This Week in Yankees History
May 20th - May 26th
May 20th
1893 - Former Yankees P Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born (1893-1958). Walt Bernhardt appeared in 1 game with no record for the 1918 Yankees.
1897 - Former Yankees Closer Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-1929,1932-1933) was born (1897-1963). Wilcy “Cy” Moore was the relief ace of the 1927 New York Yankees, posting a 19-7 record with 13 saves. His Yankees pitching career totals were 36-20 in 142 games with 27 saves. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankee closers in the team’s history.
1904 - Former Yankees P Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski) (1933) was born. Peter Appleton appeared in 1 game with 1933 Yankees posting no record. The Yankees sent him back to the Newark Bears (International League) in 1934. Pete originally came up with Cincinnati Reds. Also he played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox in his 14 MLB season career finishing with a 57-67 record.
1913 - The New York Yankees obtained shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Cleveland Indians for INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would help stabilized the 1913 Yankees infield. He would be with the Yankees for 8 seasons, appearing in 1,219 games, hitting .257 for the team.
1923 - Babe Ruth’s 15th inning 2-run HR gives New York Yankees starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox. Herb Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees allowing only 4 White Sox hits in 15 innings.
1925 - The Cleveland Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the New York Yankees by a score of 10-9. Indians OF Tris Speaker scored the winning run from 1st base on a single.
1930 - Former Yankees reliever and Pitching Coach Tom “Plowboy” Morgan (1951-1952,1954-1956) was born (1930-1987). The New York Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent signed Tom Morgan before the 1949 AL season. Tom was a relief pitcher for the Yankees during the early 1950’s. His Yankee pitching career totals were 38-22 in 156 games with 26 saves. Tom was traded to the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, posting a 0-1 mark in 5 games. He pitched for the Detroit Tigers (1958-1960), Washington Senators (1960), before being drafted by the Angles in the 1960 AL expansion team player draft. He finished his MLB pitching career in 1963 with the Angels, and then working for the team as a pitching coach in their minor league system. He finished his MLB career with a 67-47 pitching record in 443 games with a 3.61 ERA with 64 saves. Later, Tom would become a Yankees MLB pitching coach during the 1980’s
1943 - Former Yankees 1B David McDonald (1969) was born. In 1962, the New York Yankees signed David McDonald as an amateur MLB free agent. He only appeared in 9 games for the 1969 Yankees, just hitting only .217. On May 15,1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for reliever Gary Waslewski.
1945 - One-armed OF Pete Gray of the St. Louis Browns enjoyed an incredible day against the New York Yankees. Gray made 3 outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBIs, and scored the game winning run during the Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.
1946 - Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, MLB Coach and Yankees broadcast announcer Robert “Bobby “ Murcer (1965-1966,1969-1974,1979-1983) was born (1946-2008). Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, he still had a very good career with the New York Yankees. He made the AL All Star team in 1971-1974. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best season with the bat was in 1971, when he hit .331. In the winter of 1974, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants for All Star OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees from the Chicago Cubs during the 1979 MLB season. Finishing out his Yankees playing career in 1983, Bobby became a Yankees broadcasting announcer. Bobby passed away in 2008, after batting brain cancer.
1946 - Former Yankees OF Jim Lyttle (1969-1971) was born. In 1966, OF Jim Lyttle was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 1st round (10th pick) of the MLB amateur player draft. Jim’s best Yankees season was in 1970, when he hit .310 in 87 games. In 1971, he missed most of the season being sick with mono, only appearing in 49 games, hitting just.198. On October 13,1971, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the Chicago White Sox for P Rich Hinton.
1948 - New York Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and collected 6 RBIs in the 13-2 Yankees victory over the Chicago White Sox. DiMaggio hit 2 HRs, a triple, a double and a single, and narrowly missed another extra-base hit, when Chicago Left Fielder Ralph Hodgin made a spectacular catch at the outfield wall.
1959 - The Detroit Tigers beat the New York Yankees by a score of 13-6 to place the Yankees in last place in the American League for the 1st time in 19 years, since May of 1940. The team was plagued by injuries to virtually every starting player in the Yankees regular starting line up, plus the pitching staff had several arm injuries, including 1958 Cy Young Award winner Bob Turley. The 1959 New York Yankees would finish in 3rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record, behind the 2nd place Cleveland Indians and the 1959 American League Champion’s Chicago White Sox.
1960- Former Yankees C Pat Collins (1926-1928) passed away (1896-1960). On August 30,1925, Pat Collins was traded by St. Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later and $25000 and 3 players to be named. The New York Yankees sent INF Pee-Wee Wanninger on December 16,1925 to St. Paul Saints to complete the trade. He appeared in 264 games for the Yankees, hitting .269. Pat appeared in 11 World Series games for the Yankees (1926-1928), hitting .500. On December 13,1928, Pat was purchased by the Boston Braves from the New York Yankees.
1963 - Former Yankees P David “Boomer” Wells (1997-1998, 2002-2003) was born. On December 24,1996, Dave was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. Dave pitched a perfect game for the Yankees. His final Yankees pitching career record was 66-28. Dave’s best Yankees season was in 2002, when he went 19-7. In 1998, he went 18-4 and won the ALCS MVP Award. Dave was named to the 1998 AL All Star team. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 1-1. In ALCS play, he went 6-1 for the Yankees. On February 18,1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with INF Homer Bush and P Graeme Lloyd to the Toronto Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2002, he would return to the Yankees as a MLB free agent. David would post a 19-7 record in 2002 for the Yankees. In 2003, he went 15-7 for the Yankees. At the end of the 2003 MLB post season, David left the Yankees for MLB free agency. He signed with the San Diego Padres.
1969 - The New York Yankees acquired veteran reliever Jack Aker (1969-1972) from the Seattle Pilots for Yankees P Fred Talbot. Jack Aker and Lindy McDaniel helped stabilized the New York Yankees bullpen for 4 seasons. Aker went 16-10 with 59 saves in 164 games for the Yankees. On May 17,1972, the New York Yankees sent veteran reliever Jack Aker to the Chicago Cubs to complete an earlier deal made on January 20,1972. The Yankees had traded for Cubs veteran OF Johnny Callison.
1976 - Another New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox brawl took place at Yankee Stadium. Which a pile-on fight resulting in Boston Red Sox starter Bill “Spaceman” Lee seriously injuring his pitching arm. It all started when Yankees OF Lou Piniella, crashed into Red Sox C Carlton Fisk while trying to score from 2nd base on a single by Graig Nettles. Red Sox RF Dwight Evans throw had Lou out at the plate, but he barreled into Fisk resulting in a fight between them, which emptied both team benches.
