This Week in Yankees History
November 6th - 12th
November 6th
November 6th - 12th
November 6th
1931 - Former Yankees P Jack “Happy Jack” Chesbro passed away (1874-1931). Jack Chesbro holds the MLB and New York Yankees team record for most wins in a MLB season with 41 wins in 1904. From 1903-1909, Jack won 129 games as a Yankees hurler; he appeared in 269 games with 169 complete games, 1,953 innings, a .577 WP, a 2.58 ERA, with 16 shutouts and 913 strikeouts. Before joining the New York Yankees in 1903, Jack had previously pitched for the Pittsburgh Pirates in National League.
1942 - The New York Yankees are notified that INF Frank Crosetti will be suspended for 30 days, commencing opening day of the 1943 AL season for pushing Umpire Bill Sommers in Game #3 of the 1942 World Series. Frank Crosetti was fined $250, as was Yankees 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon.
1953 - Former Yankees P John Candelaria (1988-1989) was born. On January 15, 1988, John Candelaria was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. John went 16-10 in 35 games with the Yankees. On August 29,1989, John was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for INF Mike Blowers.
1961 - Former Yankees 3B Roy Hartzell (1911-1916) passed away. On February 11, 1911, Roy Hartzell was traded by the St. Louis Browns with cash to the Yankees for 3B Jimmy Austin and 2B Frank LaPorte. He appeared in 699 games for the Yankees, hitting .261 with 8 HRs with 266 RBIs.
1968 - Former Yankees reserve OF Chad Curtis (1997-1998) was born. On June 9,1997, Chad Curtis was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Yankees for P Dave Weathers. Chad would hit .291 in 93 games in 1997, but he slumped to .243 in 151 games in 1998. On December 13,1998, Chad was traded by the New York Yankees to the Texas Rangers for minor league hurlers Brandon Knight and Sam Marsonek.
1968 - New York Yankees sell INF Ruben Amaro Sr. to the Angels for a disclosed amount of money believed to be greater than the waiver price. Ruben was a major disappointment for the Yankees, who had traded for him to replacing the retiring Yankees regular shortstop Tony Kubek.
1971 - Former Yankees OF Bubba Trammell (2003) was born. On March 19, 2003, Bubba Trammell was traded by the San Diego Padres along with Mark Phillips (minors) and cash to the New York Yankees for OF/DH Rondell White. Bubba appeared in only 22 games for the Yankees, hitting .200, before leaving the team for personal reasons, which were never made public.
1978 - The New York Yankees released veteran P Andy Messersmith, who will sign with the Dodgers. Andy Messersmith never really recovered from the separated shoulder injury suffered in spring training, when he was run into during a play at 1B by Yankees 1B Cliff Johnson.
1983 - Current Yankees Minor League OF Justin Maxwell was born. On February 2, 2011, Justin Maxwell was traded by the Washington Nationals to the New York Yankees for minor league hurler Adam Olbrychowski. Maxwell began the 2011 season with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (AAA), but his season ended prematurely due to a torn labrum
2008 - New York Yankees pitcher Mike Mussina won the American League Golden Glove award for the seventh time in his MLB career, but for the first time in five years.
November 7th
1911 - Former Yankees reserve C Herbert “Workhorse” Crompton (1945) was born. On November 1, 1944, Herb Crompton was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in the 1944 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He appeared in only 36 games, hitting just .192 for the 1945 Yankees.
1933- Former Yankees reserve OF/1B Bob Hale (1961) was born. On July 28, 1961, Bob Hale was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Cleveland Indians. He appeared in only 11 games for the Yankees, hitting .154, before retiring from MLB at the end of the 1961 AL season.
1938 - Former Yankees 3B/C Jake Gibbs (1962-1971) was born. The New York Yankees signed Jake Gibbs for $100,000 as an MLB amateur free agent in 1961. Jake was originally signed as a 3B, but he was converted into a catcher. Jake hit .233 in 10 seasons with the Yankees. He helped Thurman Munson with his catching skills, when he first came up with the Yankees before retiring in 1971 as an MLB active player. Jake was an All-American quarterback at Old Miss, before deciding on a MLB career with the New York Yankees.
