This week in Yankees History April 15th-21st

April 15th

1886- Former Yankees P Leonard “King” Cole (1914-1915) was born. (1886-1916) Leonard “King Cole” would go 14-12 in 43 games with the Yankees.

1913- The New York Yankees purchased INF Bill McKechnie from the Boston Braves for cash. Bill hit .314 in 45 games as a reserve INF for the Yankees. In 1962, he would be elected to Hall Of Fame for his long time MLB Manager career in the National League. He won NL pennants with the St. Cardinals (1928), Cincinnati Reds (1939-1940), with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1925; he won the World Championship defeating the Washington Senators.

1934- The New York Yankees released P Charles Devens (1932-1934).
In 1932, Charles Devens was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He played college baseball at Harvard University. He went 5-3 in 16 games with the Yankees.

1961- Former Yankees P Nick Cullop passed  (1916-1917) away. (1887-1961)
 On January 21,1916, P Nick Cullop was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City Packers (Federal League). Nick went 13-6 in 1916 for the Yankees, then 5-9 in 1917. His overall Yankees pitching record was 18-15 in 58 games with a 2.64 ERA. On January 22, 1918, Nick was traded by the New York Yankees along with C Joe Gedeon, INF Fritz Maisel, Pitchers Les Nunamaker, Urban Shocker and $15,000 to the St. Louis Browns for veteran P Eddie Plank and INF Del Pratt.

1968- Former Yankees P Billy Brewer (1996) was born.
On June 22,1996, reliever Billy Brewer was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the New York Yankees for P Mike Judd. He appeared in 4 games for the 1996 Yankees, posting a 1-0 record. On December 20,1996, Billy Brewer was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.

1976- The New York Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins by the score of 11-4, in the 1st game at the newly renovated Yankee Stadium.Hall of Fame Yankee players Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Whitey Ford, and the widows of Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth take part in pre-game ceremonies at the Stadium, which had been closed for remodeling the 1974 and 1975 AL seasons. The opening day crowd was 52,613 fans.

1976- Former Yankees P Floyd Newkirk (1934) passed away. (1908-1976)
Floyd Newkirk appeared in 1 game with no record with the 1934 New York Yankees. On December 19,1934, the New York Yankees sent Jim Densmore (minors), Ted Norbert (minors), INF Doc Farrell and P Floyd Newkirk to San Francisco Seals (Pacific Coast League) to complete an earlier deal made on November 21, 1934 for OF Joe DiMaggio.

1985- Former Yankees P Aaron Laffey (2011) was born.
On August 19,2011, reliever Aaron Laffey was selected off waivers by the New York Yankees from the Seattle Mariners. He appeared in 11 games with the 2011 Yankees, posting a 2-1 record with .338 ERA. On October 11,2011, he was selected off waivers by the Kansas City Royals from the New York Yankees. He was signed by the Toronto Blues Jays organization for the 2012 MLB season.

1998- The 1st-ever American League-National League doubleheader ends up a good day for New York City. The Yankees are forced to come to Shea Stadium after a beam falls into the stands at Yankee Stadium on April 13th. The Yankees earn their 1st victory in Queens in 22 years as they defeat the California Angels by the score of 6-3. Former Mets star Darryl Strawberry, the all-time HR leader at Shea Stadium, adds to his total HR with a shot into the LF bleachers. In the regularly scheduled night game, the Mets beat the Chicago Cubs by the score of 2-1. The Yankees, who played at Shea Stadium in 1974-1975 AL seasons, while Yankee Stadium was renovated, drew a crowd of 40,743, a dramatic contrast to the gathering of 16,012 fans, who showed up for the Mets game at night.

2011- Texas starter Matt Harrison is helped by some clutch defense as the Rangers defeat the Yankees by the score of 5-3 at Yankee Stadium. Harrison's teammates tie an American League record by turning 6 double plays behind him, to move his record to 3-0 on the year; the pitcher starts two of the twin killings himself.

April 16th

1916- Former Yankees minor league player/MLB INF Pete Suder was born. (1916-2006)
Before the 1935 AL season, the New York Yankees signed Pete Suder as an MLB amateur free agent. The 19 year old got his 1st taste of pro baseball with the Washington Generals of the class D (Pennsylvania State Association).  Where he played the 3B in 98 games, while hitting for a .294 BA. In 1936, Pete would hit .309 with 18 HRs for the Akron Yankees Class C, (Middle Atlantic League), while playing the shortstop position. In 1937, Pete would play 3B for the Norfolk Tars; hitting an even .300 with 22 HRs making the Piedmont League All-Star team. The Binghamton Triplets would have Pete Suder on their 1938 team roster. He helped them win the Eastern League pennant by hitting .278 with 10 HRs. Pete made the All-Star team at 3B by fielding at a .945 clip in 135 games. He would be with Triplets again for the 1940 EL season at the 3B position, fielded .945 in 138 games, while hitting .301 with 16 HRs. Pete helped the 2nd place Triplets win the EL playoffs, while making the All-Star team. Also Pete was named the 1940 EL MVP. On October 1,1940 the Yankees would lose him to the Philadelphia A’s in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. Pete would remain with the A’s until he played his last MLB game in 1955.