1980 - Former Yankees reserve OF Austin Kearns (2010) was born. On July 30,2010, OF Austin Kearns was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for a player to be named later. The New York Yankees sent minor league P Zach McAllister on August 20, 2010 to the Cleveland Indians to complete the trade. Austin appeared in 36 games for the Yankees, hitting just .234. On November 1,2010, Austin was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees. He resigned with the Cleveland Indians for 2011 AL season.
2006 - A New York Yankees uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series (1951) was sold for $195,500 during the 2nd day of an auction of his memorabilia. Yesterday, DiMaggio's 1947 AL MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 percent buyer's premium. It was his 3rd AL MVP award, but it was the only plaque. The two day auction featured more than 1,000 items of Joe DiMaggio memorabilia also included a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio's Yankees teammates and members of the Red Sox, a typed note signed by entertainer Frank Sinatra, an a signed photograph of DiMaggio's one-time wife, actress Marilyn Monroe. This Joe DiMaggio memorabilia auction was held by Hunt's Auctions Inc. at New York City. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
May 21st
1906 - Former Yankees P Henry ‘”Hank” Johnson (1925-1926, 1928-1932) was born (1906-1982). Hank Johnson went 37-36 in 157 games with 7 saves as Yankee. His best Yankees season was in 1928, when he went 14-9 in 31 games. On June 5,1932, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ivy Andrews and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for P Danny Mac Fayden.
1912 - Former Yankees reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) was born (1912-1992). On April 3,1942, Larry Rosenthal was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the New York Yankees for OF Buster Mills. He appeared in only 36 games for the 1944 Yankees, just hitting .198. On July 6,1944, Larry was purchased by the Philadelphia A’s from the New York Yankees.
1923 - The formal transfer of T.L. Huston's interest in the New York Yankees ownership to his partner, Jacob Ruppert is completed for $1.5 million. Ten days later, Ruppert buys two more sets of uniforms so his players can wear a clean outfit every day, an unprecedented move.
1926 - It is “George Burns Day” in Cleveland as he is presented with a diploma as the American League MVP of 1926, a silver bat containing $1,150 in cash, and a new automobile. Tribe 1B Burns has a pair of doubles in the game but the visiting New York Yankees win the game by the score of 6-4 in 12 innings.
1930 - New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits 3 consecutive HRs in the 1st game of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia A's, then batting against P Jack Quinn in the 9th inning. Ruth decides to hit right-handed. After 2 strikes, he switches to lefty, but he strikes out. This is the 1st of 2 career 3-HR games for the Babe. Max Bishop draws 5 walks for the 2nd time in his career (he is the only player to do this twice), and Jimmie Foxx homers to help the A's to a 15-7 victory. Ruth is homer-less in the 2nd game, a 4-1 Yankee loss, but Max Bishop has 3 more walks. Bishop will also walk 8 times in a doubleheader in 1934, the only player to collect more than 6 walks in an afternoon.
1932 - Before 60,000 fans at Yankee Stadium, the New York Yankees roll over the Washington Senators by scores of 14-2 and 8-0. Washington batters collect just 11 hits off of Yankees starters Herb Pennock and Johnny Allen. In the opener, Babe Ruth homers in the 5th inning off of P Lloyd Brown. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig connect with HR in the 6th inning off of P Frank Ragland. Yankees 2B Tony Lazzeri is 6-for-7 on the afternoon, including a HR, 2 doubles and a triple.
1934 - Former Yankees minor league C Moe Thacker was born (1934-1997). Moe Thacker was another of the many players who began their careers in the New York Yankees organization, who reached the MLB with a different team. In 1952, the New York Yankees signed Moe as an amateur MLB free agent. The young catcher would make it as high as the American Association with the Denver Bears (AAA) in 1956 and the New Orleans Pelicans (AA) of the Southern Association in 1957, where he hit .240 while catching 136 games. All that got him was being traded to the Chicago Cubs before the start of the 1958 MLB season in an unknown transaction.
1938 - The power-laden New York Yankees give little hitting or run support to their starter Spud Chandler, but he hits a HR in the 8th inning to gain a 1-0 victory over Chicago White Sox starter Thornton Lee.
1941 - Former Yankees INF (1968-1969), Minor League Manager and MLB Coach and Manager Bobby Cox (1977) was born. On December 7, 1967, Bobby Cox was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the New York Yankees for C Bob Tillman and P Dale Roberts. Bobby Cox played 2 seasons as a 3rd baseman with the New York Yankees. He was named to the 1968 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. After bad knees ended his playing career at age 30, he became an extremely successful manager. Some consider him to be among the greatest managers of all time. In 1959, he was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers for a $40,000 bonus, and spent 7 years in the Dodgers minor league system. He spent the 1967 season with the Atlanta Braves AAA farm club in Richmond (International League).
With the New York Yankees in 1968, he replaced Charley Smith, the 1967 3rd baseman. People have disparaged Cox's .229 BA that year, but it was the heart of the second dead-ball era and his average was actually 15 points higher than the team average of .214. In 1969, the team average went up to .235, while Cox went down to .215. Jerry Kenney became the regular 3rd baseman. After his MLB playing career, Cox played 1 season for the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) and was a player-manager for the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (A) in 1971 (even appearing in 3 games as a pitcher). He then managed 1 season with West Haven Yankees (AA) and 4 seasons with the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) before coming to the majors as a MLB coach. Bobby Cox was a member of the New York Yankees MLB coaching staff in 1977. He was more successful as a MLB manager with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays than as a MLB player.
1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1971) was born. Rich Hinton was acquired from the Chicago White Sox for New York Yankees OF Jim Lyttle in 1971. He went 1-0 before being traded to the Texas Rangers.
1947 - All Star CF Joe DiMaggio and 5 other players are slapped with $100 fines for not fulfilling their player contract requirements to do promotional duties for the New York Yankees.
1948 - New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle as he delivers 2 home runs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 13-2.
1954 - Boston Red Sox rookie starter Frank Sullivan makes his 1st MLB start beating the Yankees at Yankee Stadium by a score of 6-3. Sullivan strikes out Mickey Mantle 3 times before Mickey clocks one over the auxiliary scoreboard into the RF-CF bleachers.
1956 - At Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle clouts a drive over the 2nd and more distance fence in right field to help the Yankees win the game by the score of 8-5. The HR drive off of A’s hurler Moe Burtschy, matches HRs to that spot hit by American League hitters Larry Doby and Harry “Suitcase” Simpson.
