched in the majors for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Cincinnati Reds (1944-1953). He managed the Giants and Braves during his MLB Manager career. Also he worked for the Reds, Pirates, Cardinals organizations.
November 3rd
1878 - Former Yankees P Walter Clarkson (1904-1907) was born. During the month of August in 1905, hurler Walt Clarkson was purchased by the New York Highlanders from the Jersey City (Eastern League). Walt went 13-9 in 54 games with the Yankees with 1 save. On May 16,1907, Walt was traded by the Highlanders along with OF Frank Delahanty to the Cleveland Naps (Indians) for P Earl Moore.
1911 - Former Yankees Manager John Keane (1965-1966) was born (1911-1967). Johnny Keane replaced Yankees Manager Yogi Berra, after he left the St. Louis Cardinals in 1964. Keane was 81-101 with the Yankees before being replaced in the beginning of the 1966 AL season by former Manager Ralph Houk. He was disliked by many of the veteran Yankees players. Johnny was the wrong man to manage a veteran Yankee team. In the spring of 1967, Johnny suffered a fatal heart attack, while working as a MLB scout for the Angels.
1934 - The New York Yankees All Star 1B Lou Gehrig wins the AL Triple Crown after hitting .363 BA, with 49 HRs and 165 RBIs, but Lou will not win the 1934 AL MVP award. The Philadelphia A’s backstop Mickey Cochrane, who hit .320 with 2 HRs and 76 RBIs is named 1934 American League Most Valuable Player.
1942 - The BWAA selected New York Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon as the 1942 American League Most Valuable Player Award winner. Joe hits .322 with 18 HRs and 103 RBIs. Gordon of the Yankees leads the AL in strikeouts (95), most ground balls hit into double plays (22) and the most errors at 2B base with 28.
1945 - Former Yankees P Ken Holtzman (1976-1978) was born. On June 15, 1976, Ken Holtzman was traded by the Baltimore Orioles along with P Doyle Alexander, OF Jimmy Freeman, C Ellie Hendricks, and P Grant Jackson to the Yankees for Pitchers Rudy May, Tippy Martinez, Dave Pagan, Scott McGregor, and C Rick Dempsey. Ken went 12-10 in 44 games with the Yankees, he was a major disappointment for the team. On June 10,1978, Ken was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later. The Cubs would later send P Ron Davis on June 12,1978 to the Yankees to complete the trade.
1955 - The New York Yankees tour Japan and draw a record crowd of 64,000 fans, when they play the 1st game against the All-Japan Stars in Osaka. Yankees 3B Andy Carey slugs 13 HR’s, and Elston Howard bats .468 on the 25-game tour. According to "Elston and Me" by Arlene Howard (University of Missouri Press, 2001), the goodwill tour of Japan took place in 1955, immediately following the Yankees loss to the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1955 World Series. The amount of HRs hit by Andy Carey affects his MLB batting swing, he tries to be a HR hitter in AL, but he fails.
1963 - Former Yankees minor league P Mike Christopher was born. The New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft drafted Mike Christopher. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 5, 1989, Mike was drafted by the Dodgers from the Yankees in the 1989 MLB minor league player draft.
1963 - Former Yankees OF Marcus Lawton (2005) was born. On August 27, 2005, Marcus Lawton was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the Yankees for minor league player P Justin Berg. He appeared in 21 games, hitting just .125 before being released by the Yankees. He is the brother of former Yankees OF Matt Lawton.
1968 - Former Yankees P Paul Quantrill (2004-2005) was born. On December 17, 2003, the New York Yankees signed veteran MLB reliever Paul Quantrill as a MLB free agent. Paul posted an 8-3 record in 108 games with 1 save for the Yankees. On July 2, 2005, Paul was traded by the Yankees to the San Diego Padres for hurlers Darrell May, Tim Redding and cash.
1973 - Former Yankees P Armando Benitez (2003) was born. On July 16, 2003, he was traded by the Mets to the Yankees for Ryan Bicondoa (minors), Jason Anderson and Anderson Garcia. He posted a 1-1 record in 9 games for the 2003 Yankees. On August 6,2003, he was traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for veteran reliever Jeff Nelson
1982 - Former Yankees P Ray Fisher (1911-1917) passed away. In August of 1909, P Ray Fisher was purchased by the New York Highlanders from Hartford (Connecticut State). Ray went 76-78 in 219 games for the Yankees. On March 15,1919, Ray Fisher was selected off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds from the New York Yankees. He appears in the 1919 World Series with the Reds, In 1921 the Cincinnati Reds cut Ray Fisher's salary by $1,000. Rather than take the pay cut, Fisher asked for his release, then quit to coach baseball at the University of Michigan when the Reds wouldn't release him. For this offense, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned Ray Fisher. In 1980, Commissioner Bowie Kuhn reinstated him back into baseball. In 1951, Fisher was one of a number of baseball figures, who testified before the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Study of Monopoly Power in its investigation of baseball's business practices. His testimony focused primarily on the circumstances surrounding his leaving the Cincinnati Reds to take the coaching position at Michigan and his subsequent blacklisting by the Commissioner. Fisher coached Michigan for 38 years (1921-1958) winning nine Big 10 Conference titles outright, while sharing 4 more. The 1953 team won the College World Series. He lived to age 95. Shortly before his death he was honored at Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium. Prior to his death in 1982, he was the oldest-living former player of the Yankees and Reds.
