This Week in Yankees History
June 17th - June 23rd
June 17th
1903 - Former Yankees P Benjamin “Big Ben” Shields (1924-1925) was born (1903-1982). Ben Shields went 3-0 in 6 games for the Yankees.
1917 - The Giants and Yankees played the 1st Sunday game in New York City for a war charity in front of 21,000 spectators at the Polo Grounds.
1918 - The New York Yankees play an 8-inning 5-5 tie with the Detroit Tigers, called because the team had to catch a train to Cleveland.
1936 - Red Ruffing of the New York Yankees set an AL record for pitchers by recording up to 10 total bases. Ruffing hit 2 HRs as part of a 4-hit day (2-singles), helping the Yankees to a 15-4 crushing of the Cleveland Indians.
1941 - Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees was credited with a hit in his 30th consecutive game when an easy grounder to shortstop bounced up and hit Luke Appling on the shoulder. The Chicago White Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 8-7.
1961 - Former Yankees reserve OF Vic Mata (1984-1985) was born. The New York Yankees signed Vic Mata as an MLB amateur free agent in 1978. He appeared in 36 games for the Yankees hitting .312.
1977 - The Yankees open a three-game series at Fenway Park, with starter Jim “Catfish” Hunter is bomber by four 1st inning HR’s by Red Sox batters: Rick Burleson, Fred Lynn, Carlton Fisk and George Scott. The Boston Red Sox win the game by a score of 11-1.
1978 - Ron Guidry of the Yankees struck out 18 batters in a 4-hit, in a 4-0 shutout of the Angels, to set an AL record for a left-handed pitcher in a single game. Guidry, who struck out 15 batters in the first 6 innings of the game. Ron posted his 11th consecutive victory without a loss. The performance will help coin a new nickname for Guidry as the team's announcer, Phil Rizzuto, began to refer to him as 'Louisiana Lightning', inspiring a new Yankees tradition as the fans began to clap rhythmically, each time there was 2 strikes on the batter.
1979 - Former Yankees OF Duffy Lewis (1919-1920) passed away (1888-1979). Duffy Lewis was traded by the Boston Red Sox goes along with front-line P Ernie Shore and Dutch Leonard for New York Yankees P Ray "Slim" Caldwell, P Slim Love, C Roxy Walters, OF Frank Gilhooley and $15,000. The Boston Post reports, "It will take a lot to convince Boston fans that they got the best of this one". Duffy Lewis will hit .272 for the Yankees. On December 31, 1920, Lewis is traded by the Yankees along with veteran P George Mogridge to the Washington Senators for OF Braggo Roth.
1984 - Former longtime Yankees Bullpen Coach Jim Hegan (1961-1973,1979-1980) passes away (1920-1984). Jim Hegan was a 5-time AL All Star catcher for the Cleveland Indians during the late 1940’s and early 1950’s. Jim was the Indians starting catcher from 1946-1956. Jim joined the Yankees in 1961 as a MLB coach. He was a MLB scout for the Yankees for 2 years before retiring from baseball. Jim’s son Mike Hegan played for the Yankees during the 1960’s and early 1970’s. They were the first MLB Father-Son duo to appear in the World Series together (1964).
1985 - Former Yankees minor league INF Mitch Hilligoss was born. In 2006, Mitch Hilligoss was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 6th round of the MLB amateur player draft. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On January 26,2010, Mitch was traded by the Yankees to the Texas Rangers for OF Greg Olson.
1987 - Former Yankees player (1967-1968), MLB Coach (1968-1979) and Manager (1980), Richard Howser died from brain cancer at the age of 51 (1937-1987). As player, he came to the New York Yankees at the end of his MLB career dealing with bad back problems. Upon his retirement as an active player in 1968, the Yankees hired him to be a MLB coach. In 1980, he led the Yankees to a 103-59 record in AL East before losing to the Royals in the AL Championship Playoffs. After leaving the Yankees, he managed the Kansas City Royals before being stricken by cancer.
June 18th
1918 - The New York Yankees score in every inning except for the 8th inning as they beat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 19-3.
1946 - The New York Yankees waived veteran P Bill Zuber (1943-1946) to the Boston Red Sox. Bill went 18-23 for the Yankees.
1975 - Former Yankees P Felix Heredia (2003-2004) was born. Felix Heredia went 1-2 as a Yankees reliever, before being traded to the New York Mets for veteran reliever Mike Stanton in 2004.
1976 - MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn voided the sales of Oakland A’s stars Vida Blue, Rollie Fingers and Joe Rudi. Kuhn ordered the players to return to Oakland, but A’s owner Charlie Finley will not allow the A’s manager Chuck Tanner to use any of them in a game until June 27.
1977 - New York Yankees OF Reggie Jackson and Manager Billy Martin became involved in a dugout confrontation that is seen on national television during a “Game of the Week” broadcast on NBC-TV being played at Boston’s Fenway Park. After Martin removed Jackson for loafing on a ball hit to the outfield, replacing him with reserve OF Paul Blair. Jackson questioned Manager Billy Martin actions in the Yankees dugout. The two were eventually separated by Yankees MLB coaches Elston Howard and Yogi Berra.
2007 - The New York Yankees signed Chinese C Zhenwang Zhang and P Kai Liu. It is touted as the 1st time a MLB organization has signed Chinese players. This is not the case, as the Seattle Mariners had signed Chao Wang in 2001.
2009 - In a start delayed by rain for over 5 hours at New Yankee Stadium, Craig Stammen earns his 1st MLB career victory when the Washington Nationals shut out the New York Yankees by the score of 3-0. It is the 1st homer-less game at the ballpark since it’s opening in April.
2010 - The New York Mets extend their winning streak to 8 games when rookie hurler Hisanori Takahashi, with bullpen help from Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez, shuts out their cross-town rivals the New York Yankees, by the score of 4-0.