1929- The New York Yankees are the 1st team in MLB history to permanently feature numbers on the backs of their uniforms. The numbers correspond to each player's position in the batting order. The numbers also allow fans and broadcasters to more easily identify the players.

1937- Yankee Stadium opened for its 15th AL season with a new enlarged Right Field stand. Prior to the 1937 AL season, the triple decked seating area ended at the foul poles, and the bleachers extended across the outfield from pole to pole. The extended decks included new box and reserved seats, and thereby reduced the Stadium’s seating capacity below the 72,000 it once allegedly held.

1939- Former Yankees reserve INF Bernie Allen (1972-1973) was born.
Veteran AL INF Bernie Allen was obtained from the Texas Rangers in 1972 for two Yankee minor league players, Pitchers Terry Ley and Gary Jones. He appeared in 101 games, hitting .227 for the Yankees. During the 1973 AL season, he was sold to the Montreal Expos. In 1962, Bernie Allen was elected to the Topps AL Rookie Team as a member of the MInnesota Twins.

1943- Former Yankees reserve C Frank Fernandez (1967-1969) was born.
Frank Fernandez was weak hitting catcher, who struck out a lot despite having some power. He appeared in 149 games with the Yankees, hitting .204 with 20 HRs with 63 RBIs. On December 5,1969, Frank was traded along with veteran pitcher Al Downing to the Oakland A’s for 1B Danny Cater. With the New York Yankees having Thurman Munson and Johnny Ellis coming up from AAA as catchers, Frank became expendable.

1945- Former Yankees reserve INF/OF Wilson “Chick” Fewster (1917-1922) passed away. (1895-1945)
Chick Fewster was reserve INF/OF for the New York Yankees. He appeared in 228 games, hitting .271. On July 23,1922, Chick was traded by the Yankees along with OF Elmer Miller, OF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000 to the Boston Red Sox for veteran INF Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith. Chick was the 1st MLB player to have an MLB official at bat on April 18,1923 opener at new Yankee Stadium, as a member of the Boston Red Sox. He later played for the Cleveland Indians and Brooklyn Robins (aka the Dodgers).

1954- Former Yankees reserve C Bruce Robinson (1979-1980) was born.
Bruce Robinson was purchased from the Oakland A’s for $400,000 in February of 1979. He only appeared in 10 games for the Yankees, going 2 for 17. Bruce Robinson, a 1st-round pick out of Stanford University in the June 1975 amateur draft, he got most of his MLB at-bats with the 1978 Oakland A’s. The # 1 and # 2 catchers on the team were Jim Essian, who hit .223, and Jeff Newman, who hit .239. Robinson, for his part, hit .250 after a mid-August call-up when Newman became injured. Robinson's lasting legacy on the game will be his invention of the "Robby Pad" in 1979. The "Robby Pad", a hinged flap on the right/throwing shoulder of a catcher's chest protector, began seeing widespread use in the early 1980s. It can be viewed on most every catcher's chest protector from the major leagues to youth leagues. One of the original two "Robby Pads" is in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York.

Robinson, along with former New York Yankees pitching star, Dave Righetti, were involved in a car accident in 1980 in which Robinson's right shoulder sustained a career-impacting injury, necessitating shoulder reconstruction operation in May of 1981. A drunken driver rear-ended Robinson and Righetti in Robinson's car that was stopped in a left hand turn lane.  As a result of the injury, Robinson could not take advantage of being handed the left-handed platoon side of a starting role with the Yankees. Robinson missed the 1981-1982 MLB seasons on the DL. He never made it back to the MLB. He did lead the Oakland A's in batting average during spring training of 1984 but he was sent to AAA Tacoma (PCL) before agreeing to accept a player/hitting coach position with class A Modesto (California League). Robinson's primary role was to work with 2 young A’s hitters, Mark McGwire (fresh from the 1984 Olympic team) and Jose Canseco who was underperforming. McGwire and Canseco went on to prolific and controversial careers in the "steroid age" of baseball in the 1980s and 1990s.

1959- The New York Yankees unveil the 1st message scoreboard in Stadium History. It listed the starting  lineups, out of town scores, and a wide expanse for paragraph-type messages, posted via electronic devices.

1960- Former Yankees P Curt Young (1992) was born.
On June 16,1992, Curt Young was signed as a MLB Free Agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 13 games for the 1992 Yankees with a 3-0 record. On November 6,1992, Curt Young was granted MLB Free Agency by the New York Yankees.

