This Week in Yankees History
April 22nd - April 28th
April 22nd
1881 - Former Yankees INF Neal Ball (1907-1908) was born (1881-1957). Neal Ball hit .241 in 155 games for the Yankees, before he was sold to Cleveland.
1903 - At American League Park, the New York Highlanders lost their 1st game to the Washington Senators by the score of 3-1, before 11,950 fans. Washington elects to bat 1st, but the New Yorkers score in the bottom of the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead. Each starter gives up 6 hits with Jack Chesbro, the NL top winner last year with the Pittsburgh Pirates (28-6) taking the loss for the Yankees. Al Orth, in his 2nd season with the Washington Senators is the winner.
1904 - After surrendering a leadoff single to Senators batter Kip Selbach, New York Yankees starter Jack Chesbro pitches no-hit ball the rest of the game, beating the Washington Senators by the score of 2-0.
1915 - Pinstripes first appeared on the New York Yankees player uniforms.
1918 - Former Yankees Minor League manager (1971) and MLB Coach (1982), MLB manager (1961-1963), MLB Player (1939-1960) Mickey Veron was born (1918-2008). Mickey Veron was a 1st Baseman from 1939 to 1960, mostly with the Washington Senators during his long MLB career. Mickey was an AL All Star team member for 7 seasons. He won 2 AL Batting crowns. Mickey was a New York Yankees minor league manager in 1971 with the Manchester Yankees. In 1982, he was a Yankees MLB coach. Also he was the 1st manager for the expansion 1961 Washington Senators, he managed the club until 1963. He was a MLB coach for the Pirates, Expos and the Cardinals. Later he managed and coached in the minor leagues for several MLB organizations, before retiring from the game.
1920 - Outfielder Babe Ruth plays his 1st game as a New York Yankee. Babe goes hitless and his outfield error proved to be the game losing miscue in a 6-5 loss to the Philadelphia A’s.
1923 - The 1st Sunday game at Yankee Stadium draws an estimated crowd of 60,000 fans, but the Yankees suffer their 1st loss of the 1923 American League season, a 4-3 decision to the Washington Senators.
1931 - Outfielder Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees collides with Charlie Berry, the Boston Red Sox catcher and former pro football player, while trying to score on a sacrifice fly. Ruth is carried off the field at Fenway Park and taken to a local Boston hospital.
1933 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Schmidt (1965) was born. On May 8, 1963, catcher Bob Schmidt was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. He played for the Yankees AAA team, the Richmond Virginians (International League) in 1963-1965. Bob hit .250 in 20 games for the Yankees as a back up catcher during the 1965 AL season. Schmidt finished up his professional baseball career at the age of 33 in 1966 with the Toledo Mud Hens (Yankees, AAA team) of the International League. Bob Schmidt was originally signed by the New York Giants organization in 1951. In 1958, while playing for the San Francisco Giants, he was named to the 1958 NL All Star team, but he did not appear in the game. Later Bob played for the Cincinnati Reds (1961), Washington Senators (1962-1962).
1938 - Former Yankees minor league catcher John Orsino was born. On January 8, 1969, John Orsino was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Washington Senators. John never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On June 12,1969, John was traded by the New York Yankees to the Cleveland Indians for P Rob Gardner. The New York Giants originally signed him in 1957. He had played for the Giants, Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Senators before joining the New York Yankees organization in 1969. John Orsino was the head coach at Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1970-1976. He then managed in the Cleveland Indians' chain for a year and a half at the AA level with the Jersey City Indians in 1977 and the Chattanooga Lookouts for part of the 1978 minor league season. In 1980, Orsino returned to FDU to coach for 1 more season.
1956 – New York Yankees starter Don Larsen hits a grand slam HR off of Boston Red Sox P Frank Sullivan, as the Bronx Bombers win the game by the score of 13-6 at Yankee Stadium.
1957 - Former Yankees MLB scout Johnny Nee (1927-1945) passed away (1890-1957). Johnny Nee was a MLB scout and a minor league player-manager. In 1912, Nee, a young minor league infielder of 22, was chosen to skipper the Terre Haute team as a player-manager. He served as a player-manager at many of his minor league stops including his last post as the leader of the Virginia League’s Kinston Eagles (1925-1926). During that final managerial season, one of his young charges was future Hall of Famer Rick Ferrell. Starting in 1927, Nee began a long career as a major league scout for the New York Yankees. He was credited with discovering many future major leaguers including Bill Dickey, Gene Bearden, Marv Breuer, Ben Chapman, Atley Donald, Tommy Henrich, Chink Outen, Billy Werber, Johnny Allen, Dixie Walker, Spud Chandler, Billy Hitchcock and Willie Jones. He left the New York Yankees organization for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. At the end of the 1949 National League season, Johnny Nee was named head of the Philadelphia Phillies farm system.