2011 - A violent collision at home plate between Carlos Pena of the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees C Russell Martin is the highlight of the Yankees' 4-3 win. With New York up 3-2 in the 6th inning, Geovany Soto hits a bases-loaded line drive to left which LF Brett Gardner catches as he is charging; he fires a one-hop strike to Martin, which arrives just before Pena crashes into him, sending his helmet flying and the catcher rolling on the ground. But Martin holds on for an inning-ending double play. Yankees starter A.J. Burnett is the winner over Ryan Dempster, with Closer Mariano Rivera picking up the save.
June 19th
1903 - Future Yankees Hall Of Fame 1B Lou Gehrig (1923-1939) was born in New York City (1903-1941). Lou Gehrig will make his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 1923. During the 1925 AL season, he will become the Yankees' everyday 1B replacing veteran Wally Pipp. He will set a record for the longest MLB consecutive games played streak while combining with Babe Ruth to form one of the greatest run-producing tandems of all time. He finished his New York Yankees career with a .340 BA with 493 HRs with 1,991 RBIs in 2,164 games for the Yankees. Lou won the American League MVP award 3 times in his MLB career. In 1934, Lou won the AL Triple Crown with a .363 BA, 49 HRs with 165 RBI’s. He was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1939. In May of 1939, Lou stopped playing MLB because of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); he would pass away from the disease in 1941.
1904 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Pat Dougherty from the Boston Red Sox for INF Bob Unglaub. He hit .273 for the Yankees in 234 games in 1904-1906.
1912 - Former Yankees MLB Scout (1971-1974), MLB player, Coach and Manager Don Gutteridge was born (1912-2008). Don Gutteridge was a MLB player, who later became a Minor League Manager for the Chicago White Sox. He was a MLB scout in 1968 for the Kansas City Royals, helping the team prepare for the expansion draft. In July of 1968, he rejoined the Chicago White Sox working on Manager Al Lopez’s MLB coaching staff. He took over the White Sox Manager’s job in May of 1969, running the team until September of 1970, posting a 109-172 record. He joined the New York Yankees organization as a MLB Scout in 1971, holding the position until 1974. He finished up his MLB scouting career with the Dodgers working for them from 1975 to 1992.
1913 - The New York Yankees waived P Ed Klepfer to the New York Giants. He went 0-1 in 10 games for the Yankees in 1911 and 1913.
1918 - The New York Yankees purchased OF Ham Hyatt from the Boston Braves for cash. Ham hit .229 and was released by the team.
1941 - Joe DiMaggio of the New York Yankees hit in his 32nd consecutive game, en route to his record breaking MLB 56 consecutive games hitting-streak, going 3-for-3, including a HR, against the Chicago White Sox.
1949 - Former Yankees reserve OF Gene Locklear (1976-1977) was born. Gene Locklear was obtained on July 10,1976, when he was traded by the San Diego Padres to the Yankees for a player to be named later. The Yankees would send P Rick Sawyer on July 31,1976, to the Padres to complete the trade. Gene only appeared in 14 games for the Yankees, spending most of his time at AAA.
1950 - Former Yankees reserve INF Fernando Gonzalez (1974) was born. Fernando Gonzalez hit .215 for the 1974 Yankees in 51 games as backup infielder.
1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris hit a 9th-inning HR off of Kansas City A's pitcher Jim Archer, his 25th HR of the 1961 American League season, putting him 7 games ahead of Babe Ruth's 60th HR pace in 1927.
1974 - Former Yankees 1B/DH Doug Mientiewicz (2007) was born. The New York Yankees signed 1B/DH Doug Mientiewicz as a MLB free agent in January of 2007. He would appear in 72 games, hitting .277 before breaking his wrist for the 2007 Yankees.
1975 - The New York Yankees obtained OF Rich Coggins (1975-1976) from the Montreal Expos for cash. Rich hit .237 for the Yankees. On May 18,1976, he was traded by the Yankees along with P Ken Brett to the Chicago White Sox for OF/DH Carlos May.
1977 - Carl Yastrzemski (2), Bernie Carbo (2), and George Scott (1) of the Boston Red Sox hit five home runs in an 11-1 triumph over the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The 5 home runs give the Red Sox a MLB record 16 in 3 games. Boston hit 6 homers on June 17th and 5 on June 18, also against the Yankees. The Yankees had no homers in the 3-game series.
1979 - At Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 36,211 fans showed up to witness the return of Billy Martin as New York Yankees manager in a 5-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. Martin had been named to replace Bob Lemon the previous day, and began his 2nd stint as Yankees skipper a season earlier than previously announced.
June 20th
1908 - Former Yankees INF Billy Werber (1930-1933) was born (1908-2009). Billy hit .272 in 118 games for the Yankees. With 1933 being his best Yankees season hitting .258 in 111 games. In May 1933, he was sold to the Boston Red Sox. He later played with the Philadelphia A’s. While with the Cincinnati Reds, Werber became the 1st player to bat in the 1st televised MLB game, a contest against the Brooklyn Dodgers on August 26, 1939. The next season, he batted leadoff for the Cincinnati Reds hitting .370 in the 1940 World Series. He finished his 11-season MLB career with the New York Giants. When Billy passed away in 2009, he was the last living teammate of Babe Ruth.
1911 - In a New York 3-2 win against the Washington Senators, Highlanders 1B Hal Chase makes a MLB record of 21 putouts.
1913 - After New York wins the opener by the score of 9-3, Washington Senators starter Bert Gallia hits three of the first four Yankee batters that he faces in the 1st inning of the nightcap. Three more Yankee batters are plunked by Nats relievers Joe Engel (2) and Tom Hughes (1), for a record 6. The outcome is the same as the 1st game; New York wins again, by the score of 9-3. Yankees leadoff hitter Bert Daniels puts his name in the AL record book, when he gets hit 3 times.