1961- Beginning his historic HR chase of Babe Ruth's 60 HR season-MLB record, Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for 1st HR in the 12th game of the 1961 American League season. The 5th-inning solo HR shot is off of Detroit Tigers veteran starter pitcher Paul Foytack.

1965- Former Yankee reserve OF Paul “Big Poison” Waner (1944-1945) passed away. (1903-1965)
Veteran MLB OF Paul Waner came to the New York Yankees at the end of his fine MLB career with the Pittsburgh Pirates (1925-1940), Brooklyn Dodgers (1941,1943-1944) and the Boston Braves (1941-1942). He only appeared in 10 games with the Yankees, hitting just .143. He finished MLB career with a lifetime .333 BA in 2,549 games with 3,152 hits. He would be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1952.

1967- The New York Yankees edge the Boston Red Sox by the score of 7-6 in 18 innings. The 5-hour, 50-minute marathon ended when Yankees batter Jake Gibbs walked, then stole 2nd base and scored on a single by Joe Pepitone.

1973-The New York Yankees purchased veteran 3B/1B Jim Ray Hart from the San Francisco Giants for over $50,000. As the Yankees DH he would hit .254 with 13 HRs and 53 RBIs in 114 games for the 1973 Yankees. After a slow start in 1974, the Yankees released him.

2009- The Cleveland Indians spoil the opening of New Yankee Stadium with a 10-2 win over the New York Yankees. Jhonny Peralta hits a 2-run double off of reliever Jose Veras to break a 1-1 tie; Grady Sizemore delivers the KO with a grand slam HR off of reliever Damaso Marte. Jorge Posada is the 1st batter to hit a HR in the Yankees' new ballpark with a solo shot off winning pitcher Cliff Lee in the 5th inning. New York had won 16 of their final 17 home openers at the old Yankee Stadium.

April 17th

1912- At the Polo Grounds in New York City, the Giants and Yankees play a charity game to raise money for the survivors of the HMS Titanic, which sunk on April 14th. The Giants belt the Yankees, now clad in their new pinstriped uniforms, to win the game by a score of 11-2.

1929- New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth marries actress and model Claire Merritt Hodgson. The ceremony is held at 5 o' clock in the morning on Opening Day to avoid crowds. Playing the next day, at Yankee Stadium, Ruth hits a HR against P Red Ruffing of the Red Sox and tips his cap in the direction of Claire, who is seated in the stands. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-3.

1939- On the morning of Opening Day 1939 in Washington, D.C., U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Yankees visited Abner Doubleday's grave at Arlington National Cemetery. Also President Roosevelt is scheduled to throw out the 1st pitch at Griffith Stadium, but the game is rained out and Vice President John Nance Garner will do the honors 4 days later.

1946- Former Yankees P Jack Quinn (1909-1912,1919-1921) passed away. (1883-1946)
On September 1,1908, Jack Quinn was drafted by the New York Highlanders from Richmond (Virginia League) in the 1908 MLB Rule 5 player draft.  On August 12,1912, Jack was traded by the New York Highlanders  along with INF Jack Martin to Rochester (International League) for INF Tommy McMillan. Jack Quinn appeared in 228 games for the Yankees. He won 15 games in 1919, and then he went 18-10 for the 1920 Yankees. He appeared in one game of 1921 World Series, losing to the Giants. His final Yankee career record was 81-65  record with a 3.15 ERA. On December 20, 1921, Jack was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh, P Bill Piercy and $100,000 to the Boston Red Sox for Pitchers Bullet Joe Bush, Sad Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott.

1953- New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle cleared the bleachers at Griffith Stadium with a 565-FT HR off of Nats hurler Chuck Stobbs. The HR shot came in the 5th inning of a 7-3 Yankees victory over the Washington Senators. It is believed to be the longest HR hit in Griffith Stadium history.

1956- New York Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a pair of tape measure HRs against Washington Senators starter Camilo Pascual at Griffith Stadium. Both long balls are estimated at over 500 FT. The two teams combined for six HRs in a 10-4 Opening Day victory for the Yankees.

1973- Former Yankees P Lefty Weinert (1931) passed away. (1902-1973).
 On September 30, 1930, Lefty Weinert was drafted by the New York Yankees from Louisville (American Association) in the 1930 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He posted a 2-2 record in 17 games for the 1931 Yankees. Weinert coached baseball at Villanova University (1946-1949) and was a MLB scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1950-1957) and the Cleveland Indians (1958).

1973- The New York Yankees released veteran P Casey Cox (1972-1973).
On August 30,1972, Casey Cox was traded by the Texas Rangers to the New York Yankees for P Jim Roland. He went 0-1 in 6 games for the Yankees before being released by the team.