1938 - Former Yankees P and Broadcaster Jim Kaat (1979-1980) was born. On May 11, 1979, Jim Kaat was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia Phillies. Jim appeared in 44 games with the Yankees, posting a 2-4 record with 2 saves, before being sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1980.
1944 - Former Yankees P Joe Niekro (1985-1987) was born (1944-2006). On September 15, 1985, Joe Niekro was traded by the Houston Astros to the Yankees for minor league players to be named later and P Jim Deshaies. The Yankees sent minor league players Neder Horta on September 24,1985 and Dody Rather on January 11,1986 to the Astros to complete the trade. Joe went 14-15 in 36 games for the Yankees. On June 7,1987, the Yankees traded Joe to the Minnesota Twins for C/1B/DH Mark Salas. Joe Niekro passed away in 2006.
1963 - New York Yankees All Star catcher Elston Howard becomes the 1st black player to win the American League Most Valuable Player Award. Howard beats out Detroit Tigers RF Al Kaline by 248 votes to 148 votes in the AL MVP balloting. Ellie hit .287 with 28 HRs, 85 RBIs in 135 games for the 1963 AL Champion New York Yankees.
1968 - Former Yankees P Russ Springer (1992) was born. On June 5, 1989, Russ Springer was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 7th round of the 1989 MLB amateur player draft. Russ appeared in 14 games with the 1992 Yankees with no record. On December 6,1992, Russ was traded by the Yankees along with P Jerry Nielsen and 1B J.T. Snow to the California Angels for starter Jim Abbott.
1978 - In a controversial selection, Boston Red Sox OF Jim Rice is named American League MVP over New York Yankees P Ron Guidry. Jim Rice led the AL in HRs (46), RBI’s (139), hits (213), triples and slugging percentage (.600). He became the 1st AL player to accumulate 400 total bases in a season since Joe DiMaggio in 1937. While Ron Guidry, posted a 25-3 record with 248 strikeouts and a 1.74 ERA for the AL pennant-winning Yankees. Ron Guidry will win the 1978 American League Cy Young Award.
1997 - The New York Yankees traded veteran P Kenny Rogers to the Oakland A’s for a player to be named and cash considerations. The A’s will send 3B Scott Brosius to the Yankees on November 18,1997 to complete the trade.
2006 - Former Yankees pitcher (1951-1955) and MLB Pitching Coach (1961-1963) Johnny Sain passed away (1917-2006). Johnny Sain was obtained from the Boston Braves in August of 1951 for New York Yankees rookie P Lou Burdette and $50,000. John was 20-20, with 67 saves for the Yankees coming out of the bullpen and being an occasional spot starter. His best Yankees season was in 1953, posting a 14-7 mark with 19 saves. Johnny led the AL in saves in 22 in 1954, while going 6-6. He was traded during the 1955 AL season to the A’s along with veteran OF Enos Slaughter for Kansas City A’s P Sonny Dixon. John would later become a very successful MLB pitching coach with the Tigers, Yankees, Twins and the Braves. He was the Yankees pitching coach from 1961-1963. Whitey Ford won 25 games during Johnny Sain’s 1st year as Yankees pitching coach. Johnny left the Yankees after the 1963 AL season, when Yogi Berra was named the new Yankees manager.
November 8th
1896 - Former Hall Of Fame MLB Manager and Yankees Manager Bucky Harris (1947-1948) was born (1896-1977). Bucky Harris won the 1947 American League pennant and World Series, while managing the New York Yankees. Bucky was a 2nd baseman in the AL during the 1920-1930’s. He won AL pennants with the Washington Senators in 1924-1925 as a player-manager, earning him the nickname of “Boy Wonder.” He managed the Senators 1924-1928, then the Detroit Tigers 1929-1933. In 1934 he took over the Boston Red Sox for one season. In 1935, he returned to the Washington Senators, running the team until the 1942 season. In 1943, he went to National League to manage the Philadelphia Phillies. He joined the New York Yankees in 1947. After the 1948 AL season, finishing in 3rd place in the AL, veteran NL Manager Casey Stengel was named by New York Yankees management to replaced him. He would manage the Washington Senators from 1950-1954. Finishing his MLB managing career with the Detroit Tigers managing the team for the 1955-1956 AL seasons. He was the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1959-1960. He would later become a MLB scout for the Chicago White Sox. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1975.