1957 - For his part in the Copacabana nightclub fight incident, New York Yankees OF Hank Bauer is arraigned in New York City court. He is eventually cleared and threatens to sue the alleged victim, Edward Jones, who suffered a concussion and a broken jaw. In today's game, Yogi Berra, Billy Martin and Whitey Ford are benched by Yankees Manager Casey Stengel, while Hank Bauer bats 8th in the Yankees starting batting order. Mickey Mantle has a single, 2 walks, and a HR to back starter Bob Turley's 4-hit, 3-0 shutout over the Kansas City A's. Bob Turley helps his cause by starting a triple play. The Yankees now trail the Chicago White Sox in the AL by a half game.
1962 - The Baltimore Orioles signed veteran MLB starter Robin Roberts, who was released by the New York Yankees on April 30Th. Robin Roberts will go on to win 42 games for Orioles before going to Houston Astros and then finishing his MLB career with the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees management had decided that veteran Bob Turley was better choice than Robin Roberts; it proved to be a big mistake. Many feel that Robin Roberts would have made the 300 wins MLB career mark, if he had stayed as a Yankee. Turley was 3-3 in 24 games in 1962, before finishing up his MLB career in 1963 splitting time with LA Angels and the Boston Red Sox.
1967 - Detroit starter Earl Wilson gives the Tigers their 3rd straight win over the New York Yankees, with a 9-4 victory. Mickey Mantle hits his 5th HR in 6 games but it's not enough for Yankees starter Whitey Ford, who appears in his last MLB game for the Yankees.
1970 - A generous Yankees starter Mel Stottlemyre hands out 11 walks to Washington in 8 1/3 innings, but the Senators are unable to score. Steve Hamilton gets the last 2 outs of the game to preserve the 2-0 win. The 11 walks in the shutout ties former Yankees pitcher Lefty Gomez, who did complete his 1941 shutout. Danny Cater‘s 2-run HR in the 5th inning, accounts for the scoring off of Nats P Richard Such, making his 1st MLB start.
1971 - Former Yankees reserve C Chris Widger (2002) was born. Chris Widger hit .297 in 24 games as a reserve catcher with the Yankees during the 2002 AL season. He hit .244 for the 2002 Columbus Clippers (International League). On April 7,2003, Chris Widger was released by the New York Yankees. Manager Joe Torre had chosen John Flaherty as the 2003 Yankees reserve catcher.
1997 - Roger Clemens fires the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees by the score of 4-1, for his 8th win of the 1997 AL season against no losses. The Rocket wins his 200 MLB career game, the 94th MLB pitcher to reach 200 wins mark.
2004 - On his 1st return visit to Texas, former American League All Star Texas Ranger, now a New York Yankees player, Alex Rodriguez is roundly booed by Ranger fans at The Ballpark in Arlington. The fans continue to show their displeasure as the Yankees' 3B drives a 2-1 pitch over the fence during his 1st inning at-bat.
2005 - As Dae-Sung Koo stands in against New York Yankees starter Randy Johnson, Mike Piazza confides to David Wright in the dugout, "If he gets a hit, I'll donate a million dollars to charity." The Korean reliever, batting lefty off the Yankee fire-balling southpaw, was afraid to stand in the batter box in a previous game, but promptly hits a 91-mph fastball to the wall in center for a double causing the Mets catcher to say he will be making a significant donation to a charity over the next 20 years.
2009 - New York Yankees starter Joba Chamberlain is knocked out of the game in the 1st inning with a bruised right knee after being hit by a line drive off the bat of Baltimore Orioles batter Adam Jones. The Yankees still defeat the Orioles by the score of 7-4, as Robinson Cano drives in 3 runs. Alfredo Aceves pitches 3 ⅓ scoreless innings in relief of Joba Chamberlain to earn the Bronx Bombers' 9th straight win.
May 22nd
1913 - St. Louis Browns rookie P Dwight Stone gives up 6 hits, 7 walks and plunks 3 batters, but still beats the New York Yankees by the score of 7-0. The visiting Yankees strand a modern-MLB record of 15 runners in the shutout by Stone, who will win just 1 more game in 1913. Ed Klepfer is the losing pitcher in his only decision of the year. The record will be matched 3 times and finally topped, in 1994. The Nation League record of 14 runners stranded in a shutout was set less than 2 weeks ago by Pittsburgh Pirates against the Philadelphia Phillies.
1922 - The New York Yankees, who have been sharing the Polo Grounds with the Giants since 1913, begin construction on their own stadium in the Bronx. Yankee Stadium will open in the following April for the 1923 American League season.
1923 - Bronx Bomber slugger Babe Ruth breaks a 1-1 tie between the New York Yankees and the Chicago White Sox by clouting a 2-run HR in the 15th inning. The blow breaks up a tense pitching duel between little Mike Cvengros and Herb Pennock, who goes all the way giving up just 4 hits. The Yankees have now won 12 of 13 contests in their western road trip.
1930 - At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the Yankees and the A’s continue the HR barrage as the Yankees take both games of a 2nd straight doubleheader by the scores of 10-1 and 20-13. Babe Ruth hits a pair of HRs in the opener, as does Ben Chapman and winning pitcher George Pipgras. The Yankees score 9 runs in the 1st two innings of the 2nd game, but the A's come back to tie it at 12 apiece. The Yankees win the assault 20-13 as Tony Lazzeri is 4-for-4, scores 5 runs, and knocks in 4 runs. Babe Ruth hits another HR in the 2nd game, while Lou Gehrig powers 3 HRs to drive in 8 runs. On the Philadelphia A's side, Jimmie Foxx has 2-HRs to drive in 6 runs. For the afternoon, the teams combine to hit 14 HRs, a then record 10 HRs in game 2.
1933 - New York Yankees INF Joe Sewell fans for the 1st time for the 1933 AL season, in a 3-0 Yankees victory, behind starter Lefty Gomez over the Cleveland Indians. Sewell will strike out only 3 more times in 524 at bats during the 1933 American League season. He will finished his MLB career with a total 114 strikeouts.
1934 – The Cleveland Indians stop the New York Yankees by the score of 5-1, with Lou Gehrig driving in the lone run for Bronx Bombers. For the 2nd time in his MLB career, Lou has driven in at least one-run a game for 10 straight games.
1944 - Former Yankees P Tommy John (1979-1982,1986-1989) was born. On November 21, 1978, Tommy John was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. Tommy John won 21 and 20 games in 1979 and 1980 for the Yankees. On August 31,1982,Tommy was traded by the Yankees to the California Angels for a player to be named later. The Angels would send P Dennis Rasmussen on November 24,1982 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He would return to the Yankees in 1986, he played with the team until 1989. His final Yankees pitching career record was 91-60.