April 18th

1888- Former Yankees OF George “Duffy” Lewis  (1919-1920) was born. (1888-1979)
On December 18,1918, Duffy Lewis was traded by the Boston Red Sox, along with P Dutch Leonard and Ernie Shore to the New York Yankees for OF Frank Gilhooley, P Slim Love, P Ray Caldwell, C Roxy Walters, and $15,000 cash. He would hit .271 for the Yankees in 2 seasons, before being traded on December 31,1920, along with P George Mogridge to the Washington Senators for OF Braggo Roth.

1888- Former Yankees INF Thomas “Rebel” McMillian (1912) was born. (1888-1966)
On August 12,1912, INF Tom McMillian was traded by the Rochester (International League) to the Highlanders for P Jack Quinn and INF Jack Martin. He only hit .228 in 14 games for the  1912 Yankees.

1922- Former Yankees minor league P Moe Burtschy was born. (1922-2004)
On June 14,1956, Moe Burtschy was traded by the Kansas City A’s along with OF Bill Renna and cash to the New York Yankees for 1B Eddie Robinson and INF Lou Skizas. Moe was sent to Triple AAA Denver Bears (American Association). He never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.

1923- The debut of new Yankee Stadium is a huge success with an announced attendance of 74,217 fans. Yankees starter Bob Shawkey aided by a 3-run HR by Babe Ruth, beating the Boston Red Sox starter Howard Ehmke by a score of 4-1. Former Yankee reserve INF Chick Fewster, now with the Red Sox is the 1st MLB batter at Yankee Stadium.

1933- Former Yankees P Steve “Lefty” Kraly (1953) was born.
In 1949, Steve “Lefty” Kraly was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. In 1953, Steve went 0-2 in 5 games with a 3.24 ERA the Yankees. He also pitched in the minors from 1949-1960, going 18-6 for Joplin in 1950. He was Mickey Mantle’s roommate while at Joplin. He said that Former Yankee Manager Casey Stengel had picked up his contract for the original New York Mets in 1961, but that Kraly's wife prevailed on him to retire from professional baseball. Steve worked for IBM for 30 years. For many seasons, Steve was the official scorer for the Birmingham minor league team.

1950- At Fenway Park, MLB Commissioner Happy Chandler gives Red Sox slugger Ted Williams his 1949 AL MVP award. Then Mass. Governor Paul Dever tosses out the 1st ball. To the delight of 31,822 fans, Boston rips Yankees starter Allie Reynolds with a 5-run 4th inning to drive him from the game and take a 9-0 margin. But the Yankees score 4 runs in the 6th inning off of starter Mel Parnell and then, down 10-4, New York unloads for 9 runs in the 8th inning. Yankees Rookie INF Billy Martin becomes the 1st player in MLB history to get 2 base hits in 1 inning in his 1st MLB game. He doubles against Parnell on his 1st at bat in the 8th inning, and then singles off of P Al Papai. Walt Masterson gives up Tommy Henrich's 2nd triple of the game before giving way to 4 more Boston pitchers. Boo Ferriss, pitching in his last MLB game, allows the last 2 runs in the 9th inning as the Yankees chalk up a 15-10 victory, the biggest blown lead the Red Sox have ever had at Fenway Park  (on June 4, 1989, they'll blow a 10-run lead at home). Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Vern Stephens and Bobby Doerr, each have three hits. Don Johnson is the winning pitcher, his last victory for the Yankees, with closer Joe Page pitching a perfect 8th and 9th innings in relief.

1951- New York Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle makes his MLB debut. Mantle picks up 1 hit in 2 official at-bats, as the Yankees defeat the rival Boston Red Sox by a score of 6-1, behind the pitching of Eddie Lopat. Mantle's 1st MLB hit is a singlein the 4th inning hit off of Red Sox hurler Bill Wright.

1953- Former Yankees INF Harry Niles (1908) passed away. (1880-1953)
 On November 5, 1907, INF Harry Niles was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with P Fred Glade and OF Charlie Hemphill to the New York Highlanders for INF Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and INF Jimmy Williams. He appeared in 95 games for the Yankees, while hitting .249. On August 17,1908, Harry was traded by the Yankees to the Boston Red Sox for INF Frank LaPorte.

1956- Ed Rommel becomes the 1st MLB umpire to wear glasses during a game, as he arbitrates a contest between the New York Yankees and Washington Senators.

1959- Former Yankees reliever Rich Bordi (1987) was born.
On December 4,1984, Rich Bordi was traded by the Chicago Cubs along with P Porfi Altamirano, OF Henry Cotto and C Ron Hassey to the Yankees for INF/OF Brian Dayett and P Ray Fontenot. He appeared in 16 games during the 1985 AL season, going 3-1 out of the Yankees bullpen. On December 12,1985, Rich was traded by the Yankees along with INF Rex Hudler to the Baltimore Orioles for OF Gary Roenicke. The Orioles would send INF Leo Hernandez on December 16,1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade.