1958 - Former Yankees P Stefan Wever (1982) was born. On June 5,1979, pitcher Stefan Wever was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 6th round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in one game for the 1982 Yankees, posting 0-1 record.
1959 - At Griffith Stadium in Washington, D. C., Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees pitched a 14-inning, an 1-0, shutout against the Washington Senators, giving up only 8 hits, while striking out 15 batters. The Yankees won in the 1st half of the 14th inning on a Moose Skowron solo HR, ending the longest contest in MLB history ending 1-0 on a homerun.
1961 - Former Yankees P Jimmy Key (1993-1996) was born. Pitcher Jimmy Key was signed in 1992, as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees. He went 43-23 as a starter for the Yankees, before leaving the team for MLB free agency in 1996.
1967 - Former Yankees INF Fritz Maisel (1913-1917) passed away. Fritz Maisel appeared in 502 games for the Yankees, hitting .243 with a 183 stolen bases. On January 22,1918, Fritz was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Nick Cullop, INF Joe Gedeon, C Les Nunamaker, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 to the St. Louis Browns for P Eddie Plank and INF Del Pratt.
1970 - The New York Yankees drop an 18 inning, 2-1 game to the Washington Senators. When Mike Epstein’s sac fly scores base runner Ed Stroud. New York Yankees CF Bobby Mercer’s 9th inning HR had tied the game at 1-1.
1993 - Former Yankees Shortstop Mark Koenig (1925-1930) passed away (1904-1993). Mark Koenig was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees during the mid 1920’s. He finished his Yankees career with a BA of .285. Koenig played on Yankees World Series teams in 1926-1928, hitting .500 in the 1927 World Series. Also Mark played for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds and finished with the 1937 New York Giants, during his long MLB career.
1997 - After 4 months of on-and-off negotiations, the New York Yankees acquired the rights to Japanese P Hideki Irabu from the San Diego Padres for $3 million. Arab’s Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, gave the San Diego exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righty, but Irabu refused to sign with the San Diego Padres, saying he would only go with the New York Yankees.
2007 - The Boston Red Sox complete their 1st sweep of the New York Yankees in Fenway Park in 17 years. Manny Ramirez, J.D. Drew, Mike Lowell and Jason Varitek hit consecutive home runs, making it the fourth instance in MLB history that 4 straight hitters have gone deep. The victim for all 4 gopher balls is Yankees pitcher Chase Wright, who ties the MLB record for home runs allowed in an inning. Paul Foytack in 1963 had been the only prior pitcher to allow 4 straight homers in an inning.
2010 - The New York Yankees lose the rubber game of series against the Oakland A's, taking 2 out of 1st 3 games, including a Phil Hughes one-hitter. The A's defeat the Yankees by the score of 4-2. Yankees starter CC Sabathia throws a complete game. Mark Teixeira hits his 1st HR of the 2010 AL season. OF Marcus Thames hits a solo HR for the Bombers. With runners on 1st and 2nd in the 6th inning, A's batter Kurt Suzuki hit a sharp grounder to Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez, who stepped on the bag and threw to 2B Robinson Cano. Cano's relay to 1B Nick Johnson barely beat Suzuki. It was the 1st triple play against the Oakland A's since Kansas City Royals did it in 1994. The New York Yankees had gone 6,632 consecutive regular-season games without a triple play. Their last one came on June 3, 1968, with Yankees 1B Mickey Mantle catching the final out on a ball hit by Minnesota's John Roseboro. The Twins catcher Roseboro's liner was caught by Yankees hurler Dooley Womack, who then threw to 3B Bobby Cox. The Cox's relay then went to Yankees1B Mickey Mantle for the 3rd out.
April 23rd
1903 - Behind the pitching of Harry Howell, the New York Highlanders win their 1st MLB game, a 7-2 victory over the Washington Senators.
1937 - Former Yankees 1B Duke Carmel (1965) was born. In winter of 1964, 1B Duke Carmel was drafted by the New York Yankees from the New York Mets organization in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. He appeared in only 6 games in 1965 for the Yankees with no hits in just 8 plate appearances. He had originally signed the St. Louis Cardinals organization during the 1955 NL season. During the 1963 NL season, Duke Carmel was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the New York Mets for Jacke Davis and cash.