1916 - Tilly Walker's HR over the LF wall is the only HR the Boston Red Sox will hit at Fenway Park this season, but it is the lone Boston score today as the Yankees win the game by a score of 4-1. Inserted as a defensive replacement late in the game, Red Sox shortstop Everett Scott starts a string of 1,307 consecutive games, all played at that position. He will complete the streak as a Yankees player on May 6,1925. It will be the best in MLB history until Lou Gehrig's 2,130 games in 1939.
1918 - The New York Yankees buy P John Robinson from the St. Louis Browns for cash. He went 2-4 and was released by the team.
1928 - Former Yankees Pinch Runner Arthur “Dutch” Schult (1953) was born. Art Schult played 5 seasons in the majors for 4 different teams. He was in 59 games at 1st base and 56 in the outfield. He was first up with the New York Yankees, his next team was the Cincinnati Reds, moving on to the Washington Senators. His last MLB season was with the Chicago Cubs. He hit for a .254 average, while playing in the majors. He appeared in only 7 games as a New York Yankee, all of them as a pinch runner, but he scored 3 runs.
1929 - Former Yankees minor league P Wally Burnette was born (1929-2003). In 1948, the New York Yankees signed Wally Burnette as a MLB amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. Wally Burnette arrived with the Kansas City A's via one of the many trades between the 2 teams during that era. After 2 years in the Army, he won 21 games with the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League) in 1953. He finished with a 6-8 record with a good ERA of 2.89 as a rookie in 1956, but he hurt his arm in spring training the following year, Wally was gone after 1958 AL season with an overall record of 14-21 and a .356 ERA for the A's.
1934 - The AL leading New York Yankees trip the Cleveland Indians twice by scores of 3-2 and 3-0 at Yankee Stadium. New York ties the 1st game on Frank Crosetti's solo HR in the 8th inning off of P Bob Weiland, then wins it on Lou Gehrig's 18th HR in the 9th inning. Lefty Gomez, in relief of starter Johnny Broaca, is the winner. In 2nd game, Hal Trosky Sr.'s single is the only hit off of Yankees starter Red Ruffing, who also knocks in a run.
1939 - The New York Yankees re-obtained veteran hurler Jim DeShong on waivers from the Washington Senators. Jim went 10-8 for the Yankees in 1934-1935. He didn’t appear in any games for the Yankees in 1939.
1940 - The New York Yankees lose to the Chicago White Sox 1-0 in 11 innings, their 6th straight loss, then protest a "catch" by Sox LF Moose Solters, contending he dropped the ball in the 2nd inning when he was reaching for his cap. Umpire George Quinn apparently missed the error and the protest is upheld. The game will be replayed September 18th, but, for several years, all of today's records count including Monte Pearson's loss and Johnny Rigney's win, will count. It is the 1st time since 1919 that the Yankees have been shut out in extra innings by one pitcher: they lost on May 19, 1935 in extra innings to 2 pitchers, Stewart and Brown.
1946 - A Fortune magazine story gives some rare details of MLB finances, showing the 1945 Yankees revenue of $1.6 million and profit of $306,000, cut to $201,000 after minor league team losses. Of the gross income, $896,000 is from home ticket sales.
1946 - The New York Yankees purchased OF Hal Peck from the Philadelphia A’s for an undisclosed amount of cash. He doesn’t play for the Yankees in 1946. On December 6,1946, Hal was traded by the Yankees along with hurlers Gene Bearden and Al Gettel to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack.
1950 - New York Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio gets his 2,000 MLB career hit, an 8th inning run-scoring single off of P Marino Pieretti during a Yankees 8-2 victory against the Cleveland Indians.
1956 - At Detroit's Briggs Stadium, Mickey Mantle poles two Billy Hoeft pitches into the right CF bleachers, something no other player had done since the bleachers were built in the late 1930s. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-4.
1963 - In the 1st annual Mayor’s Trophy Game between the Yankees and Mets, the Mets down the Yankees by the score of 6-2, before 52,430 fans at Yankee Stadium. The profits of the game are annually turned over to the sandlot programs of the City of New York.
1979 - Former Yankees P Scott Patterson (2008) was born. On June 17, 2006, Scott Patterson was purchased by the New York Yankees from Lancaster (Atlantic League). On October 15,2006, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. On November 1, 2006, he was signed as a free agent by the New York Yankees. He spends the season at AAA. On October 29,2007, Scott was granted free agency by the Yankees. On November 20, 2007, Scott was resigned as a free agent with the team. He appeared in 1 game with no record for the 2008 Yankees. On September 11, 2008, he was selected off waivers by the San Diego Padres from the New York Yankees.
1983 - AL All Star Yankee outfielder Bobby Murcer retires as an active MLB player (Yankees: 1965-1966, 1969-1974, 1979-1983). 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 Yankees. He made the AL All Star team in 1971-1974. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best Yankees 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 OF Bobby Bonds. Bobby would return to the Yankees in a trade with the Chicago Cubs during the 1979 AL season. Finishing out his Yankees MLB playing career in 1983. He became a Yankees broadcast announcer.
1984 - At Detroit, New York Yankees rookie reliever Jose Rijo falls to 1-7 when he serves up a 2-out 3-run HR to Howard Johnson in the 13th inning. Detroit wins the game by a score of 9-6. Alan Trammell, Lance Parrish and Chet Lemon also hit HRs for the Tigers, who draw their 3rd straight 40,000 plus crowd.
1989 - The New York Yankees traded AL All Star LF Rickey Henderson back to the Oakland A's for journeymen pitchers Eric Plunk and Greg Cadaret and OF/DH Luis Polonia.
2001 - Former Yankees P Bob Keegan passed away (1919-2001). Before the 1946 AL season, P Bob Keegan was signed as an MLB amateur free agent by the New York Yankees. The 25-year old Keegan was a native of Rochester, NY, who had also attended Bucknell University. Also he was fresh out of the United States Army Air Corps where he had been a navigator on a B-24 during World War II. The Yankees assigned him to the Binghamton Triplets (Eastern League), where he posted a 5-6 record with a 3.87 ERA his 1st season of professional baseball.