1959- Former Yankees P Dennis Rasmussen (1982-1987) was born.
On November 24,1982, the California Angels sent P Dennis Rasmussen to the New York Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August trade deadline. On August 31,1982, the California Angels sent a player to be named later to the New York Yankees for veteran starter Tommy John. Dennis went 39-24 in 103 games for the Yankees between several trades. His best Yankees season was in 1987, when he posted an 18-6 record in 31 games. On September 12,1983, the New York Yankees sent P Dennis Rasmussen and Edwin Rodriguez to the San Diego Padres to complete an earlier deal made on August 26, 1983, the  Yankees sent players to be named later and $200,000 to the  Padres for veteran P John Montefusco. On March 30,1984, Dennis was traded by the  Padres along with a player to be named later to the  Yankees for 3B Graig Nettles. The San Diego Padres sent minor league P Darin Cloninger on April 26,1984 to the  Yankees to complete the trade. On August 26,1987, Dennis was traded by the Yankees to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran MLB starter Bill Gullickson.

1983- Former Yankees reserve INF Alberto Gonzalez (2007-2008) was born.
On January 9, 2007, INF Alberto Gonzalez was traded by the Arizona Diamond Backs along with pitchers Ross Ohlendorf, Steven Jackson and Luis Vizcaino to the New York Yankees for All Star P Randy Johnson and cash.  He appeared in 40 games as a reserve infielder for the Yankees, hitting .152. The New York Yankees traded Alberto on July 31, 2008 to the Washington Nationals for minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez, who was with the Harrisburg Senators (Eastern League).

2005- The New York Yankees scored 13 runs in the 2nd inning of a 19-8 victory over the Tampa Bay  Devil Rays. The last time New York scored 13 runs in an inning was on June 21, 1945, in the 5th inning of a 14-4 victory against the Boston Red Sox.

2009- Cleveland Indians crush the New York Yankees by the score of 22-4 at New Yankee Stadium, scoring 14 runs in the 2nd inning, the most runs given up in an inning in Yankees history. Asdrubal Cabrera hits a grand slam HR, Mark DeRosa and Shin-Soo Choo add 3-run home runs, and Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore and Victor Martinez all connect for solo HR shots for the Indians. Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang, who missed the second half of 2008 AL season with a leg injury, is charged with 8 runs in 1 1/3 innings to raise his ERA for the 2009 AL season to 34.50. Making his MLB debut, rookie P Anthony Claggett succeeds him, but he gives up 8 more runs in 1 2/3 innings.

April 19th

1887- Former Yankees INF John  “Jack” Martin (1912) was born. (1887-1980)
On August 12,1912, INF  John Martin was traded by the Highlanders along with veteran P Jack Quinn to the Rochester (International League) for INF Tommy McMillan. He hit .225 in 71 games with the team.

1928- The New York Yankees are out of American League 1st place for the 1st time since May of 1926, as they lose to the Boston Red Sox the morning Patriots Day game at Fenway Park.

1935- Former Yankees P John Wyatt (1968) was born. (1935-1998)
John Wyatt appeared briefly with the 1968 New York Yankees after being acquired from the Boston Red Sox before moving on to the Detroit Tigers during the 1968 AL season. He was a former AL All Star closer with the Kansas City A’s. He had been a star in the Negro Leagues, before signing with the Kansas City A’s in the 1950's.

1946- The New York Yankees moved to 1st base dugout as their new Yankee Stadium clubhouse opens for the 1st time.

1949- The New York Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth. Monument Park, located in the deep Center Field region of Yankee Stadium, also includes monuments for Lou Gehrig and Manager Miller Huggins.

1960- Newly acquired RF Roger Maris makes his New York Yankees debut with 4 hits, including 2 HRs, against the Boston Red Sox. In 1961, Roger Maris will set a MLB mark for the most HRs in a MLB season, with 61 HRs, breaking Babe Ruth's longstanding MLB and AL record of 60 HRs.

1961- Former Yankees INF Spike Owen (1993) was born.
On December 4,1992, INF Spike Owen was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 103 games for the 1993 Yankees, while hitting .234. On December 9,1993, he was traded by the New York Yankees with cash to the California Angels for minor league player Jose Musset.

1964- Former Yankees P Scott Kamieniecki (1991-1996) was born.
Scott Kamieniecki was a 14th round pick by the New York Yankees in 1986. He went 36-39 in 113 games from 1991 to 1996. He left the Yankees after 1996 AL season as a MLB free agent.