1992- The New York Yankees make one of their best modern trades ever by acquiring OF Paul O'Neill from the Cincinnati Reds for OF Roberto Kelly. Paul O'Neill will help the Yankees win World Championships in 1996,1998,1999, and the 2000 AL seasons. The Yankees front office had asked Roberto Kelly to move to RF for rookie CF Bernie Williams, he refused to do so and was traded by the team.
2001 - In Game 6 of 2001 World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks get 21 hits in the first 6-innings against the Yankees to set a record for hits in a World Series game. The 1921 New York Giants in Game 3 against the Yankees, and the 1946 St. Louis Cardinals in Game 4, against the Red Sox, established the previous WS record of 20 hits. The D-Backs win by a score of 15-2, forcing a decisive Game 7. Randy Johnson is the winning pitcher, while Andy Pettitte is the losing pitcher for the Yankees.
2005 - Former Kansas City Royals Manager Tony Peña was hired by the New York Yankees as their 1B MLB coach. Tony tells the New York City sports media that he would withdraw as a candidate to manage the Dominican Republic team in next year's inaugural World Baseball Classic.
November 4th
1910 - Former Yankees P Joe Beggs (1938) was born. Joe Beggs went 3-2 in 14 games for the Yankees in 1938. On January 4,1940, Joe was traded by the Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds for P Lee Grissom.
1931 - The New York Yankees purchased OF George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk from Jersey City (International League). He would join the Yankees in 1934, spending 9 nine seasons (1934-1942) with the Yankees, hitting .290 for them. After Babe Ruth leaves the team, he will wear Yankee uniform No. 3. George Selkirk batted over .300 five times, twice drove home more than 100 RBI, played on 5 World Championship teams (1936-1939 and 1941). He made the AL All-Star team in 1936 and 1939. In 1942, he joined the U. S. Navy and served during World War II. After retiring as active player, George was a minor league manager for the Yankees and Boston Braves. In 1957-1958, he was the General Manager for the Kansas City A’s. He would later work as GM for the new expansion Washington Senators from 1963-1968. After leaving the Senators, he rejoined the Yankees organization as a MLB scout.
1947 - Former Yankees P Lloyd Colson (1970) was born. On June 6, 1967, the New York Yankees in the 28th round of the 1967 MLB amateur player draft drafted Lloyd Colson. He appeared in only 1 game for the Yankees during the 1970 AL season with no record.
1948 - Former Senators and Yankees OF Jake Powell (1936-1940) shoots and kills himself in a Washington, D.C. police station. Jake was an OF for the Senators (1930,1934-1936 and 1943-1945), Yankees (1936-1940) and Phillies (1945). He helped the Yankees win the World Series every year from 1936-1939. His final Yankees career totals were a .271 BA with 13 HRs with 124 RBIs in 272 games. In 11 MLB seasons, he played in 688 games with 116 doubles, 26 triples, 22 HRs, 327 RBIs, finishing with a .271 BA. On July 29, 1938, in a pre-game radio interview, White Sox broadcaster Bob Elson asked Powell what he did in the off-season. He replied (falsely) that he was a police officer in Dayton, Ohio. When Elson asked what Powell did to stay in shape, Powell responded that he "cracked ni**ers over the head with [his] nightstick." After a surge of public outrage, including calls that Powell be banned for life, MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis suspended Jake Powell for 10 games. On November 4,1948, Powell was arrested in Washington, D.C, for passing bad checks. Distraught and mentally unstable, Jake pulled out a gun while in police custody and committed suicide.
1953 - Former Yankees P Roy Slagle (1979) was born. Roy Slagle was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (19th pick) of the 1976 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Roy appeared 1 game for the 1979 Yankees, pitching 2 scoreless innings.
1961 - Former Yankees minor league P Logan Easley was born. On June 8,1981, Logan Easley was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 1981 MLB amateur player draft. Logan never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 26,1986, he was traded by the Yankees along with pitchers Doug Drabek and Brian Fisher to the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitchers Rick Rhoden, Cecilio Guante, and Pat Clements.