1946 - The New York Yankees turn a triple play during a 5-3 win at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Tigers had runners on 1st and 3rd, when Richard Wakefield hit a ground ball to Yankees 1B Nick Etten, who threw home to get the lead runner. Yankees C Bill Dickey chased that lead runner back towards 3B, and then he threw to 3B George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, who made the tag. Meanwhile, the runner on 1B had foolishly strayed beyond 2B, apparently undecided whether or not to attempt to advance to 3B during the rundown. A throw to shortstop trapped this runner between 2B and 3B, Phil Rizzuto, eventually tagged him out. During this rundown, Wakefield attempted to reach 2B, Phil Rizzuto’s quick flip to 2B Joe Gordon, completed the triple play.
1947 - The New York Yankees beat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 9-0, as starter Allie Reynolds fires his second 2-hit shutout over the Red Sox in a month. Red Sox starter Harry Dorish is the loser.
1947 - Former Yankees P Rich Hinton (1972) was born. On October 13,1971, Rich Hinton was traded by the Chicago White Sox to the New York Yankees for OF Jim Lyttle. He appeared in 7 games for the 1972 Yankees, posting a 1-0 record. On September 7,1972, Rich was purchased by the Texas Rangers from the New York Yankees.
1953 - New York Yankees' OF Irv Noren ends the game by lining back to Washington hurler Bob Porterfield, who starts a triple play, as the Senators beat the Yankees by a score of 12-4. The Senators scored 5-runs in the 1st inning off of Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds. Washington tallies for 18 hits, including a 3-run HR and 2-run double by Clyde Vollmer. Yankees veteran Johnny Mize hits pinch single in the 9th inning, his 5th pinch single in a row, breaking a mark set by Cleveland's Les Fleming in 1947. Johnny Mize has had a walk and been hit by a pitch in his last 7 pinch-hitting appearances.
1954 - At Yankee Stadium, Veteran starter Allie Reynolds tosses a 7-hit shutout over the Boston Red Sox to win 7-0. Outfielder Mickey Mantle is the Yankees main offense, going 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs. Mickey will knock in 10 runs in the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
1954 - Former Yankees minor league P Mark Softy was born. Mark Softy is a former minor league baseball pitcher, who played in the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers farm systems. He was drafted in the 18th round of the 1976 MLB amateur player draft. Mark never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. He is perhaps most known for being part of a trade involving MLB outfielders Mickey Rivers, Oscar Gamble, and others. The New York Yankees traded players to be named later and Mickey Rivers to the Texas Rangers for players to be named later, MLB OF Oscar Gamble, and minor league player Amos Lewis. On October 8, 1979, the Texas Rangers would send pitchers Ray Fontenot and Gene Nelson to the New York Yankees to complete the deal. On October 8,1979, the New York Yankees would send minor league players Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch and Mark Softy to the Texas Rangers to complete the trade.
1956 - Detroit's Red Wilson belts a 2-run HR in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees. The loss goes to Whitey Ford, his 1st following 6 straight wins. Ford had given up just 5 earned runs through 54 innings before today’s game.
1959 - Baltimore Orioles' starter Hoyt Wilhelm 1-hits the Yankees winning the game by the score of 1-0, with Yankees INF Jerry Lumpe's single in the 8th inning as the spoiler. Yankees All Star switch-hitter Mickey Mantle hits righty against Wilhelm and does no better than he has been lefty. On May 28th, Hoyt Wilhelm, who is a veteran knuckleball pitcher, will beat the Yankees again, this time by a score of 5-0.
1962 - The New York Yankees RF Roger Maris, who went all of the 1961 AL season without receiving an intentional walk, collects 4 walks in a 12-inning, in a 2-1 win against the LA Angels to set an AL record. Maris receives 5 walks in all. Four Yankee pitchers (Whitey Ford, Jim Coates, Bud Daley and Bob Turley) combine to give up just 1 hit in 12 innings. Yankees starter Whitey Ford leaves after 7 innings, because of back spasms, Jim Coates gives up the lone Angels hit, a 1-out 9th-inning single to rookie catcher Buck Rodgers.
1963 - At Yankee Stadium, Yankees blow a 7-0 lead that allows the Kansas City A’s to tie the game and send it into extra innings. Mickey Mantle, leading off the 11th inning, is fooled by Bill Fischer on a slow curve, then cannons a 2-2 pitch that almost clears the Yankee Stadium RF roof. "The hardest ball I ever hit," Mantle later comments, a ball that, by some accounts, was still rising when it struck a foot below the top. It is conservatively estimated by Dr. James McDonald, a physicist, who studies long-ball trajectories, that the ball would have traveled 620 feet if it had not struck the facade. "That was the only homer I ever hit that the bat actually bent in my hands," Mantle tells his Yankees teammate veteran Dale Long, from whom he borrowed the bat.
1977 - After 3 straight losses to the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees give the starting assignment to lefthander Ron Guidry, who throws a 4-hitter defeating the O’s by a score of 8-2.
1996 - The Oakland A’s spoiled “Dwight Gooden Day” at Yankee Stadium by hitting 5 solo HRs, including 3 by Yankees-killer Geronimo Berroa to beat the Yankees by the score of 5-1. The A’s 5 runs, all-coming on HRs, tie the MLB mark.
1997 - The visiting Boston Red Sox collect 19 hits, but strand 16 base runners, while beating the New York Yankees by the score of 8-2. Former Yankee Mike Stanley hits a 3-run HR, and Wil Cordero adds 5 hits; Tim Naehring has 4 hits and Mo Vaughn belts his 10th HR of the 1997 AL season in the 8th inning.
1999 - The New York Yankees defeat the Chicago White Sox by the score of 10-2, in the 1st game of a double header. Roger Clemens gets the win for the Yankees, giving him an AL record 19 consecutive victories over the course of 2 MLB seasons; he will extend the streak by 1 game before losing. This win was delayed by a stint on the Disabled List and a rainout. The Chicago White Sox come back to take the nightcap by a score of 2-1.
May 23rd
1901 - Former New York Yankees broadcasting announcer Arch McDonald (1940) was born (1901-1960). Arch McDonald was a longtime broadcaster for the Washington Senators (1934-1939, 1941-1959). He also broadcast games for the New York Yankees in 1940. McDonald is remembered for his recreations. “The Ol' Pine Tree” died on a train coming home from a Washington Redskins-New York Giants game in New York.
1919 - Chicago White Sox starter Eddie Cicotte overwhelms the New York Yankees as the he wins the game by the score of 5-0.
1920 - After a week in bed with illness‚ Babe Ruth returns to belt a 2-run HR in the 6th inning‚ off Carl Weilman to give the Yankees a 3-2 win over the visiting St. Louis Browns. Baby Doll Jacobson's 2-run HR in the 4th inning is the only Browns scoring off of Yankees starter Bob Shawkey.