1942 - Former Yankees OF William “Birdie” Cree (1908-1915) passed away (1882-1942). Birdie hit .292 in 8 seasons with the New York Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1911, when he hit .348 in 137 games. In 1912, he injured his leg, only appearing in 50 games, never regaining his playing form of the 1911 AL season. He was sold to the Baltimore Orioles (International League) after a mediocre 1913 AL season with the Yankees. However, on July 6,1914 the Yankees sent OF Bill Holden and cash to the Baltimore Orioles to get him back. He retired from MLB after 1915 AL season, going into the banking industry.
1951 - The New York Yankees AL All Star C Yogi Berra wins the first of his three American League Most Valuable Player Awards. He hit .294 with 27 HRs, 88 RBI’s in 141 games for the 1951 World Champion Yankees. During the 1951 AL season, Yogi Berra caught Yankees starter Allie Reynolds two no-hitters against the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox.
1961 - With only one Cy Young Award given for the two MLB leagues, Whitey Ford, the American League leader in wins (25) and innings pitched (283), won the honor ahead of the Milwaukee Braves Warren Spahn, who led the National League in wins (21) and ERA (3.02). In one of the closest votes in Cy Young Award history, future Hall Of Famers Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn totaled 9 and 6 points respectively.
1977 - Former Yankees Hall Of Fame Manager, MLB Scout, General Manager and MLB player Bucky Harris dies on his 81st birthday. Bucky Harris had won 2 World Championships (1924 Washington Senators and 1947 New York Yankees) and 3 American League pennants over a 29-year MLB manager career, which included managing the Senators, Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies and the Yankees. He won AL pennants with the Washington Senators in 1924-1925 and with the New York Yankees in 1947. He was the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1959-1960. He would later become a MLB scout for the Chicago White Sox. Bucky Harris was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1975.
1979 - The New York Yankees sign veteran MLB free agents 1B/DH Bob Watson and P Rudy May to long-term contracts. The two MLB veterans will help the Yankees to an AL leading 103 victories in the 1980 MLB season.
1990 - Former Yankees reserve 1B and MLB Coach Clifford “Earl of Snohomish” Torgeson (1961) passed away (1924-1990). On June 17,1961, Earl Torgeson was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees, after being released by the Chicago White Sox. He appeared in only 22 games, just hitting .111, before being released by the Yankees as a player, finishing the 1961 AL season as an MLB 1B coach for the Yankees.
2005 - The New York Yankees let All Star 1B Tino Martinez leave the team, declining their $3 million option on the popular 1st baseman. Tino Martinez will return to Yankees in 2005. He will hit .241 in part-time duty with the Yankees, hitting 17 HRs with 49 RBI’s. He was a staple in the starting Yankees' lineup from 1996-2001, helping the team to win 4 World Series Championships and 5 AL pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense at 1B.
November 9th
1889 - Former Yankees P Tommy Thompson (1912) was born. Tommy Thompson went 0-2 in 7 games for the 1912 Yankees.
1897 - Former Yankees reserve OF Harvey “Gink” Hendrick (1923-1924) was born. On January 3, 1923, Harvey Hendrick was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with P George Pipgras to the New York Yankees for C Al DeVormer and cash. Harvey hit .282 in 77 games for the Yankees as a reserve OF. He appeared in one game of the 1923 World Series for the Yankees. He would play in MLB for 11 seasons (1923-1934) hitting .308 for 7 teams: Yankees, Indians, Dodgers, Reds, Cardinals, White sox and the Phillies. On October 29,1941, Harvey committed suicide at the age of 43.
1912 - Veteran 1B Frank Chance is sold by the Chicago Cubs to the Cincinnati Reds. When all NL clubs waived claims to him in December, the Reds freed Frank Chance to manage the New York Yankees. Frank Chance will manage the Yankees in 1913-1914, going 118-170, before he is fired.