1969- Former Yankees reserve C Bob Collins (1944) passed away. (1909-1969)
Bob Collins appeared in 3 games as a reserve catcher for the 1944 Yankees, hitting .333

1973- New York Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner fires President Mike Burke replaces him with Gabe Paul. In fairness to Burke, he never had access to the money that George brought to the Yankees. CBS gave him a short budget and the Yankee farm system had been traded away during the 1950’s in trades by 1964, it was empty of talent. It is ironic that it was Michael Burke, who had approached Steinnbrenner’s group to purchase the team from CBS, when they decided to sell the team. He didn’t want another corporation to buy the team.

1974-The New York Yankees obtained OF/DH Walt “No Neck” Williams from the Chicago White Sox along with P Ed Farmer as part of a 3-way deal that saw the Yankees sent C Gerry Moses to the Detroit Tigers, who will in turn sent veteran P Jim Perry to the Cleveland Indians.

1979- New York Yankee teammates Rich Gossage and Cliff Johnson have a brawl in the Yankees clubhouse  showerroom, after a 6-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.  Gossage suffers a sprained ligament in his pitching hand thumb, which will keep him out of action until July 12th. The incident leaves the Yankees without a effective bullpen closer, since they traded away former closer Sparky Lyle to Texas during the winter.  As "punishment" for injuring the team's ace reliever, the Yankees will trade C/DH/1B Cliff Johnson to the Cleveland Indians on June 15,1979 for Pitcher Don Hood.

1995- Former Yankees Minor League Manager, MLB Scout and MLB Player/Manager Harry Craft passed away. (1915-1995)
Harry Craft played center field with pretty good range for 6 seasons with the Cincinnati Reds. He was part of the NL pennant-winning Cincinnati teams of 1939 and 1940. His best season with the bat was in 1938, however, before the pennant-winning seasons, when he hit 15 HRs with 83 RBIs, both in the top ten in the league. On June 15, 1938, he caught the final out of Johnny Vander Meer's second consecutive no-hitter. He went on to play for the New York Yankees AAA team, Kansas City Blues (American Association) from 1942 to 1948, missing the 1944-1945 seasons due to military service. After his MLB playing career ended, he became a manager in the New York Yankees minor league system, managing Mickey Mantle in his 1st years of pro ball. He taught Mantle how to play the outfield. Craft managed the Independence Yankees (1949), Joplin Miners (1950), Beaumont Roughnecks (1951-1952), and the Kansas City Blues (1953). In Yankees spring training camp, he was a special outfield  instructor for Manager Casey Stengel.

Harry Craft joined the Kansas City Athletics MLB coaching staff in 1955, later he replaced Lou Boudreau as the team's manager in 1957. He remained with the team through the 1959 AL season. Next, he became a Chicago Cubs MLB coach in 1960. He managed the Chicago Cubs in 1961 as a member of the club's College of Coaches. He left the Cubs the next season to manage the new NL expansion team, the Houston Colt .45s. Craft was fired as skipper near the end of the 1964 NL season. He remained in the game as a MLB scout for the New York Yankees (1967-1972), Houston Astros (1975-1977), he returned to the Yankees again (1978-1982), and the San Francisco Giants (1983-1991), he was farm system official before retiring in 1991.

2006- Former Yankees minor League manager and Coordinator Of Latin American Operations Oscar Acosta is killed in an auto accident.
Former Pitcher Oscar Acosta played in the minor leagues from 1978 to 1982. He debuted with the Helena Phillies, going 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 5 appearances. In 1979, he pitched for the Peninsula Pilots and had a career year, with a 10-7, 3.04 ERA season. He finished 9th in the Carolina League in ERA. Returning to Peninsula in 1980, he only pitched in 9 games, going 2-0 with a 3.55 ERA, 2 saves and a shutout. He resurfaced in the 1982 Mexican League, posting a 0-3, 6.75 record for the Plataneros de Tabasco to complete his pro playing career. Acosta began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Texas Tech University in 1985.

He moved to the pro ranks as a coach in the Texas Rangers organization with the Butte Copper Kings in 1988. He coached the Gastonia Rangers (1989), GCL Rangers (1990,1993), Tulsa Drillers (1991) and Oklahoma City 89ers (1992). Moving to the Chicago Cubs organization, he then coached the Daytona Cubs (1994) and GCL Cubs (1995). Next he coached the Columbus Clippers (1996-1998) for the New York Yankees. He managed the Lansing Lugnuts (Midwest League) in 1999.  Acosta was MLB pitching coach of the Chicago Cubs in 2000 and 2001. Then for the Texas Rangers in 2002.  In  2004, he became manager of the Gulf Coast League Yankees and the Latin American Coordinator, positions he held when he was killed in a car accident in 2006.