Bob Keegan would struggle while pitching in the New York Yankees organization from 1946-1951. He would have only 2 seasons above .500 record during those seasons, going 8-6 in 1948 in a split season with the Kansas City Blues and the Newark Bears. He was 14-9 in 1951 with Kansas City Blues and the Syracuse Chiefs. It appears that the Syracuse club knew a good thing when they saw it. On April 3, 1952, they purchased Bob Keegan from the Yankees. The right-hander went 20-11 with a 2.64 ERA. The International League season was hardly over when Syracuse sold Bob to the Chicago White Sox.
2006 - Former Yankees 3B Billy “Bull” Johnson (1943,1946-1951) passed away (1918-2006). Before 1936 AL Season, Billy Johnson was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent. Third baseman Billy Johnson reached the majors with the 1943 New York Yankees, hitting .280 with 94 RBIs. He missed the next 2 seasons while serving during World War II. Johnson entered the Merchant Marines in March 1944, and then he was inducted into the U.S. Army in September 1944. Billy was discharged from the Army in May 1946. After the war, he returned to the Yankees, he appeared in a total of 4 World Series (1943,1947,1949-1950) with the club. In 1947, Billy was a member of the 1947 AL All Star team. Billy appeared in 735 games for the Yankees, hitting .275 with 45 HRs with 388 RBIs. On May 14,1951, Billy Johnson was traded by the New York Yankees to the St. Louis Cardinals for 1B Don Bollweg and $15,000.
2010 - The New York Yankees are back in 1st place in the AL East, 1 game ahead of the surging Boston Red Sox and the slumping Tampa Bay Rays, after CC Sabathia pitches 8 scoreless innings as the Bronx Bombers shut out the Mets and Johan Santana, 4-0. All the runs come on Mark Teixeira's grand slam HR.
June 21st
1897 - Former Yankees INF Spencer Adams (1926) was born (1897-1970). Spencer Adams hit .120 in 28 games for the Yankees.
1906 - Former Yankees P Russell (Russ) “Sheriff” Van Atta (1933-1935) was born (1906-1986). On September 12, 1932, Russ Van Atta was purchased by the New York Yankees from St Paul (American Association) for cash plus 2 players to be named. Russ went 15-9 for the Yankees from 1933-1935. Russ had an amazing MLB debut: he not only shut out the Washington Senators by the score of 16-0, he also went 4 for4 at the plate. During the winter of 1934, he injured his hand by cutting it, Russ was limited to relief (with some spot-starts) for the rest of his MLB playing career. On May 15,1935, Russ was purchased by the St. Louis Browns from the New York Yankees.
1916 - Rube Foster of the Boston Red Sox no-hits the New York Yankees for the 1st no-hitter in Fenway Park, beating Yankees starter Bob Shawkey by a score of 2-0. Harry Hooper leads the Red Sox offense with 3 hits.
1918 - Former Yankees P and Coach Ed “Steady Eddie” Lopat (1948-1955) was born (1918 - 1992). The New York Yankees obtained Eddie Lopat from the Chicago White Sox in February of 1948 for C Aaron Robinson, Pitchers Fred Bradley and Bill Wight. From 1948 to 1954, Eddie won 113 games for the Yankees as part of the Allie Reynolds, Vic Raschi, Whitey Ford (1950,1953) starting rotation that won 5 straight World Championships (1949-1953). Ed helped Whitey Ford with his MLB development, using a 8MM camera to study the pitcher’s movements. Eddie known, as “The Junkman” would be started by Manager Casey Stengel in-between fastball starters Reynolds and Raschi, to throw off the opposition club’s hitters. Some Eddie’s Yankee career highlights are 113 wins with a .657 WP, 20 career shutouts, with 91 complete games. His Yankee career ERA was 3.21. In 1951, he was 21-9 for the Yankees. He was the Yankees MLB pitching coach in 1960. He would later work for the Kansas City A’s as a Manager and General Manager, later work with the Montreal Expos in the front office.
1930 - Babe Ruth hits 3-HR’s in one game for the 1st time in his regular MLB season career, but the Yankees still lose to the Philadelphia A’s by a score of 15-7. The Yankees had been leading the game by a score of 6-0, when the A’s scored 9 runs in the 7th inning. Ruth’s 3rd HR of the game went out of Shibe Park over the RF wall landing 1 block away. In the second game of the doubleheader, the A’s win again beating the Yankees by a score of 4-1.
1939 - The New York Yankees announced 1B Lou Gehrig's retirement from MLB, based on the report that he has amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The 36-year-old star will remain with the team for the rest of 1939 AL season as team captain.
1950 - Joe DiMaggio gets his 2,000th MLB career hit, a 7th-inning single off of Cleveland Indians' Marino Pieretti, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2. Joe DiMaggio joins Luke Appling and Wally Moses as the only active MLB players with 2,000 or more hits. Eddie Lopat is the winning pitcher for the Yankees, running his AL career record against the Cleveland Indians to 25-6.
1951 - Former Yankees minor league P Bob Polinsky was born. In the 1st round of the January 1973 MLB amateur player draft (secondary phase), P Bob Polinsky was selected by the New York Yankees. After signing with the Yankees, Polinsky moved up the Yankees farm system rather quickly pitching at West Haven (AA) in 1974-1975 and the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA) in 1976. On April 5, 1977, Polinsky was traded by the Yankees along with OF/DH Oscar Gamble, minor league P La Marr Hoyt, and $200,000 to the Chicago White Sox for shortstop Bucky Dent. He would return to the Yankees organization in 1978, pitching for Tacoma Yankees (PCL, AAA). He pitched for the West Haven Yankees (AA) and Columbus Clippers (AAA) in 1979. Bob Polinsky never pitched in the majors.