1919 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-1942) was born (1919-1980). Before the 1937 AL season, the New York Yankees signed Jerry Priddy as an MLB amateur free agent. He appeared in 115 games for the Yankees, hitting .248. He appeared in 3 games of the 1942 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jerry was unable to unseat All Star Joe “Flash” Gordon as the Yankees starting 2B. On January 29,1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Washington Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash.
1931 - Former Yankees minor league OF, MLB player/ HOF Manager Whitey Herzog was born. Before the 1949 AL Season, the New York Yankees signed Whitey Herzog as an MLB amateur free agent. Whitey made it to the AAA level playing for the Kansas City Blues (American Association), hitting .292. He spent the 1953-1954 seasons in the U. S. Army. Unable to crack the Yankees MLB starting outfield, Whitey never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. He spent the 1955 season playing at AAA Denver (American Association), hitting .289. On April 2,1956, Whitey was sent by the Yankees to the Washington Senators to complete, an earlier trade made on February 8,1956. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, C Lou Berberet, P Bob Wiesler, 2B Herb Plews, and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for P Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would send OF Whitey Herzog on April 2,1956 to the Senators to completing the trade. After his 8-year MLB playing career was over in 1963, he was a MLB coach, then Whitey went into front office work with the New York Mets, working his way up to Farm director. Later he would become a very successful MLB manager for 19 seasons with the Royals, Angels, Rangers, and Cardinals. Whitey Herzog was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 2009.
1953 - Reaffirming its earlier position, the U.S. Supreme Court rules by a vote of 7-2, that MLB baseball is a sport and not a business, therefore not subject to federal government antitrust laws. The ruling is made in a case involving New York Yankees minor league pitcher George Toolson, who refused to move from the Newark Bears (International League) Triple-A team to Binghamton (Eastern League) Yankees Double-A team.
1953 - Former Yankees P Dave Wehrmiester (1981) was born. On June 15, 1979, Don Wehrmiester was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees for OF Jay Johnstone. On December 8,1980, he was drafted by the Kansas City Royals from the Yankees in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 player draft. On April 3,1981, Dave was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Royals to the Yankees. Dave would appear in only 5 games for the 1981 Yankees, posting no record. On June 17,1983, Dave was traded by the New York Yankees to the Philadelphia Phillies for 2 minor league players: Jim Rasmussen and Kelly Faulk.
1962 - Former Yankees reserve OF/DH Dion James (1992-1996) was born. Dion James’s best season for the Yankees was in 1993, when he hit .332.
1964 - Former Yankees P Kevin Mmahat (1989) was born. On June 20, 1988, Kevin Mmahat was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Texas Rangers. Kevin went 0-2 in 4 games for the Yankees during the 1989 AL season.
1998 - Former Yankees Hall of Fame P Jim "Catfish" Hunter announces that he is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The fatal disease, known medically as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), attacks the nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and leads to a loss of motor skills. Hunter will succumb to the disease less than a year later.
2010 - The winners of the 2010 American League Gold Glove Awards are announced. Mariners OF Ichiro Suzuki wins his 10th Gold Glove in as many years, while first-time winners are 2B Robinson Cano of the Yankees, and OF Carl Crawford of Tampa Bay and Franklin Gutierrez of Seattle. Suzuki ties Al Kaline and Ken Griffey Jr. for the most Gold Gloves by an AL outfielder.
November 10th
1895 - Former Yankees INF/OF Wilson “Chick” Fewster (1917-1922). Chick Fewster was reserve INF/OF for the Yankees. On July 23,1922, Chick was traded by the New York Yankees along with OF Elmer Miller, OF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for veteran INF Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith. Chick was the 1st MLB player to have an MLB official at bat in April 18, 1923 opener at new Yankee Stadium.
1923 - Former Yankee Minor League Manager Cal Ermer (1961) was born. Cal was originally signed and played briefly with the Washington Senators. He was a longtime minor league Manager for the Washington Senator-Minnesota Twins organization. He managed the New York Yankees AAA team in the International League in 1961, the Richmond Virginians to a 6th place finished with a 71-83 record. Also Cal managed in the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers organizations. In 1967-1968, Cal did manage the Twins. He returned to minor league managing for the Twins organization in 1974 and held the job until 1985.