1947 - The New York Yankees released former bullpen closer Johnny ”Grand Ma” Murphy (1932,1934-1943,1946). He appeared in 383 games with 93 wins and 107 saves as the Yankees bullpen closer. He would play his last MLB season with the Boston Red Sox before retiring in 1947. He would later become the Director of Player Development for the New York Mets, signing many of the young Mets, who would later played on the 1969 World Championship team. He was the General Manager of the New York Mets, when he passed away of a fatal heart attack in January of 1970.
1963 - Former Yankees P Harry Harper (1921) passed away (1895-1963). Pitcher Harry Harper came to the New York Yankees in the Waite Hoyt trade with the Boston Red Sox in December of 1920. He posted a 4-3 record in 8 games for the 1921 Yankees. Harry pitched in the 1921 World Series, starting Game 6,but he was not involved in the decision.
1975 - New York Yankees OF Roy White again hits a HR from both sides of the plate, this time in an 11-7 loss to the Boston Red Sox. Roy White’s last switch-hit HRs were on August 13,1973.
1977 - Current Yankees reserve OF/DH Andruw Jones (2011-2012) was born. The New York Yankees as a MLB free agent signed former NL Golden Glove winner OF Andruw Jones. He replaced OF/DH Marcus Thames, who left the New York Yankees for MLB free agency. In 2010, Andruw Jones played for the Chicago White Sox. He was back playing the outfield in 2010, AL season logging 62 games in RF, and a few in both CF and LF. Power remained the best part of his game, with 19 HRs in 278 at-bats, but he was also able to draw 45 walks, turning a .230 batting average into a decent .341 on-base percentage. Andruw started out his MLB career with the Atlanta Braves.
1979 - Former Yankees minor league P Carlos Silva was born. On April 9, 2011, the New York Yankees signed former MLB P Carlos Silva, who had been released by the Chicago Cubs. He pitched for the Scranton (AAA), later he was released by the Yankees. He started the 2012 AL season with the Red Sox, but the team recently released him.
1981 - Former Yankees P Sean Henn (2005-2007) was born. In 2000, the New York Yankees in the 26th round of the MLB amateur player draft drafted Sean Henn. Sean was 2-6 in 36 games with a 4.43 ERA with the Yankees. On May 9,2008, Sean Henn was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
1992 - Former Yankees INF/OF Deron Johnson (1960-1961) passes away (1938-1992). Before the 1956 AL Season, the New York Yankees, as an MLB amateur free agent, signed Deron Johnson. Deron was never able to find a regular position to play with the Yankees. At 3B, Clete Boyer blocked Deron. At 1B, he was blocked by AL All Star 1B Bill Skowron. Plus the Yankees had a starting OF was filled by Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra-Hector Lopez combo in LF. He only appeared in 19 games for the Yankees during the 1960-1961 AL seasons, just hitting .174. In June of 1961, he was traded along with veteran starter Art Ditmar to the Kansas City A’s for veteran AL starter Bud Daley. Deron Johnson would find success in the National League in with the Cincinnati Reds (1964-1967) hitting .287, 32 HRs with 130 RBIs. Later he played for the Atlanta Braves (1968) and the Philadelphia Phillies (1969-1973), Oakland A’s (1973) and Milwaukee Brewers (1974) during his MLB career. After his MLB playing career ended, Johnson spent most of the rest of his life as MLB coach. He managed the Salt Lake City Gulls in 1978. Then he began his MLB coaching career with the California Angels in 1979-1980. He was a New York Mets coach in 1981. Deron was a member of the Philadelphia Phillies MLB staff from 1982-1984. In 1985-1986, he was with the Seattle Mariners. He spent the 1987 MLB season with the Chicago White Sox. He returned to the California Angels as their MLB hitting coach from 1989 to 1991. Deron Johnson died of lung cancer in 1992 at age 53.
2000 - In a 10-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankee hitters Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada become the 1st teammates to hit a Home Run from both sides of the plate in the same MLB game.
2011 - The homer-happy New York Yankees are at it again, connecting 5 times in a 15-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. Russell Martin goes deep twice; he is joined by Jorge Posada, Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez, who hit a grand slam HR. It is the 22nd slam of A-Rod's MLB career, moving him past the recently retired Manny Ramirez and into 2nd place on the all-time MLB list, one behind Lou Gehrig. CC Sabathia picks up his 1st win of the 2011 AL season, while Brad Bergesen is the loser.