1958 - Detroit Tigers starter Frank Lary pitches his 3rd straight shutout, beating the Yankees starter Duke Maas by a score of 1-0. Tigers RF Al Kaline throws out Duke Maas at home plate and hits his 7th HR of the 1958 AL season to extend his hitting streak to 18 games.
1960 - New York Yankees starter Whitey Ford out-duels Detroit Tigers “Yankee Killer” Frank Lary to give New York a 6-0 victory in Detroit. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle is 3-for-5 with 2 HRs off of Frank Lary.
1964 - The New York Yankees move into 1st place by 8 percentage points over the Baltimore Orioles, as they out pitch the Chicago White Sox to win a doubleheader sweep by scores of 2-0 and 2-1. Mickey Mantle and Elston Howard solo HRs win it, 2-0 for Jim Bouton in the opener against White Sox hurler Juan Pizarro, and an error wins the nightcap 2-1 in the 17th inning. The Yankees sweep the 4 game series, giving up just 1 run in 41 innings, and take 9 games from White Sox in 11 days.
1966 - In the 1st game of a twin bill, there are 2 on and 2 outs in the 9th inning when Baltimore Orioles RF Frank Robinson makes a spectacular catch against New York's Roy White, diving into the stands over the short RF fence and disappearing from view. He emerges with the ball and it is ruled a catch, preserving a 7-5 Orioles victory, rather than 8-7 defeat.
1966 - Minor League Note: Satchel Paige makes his final professional pitching appearance, going the 1st 2 innings for the Peninsula Grays (Carolina League) against the Greensboro Yankees. Satchel gives up 2 runs. As noted by historian Bill Deane, Peninsula's regular catcher, Johnny Bench, took the night off.
1967 - in a weird doubleheader spit between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. In the 1st game the Yankees had a 5-2 lead in the 11th inning, only to lose the game by a score of 6-5. In the 2nd game, the Yankees are trailing in the 9th inning by the score of 3-2; they score 4 runs to win the game by a score of 6-3.
1988 - With 2 outs in the 9th inning, Detroit Tigers shortstop Alan Trammell blasts a grand slam to give the Tigers, a 7-6 win over the Yankees.
1989 - Chicago White Sox Carlton Fisk surpasses New York Yankees HOF catcher Yogi Berra as the AL leader for career HRs by a catcher as his 307th HR helps to beat the Yankees by a score of 7-3.
1996 - The New York Yankees acquired P Billy Brewer while giving veteran reliever Steve Howe his release. Brewer went 1-0 in 4 games for the Yankees, after his trade on June 22,1996 by the Dodgers to the Yankees for P Mike Judd.
1997 - Tribe slugger Manny Ramirez has six RBIs, 4 on a grand slam HR, to lead the host Cleveland Indians to a 13-4 win over the New York Yankees and starter Andy Pettitte.
1998 - Cleveland Indians lefty starter Bartolo Colon coasts to an 11-0 shutout over the New York Yankees.
2000 - Former Yankees OF Edward “Bud “ Stewart (1948) passed away (1916-2000). In March of 1947, OF Bud Stewart was acquired by the New York Yankees. Bud began the 1948 season in New York after hitting .358 for the Kansas City Blues (American Association) the previous season. After just 6 games with the Yankees, he was traded to the Washington Senators on May 13,1948, for OF Leon Culberson and $20,000.
2002 - Minor League Note: During the New York-Penn League game between New Jersey Cardinals and Staten Island Yankees, a fan hops a fence goes and goes onto the field to argue an umpire's call at 1B. The 38-year old woman is at the game with her 8-year-old daughter's Brownie troop.
2005 - After building 10-2 lead at Yankee Stadium, the Tampa Bay Devil Rays lose to the New York Yankees by a score of 20-11, making it the 2nd time in franchise history the team is ahead by 8 or more runs and lose by 9 runs or more tallies. No other club history has ever achieved this dubious distinction as the D-Rays with their 1999 defeat to the Cleveland; Indians now have accomplished the feat twice.
June 22nd
1890 - Former Yankees reserve OF Mickey Fitzgerald (1911) was born. Mike Fitzgerald hit .270 in 19 games during the 1911 AL season.
1912 - The Boston Red Sox beat the New York Yankees by a score of 10-3, to complete a 5-game sweep, in which they score 55 runs against the Yankees during the 5 game series.
1916 - Red Sox starter Babe Ruth almost duplicates teammate Rube Foster's no-hitter, allowing just 3 singles, two by Frank Gilhooley, in beating the Yankees in a 1-0 victory. The game takes only 1 hour, 18 minutes.
1928 - Journeyman hurler Hank Johnson of the New York Yankees blanks the star-studded Philadelphia A’s by the score of 4-0. In the game for Connie Mack's team are Ty Cobb, Mickey Cochrane, Al Simmons, Jimmie Foxx, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker and Lefty Grove, who were future Hall of Fame player’s.
1930 - Babe Ruth ties a MLB record by hitting 5 HRs in 2 games and 6-HRs in 3 games. The Yankees outfielder hits 3 HRs in the 2nd game of the doubleheader yesterday, 2 HRs in today's opener and 1 more in the nightcap.
1930 - New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits 3 HRs in the 2nd game of doubleheader against the Philadelphia A’s. The Yankees sweep the doubleheader beating the A’s by scores of 10-1 and 20-13.
1934 - Former Yankees Minor League OF Russ Snyder was born. Nineteen year old Russ Snyder signed as an amateur MLB free agent with the New York Yankees before the 1953 AL Season. A left hand hitter who attended the University of Nebraska, he began pro ball in the Yankees organization in 1953 hitting an astounding .432 for the McAlester Rockets of the Sooner State League with 240 base hits in 556 at-bats. One would think that this opening performance would get Russ a quick look at the "Show" but it took 6 more years in the bushes before he got inside a MLB park.