1926 - Former Yankees minor league OF Carmen Mauro was born. On December 16,1953, Carmen Mauro was traded by the Philadelphia A’s along with INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, OF Tom Hamilton and 1B Eddie Robinson to the New York Yankees for 1B Don Bollweg, INF Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, 1B Vic Power, OF Bill Renna and C Jim Robertson. Carmen never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. He did play several seasons with the Yankees top AAA team, the Denver Bears in the American Association.
1948 - The Philadelphia Phillies drafted C Ken Silvestri out of the New York Yankees organization in the 1948 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.
1951 - In Tokyo, Japan, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Yankees Clipper Joe DiMaggio hits a 400 ft. HR in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1-1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI-triple in the 9th inning and later scores to give the Americans, a 3-2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one on their 1951 Japan baseball tour.
1955 - Former Yankees DH/OF Jack Clark (1988) was born. On January 6, 1988, Jack Clark was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Jack only hit .242 for the Yankees. On October 24,1988, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with P Pat Clements to the San Diego Padres for P Lance McCullers, P Jimmy Jones, and OF Stanley Jefferson.
1964 - Former Yankees P Kenny ”Gambler” Rodgers (1996-1997) was born. Signed as a MLB free agent in December of 1995, Kenny went 18-15 in 61 games, 2 seasons for the Yankees before being traded to the Oakland A’s for INF/OF Scott Brosius in November of 1997. His best Yankees season was in 1996, when he posted a 12-8 record in 30 games. He made 2 postseason appearances for the 1996 Yankees with no record. In 1997, he slipped a 6-7 mark in 31 games.
1974 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ben Paschal (1924-1929) died. On September 9,1924, Ben was purchased by the New York Yankees from Atlanta Crackers (Southern Association) for $20,000. Ben played in 346 games for the Yankees hitting .309. He appeared in 8 World Series games (1926 and 1928) hitting .214 for the Yankees. On April 12,1927 the opening game of the 1927 AL season, Ben Paschal became the last player to ever pinch hit for Yankees slugger Babe Ruth. The replacement came in the 6th inning, after Babe Ruth had gone 0 for 3, with 2 strikeouts; Ben Paschal hit a single. Ben’s best season with the Yankees was in 1925, when he hit .360 in 89 games.
1978 - In a major trade, the New York Yankees send former Cy Young Award winner closer Sparky Lyle along with P Dave Rajsich, P Larry McCall, C Mike Heath and INF Domingo Ramos to the Texas Rangers. In return, the Rangers packed up OF Juan Beniquez, OF Greg Jemison, pitchers Dave Righetti, Paul Mirabella and Mike Griffin to the Yankees. Dave Righetti was considered the top left handed prospect in the minor leagues, will win AL Rookie of the Year honors in 1981. The trade will come to haunt the Yankees during the 1979 AL season, when closer Rich Gossage is injured in a shower fight with Yankees teammate Cliff Johnson and the tragic airplane crash death of All Star catcher Munson. Mike Heath was being groomed to be Munson’s replacement behind the plate. Lyle would have replaced Goose as the Yankees closer during the time missed with his pitching hand injury.
1978 - Former Yankees P Jorge DePaula (2003-2005) was born. Jorge DePaula went 0-1 in 10 games for New York Yankees, before having arm injuries that ended his MLB career with the Yankees.
1992 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors” passed away. New York Yankees Super Scout Paul Krichell noted that Chuck Connors was left unprotected by the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1941. He signed him to a minor league contract for the New York Yankees organization. Chuck replaced Joe Collins at first base with the Norfolk Tars (Piedmont League), Chuck hit .264 and slugged .408. His Tars teammate Bill Wight recalled that Connors often would recite Casey at the Bat, Shakespeare or other poetry. In 1942, Chuck was drafted into the US Army. Chuck related that he would write to Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey in 1946, asking for the Brooklyn Dodgers to reacquire him. The Yankees waived him on April 23,1946, the Dodgers claimed their old prospect back. Chuck would appear in 67 games for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs hitting. 238 before shoulder injuries ended his career and he became a full time actor in Hollywood.