April 24th
1895 - Former Yankees P Harry Harper (1921) was born (1895-1963). Pitcher Harry Harper came to the New York Yankees in the Waite Hoyt trade with the Boston Red Sox in December of 1920. He posted a 4-3 record in 8 games for the 1921 Yankees.
1905 - The New York Yankees hit onto a triple play during a 4-3 loss to the Washington Senators.
1917 - George Mogridge of the New York Yankees pitches a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, winning the game by the score of 2-1 at Fenway Park. Mogridge strikes out 3 batters and walks 3 Red Sox batters, as he becomes the 1st New York Yankees pitcher to actually win a no-hit game.
1923 - U.S. President Warren G. Harding witnesses the 1st shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium as Babe Ruth hits a homerun in New York’s 4-0 victory over the Washington Senators.
1943 - Former Yankees P Joe Verbanic (1967-1968, 1970) was born. On December 10, 1966, Joe Verbanic was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies along with cash to the Yankees for veteran MLB reliever Pedro Ramos. Joe went 11-10 in 75 games for the Yankees.
1946 - Former major leaguers Jesse Burkett, Frank Chance, Jack Chesbro, Johnny Evers, Clark Griffith, Tommy McCarthy, Joe McGinnity, Eddie Plank, Joe Tinker, Rube Waddell and Ed Walsh are inducted into the Hall of Fame. Jack Chesbro won 41 games for the 1904 New York Yankees setting a AL record, which still stands.
1965 - Former Yankees 3B Mike Blowers (1989-1991) was born. On August 29, 1989, INF Mike Blowers was traded by the Montreal Expos to the Yankees for veteran starter John Candelaria. Mike hit .219 in 76 games for the Yankees. On May 17,1991, Mike was traded by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named later and cash. The Mariners would later send minor leaguer player Jim Blueberg on June 22,1991, to the Yankees to complete the trade.
2009 - At Fenway Park in Boston, New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera is charged with a rare blown save in the 1st match-up between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for 2009 AL season. With two outs in the 9th inning, Rivera gives up a 2-run HR to Jason Bay to tie the score at 4- 4. Kevin Youkilis homers over the Fenway Park’s Green Monster in the 11th inning for a 5-4 Boston Red Sox victory.
April 25th
1883 - Former Yankees P Russ Ford (1909-1913) was born (1883-1960). Russ Ford had 2 outstanding seasons with the New York Yankees, going 26-6 in 1910 and 21-11 in 1911. He went 73-56 in 143 games as a Yankees pitcher. On January 20,1914, Russ Ford jumped from the Yankees to the Buffalo Buffeds of the rival Federal League.
1904 - New York Highlanders starter Jack Chesbro posts the 1st of his 41 wins of the 1904 AL season, a MLB, American League and New York Yankees club record that still stands. Jack Chesbro was the National League top winner in 1903, while he was with the Pittsburgh Pirates posting a 28-6 record.
1916 - At the Polo Grounds, Babe Ruth of the Boston Red Sox pitches a 10-inning complete game to defeat the New York Yankees by the score of 4-3. Ruth gives up 2 earned runs on 8-hits, but is hitless at-bat.
1924 - Former Yankees P Art Schallock (1951-1955) was born. On July 12, 1951, Art Schallock was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared in 28 games for the Yankees, posting a 3-2 mark. On May 11,1955, Art was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Yankees.
1933 - New York Yankees rookie starter Russ Van Atta makes a successfully MLB pitching debut, when he pitches a 5-hit shutout against the Washington Senators. With the bat, Russ collects 4 singles in 4 at-bats. New York Yankees CF Earle Combs adds five hits as the Yankees win by score of 16-0.
1966 - Former Yankees P Darren Holmes (1998) was born. On December 22, 1997, Darren Holmes was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He posted a 0-3 record in 34 games with 2 saves for the 1998 Yankees. He didn’t appear in the 1998 World Series. On March 30,1999, Darren Holmes was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Arizona Diamondbacks for P Ben Ford and Izzy Molina.
1982 - Just 14 games into the 1982 American League season, New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner fires Yankees Manager Bob Lemon, replaces him with former manager Gene Michael, the man who Bob Lemon had replaced last September.
1983 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/DH Juan Miranda (2009-2010) was born in Cuba. Juan Miranda has appeared in 46 games for the New York Yankees hitting .263. After the 2010 AL season, the Yankees dealt Juan Miranda to the Arizona Diamondbacks in return for minor league pitcher Scottie Allen.