1967 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ryan Thompson (2000) was born. Thompson hit .260 for the Yankees in 33 games during the 2000 AL season.
1976 - The two new American League franchises, the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays select 30 players apiece from other AL teams in the 1976 AL expansion player draft. The Yankees lose veteran reliever Grant Jackson and rookie OF/INF Juan Bernhardt to the Seattle Mariners. They lose veteran shortstop Jim Mason, rookie 3B Garth Iorg and OF/DH Otto Velez to the Toronto Blue Jays in the expansion team player draft.
1981 - The Cincinnati Reds traded veteran All Star OF Ken Griffey Sr. to the Yankees for P Fred Toliver and minor-league P Brian Ryder. Ken Griffey was about to become a MLB free agent, so the Reds traded him.
1982 - New York Yankees MLB Coach Mike Ferraro lands his 1st MLB managing job, signing a 2-year contract to lead the Cleveland Indians. He will be fired before the end of the 1983 AL season.
2001 - In Game 7 of a classic World Series, the Arizona Diamondbacks rallied for 2 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning defeating the Yankees and their usually unbeatable closer, Mariano Rivera by the score of 3-2. The 4-year-old D-Backs, the youngest franchise to win a Fall Classic, ended the Yankees string of 3 consecutive World Championships. Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling shared the Series MVP honors. The D-Backs pitchers are the 1st multiple winners since the Dodgers trio of Ron Cey, Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager shared the MVP award in the 1981 World Series.
2003 - Former New York Yankees All Star 1B Don Mattingly is named as the MLB hitting coach of the Yankees replacing recently departed Rick Down.
2009 - The New York Yankees defeat the Philadelphia Phillies by the score of 7-3 in Game 6, to win the 2009 World Series. Yankees DH Hideki Matsui drives in a record 6 runs to earn the World Series Most Valuable Player Award.
November 5th
1883 - Former Yankees INF Otis Johnson (1911) was born. Otis Johnson appeared in 71 games with the Yankees in 1911, just hitting .234.
1892 - Former Yankees C/OF Alfred ‘”Roxy” Walters (1915-1918) was born. On July 23, 1915, Roxy Walters was purchased by the Yankees from Waco (Texas League). He hit .265 in 193 games for the Yankees. On December 18,1918, Roxy was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Ray Caldwell, OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, and $15,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Ernie Shore, OF Duffy Lewis, and P Dutch Leonard.
1907 - The New York Highlanders traded 2B Jimmy Williams and OF Danny Hoffman to the St. Louis Browns for P Fred Glade, 2B Harry Niles and OF Charlie Hemphill. Glade will pitch in just 5 games in 1908, before retiring from MLB.
1924 - Former Yankees P John “Sonny” Dixon (1956) was born. Sonny Dixon went 0-1 in 3 games for the 1956 Yankees, after being acquired from the Kansas City A’s for veteran P Johnny Sain and OF Enos Slaughter, before leaving the MLB for good. He continued to pitch in AAA, before retiring as an active player.
1955 - Former Yankees reserve C Bobby Ramos (1982) was born. On April 5, 1982, the Montreal Expos traded C Bobby Ramos to the New York Yankees for reserve C Brad Gulden. Bobby will appear in only 4 games for the 1982 Yankees, hitting just .091. Bobby was sold back to the Expos in November of 1982.
1973 - Former Yankees OF/DH Johnny Damon (2006-2009) was born. Since signing with the New York Yankees as a MLB free agent, Johnny has appeared in 576 games hitting .285 with 125 HRs and 296 RBI’s. The Kansas City Royals originally signed him, and then he was traded to the Oakland A’s. Then he signed as a MLB free agent with the Boston Red Sox. In the winter of 2009, Johnny left the Yankees for MLB free agency signing with the Detroit Tigers. In 2010, John played for the Tampa Bay Rays.
1992 - Former Yankees P Ron Scurry (1985-1986) passed away. On September 14, 1985, Ron Scurry was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ron went 2-2 in 36 games with 3 saves for the 1985-1986 Yankees. On November 22,1986, Ron was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. On December 6,1986, Ron was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees On March 27,1987, Ron was released by the New York Yankees. During his MLB playing career, pitcher Rod Scurry was plagued by drug problems, particularly cocaine addiction. He died at age 36 of an apparent drug overdose, a week after collapsing during an altercation with the police
1996 - New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter is the unanimous choice as American League 1996 Rookie of the Year Award. Jeter becomes the 8th Yankees player to win the award and the 5th unanimous choice in AL history.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)