1922 - George Sisler and Frank Baker match homers as the St. Louis Browns and the New York Yankees go into the 7th inning tied, at 3-3. Ken Williams hits his 12th HR of the 1922 AL season‚ with 2 men on‚ giving St. Louis, a 6-3 lead. The Browns add 5 runs more off of Yankees reliever Lefty O'Doul to win‚ the game by the score of 11-3. Former Yankees starter Urban Shocker is the winner for the Browns.
1923 - Former Yankees reserve C William “Dutch” Drescher (1944-1946) was born (1923-1968). Bill Drescher hit .266 in 57 games for the Yankees during 1944-1946 AL seasons.
1924 - Former Yankees MLB Coach, Manager and General Manager Clyde King was born (1924-2010). Clyde King was a New York Yankees MLB coach in 1978 and 1981. King managed the team for part of the turbulent 1982 AL season. He then served as General Manager of the Yankees in 1985 and 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.
1927 - Despite 1st inning back-to-back HRs by Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig off of Nats P Sloppy Thurston‚ the Washington Senators edge the New York Yankees by the score of 3-2
1936 - Yankees INF Tony Lazzeri hits 3 HRs; 2 in the nightcap‚ good for 4 RBI’s as the visiting Bronx Bombers pound the Philadelphia A’s by the scores of 12-6 and 15-1. The crowd of 24‚240‚ one of the largest in several seasons‚ pelts the Shibe Park playing field with cushions‚ bottles and other articles‚ making play difficult. Bill Dickey‚ Ben Chapman‚ Red Rolfe‚ and Frank Crosetti also homer for New York.
1946 - New York Yankee batters Joe DiMaggio, Nick Etten and Joe Gordon hit consecutive HRs during the Yankees 8-run, 5th inning against the Detroit Tigers. Detroit starter Virgil Trucks gave up the 1st–two HR shots, then reliever Hal White gives up Joe Gordon’s HR shot. The Yankees win the game by a score of 12-6.
1946 - Former New York Yankees reserve C Johnny Grabowski (1927-1929) passed away from fatal injuries suffered in a house fire (1900-1946). John Grabowski spent all of the 1925-1926 AL seasons with the Chicago White Sox, hitting .304 in 1925 and .262 in 1926. The unexpected came about on January 13,1927, when he was traded along with INF Ray Morehart to the New York Yankees for veteran INF Aaron Ward. With the Yankees, Johnny became a reserve catcher for the duo of Pat Collins and Benny Bengough. Known more for his defense then his hitting, Johnny did have 25 RBI's in 70 games in 1927 along with a .277 batting mark. In 1928, he got into 75 games for the Yankees, but his BA dropped off to .238 with 21 RBI's. Grabowski was not used much during the 1929 AL season by the Yankees, getting into only 22 games and hitting only .203. When his stint with the Yankees was over, he played the 1930 baseball season with the St. Paul Saints in American Association (AAA), Grabowski got into 102 games with 339 at bats, hitting.289.
1948 - Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hits 3 consecutive HRs in a 6-5, 1st game of a doubleheader victory over the Cleveland Indians. Two of his HRs came off of Tribe’s starter Bob Feller. The 3rd HR came off of reliever Bob Muncreif, which proved to be the game-winner. The Tribe would bounce back in the nightcap with a 5-1 win.
1954 - At Yankee Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle's 3-run HR in the 3rd inning ties the game for the Yankees‚ but Mickey strikes out for the final out of the game‚ as the Boston Red Sox win the game by the score of 10-9.
1956 - Former Yankees minor league player, MLB Coach and Manager, Yankees Manager Buck Showalter (1992-1995) was born. Buck Showalter played outfield and managed in the Yankees farm system before becoming the team’s MLB manager in 1992. His Yankees manager record was 313-268, with one AL Playoff appearance in 1995. His 1994 Yankees team had a record of 70-43, when the MLB strike stopped the 1994 AL season. Buck left the Yankees to help organize the new NL expansion team, Arizona Diamondbacks. He later managed the Texas Rangers. In 2010, he took over the manager’s position with the Baltimore Orioles.
1957 - At Ebbets Field‚ the New York Yankees top the Brooklyn Dodgers by the score of 10-7‚ in the Mayor's Trophy game. Yankees starter Al Cicotte allows only 2 Dodger hits in 6 innings‚ and smacks two hits himself. Yankees All Star slugger Mickey Mantle is 4 for 5.
1960 - The New York Yankees released veteran MLB OF Elmer Valo. Elmer was at the end of a long MLB career. On December 11, 1959, Elmer Valo was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in only 8 games for the Yankees in 1960 with no hits. With the return of Bob Cerv from the Kansas City A’s, Elmer became expendable. The Washington Senators would pick him up for the rest of the 1960 AL season.
1962 - New York Yankees Rookie OF/1B Joe Pepitone hits 2 HRs in the 9-run 8th-inning of the Yankees' 13-7 triumph over the Kansas City A’s. With his 2 homeruns, Joe becomes the only other Yankee besides Joe DiMaggio to hit 2 HRs in 1 inning. Joe Pepitone led off the 8th inning with a HR off of A’s starter Dan Pfister, later he hit a HR 3-run HR off of A’s closer John Wyatt. Also Yankees rookie INF Phil Linz gets his 1st MLB career hit, a HR.
1965 - At New York‚ the Angels score 4 runs in the 1st inning‚ and the Yankees counter with 5 in the bottom of the inning off of Angels starter Bo Belinsky. That's all the scoring for the Bronx Bombers as the Angels win the game by the score of 9-5. This is the second game of the 1965 AL season that the injury-plagued Yankees have started their regular outfield of Mickey Mantle‚ Roger Maris and Tom Tresh. Mantle will pull a muscle on the 26th‚ keeping him out of the lineup for 2 weeks.
1979 - The New York Yankees trade pitchers with the Chicago Cubs‚ sending veteran P Richard “Dirt” Tidrow to Chicago for Ray Burris. Tidrow will regain his form in the Windy City‚ while Burris will be just 1-3 in pinstripes before being banished to the New York Mets.
1985 - Former Yankees P Mike Dunn (2009) was born. On June 7, 2004, Mike Dunn was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 33rd round of the 2004 MLB amateur player draft. He appeared in 4 games for the 2009 Yankees with no record. On December 22, 2009. Mike was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Arodys Vizcaino (minors), OF Melky Cabrera and cash to the Atlanta Braves for Pitchers Boone Logan and Javier Vazquez.