April 26th
1873 - Former Yankees reserve 3B Jim Cockman (1905) was born (1893-1947). In September of 1905, INF Jim Cockman was sent from Newark (Eastern League) to the New York Highlanders in an unknown transaction. Jim only appeared in 13 games for the 1905 Yankees, hitting just .105 in his only season in the major leagues.
1888 - Former Yankees P Ray “Slim” Caldwell (1910-1918) was born (1988-1967). Ray Caldwell posted a 99-99 pitching career record in 258 games for the New York Yankees. His best Yankees seasons were in 1914, he went 17-9 and in 1915, posting a 19-16 mark. On December 18,1918, he was traded by the Yankees along with OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000 cash to the Boston Red Sox for P Ernie Shore, OF Duffy Lewis, and P Dutch Leonard.
1913 - The New York Yankees purchased C John Gossett (1913-1914) from the Chicago White Sox. He appeared in only 49 games for the Yankees, just hitting .159.
1917 - Former Yankees P Sal “The Barber” Maglie (1957-1958) was born (1917-1992). On September 1,1957, Sal “The Barber” Maglie was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Brooklyn Dodgers. Sal went 2-0 in 6 games with 3 saves in 1958. In 1959, he was 1-1 in 7 games for the Yankees, before being sent to the St. Louis Cardinals to finish his long MLB career. He was one of the few players to play for all three MLB teams in New York City during the golden years of 1947-1957.
1919 - Former Yankees P Virgil “Fire” Trucks (1958) was born. On June 15, 1958, veteran MLB hurler Virgil “Fire” Trucks was traded by the Kansas City A’s along with P Duke Maas to the New York Yankees for reliever Bob Grim and OF/1B Harry “Suitcase” Simpson. Virgil went 2-1 in 25 games, with 1 save before retiring from MLB in April of 1959. Virgil had played 17 years in MLB, starting out with the Detroit Tigers, then playing for the St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox and Kansas City A’s, before coming to the New York Yankees in 1958.
1929 - Despite losing the game to the Philadelphia A’s, the New York Yankees turn a triple play.
1931 - At Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., a walk to Lyn Lary is followed by a Lou Gehrig HR, a smash which clears the fence, but bounces back into the hands of Senators CF Harry Rice. The base runner Lary thinks the ball has been caught on the fly for the 3rd out returning to the dugout without crossing home plate, Lou Gehrig, running with his head down, is ruled out for passing a runner in front of him costing the Yankees a possible victory (they lost by 2 runs), the 1931 HR crown (he tied Babe Ruth with 46) and 2-RBI’s to add to his record setting 184 for the season.
1936 - After surrendering six runs to the Boston Red Sox in the 1st inning. The New York Yankees rebound with 7 runs in the top of the 2nd inning in route of 12-9 victory at Fenway Park.
1953 - The New York Yankees sell 3B Loren Babe to the Philadelphia A’s for $30,000. Babe’s freedom from the New York Yankees organization will be very short, they will reacquire him in December of 1953. He was one of the many young players buried in their farm system during the 1950’s. Loren Babe was a MLB coach with the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox.
1955 - The New York Yankees new starter Bob Turley acquired from the Baltimore Orioles during the winter of 1954 pitches a 1-hit shutout. Bullet Bob struck out 10 batters to lead the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the Chicago White Sox.
1961 - At Tiger Stadium, Roger Maris hits his 1st home run of the 1961 AL season off of veteran Tigers starts Paul Foytack. His Yankees teammate Mickey Mantle adds home runs from both sides of the plate for the 8th time in his MLB career as the New York Yankees defeat the Detroit, Tigers by the score of 13-10.
1969 - The Baseball Records Committee decides to give Babe Ruth credit for one more HR during his MLB career for a total of 715. The committee rules that one of Ruth's HRs had been incorrectly ruled a triple. The committee will later reverse its decision, returning Babe Ruth to a MLB career total of 714 HRs.
1970 - Former Yankees reserve INF Yats Wuestling (1930) passed away (1903-1970). On May 30, 1930, INF Yats Wuestling was traded by the Detroit Tigers along with P Owens Carroll and INF/OF Harry Rice to the New York Yankees for veteran starter Waite Hoyt and INF Mark Koenig. He appeared in 25 games for the 1930 Yankees hitting just .190.
1974 - The New York Yankees obtained 1B Chris Chambliss along with pitchers Richard Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw from the Cleveland Indians for Yankee hurlers Fred Beene, Fritz Peterson, Steve Kline and Tom Buskey. Chris Chambliss and Richard “Dirt” Tidrow will help the Yankees win the AL pennants in 1976-1978. Fritz Peterson became expendable after his celebrated wife and family trade with Yankees teammate Mike Kelich. He leaves the New York Yankees with 109 MLB career victories.