2011- New York Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera is saddled with a rare blown save, allowing the Blue Jays a comeback 6-5 win at the Rogers Centre. After Yankee HRs by Mark Teixeira and Curtis Granderson turn an early 2 -2 tie into a 5-3 Yankees lead, Yunel Escobar leads off the bottom of the 9th inning with a double off the all-time great closer, who already has 7 saves this season. A wild pitch on a walk to Jose Bautista and a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt by John McDonald tie the game at 5-all. In the 10th inning, Travis Snider doubles home the winning run against Ivan Nova, pressed into the game as the Yankees' bullpen is depleted; Snider had gone 0 for 5 on the day, he had snapped a bat into pieces in frustration after striking out with the bases loaded to end the 6th inning.

April 20th

1876- Former Yankees OF Charles “Eagle Eye” Hemphill (1908-1911) was born. (1876-1953)

OF Charles "Eagle Eye" Hemphill hit .265 in 601 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1908, when he hit .297 in 142 games.

1912-The New York Yankees help the Boston Red Sox open Fenway Park. They play 11 innings with the Red Sox winning the game by the score of 7-6.

1917- Former Yankees minor league OF Hal Peck was born. (1917-1995)
On June 19,1946, Hal Peck was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Philadelphia Athletics. Hal never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 6,1946, Hal was traded by the New York Yankees along with pitchers Gene Bearden and Al Gettel to the Cleveland Indians for C Sherm Lollar and INF Ray Mack.

1932- The New York Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452 fans, for any Yankee Stadium opener. Yankees slugger Babe Ruth homers, as New York starter Lefty Gomez beats Lefty Grove in the 8-3 victory over the Philadelphia A’s.

1939- The Boston Red Sox show off their prize rookie OF Ted Williams before 30,278 fans in the opener at Yankee Stadium, delayed 2 days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams collects a double off of Yankees starter Red Ruffing, who wins the game by a score of 2-0. Lou Gehrig makes an error, goes hitless, and lines into 2 double plays in the only game featuring the 2 great sluggers. Other notables in what will become a historic box score include Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Red Rolfe, and losing pitcher Lefty Grove. Yankees score their 1st run on a HR by Bill Dickey and their 2nd tally on an error by Red Sox 1B Jimmy Foxx. Boston has base runners in each inning, but Ruffing tosses just the 2nd opening day shut out in Yankees history. Four umpires work the game including 3rd base umpire George Pipgras, the starting pitcher for the Yankees in the 1929 opener against Boston. Curiously, his opponent for that day was then Red Sox pitcher Red Ruffing.

1944- Former Yankees P Steve Blateric (1972) was born.
Steve Blateric was obtained from the Cincinnati Reds in a conditional deal in September of 1972. He appeared in only one game for the Yankees with no record. During spring training of 1973, the Yankees returned him to the Reds.

1954- Former Yankees reserve C Mike O’Berry (1984) was born.
 On December 7,1983, Mike O’Berry was signed as a MLB free agent by the New York Yankees.  Mike appeared in only 13 games as a reserve catcher for the Yankees, hitting .250. On May 25,1985, he was released by the New York Yankees.

1957- New York Yankees 1st baseman Bill “Moose” Skowron hits a Red Sox pitcher's fastball, drives it completely out of Boston’s Fenway Park.  His HR shot went to the right of the flagpole in centerfield. He was only the 3rd player in MLB history to do it at Fenway Park.

1961- Former Yankees AL All Star player, MLB Dugout Coach and Team Captain Don Mattingly  (1982-1995) was born.
Don Mattingly played for 14 seasons with the New York Yankees before back injuries ended his MLB career. He finished with a lifetime BA of .307. He was an AL All Star first baseman (1984-1989). In 1984, Don won American League batting crown, hitting .343. In 1985, he was the American League Most Valuable Player.  He won the AL Silver Slugger award for 1st baseman from 1985-1987. He won the AL Golden Gloves for 1B in 1985-1988,1991-1994. He is currently the Manager of the Dodgers.

1964- Former Yankees P Jimmy Jones (1989-1990) was born.
On October 24,1988, Jimmy Jones was traded by the San Diego Padres along with OF Stan Jefferson and P Lance McCullers to the New York Yankees for OF/1B Jack Clark and P Pat Clements. Jimmy posted a 3-3 record in 28 games for the Yankees. On October 4,1990, Jimmy was granted MLB free agency by the Yankees.

1988- Claudell Washington hits the 10,000th Home Run in New York Yankees history in a 7-6 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.

April 21st

1887- Future Hall Of Fame MLB Manager Joe “Marsh” McCarthy was born. (1887-1978)
Joe McCarthy will become the 1st MLB manager to win pennants with both NL (Chicago Cubs) and AL teams (Yankees, Red Sox), winning 9 league titles overall with 7 World Series championships. He will be inducted into Baseball’s Hall Of Fame in 1977. His New York Yankees manager record was 1,460-867, with a .627 WP, with 8 American League Flags, 7 World Championships,while managing the team from 1931-1946. He holds the New York Yankees Manager record for most wins in team’s history with Joe Torre in 2nd place and HOF Manager Casey Stengel is in 3rd place with HOF Manager Miller Huggins in 4th place.