1990 - Former Yankees AL All Star OF Charles “King Kong“ Keller (1939-1949,1952) passed away (1916-1990). Charlie’s Keller’s successful New York Yankees career was cut short by bad back problems. He finished with a lifetime BA of .285 for the Yankees with 184 HR’s with 723 RBI’s. He was on the American League All Star team in 1940-1941, 1943, 1946-1947. He appeared in four World Series with the Yankees hitting .306 with 7 HRs with 11 RBIs in 19 games. Keller was a standout player in a short time in the minor leagues. He began his professional career by winning the Minor League Player of the Year award from The Sporting News after hitting .353 with 13 HRs and 88 RBI’s for the 1937 Newark Bears, helping the Bears become one of the greatest minor league teams ever. He led the International League in BA average, runs (120), triples (14) and hits (189). A year later, with no openings in the Yankee outfield of Joe DiMaggio, Tommy Henrich and George Selkirk, King Kong was returned to Newark, he did even better, hitting .365 and paced the IL in hits (211), runs (149), walks (108) and OBP. He was 2nd to Buddy Rosar in average, 2nd to Ollie Carnegie in RBI’s with 129, he struck out just 56 times, was 3rd in the league in HRs with 22, Charlie had 15 outfield assists. Keller appeared in 111 games as a MLB rookie with the 1939 Yankees, hitting .334 with 81 walks, giving him an on-base percentage of .447, and had a slugging percentage of .500. As a rookie, his batting average was 5th in the AL; his Yankees teammate Joe DiMaggio was 1st. His on-base percentage was 4th in the AL (1 point behind DiMaggio's .448).
In 1940, he hit .286 with 106 walks, giving him a .411 on-base percentage. He had 21 HRs with 15 triples. He was named to the All-Star team, led the AL in walks, and was 2nd in the league in triples. In 1941, Keller had 33 HRs (his MLB career high), with 10 triples and 122 RBI. He had a .298 BA with 102 walks, for a .416 on-base percentage and a .580 slugging percentage. On the All-Star team again, he was 5th in the AL in the MVP voting. He was in the top 5 in both on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was 2nd in the AL in HRs and 3rd in the league in RBIs. He continued to hit in the war years, although the league averages went down. In 1942, he had 26 HRs with 108 RBIs, with 114 walks and a .417 on-base percentage. He was 2nd in the AL in on-base percentage and also in slugging percentage. He was 3rd in the AL in HRs and RBIs.
In 1943, he hit 31 HRs with 106 walks. Charlie was again in the top 3 in on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He was in the top 3 in the AL with runs scored, total bases, HRs, triples, and walks. He missed 1944 and much of 1945 AL seasons. He served in the US Merchant Marines in World War II, entering in January of 1944 and being released in August of 1945. Coming back for 44 games in 1945, he hit 10 HRs with a .301 BA, a .412 on-base percentage with a .577 slugging average. Both the on-base percentage and the slugging percentage would have led the AL, if he had had enough plate appearances to qualify.
In 1946, as the AL resumed play after the war, Keller hit 30 HRs with 101 RBIs. He added 10 triples and 101 walks. Charlie was named to the AL All-Star team once more. He was again in the top 3 in the AL in on-base percentage and slugging percentage, as well as in triples, HRs, and walks. It was, unfortunately, to be his last full Yankee season. He was only 29 years old. In 1947, he appeared in only 45 games for the Yankees with a .238 BA. However, he produced value with a .404 on-base percentage and a .550 slugging percentage. Those percentages would have been in the top 3 in the AL, if he had had enough plate appearances to qualify. In 1947, he was named as part of the inaugural class of the International League Hall of Fame.
In 1948, he appeared in 83 games, and his hitting slipped. In 1949, he appeared in 60 games; the Yankees released Charlie Keller, after the 1949 AL season ended. He joined the Detroit Tigers in 1950, as a bench player, appearing in 50 games with 51 at-bats hitting .314 with a .453 on-base percentage and a .569 slugging percentage. Those great numbers represented his last hurrah in the majors. The next year, 1951, he didn't perform as well for the Tigers in 62 at-bats, he was released after the 1951 AL season. He came back in September 1952 for one final at-bat (a strikeout) with the New York Yankees, his MLB career was over. After retiring from the majors, Charlie Keller was a Yankees MLB coach in 1957 and 1959. He was also a successful horse breeder in Maryland.
1995 - New York Yankees rookie starter Mario Rivera makes his MLB debut for the team, starting against the California Angels. Mo only lasts 3 ½ innings giving up 8 hits, 3 walks in a 10-0 loss to the Angels.
2001 - The New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox by the score of 7-3 as shortstop Derek Jeter gets 5 hits‚ including a double and HR. Former Yankees starter now with the Red Sox David Cone takes the loss going 5 innings and giving up 3 runs. Yankees starter Andy Pettitte is the winner.
2010 - The Mets win their 1st subway series against the cross-town Yankees since 1998 with a 6 - 4 victory. Jason Bay homers twice - only his 2nd and 3rd HRs of the 2010 MLB season – against Yankees Ace C.C. Sabathia. Johan Santana is the winner for the Mets, meanwhile Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez picks up the save by striking out Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez with two men on to end the game.
May 24th
1876 - Former Yankees C Fred Jacklitsch (1905) was born. On September 15, 1905, Fred Jacklitsch was sent from the Providence (Eastern) to the New York Highlanders in an unknown transaction. He appeared in one game for the Yankees. Before the 1906 AL Season, he was sent from the Highlanders to the York (Tri-State League) in an unknown transaction.
1900 - Former Yankees P Allan Shealy (1928) was born (1900-1967). Allan Shealy went 8-6 in 23 games with two saves for the 1928 Yankees.
1918 - Stan Coveleski of the Cleveland Indians pitched a 19-inning, complete game to defeat the New York Yankees by a score of 3-2. Former pitcher Smokey Joe Wood, now an outfielder hit a home run for the win.
1926 - Former Yankees INF Willie Miranda (1953-1954) was born (1926-1996). On June 12, 1953, INF Willie Miranda was purchased by the New York Yankees from the St. Louis Browns. Willie was a slick fielding INF for the Yankees, who appeared in 130 games, hitting .241 for the Yankees before being sent to the Baltimore Orioles in the big 17-man trade in December of 1954.
1928 - In the 1st game of a doubleheader at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, a record 12 future Hall of Famers played in the Yankees 9–7 victory over the A’s. This number does not include non-playing Hall of Famers Pitchers Herb Pennock and Stan Coveleski, Managers Miller Huggins and Connie Mack, nor American League umpire Tom Connolly.
1930 – New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits HRs in both games of a doubleheader, giving him 9 HRs in one week. New York sweeps the two games by scores of 10-6 and 11-1. Newly acquired starter Charles “Red” Ruffing is the easy winner for the Yankees in the nightcap.