1976 - Former Yankees P Alex Ferguson (1918,1921, and 1925) passed away (1897-1976). Alex Fergunson had gone 3-1 in 18 games for the 1918 and 1921 Yankees. On February 24,1922, Alex was selected off waivers by the Boston Red Sox from the New York Yankees. On May 5,1925, Alex was traded by the Boston Red Sox with OF Bobby Veach to the New York Yankees for P Ray Francis and $9,000. Alex went 4-2 in 21 games for the 1925 Yankees. On August 17,1925, Alex was purchased by the Washington Senators from the New York Yankees.
1976 - Former Yankee minor league P Scott Strickland was born. On December 20,2007, Pitcher Scott Strickland was signed as a MLB Free Agent with the New York Yankees. He did not appear with the Yankees at the MLB level, spending the season at AAA. On November 3,2008, Scott was granted MLB Free Agency by the New York Yankees.
1998 - Former Yankees President and General Manager Gabe Paul (1973-1977) pass away (1910-1998). Former Indians General Manager Gabe Paul came to the New York Yankees in 1973. He helped rebuild the team through a series of great trades that gave the Yankees championship teams with players like Lou Piniella, Chris Chambliss, Mickey Rivers, Ed Figueroa, Bucky Dent and others. George’s constant interference caused Gabe Paul leave the New York Yankees front office to go back to the Cleveland Indians front office. The Yankees hired Al Rosen to replace Gabe Paul in 1978.
2005 - At Yankee Stadium, AL All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez slugs his way to the best performance of his MLB career, hitting 3 HRs in his 1st three at-bats off of Angels starter Bartolo Colón. The Yankees win the game by a score of 12-4, as Rodriguez becomes only the 11th player in MLB history to collect 10 or more RBIs in a game. He is one RBI shy of the American League record of 11 set in 1936 by former Yankees Hall Of Fame INF Tony Lazzeri, and 2 short of the MLB mark of 12 shared by Jim Bottomley (1924) and Mark Whiten (1993), both of the St. Louis Cardinals.
2006 - At Yankee Stadium, Tampa Bay Devil Rays beat the New York Yankees by the score of 4-2, despite setting a team record of walking 14 Yankee batters.
2009 - Boston Red Sox completes a three-game sweep with a 4-1 victory over the New York Yankees, Boston's 10th consecutive victory. Jacoby Ellsbury pulls off a straight steal of home against Yankees starter Andy Pettitte in the 5th inning in the game's key play. Justin Masterson has now won both of his starts in place of the injured starter Daisuke Matsuzaka.
April 27th
1894 - Former Yankees reserve C/1B Bob Williams (1911-1914) was born (1894-1962). Reserve catcher Bob Williams hit .164 in 46 games for the New York Yankees.
1903 - The New York Highlanders suffer the 1st shutout loss in their team history, in a 6-0 loss to the Philadelphia A’s.
1916 - Future Hall Of Fame New York Yankees and St. Louis Cardinals OF Enos “ Country” Slaughter (1954-1955,1956-1959) was born (1916-2002). On April 11, 1954, he was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Yankees for OF Bill Virdon, P Mel Wright, and INF Emil Tellinger (minors). His 1st tour with the Yankees was unsuccessful, just hitting .248 in 69 games. On May 11,1955, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Johnny Sain to the Kansas City A’s for P Sonny Dixon and cash. On August 25,1956, Enos was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Kansas City A’s for $50,000 in cash. He hit .350 in the 1956 World Series for the Yankees. Enos performed better for the team with his 2nd tour before fading during the 1959 AL season, being sent to the Milwaukee Braves to finish his long MLB career, which began with the St. Louis Cardinals.
1935 - The New York Yankees turn a 1st inning triple play during a 9-8 victory over the Philadelphia A’s. The A’s had runners on 1B and 2B, when A’s Slugger Jimmy Foxx lined out to 2B Tony Lazzeri, who fired to 1B Lou Gehrig, who then threw to shortstop Frank Crosetti, who was covering 2B. Also the Yankees turned a game ending double play in the 9th inning, when the A’s had the bases loaded.
1947 - Babe Ruth Day at Yankee Stadium drew a crowd of more than 58,000 fans to honor the ailing star suffering from throat cancer. In the game, Sid Hudson of the Washington Senators out-duels New York Yankees starter Spud Chandler winning the game by a score of 1-0.