On April 12, 1959, the New York Yankees traded Russ Snyder and INF Tommy Carroll to the Kansas City A’s for OF Bob Martyn and INF Mike Baxes. His trade was a rare mistake by Yankees GM George Weiss. Martyn and Baxes were sent to Richmond (AAA). Russ first came up with the A’s in 1959 after hitting .336 for the Portland Beavers of the (PCL). He then hit .313 in 73 games for the A's. Snyder was traded to the Baltimore Orioles after one more season with the A’s. From 1961 to 1967, he was a semi-regular in the Orioles outfield hitting .305 in 1962 and .306 for the 1966 World Champions. Russ appeared in 3 games in the 1966 World Series, he had one base hit and one RBI to help his club in the series. He closed out his 12-year MLB career with a lifetime .271 average in 1,365 games, after wearing the uniforms of the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Milwaukee Brewers in his last three seasons. Russ had spent 7 seasons (1953-1959) in the minor leagues, where he hit for a .316 average in 761 games. Snyder had played an uninterrupted 18 consecutive years of professional baseball, a feat in itself. He started at age 19 in 1953 and finished at age 36 in 1970.
1934 - The Detroit Tigers take over 1st place in the American League, by beating the Washington Senators by a score of 11-3, dislodging the New York Yankees, who lose their game by a score of 4-1 to the Cleveland Indians.
1936 - Former Yankees P Jim Bronstad (1959) was born. Jim Bronstad went 0-3 in 16 games with 2 saves with the 1959 New York Yankees. He spent the 1960-1963 seasons with Richmond (International League, AAA). In 1963, the Washington Senators purchased Jim from the Yankees.
1953 - Former Yankees OF Charlie “Eagle Eye” Hemphill (1908-1911) passed away (1876-1953). On November 5,1907, Charlie Hemphill was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Fred Glade and 2B Harry Niles to the New York Highlanders for Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and 2B Jimmy Williams. He appeared in 386 games, hitting .269 for the Yankees.
1959 - At Kansas City, New York slugger Mickey Mantle drives in 6 runs with a triple and 2 HRs to lead the Yankees to a 13-6 victory over the A’s. Yankees 1B Bill “ Moose” Skowron adds his 4th HR in 4 days to move Yankees to 3 games out of 1st place in the AL.
1961 - Yankees RF Roger Maris leads the Bronx Bombers on an 8-3 thrashing of the Kansas City A's by belting his 27th HR of the 1961 AL season. He adds 2 doubles and a single. Maris has now, has hit 20 HRs in the past 30 days (May 24th -June 22nd) to tie the MLB mark set by NL slugger Ralph Kiner in 1947.
1965 - Ray Barker's MLB-record-tying 2nd consecutive pinch-hit HR is wasted in a 1st-game, a 6-2 Yankees loss to the Kansas City A's. Mickey Mantle adds an HR in the opener, but in the 4-2 nightcap win, he tries to score from 2nd on a wild pitch and snaps a upper-thigh hamstring. He will be out for three weeks. The June 21st Sports Illustrated cover features Mickey Mantle with the prescient title "New York Yankees: End of an Era?"
1977 - New York Yankees 3B Graig Nettles 3-run HR and Reggie Jackson’s 2-run triple snap the Yankees 5-game losing streak and create a come from behind 12-11 victory at Detroit.
1996 - In Cleveland, Ruben Sierra HRs from both sides of the plate as the New York Yankees beat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11- 9. One of Sierra's HRs comes in the 9-run, 6th inning by the Yankees. Albert Belle, back from a 2-game suspension, is 3-for-5 with a HR, while Eddie Murray adds his 488th MLB career HR for the Tribe. The game takes 4-hours, 10 minutes to play.
2010 - Minor League Note: The GCL Yankees rip the GCL Pirates, by the score of 11-4. In the fifth inning, the Bucs turn to reliever Dovydas Neverauskas, who will allow 2 runs in 2 1/3 IP. He becomes the 1st Lithuanian to play in the minor leagues.
2011 - The Cincinnati Reds split a doubleheader with the New York Yankees as Chris Heisey hits 3 HRs in the nightcap for a 10-2 win. Johnny Cueto is the winner against journeyman starter Brian Gordon. The Yankees win the opener by the score of 4-2, when Jorge Posada, making a rare start at 1st base, hits a 2-run HR, his first long ball since April 23rd.
June 23rd
1894 - Former Hall of Fame Yankees General Manager (1948-1960) and Minor League Director (1932-1947) George Weiss was born (1894-1972). George Weiss spent 29 years in the New York Yankees organization before being fired in October of 1960. Before becoming the Yankees General Manager in 1948, he helped establish and run the Yankees farm system under Yankees long-time GM Edward Barrow. He was tight fisted with the Yankee player salaries, caring only about getting his bonus money from the Yankee Co-Owners Del Webb and Dan Topping for bringing in the team under “budget.” The Yankee players did not like him. His search for the perfect black Yankee player, delayed the team’s entry into the black player market. After being let go by the Yankees in October of 1960, George would join the National League expansion New York Mets in 1961, as their 1st team General Manager and President (1961-1966), along with Casey Stengel as the team’s 1st MLB manager. George Weiss was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971.
1907 - Former Yankees reserve OF Allen “Dusty” Cooke (1930-1932) was born (1907-1987). Dusty Cooke hit .294 in 122 games for the Yankees. On May 15,1933, Dusty was traded by the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for Marv Olson, Johnny Watwood and cash. He joined the Navy in October of 1942 and served in Okinawa Bay during the war. Cooke received training in the navy in conditioning, so he became the MLB trainer for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1946. Cooke was a Phillies MLB coach from 1948-1952 and was also the club's manager for a short time in 1948.