1932 - New York starter Lefty Gomez allows 3 hits and strikes out 13 batters as the Yankees stop the Philadelphia A's by the score of 3-1.
1936 - Yankees INF Tony Lazzeri, batting 8th in the Yankees lineup, posted an AL record with 11 runs batted in, while hitting three HRs -2 of them grand slams - and a triple in a 25-2 rout of the Philadelphia A’s. His Yankees teammate, OF Ben Chapman sets the modern MLB record of reaching 1B safely, 7 times in a 9-inning game. Chapman receives 5 walks as the Yankees are handed 16 bases on balls. Also Yankees INF Frank Crosetti hits 2-HRs and Joe DiMaggio had a solo HR shot. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig exits the game early, he is replaced by his favorite sub‚ Jack Saltzgaver. Yankees starter Monte Pearson is the winner over George Turbeville in the laugher.
1946 - The New York Yankees announced the resignation of long time Manager Joe “Marsh” McCarthy (1931-1946). He is replaced by Bill Dickey, who is named the team’s interim manager. McCarthy resigned because of reported gall bladder troubles. During his 15-season run with the Yankees, he guided the Yankees to 8 AL pennants (1932,1936-1939,1941-1943) and 7 World Series Championship titles (1932,1936-1939,1941,1943). His final Yankees Manager record was 1,460 wins with 867 losses with .627 WP. His 1,460 wins leads the Yankee managers all time victory list.
1946 - Former Yankees reserve C Ellie Rodriguez (1968) was born. On November 30, 1964, Ellie Rodriguez was drafted by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City A’s in the 1964 1st year MLB player draft. Ellie played for the Yankees in 1968, appearing only in 9 games, just batting .208 before going in the 1968 American League Expansion player draft to the Kansas City Royals.
1947 - Matching teammate Allie Reynolds' game the day before‚ New York starter Spud Chandler gives the Yankees a 5-0 win over the Boston Red Sox allowing only 2 hits.
1951 - New York Yankees rookie OF Mickey Mantle is 0 for 5 but reaches base twice after striking out on a wild pitch. The second time‚ in the 6th inning‚ he reaches second base before Detroit C Joe Ginsberg can retrieve the ball‚ Joe DiMaggio follows with a HR to deep left field. New York wins the game by the score of 11-1‚ behind pitching of hurler Joe Ostrowski.
1952 - Boston Red Sox OF Jimmy Piersall and New York's 2B Billy Martin 1st exchange insults before a game in Boston‚ then they exchange punches in the tunnel under the stands. It takes MLB coaches Bill Dickey and Oscar Melillo‚ along with Red Sox starter Ellis Kinder to break up the fight. Piersall goes to the Red Sox clubhouse to change his bloody uniform shirt and gets into another brawl with teammate Mickey McDermott. He sits as Ellis Kinder stops the Yankees by the score of 5-2.
1954 - Former Yankees reserve OF Bobby Brown (1979-1981) was born. On June 14, 1978, Bobby Brown was traded by the Philadelphia Phillies along with OF Jay Johnstone to the Yankees for P Rawly Eastwick. Bobby’s best season with the Yankees was in 1980, when he hit .260 in 137 games. Overall Bobby Brown hit .245 in 198 games for the Yankees. On April 6,1982, he was sent by the Yankees to the Seattle Mariners to complete an earlier deal made on April 1,1982. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, pitchers Bill Caudill, and Gene Nelson to the Mariners for P Shane Rawley. The Yankees sent OF Bobby Brown on April 6, 1982 to the Mariners to complete the trade.
1956 - New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5 for 5 with an intentional walk in an 11-4 win against the Detroit Tigers. Mantle is hitting .421. He combines with Joe Collins for back-to-back HRs off of Tigers hurler Duke Maas.
1958 - The Detroit Tigers snap a 9-game losing streak while breaking the New York Yankees' 10-game win streak with a 3-2 win behind starter Frank Lary. Lary is now has an 11-4 MLB career record against the Bronx Bombers. His victories against the Yankees will allow him to have MLB career mark of over .500, finishing with a 128-116 mark. He will finish with a 28-13 MLB career record against the New York Yankees.
1964 - New York Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle hits his 2nd HR in 2 days‚ off of Angels P Fred Newman‚ to start the scoring for the Bronx Bombers. The Yankees top the Angels by the score of 8-5.
1967 - The New York Yankees top the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 2-0. Mickey Mantle's 3rd-inning drive to the wall is caught by Orioles OF Frank Robinson but the ball pops out of his glove and over the fence for a home run.
1974 - Former Yankees P Cliff Markle (1915-1916,1924) passed away (1894-1974). Pitcher Cliff Markle played for the New York Yankees in 1915 and 1916. On March 21,1919, Cliff was purchased by Salt Lake City (PCL) from the New York Yankees. He pitched for the Cincinnati Reds in 1921 and 1922. He joined the St. Paul Saints in 1923. On June 16, 1924, Cliff was traded by St Paul (American Association) to the New York Yankees for Oscar Roettger. On July 22,1924, Cliff was purchased by St Paul (American Association) from the New York Yankees. Cliff went 25-12 with a 3.36 ERA while leading the American Association with 184 strikeouts. He played briefly for the Yankees again in 1924 before returning to the Saints. Overall, he went 211-144 with a 3.69 ERA in his minor league career. His Yankees pitching career totals were 6-6 in 21 games.
1977 - New York Yankees hitters Graig Nettles and Carlos May slam back-to-back HR’s in the 7th inning during the Yankees 6-5 come back victory over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
1981 - New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner rips into Bombers All Star OF/DH Reggie Jackson, after the Cleveland Indians defeated the Yankees by a score of 12-5. Reggie was mired in a 4 for 28 batting slump that has dropped his 1981 AL season batting average to .197.
1989 - New York Yankees reliever Lee Guetterman gave up 5 runs in the 9th inning of a New York 11-4 loss to the California Angels, ending his consecutive scoreless inning streak at 30 2/3 innings. It is the longest season-opening streak in the MLB since Harry Brecheen's in 1948, and the longest season-opening streak ever by a reliever.
1996 - In Seattle‚ Ken Griffey‚ Jr sinks the New York Yankees with 3 HRs‚ scoring 5 runs and driving in 6 runs as the Mariners win the game by the score of 10-4. It is the first 3-homer game for Griffey. New York starter Scott Kamieniecki takes the loss‚ his last game with the Yankees. His 1996 AL season will end in a month, when he goes on the AAA disabled list.
2011 - The New York Yankees end an American League record run of 341 games without a complete game when CC Sabathia goes the distance in a 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.
May 25th
1922 - After being thrown out at 2B, trying to stretch a single, New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth throws dirt in the face of Umpire George Hildebrand, then he goes after a fan. Ruth is ejected from the game. He is eventually fined $500 and suspended for one game by AL President Ban Johnson.