1957 - Former Yankees minor league player OF/1B Willie Upshaw was born. In 1975, 1B/OF Willie Upshaw was signed as an 5th round draft pick by the New York Yankees. He was lost in the MLB Rule 5 player draft in winter of 1977, when the new American League eastern division expansion team, the Toronto Blue Jays, selected Willie Upshaw.
1965 - Former Yankees P Bob Macdonald (1995) was born. On February 15, 1995, P Bob Macdonald was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Bob went 1-1 in 33 games working out of the bullpen for the 1995 New Yankees. On October 16,1995, Bob was released by the New York Yankees.
1977 - The New York Yankees obtained starter Mike Torrez from the Oakland A’s for P Dock Ellis, INF Marty Perez and OF Larry Murray. Mike would go 14-12 in 31 games posting 3.95 ERA with 15 complete games and 2 shutouts. He would win 2 games in the 1977 World Series for the Yankees before leaving the team for MLB free agency and signing with the Boston Red Sox.
1982 - Former Yankees C Truck Hannah (1918-1920) passed away (1889-1982). Reserve catcher Truck Hannah appeared in 244 games for the Yankees, hitting .235.
2010 - With a 3-16 team record coming into the game, the Baltimore Orioles win at home for the first time this 2010 AL season, beating the New York Yankees by the score of 5-4. It's hard slogging, though, as the Yankees score 2 unearned runs in the 9th inning and Alfredo Simon records the 1st save of his career in his 1st appearance since reconstructive elbow surgery last May. Alberto Castillo is the winner in relief. The Orioles now have a 2-game winning streak, but their record is still 4 games worse than any other team in the major leagues
April 28th
1918- Former Yankees minor league manager (1947-1949) and MLB Manager Charlie Metro (1970) was born (1918-2011). Charlie Metro played briefly in the MLB with the Detroit tigers and the Philadelphia A’s. Charlie Metro was a New York Yankees minor league manager with the 1947 Bisbee Yanks (Arizona-Texas league) and 1948-1949 seasons with the Twin Falls Cowboys (Pioneer League). Charlie moved to the St. Louis Cardinals organization. He would manage in the minors until 1961.In 1962, he returned to MLB working for the Chicago Cubs. Later, he would join the Kansas City Royals in 1968. He would manage the Royals in 1970. Charlie would work for several other MLB organizations as a MLB scout and talent evaluator, until his retirement in 1984.
1925 - Former Yankees P Clarence “Cuddles” Marshall (1946, 1948-1949) was born (1925-2007). On December 9, 1944, Clarence Marshall was traded by the Seattle Rainers (PCL) to the New York Yankees for Johnny Babich and Richard Hearn (minors). He went 6-4 in 45 games with 3 saves. On May 15,1950, he was purchased by the St. Louis Browns from the Yankees.
1930 - Former Yankees P Thomas “Snake” Sturdivant (1955-1959) was born (1930-2009). In 1948, the New York Yankees signed Tom Sturdivant as an MLB amateur free agent. He was originally an INF with strong arm, but he had a weak bat. He switched to pitching on the advise by Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds. His best Yankees career seasons were in 1956-1957. Tom posted a 16-8 record in 32 games with a win against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956 World Series. In 1957, Tom went 16-6 in 28 games for the Yankees. In 1958, he battled with arm injuries, only going 3-6 in 15 games. On May 26,1959, Tommy was traded by the Yankees along with P Johnny Kucks and INF Jerry Lumpe to the Kansas City A’s for P Ralph Terry and INF/OF Hector Lopez. He later went on to pitch for the Boston Red Sox, expansion 1961 Washington Senators, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, and finishing up with Casey Stengel’s 1964 New York Mets. Tom’s New York Yankees pitching MLB career totals were 36-25 in 105 games. Tom passed away in 2009.
1935 - Former Yankees closer Pedro “Pete” Ramos (1964-1966) was born. On September 5, 1964, Pedro Ramos was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for players to be named later and $75,000 in cash. He went 1-0 in 13 games with 8 saves in September of 1964 to help the Yankees win the AL pennant. Since he was obtained on September 5th, Pedro wasn’t able to pitch for the Yankees in the 1964 World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Yankees sent P Ralph Terry on October 21,1964. Later veteran hurler Bud Daley on November 27,1964 to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade. Indians General Manager Gabe Paul purposely delayed the trade of Pedro Ramos with the New York Yankees, so he couldn’t pitch in the 1964 World Series for the Yankees. Overall, Pedro would go 9-14 in 130 games with 30 saves for the Yankees. In another CBS Management ordered salary dump, Pedro was traded on December 10,1966 by the Yankees to the Philadelphia Phillies for P Joe Verbanic and cash.