1915 - Former Yankees C Aaron Robinson (1943,1945-1947) was born (1915-1966). Aaron Robinson was the New York Yankees catcher from 1945-1947, sharing duties with Yogi Berra (1947) and Sherman Lollar (1947) before being traded for Chicago White Sox starter Eddie Lopat in February of 1948. Aaron Robinson was recalled from the Newark Bears upon his entry into the US Coast Guard in June 1943. He was discharged from military service in July 1945. Robinson was an AL All-Star catcher in 1947. He played in the 1947 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. However, Aaron Robinson became expendable because the team had a 22-year-old catcher named Yogi Berra. Robinson played 8 seasons in the MLB, never appearing at any other position than catcher. While he got into one game in 1943, he was 30 before he played his 2nd MLB game in 1945, and 31 before he became the regular catcher for the Yankees. He had an excellent season in 1946, hitting .297 with a .506 slugging percentage. As a comparison, Joe DiMaggio, who was also 31 that year, slugged .511.
1915 - The New York Yankees a draw a AL record 16 walks in 1-9-inning game against Philadelphia A’s pitcher Bruno P. Haas. It was Haas 1st MLB game, he added 3 wild pitches to the fire, which lead to a 15-0 defeat of the A’s. Haas breaks the American League record of 15 walks, set by hurler Boardwalk Brown. He ties Bill George's MLB record. Haas will pitch in just 5 more games before ending up in the NFL as a halfback for Akron.
1917 - The New York Yankees purchased shortstop Aaron Ward and OF Howie Camp from Louisville (Southern League). Aaron Ward would play shortstop for the Yankees for 10 seasons, while Camp hit .286 and was released by the team in 1917.
1924 - Former Yankees P Harry “Lefty” Schaeffer (1952) was born (1924-2008). Pitcher Harry Schaeffer served in the Navy during World War II. The 22-year-old left-hander returned in time to put together a 12-6 record with the Stroudsburg Poconos (Class D, North Atlantic League) in 1946. Before the 1947 season, Harry was obtained by the New York Yankees from Stroudsburg as part of a minor league working agreement. The Pennsylvania native would spend until 1952 in the minors, working his way up the Yankees chain. One of his good seasons came in 1948 with the Manchester Yankees (Class B, New England League), when he forged a league-leading 2.33 ERA; he put together a 12-9 record while pitching 209 innings, plus making the league’s All-Star team. Harry went all-out for the 1951 Beaumont Roughnecks (Texas League), when he went 19-9 with a 2.59 ERA while pitching 261 innings, opening the door for his trip to Yankee Stadium. Schaeffer's MLB career began and ended in 1952 when he lost his only decision in 5 games for the New York Yankees. Harry would spend the rest of 1952 season with the Kansas City Blues (American Association) and the Oakland Oaks of the (PCL), putting together a combined 7-5 record with a 3.07 ERA
The left-hander would spend 2 more seasons in the minors, spending 1953 season with the Kansas City Blues winning 11 games. Finishing up his minor league career in 1954 with both the Toledo Mud Hens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Harry ended his 9-season run with an 84-67 record and a 3.32 ERA while pitching 1,241 innings in 248 games.
1927 - At Boston, Lou Gehrig leads the Yankees to an 11-4 victory by hitting 3 HRs, a 1st at Fenway Park. Gehrig hits a 2-run HR in the 2nd inning, adding solo HR shots in the 6th and 8th innings, off of Red Sox P Danny Mac Fayden. He adds a single to his total as Yankees starter Dutch Ruether coasts to the win.
1932 - New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig plays his 1,103rd successive game in a Yankees uniform, equaling INF Joe Sewell's record with one team (Cleveland Indians).
1935 - The league-leading New York Yankees (37-22) lose their 3rd game in a row, dropping a 6-5 decision to the 2nd-place Cleveland Indians. Yankees 3B Red Rolfe's error in the 8th inning allows the Tribe to tie the game. Yankees starter Lefty Gomez losses 2 wild pitches in a row in the 9th inning to allowing Tribe base runner Joe Vosmik to get to 3B. Abe Wright's single brings home the winner. Mel Harder, in relief in the 9th inning, wins his 11th game of the 1935 AL season.
1940 - Bobo Newsom wins his 9th game in a row, stopping the New York Yankees on 4 hits. The Tigers move to a game and a half in back of the 1st-place Cleveland Indians.
1950 - Eleven HRs, an MLB record drive in all the runs scored in a 10-9, Tiger win over the Yankees before a crowd of 51,000 Tiger fans at Briggs Stadium. Detroit has 4 HRs in the 4th inning as Dizzy Trout, Gerry Priddy, Vic Wertz, and Hoot Evers connected. Pitcher Dizzy Trout's HR, off of Yankees P Tommy Byrne, is his 2nd career grand slam HR. Hoot Evers hits another HR, an inside-the-park 2-run game winner in the 9th inning off of Yankees closer Joe Page to win it. For Yankees, Hank Bauer connects for 2 HRs, including 1 in the 4th inning. Joe DiMaggio, Jerry Coleman, Yogi Berra, and PH Tommy Henrich also belt round trippers. It is the 1st time that 9 different players connected for HRs in a game.
1957 - Japanese Prime Minister Kishi wearing a Yankees baseball cap is one of 63,787 fans at Yankee Stadium to see Yankees split a doubleheader with the Chicago White Sox, winning the 1st game by a score of 9-2, and then dropping the 2nd game by a score of 4-3. AL All Star CF Mickey Mantle goes 6-for-9 as the Yankees maintained their 1½ game lead over the Chicago White Sox. Mantle is leading the AL in hitting; HR’s and is 1 run behind the Washington Senators' 1B Roy Sievers in RBIs.
1959 - The New York Yankees ride on 2-run HRs from Mickey Mantle, Hank Bauer and Gil McDougald to a 10-2 win over the Kansas City A’s. Yankees starter Whitey Ford throws a complete game victory, giving up only 5 A’s hits, allowing only 2 runs with 5 strikeouts for his 7th victory of the 1959 AL season.