November 11th Veteran’s Day
1902 - Former Yankees P Owen Carroll (1930) was born. On May 30, 1930, Owen Carroll was traded by the Detroit Tigers along with OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling to the New York Yankees for veteran starter Waite Hoyt and INF Mark Koenig. Owen went 0-1 in 10 games with the Yankees. On September 13,1930, Owen was purchased by the Cincinnati Reds from the Yankees.
1943 - The 1943 MLB Most Valuable Player Award winners for both major leagues are named. New York Yankees P Spud Chandler wins it in the American League, while St. Louis Cardinals OF Stan Musial wins it in the National League. Yankees starter Spud Chandler went 20-4 in 30 games with 20 complete games with an AL leading ERA of 1.64.
1948 - New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio undergoes surgery for bone spurs on his right heel. DiMaggio will miss 65 games in the 1949 AL season because of continuing problems with his right heel.
1982 - Former Yankees 3B MLB Coach Joe Altobelli succeeds the retired Earl Weaver as the Baltimore Orioles manager. Altobelli is the second New York Yankees MLB coach to take a MLB team-managing job this month. Earlier former Yankees MLB Coach Mike Ferraro was signed to manage the Cleveland Indians. Joe Altobelli will be the Baltimore Orioles 1st new pilot since 1968, when Earl Weaver replaced former Yankees star Hank Bauer during the 1968 American League season.
November 12th
1891 - Former Yankees P Carl “Submarine” Mays (1919-1923) was born. During the 1919 AL season Carl Mays and the Boston Red Sox had a dispute, which resulted in him wanting to be traded from the team. On July 29,1919, Carl was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for P Bob McGraw, Shortstop Allen Russell and $40,000. Carl would finish the 1919 AL season with a 9-3 record in 13 games for the Yankees. Carl Mays was the Yankee pitcher, who hit Cleveland Indians batter Ray Chapman with a pitch, which later resulted in his death during the 1920 AL season game. Carl’s best Yankee seasons were, when he went 26-11 in 1920 and 27-9 in 1921. As a Yankees starter, he had 79-39 career record for the team from 1919-1923. He never got along with Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, there several incidents, which included a fistfight on the sidewalks of New York City. He did appeared in 2 World Series for the Yankees posting a 1-3 mark against the Giants. His 1924 trade to the Cincinnati Reds was considered to be one of the worst in early Yankees team history. After being sold to the Reds for $85,000 in 1924, he went 20-9 for the Reds. After he joined Cincinnati, Carl posted a 56-36 mark in the NL. Carl would finish his MLB career with a 207-126 record with a 2.92 ERA, pitching for the Red Sox, Yankees, and Reds and finishing up with the New York Giants in 1929.
1926 - Former Yankees P Don Johnson (1947, 1950) was born. Before the 1944 AL Season, the New York Yankees signed Don Johnson as an MLB amateur free agent. Don posted a 5-3 record in 23 games for the Yankees. On June 15,1950, Don was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jim Delsing, P Duane Pillette, INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the St. Louis Browns for P Tom Ferrick, P Joe Ostrowski, and 3B Leo Thomas.
1958 - New York Yankees starter Bob Turley, who had 21 wins with 19 complete games during the 1958 AL regular season is named the 1958 Cy Young Award winner. With only 1 award given for the two major leagues, Bob Turley gathers 5 votes to 4 for last year's winner, the Milwaukee Braves veteran starter Warren Spahn.
1961 - Former Yankees minor leaguer INF Greg Gagne was born. On June 5, 1979, Greg Gagne was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 5th round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft. Greg never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 10,1982, Greg was traded by the Yankees along with P Paul Boris and P Ron Davis to the Minnesota Twins for Shortstop Roy Smalley. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner wanted Smalley because the Orioles had Cal Ripken who was a HR hitting shortstop. The trading away of Ron Davis breaks up the Yankees bullpen duo of Rich Gossage and Ron Davis, who were the best 1-2 closer-holder combo in AL. Clippers note: The Yankees would have been better off not making this trade.