1937 - Detroit Tigers future Hall Of Fame C Mickey Cochran’s MLB career is brought to a jarring premature end, when he is struck in the side of the head by a Yankees P Bump Hadley fastball at Yankee Stadium. Mickey Cochrane suffered a bad concussion and probable fracture and never really came back to the form that made him an All Star catcher for the Tigers and the Philadelphia A’s.
1950 - Former Yankees P John “The Count” Montefusco (1983-1986) was born. John Montefusco went 10-3 in 24 games with the New York Yankees before serious hip problems ended his MLB pitching career. On August 26,1983, John was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees, for players to be named later and $200,000 cash. The Yankees would sent hurlers Dennis Rasmussen and Edwin Rodriguez on September 12,1983, to the Padres to complete the trade.
1974 - The New York Yankees obtained P Larry Gura from the Texas Rangers for reserve C Duke Simms. Larry would go 5-1 for the Yankees in 1974, before being traded away to the Kansas City Royals by Yankees Manager Billy Martin during the 1976 AL season. His overall Yankees pitching record was 12-9. Larry Gura and Yankees Manager Billy Martin did not get along, as a Royal starter he would give the Yankees constant trouble.
1978 - Former Yankees reserve OF Mike Vento (2005) was born. The New York Yankees in the 40th round of the 1997 MLB amateur player draft drafted outfielder Mike Vento. In 2005, he appeared in 2 games with the Yankees with no BA.
2011 - Jo-Jo Reyes puts his name in the record books with his 28th consecutive winless start, tying Cliff Curtis and Matt Keough, when the Toronto Blue Jays lose to the New York Yankees by the score of 7-3. Reyes is 0-4 this season, but has pitched well: his ERA was 3.06 over his last 6 starts prior to last night's effort, yet wins have proved elusive. His last victory came on June 13, 2008 while a member of the Atlanta Braves, his record since is 0-13. Also in the game, Mariano Rivera makes his 1000th pitching appearance for the New York Yankees; he is the 15th MLB player to reach the mark, and the 1st pitcher to do it with only one team.
May 26th
1932 - Former Yankees minor league manager and MLB Coach Joe Altobelli was born. Joe Altobelli led the Columbus Clippers (AAA) to an International League title in 1980. Also he served as Yankees MLB coach on the 1981-1982 teams. He would later manage the Baltimore Orioles.
1947 - Former MLB player and Yankees MLB Coach (1990) Darrell Evans was born. Darrell Evans was drafted by the New York Yankees in 1966, but he didn’t sign with the team. He would eventually sign with the Kansas City A’s in 1967. He would play in the MLB for 21 seasons (1969-1989), hitting 414 MLB career HRs. He played for the Detroit Tigers, Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants. In 1990, Darrell was a member of the New York MLB Coaching Staff. He later managed in the minor leagues.
1952 - The New York Yankees released veteran OF Johnny Hopp. On September 5, 1950, Johnny Hopp was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Pittsburgh Pirates. He hit .333 in 19 games in 1950. In 1951, he hit .206 in 46 games. At the time of his release, he was hitting only .160 in 16 games. He would be signed by the Detroit Tigers, hitting .217 before retiring from MLB at the end of the 1952 AL season.
1959 - The New York Yankees re-obtained P Ralph Terry and INF/OF Hector Lopez from the Kansas City A’s for hurlers Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant and INF Jerry Lumpe. Terry had his MLB seasoning with the A’s, was now ready to pitch for the Yankees. Johnny Kucks and Tommy Sturdivant were battling arm problems, causing them to be ineffective on the mound. INF Jerry Lumpe was unable to unseat Tony Kubek at shortstop or Bobby Richardson at 2B. He would become a regular 2B with the A’s.
1962 - Detroit Tigers All Star RF Al Kaline fractured his collarbone while making a dramatic game-saving catch in right field. Kaline helped preserve a Tigers 2-1 victory over the Yankees, but he will miss 2 months of the 1962 AL season with the collarbone injury.
1971 - The New York Yankees obtained P Rob Gardner from the Oakland A’s for 1B Curt Blefary. In 1970, Rob went 1-0 for the Yankees, before being traded to the A’s for OF Felipe Alou. Gardner would go 8-5 in 1972 for the Yankees. Curt Blefary was a former Yankees minor league player (1963), who couldn’t hit anymore, when he returned to the team in 1969 in a trade with the Houston Astros for veteran All Star 1B/OF Joe Pepitone.
1973 - Former Yankees OF Chicken Hawks (1921) passed away (1896-1973). Chicken Hawks hit .280 with 2 HRs with15 RBIs in 41 games for the Yankees in 1921.
1975 - Former Yankees DH/1B Travis Lee (2004) was born. Travis Lee spent most of his New York Yankees stay in 2004 on DL with a major shoulder injury that occurred in spring training camp. At the end of 2004 AL season, the Yankees granted Lee MLB free agency.
1996 - Former Yankees 1B Don Bollweg (1953) passed away (1921-1996). On May 14, 1951, Don Bollweg was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals along with $15,000 to the Yankees for veteran INF Billy Johnson. Don hit .297 in 70 games for the Yankees in 1953. Don appeared in 3 games of 1953 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers with no hits. On December 16,1953, Don was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, 1B Vic Power, OF Bill Renna and C Jim Robertson to the Philadelphia A’s for INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, OF Tom Hamilton, OF Carmen Mauro and 1B Eddie Robinson.
2006 - Angel Berroa hit a 3-run HR in the 8th inning, as the Kansas City Royals escaped a jam in the bottom of the 9th inning after a near 2-hour rain delay, edging the Yankees by the score of 7-6, to halt a 13-game losing streak and 14-game streak at Yankee Stadium since 2005. The Royals' 19-game losing streak from July 28th-August 19th last season was the only mark longer in Royals franchise history. Reggie Sanders hit his 299th MLB career HR for the Royals. After his next HR, he will become the just the 5th player in MLB history with at least 300 HRs with 300 stolen bases, joining Bobby and Barry Bonds, Andre Dawson and Willie Mays. For the Yankees, Derek Jeter got his 2,000th MLB career hit in the contest, becoming the 8th player in New York Yankees club history to reach the milestone.
2010 - The New York Yankees take two games from the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. First, in a resumption of yesterday's game, which was suspended by rain with no score, they win by the score of 1-0 on a HR by Derek Jeter. They then win the regularly scheduled game, by the score of 3-2, on a long ball by Nick Swisher against Twins P Jon Rauch in the 9th inning that gives Andy Pettitte the win. New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera saves both games.