1960 - Former Yankees P Jim Deshaies (1984) was born. On June 7, 1982, Jim Deshaies was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 21st round of the 1982 MLB amateur player draft. Jim went 0-1 in 2 games for the 1984 Yankees. On September 15,1985, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with minor league players to be named later to the Astros for veteran starter Joe Niekro. The Yankees would send minor league players Neder Horta on September 24,1985 and Dody Rather on January 11,1986 to the Houston Astros to complete the trade.
1962 - All Star CF Mickey Mantle returns to the New York Yankees regular lineup and HRs against the Tigers starter Paul Foytack. But it is not enough as Detroit wins the game by a score of 5-4.
1963 - A MLB fielding record is set by Boston Red Sox 1B Richard Stuart, better known as "Dr. Strange Glove" handles three 1st-inning grounders and tosses to P Bob Heffner for putouts. Stuart's teammates and Fenway Park fans give him a standing ovation. The Yankees beat the Red Sox by the score of 8-0, behind Jim Bouton’s complete game victory. Bouton wins his 10th game of the 1963 AL season. While Yankees RF Roger Maris hits his 14th HR of the AL season to lead the Yankees hitting attack.
1964 - Charlie Lau ties a MLB record with 2 pinch hits in the 8th inning of Baltimore Orioles 9-8 win over the Yankees. The O's, losing score 7 runs in the inning after 2 outs. Yankees manager Yogi Berra is criticized by some of his players for lifting starter Roland Sheldon, who was leading by the score of 7-2, having allowed just 2-solo HRs by Boog Powell. The Yankees rookie reliever Pete Mikkelsen cannot hold the Yankees 7-2 lead as the Baltimore Orioles move into 1st place.
1966 - At Yankees Stadium, Baltimore Orioles hurler Jim Palmer beats the Yankees, for a 5-2 victory. Yankees starter Al Downing takes the loss dropping his 5th decision of the 1966 AL season. Mickey Mantle and Joe Pepitone, each hit solo HRs off of Orioles starter Jim Palmer for the only Yankee runs scored in the game.
1967 - Former Yankees INF/OF Hensley “Bam-Bam” Meulens (1989-1993) was born. In 1985, Hensley Meulens was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur MLB free agent. He really didn’t live up to his hype as power hitter. In 1991, he won the James P. Dawson award for best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. After the 1993 AL season, the Yankees released Hensley. He is currently member of the San Francisco Giants MLB coaching staff.
1988 - New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires Manager Billy Martin for the 5th time, replacing him with former manager Lou Piniella. In 1985, Lou Piniella was fired and replaced by Martin. In 1985, Martin was fired and replaced by Lou Piniella. New York's 40-28 record is the 4th best in the MLB, but the Yankees had just completed a 2-7-road trip.
1989 - Former Yankees P Rick Anderson (1979) passed away (1955-1989). Rick Anderson was 0-0 in 1 game with the 1979 Yankees. He was unable to crack into the Yankees bullpen of Gossage, Davis and others. On January 12, 1972, he was drafted by the Yankees in the 1st round (5th pick) of the 1972 MLB amateur player draft (Secondary Phase). Rick Anderson was the 1979 International League Pitcher of the Year. With the New York Yankees' Columbus farm club that season, he was 13-3 with a 1.63 ERA and 21 saves. On November 1, 1979, Rick was traded by the Yankees along with P Jim Beattie, OF Juan Beniquez, and C Jerry Narron to the Seattle Mariners for OF Ruppert Jones and P Jim Lewis.
1995 - Former Yankees reserve 1B/OF ‘Marvelous Marv' Marvin Throneberry (1955, 1958-1959), known best by his playing antics with the New York Mets, dies from cancer at age 60 (1933-1995). In 1952, Marvin Throneberry was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 18. In the minor leagues, he was the 1956 MVP of the American Association with the Denver Bears, hitting 42 HRs. In 1957, he hit 40 HRs for the Denver Bears. He had hit over 200 minor league HRs. He made it to the big leagues in 1955 for 1 game. Then Marv was a reserve player for the Yankees in 1958 and 1959 AL seasons. After unable to beat out Bill Skowron at 1B, Marv was part of Yankees player package in the Roger Maris trade with the Kansas City A’s in December of 1959. He will become the 1st ex-Yankee MLB player to play for the New York Mets in 1962. During his MLB career, Marv played for the Yankees, Kansas City A’s, Baltimore Orioles and finishing with the New York Mets in 1963. His brother Faye also played in American League, as an outfielder for several teams during the 1950’s. Marv will later become a minor league team radio announcer. During the 1980’s, Marv did appear in the Miller Beer commercials with other former star MLB players, with a line, “I don’t know, why I am doing here.”
1996 – The New York Yankees completed a four-game sweep of the Indians in Cleveland for the 1st time since the 1964 American League season.
1997 - At Detroit, New York Yankees starter David Cone strikes out 16 Tiger batters, his highest game total in 6 years, as Cecil Fielder hits a 3-run HR as New York wins, by a score of 5-2. Cone, who had shoulder surgery to repair an aneurysm on May 10,1996, allows only 4 Tiger hits, including HRs by Bob Hamelin and Damion Easley, in 8 innings of work.
2000 - Former Yankees reserve C Bob Tillman (1967) passed away (1937-2000). Bob Tillman hit .254 in 22 games for the New York Yankees after coming from the Boston Red Sox during the 1967 AL season. In the winter of 1967, Bob was traded to the Atlanta Braves along with minor league P Dale Roberts for Braves INF Bobby Cox.
2001 - The New York Yankees attempt to shore up their bullpen by getting reliever Jay Witasick from the San Diego Padres for minor league INF prospect D'Angelo Jimenez. The Yankees 1st choice, Montreal Expos closer Ugueth Urbina, failed to pass a physical and will end up with their eastern division rivals, the Boston Red Sox. Jay Witasick was a major disappointment for the Yankees, going 3-0 in 32 games. On December 13,2001, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the San Francisco Giants for OF/1B John Vander Wal.