1965 - The New York Yankees obtained INF Ruben Amaro Sr. from the Philadelphia Phillies for INF Phil Linz. Amaro never hit more than .233 in a Yankees uniform. Although his infamous collision with Yankees star OF Tom Tresh, while chasing a pop fly may have accounted for his failure to live up to the Yankees expectations. The incident left Tom Tresh with 2 bad knees, robbing him of a promising MLB career. Ruben struggled with the bat, making the trade look even worst. The Yankees should have held on to Phil Linz, making him a OF, moving Tom Tresh back to shortstop. Ruben would be sold to the California Angels for cash in November of 1968.
1972 - Former Yankees reserve INF Homer Bush (1997-1998, 2004) was born. On April 22, 1997, Homer Bush was traded by the San Diego Padres along with players to be named later and minor league player Gordon Amerson to the New York Yankees for Rafael Medina, OF Ruben Rivera, and $3. The Padres sent P Hideki Irabu on May 29,1997 and Vernon Maxwell (minors) on June 9,1997 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He appeared in 55 games for the Yankees hitting .372 during the 1997-1998 AL seasons. On February 18,1999, Homer was traded by the Yankees along with P Graeme Lloyd and P David Wells to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2004, he played in 9 games for the Yankees before retiring from MLB. He really never fully recovered from his previous leg and hip injuries.
1978 - Former Yankees Minor League Manager Ralph “Buzz” Boyle (1941-1942) passed away. Buzz Boyle hit .316 on the great 1939 Kansas City Blues minor league team which won 107 games, and which featured future MLB players Vince DiMaggio, Jerry Priddy, Phil Rizzuto, Sandy Vance, Tommy Holmes, and others. He managed two Yankees farm teams: the Akron Yankees in 1941 and the Norfolk Tars in 1942. He had played in the MLB with the Boston Braves and Brooklyn Dodgers from 1929-1934.
1978 - Former Yankees P George Shears (1912) passed away. Hurler George Shears appeared in 4 games with no record for the 1912 Yankees.
1992 - Arbitrator George Nicolau overturns the suspension of New York Yankees hurler Steve Howe for being too severe. The Yankees resigned veteran reliever Steve Howe.
1993 - New York Yankees Hall Of Fame AL All Star Catcher, MLB Coach and Manager Bill Dickey (1928-1946) passed away (1907-1993). Bill Dickey was the first of the great Yankee catchers. Bill was a tough as nails player. He had a lifetime BA of .313 for the Yankees. He hit .300 or better 10 times during his 13 seasons as a MLB player. His best Yankees season was in 1936, when he hit .362. Bill topped the 100 RBI’s mark for 4 seasons (1936-1939). He was AL All Star catcher in 1933-1943 and 1946. During WWII (1944-1946), he served in the U. S. Navy. He led the AL in fielding as a catcher in 1931,1935,1937,1939 and 1941. During the 1946 AL season, Bill managed the Yankees to a 57-48 record after long time Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy had resigned from the team. He served as a MLB coach for Yankees Managers Bucky Harris and Casey Stengel (1949-1957) and 1960). Bill was elected to the Hall Of Fame in 1954. HOF catcher Yogi Berra credits Bill Dickey with teaching him the fundamentals of catching. Also he taught Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard in the 1950’s as well. Later he would come to the Yankees spring training camp as a special advisor and work with the team’s organizational catchers.
1996 - Toronto Blue Jays starter Pat Hentgen edges Andy Pettitte of the New York Yankees for the 1996 Cy Young Award in the closest AL voting since the 1972 voting, when Gaylord Perry topped Wilbur Wood by 6 points. Hentgen with a 20-10 mark, the MLB leader in complete games, outpoints Andy Pettitte (21-8) by the narrow margin of 110-104. New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera finishes 3rd in the ballot and receives one 1st-place vote.
2007 - The New York Yankees re-signed AL All Star C Jorge Posada to a $52.4 million contract for four years. This new contract makes Jorge Posada the highest-paid catcher in MLB history, edging out Mike Piazza’s $13 million average from 1999-2005 with the New York Mets.
(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