1950 - The New York Yankees sell OF Richard Wakefield to the Chicago White Sox as part of a deal which brought P Joe Ostrowski to the Kansas City Blues, the Yankees top AAA club. This touched off the great Wakefield controversy, because he refused to report to the White Sox, unless they gave him a $5,000 bonus in lieu of the World Series share that he expected to earn with the New York Yankees. Wakefield claimed that the New York Yankees had convinced him to sign for the 1950 AL season for $17,500, $5,000 less than he had been receiving with his 1949 club, the Detroit Tigers, by “guarantying him a World Series share.” The Chicago White Sox, relying on a guarantee of their own that the Yankees cancelled the deal, they refused to return P Joe Ostrowski; nor would they pay Wakefield’s salary. The teams appeal to MLB Commissioner Albert “Happy” Chandler, who ruled in favor of the White Sox and cancelled the deal. On June 15,1950, the Yankees would finally obtained P Joe Ostrowski from the St. Louis Browns.
1953 - A terrific brawl breaks out at Sportmans Park in St. Louis during the 10th inning of a New York Yankees–St. Louis Browns game. Six players are fined a total of $850, an AL record up to that date. The New York Yankees and former Yankees catcher Clint “Scraps” Courtney had been carrying a personal war of their own over the past 2-seasons. Clint had been traded away by the Yankees in 1951. In the top of the 10th inning, the Yankees took the lead 7-6, when Yankees base-runner Gil McDougald bowled over Courtney at home plate, as he scored the go-ahead run. In retaliation, Courtney slid into Yankees shortstop Phil Rizzuto with “spikes up” in what the Yankees viewed a an deliberate attempt to injured a player, especially because Courtney was trying to stretch a single into a double and was a dead out at 2B. Both of the team benches cleared, AL Umpire John Stevens suffered a dislocated collarbone, while attempting to separate the players, who were involved in the fighting. When peace was finally restored, the Browns fans had littered the playing field with garbage, causing a 17-minute delay and near forfeit of the game. Clint Courtney was fined $250, along with his Browns teammate, INF Billy Hunter, who was fined $150. The following Yankee players were fined for being involved in the fighting: INF Billy Martin $150, INF Gil McDougald $100, 1B Joe Collins $100 and P Allie Reynolds $100.
1972 - The New York Yankees purchased P Jim Roland from the Oakland A’s on waivers. Jim Roland would go 0-1 in 16 games, before being traded to the Texas Rangers for veteran reliever Casey Cox in August of 1972.
1980 - Former Yankees P Bob Porterfield (1948-1951) passes away (1923-1980). Bob Porterfield had an 8-11 mark with New York Yankees, while trying to pitch with back problems. He was traded by the Yankees, along with pitchers Tom Ferrick and Fred Sanford to the Washington Senators for P Bob “Sarge” Kuzava. He would bounce back with the Senators winning 13, 22, 13 and 10 wins each season after being traded away by the Yankees. His trade was a rare Yankees mistake by Yankees General Manager George Weiss.
1985 - The New York Yankees hired former manager Billy Martin as their skipper for a 4th time. The fiery Martin, one of George Steinbrenner's favorite managers, replaces Yankees fans favorite Yogi Berra, who is fired just 16 games into the 1985 American League season. Yogi Berra will stay away from New York Yankees organization for many years because of George’s action. One of the lowest points of the 1980’s lost decade marred by George’s poor baseball management decisions. Yogi Berra would stay away from the Yankees for over a decade.
1989 - LF Rickey Henderson of the New York Yankees set a MLB record, when he led off a game with a HR for the 36th time in his MLB career, breaking a tie with former MLB All Star OF Bobby Bonds.
2006 - Former Yankees reliever Steve Howe (1991-1996) passes away in an auto accident (1958-2006). In 1991, the New York Yankees signed the former Dodgers reliever Steve Howe as a MLB free agent. Steve went 18-9 with 21 saves in 229 games as a Yankees relief pitcher from 1991-1996.
2007 - Former Yankees reserve OF Archie Wilson (1951-1952) passed away (1923-2007). In 1947, the New York Yankees signed OF Archie Wilson, as an MLB amateur free agent. Archie only played in 7 games for the Yankees. On May 3,1952, Archie Wilson was traded by the New York Yankees along with OF Jackie Jensen, P Spec Shea, and INF Jerry Snyder to the Washington Senators for outfielders Irv Noren and Tom Upton.