1901- Former Yankees P Phillip “Lefty” Weinert (1931) was born. (1901-1973)
On September 30,1930, Lefty Weinert was drafted by the New York Yankees from Louisville (American Association) in the 1930 MLB Rule 5 player draft. He posted a 2-2 record in 17 games for the 1931 Yankees. Weinert coached baseball at Villanova University (1946-1949). He was a MLB scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1950-1957) and the Cleveland Indians (1958).

1912- The Yankees drop an 11-2 decision to the Giants in a special benefit game for the survivors of the RMS Titanic naval disaster.

1951- At Griffith Stadium, Washington Senators Gil Coan collects 2 triples in the 6th inning. The Senators score 7 runs in the frame, but that's it, as they still lose to the Yankees by a score of 8-7.  Reliever Tom Ferrick is the winning pitcher for the Yankees.

1957- Former Yankees P Jesse Orosco (2003) was born.
Former National League All Star closer appeared in 15 games for the Yankees with no record during the 2003 AL season.

1963- The New York Yankees traded veteran P Jim Coates (1956,1959-1963) to the Washington Senators for lefty P Steve Hamilton (1963-1970). The Yankees traded for Steve Hamilton, who was a lefty reliever that they needed for their bullpen, since veteran lefty Louis Arroyo was out with arm injuries.

1963- The New York Yankees obtained veteran INF/OF Harry Bright from the Cincinnati Reds for cash. To make room for Harry Bright on the Yankees 40 man MLB roster, they remove a young outfielder at Greensboro, named Curt Belfry, who is immediately claimed by the Baltimore Orioles.

1977- With the Yankees in a 2-8 slump, Manager Billy Martin draws the starting Yankee lineup out of a hat. The Yankees beat the expansion Toronto Blue Jays by a score of 8-6.  The revised lineup had clean up hitter Chris Chambliss batting 8th, he drives in 5 runs, Graig Nettles hits a HR, while Yankees starter Ken Holtzman is the winner with relief help from closer Sparky Lyle.

1980- Former Yankees Closer Joe Page (1944-1950) passes away (1917-1980).
Joe Page was the famous Yankees closer of the 1940’s. He led the American League in saves in 1947 with 17 saves with 14 wins. In 1949, Joe did again with 27 saves with 13 wins. From 1947-1949, Joe won a total 34 games with 60 saves for the Yankees. He appeared in 2 World Series with the Yankees (1947 and 1949) posting a 2-1 record with 2 saves.  An arm injury in early 1950, shorten his Yankees pitching career. In 1950, the Yankees released Joe Page during their spring training camp. He would pitch in minor leagues for several seasons. Later, Joe would finish out his MLB career with the 1954 Pittsburgh Pirates, appearing in just 7 games with no record.

2009- New York Yankees veteran starter Andy Pettitte picks up the win and closer Mariano Rivera gets the save when New York Yankees defeat the Oakland A’s by the score of 5-3 in the 1st night game played at New Yankee Stadium. It is the 57th time that Mo Rivera has saved a Andy Pettitte win, tying the Oakland A’s duo of Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley of the late 1980s and early 1990s for the highest total in MLB history.

2010- Philip Hughes of the New York Yankees justifies the decision to return him to starting rotation, pitching a no-hitter for 7 innings before Eric Chavez of the Oakland A’s bounces a ground ball towards the mound to open the 8th inning. The ball hits Hughes's left forearm and lands for a single in front of the pitcher. The Yankees win the game beating the A’s by the score of 3-1.

New York Yankees slugger Roger Maris hits his 1st Home Run of the 1961 AL Season

April 16, 1961- Beginning his historic Home Run chase of Babe Ruth's 60 HR season-MLB record, New York Yankees RF Roger Maris connects for 1st HR in the 12th game of the 1961 American League season. The 5th-inning solo HR shot is off of Detroit Tigers veteran starter pitcher Paul Foytack.

1951 New York Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle gets his 1st MLB hit against the Boston Red Sox

April 18, 1951- New York Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle makes his MLB debut. Mantle picks up one hit in two official at-bats, as the New York Yankees defeat the rival Boston Red Sox by a score of 6-1, behind the pitching of veteran starter Eddie Lopat. Mantle's 1st MLB hit is a single in the 4th inning is off of lefty Red Sox hurler Bill Wight, who had pitched for the Yankees in 1946-1947 American League  seasons; before being traded to the Chicago White Sox in February of 1948 in the Eddie Lopat trade.