This Week in Yankees History July 29th-August 4th  Part One

July 29th

1899- Former Yankees P Walter Beall (1924-1927) was born. (1899-1959)
On June 24,1924, Walt Beall was purchased by the New York Yankees from Rochester (International League) for $30,000. He posted a 4-5 record in 33 games for the Yankees.

1903- Starter Cy Young goes all the way as Boston loses to the Highlanders by a score of 15-14. The New Yorkers had been shut out in their 2 previous matches in the series. Patsy Dougherty leads the Boston offense by hitting for the cycle, but Cy gets little defense as Boston makes 8 errors behind him. New York starter Jack Chesbro is lifted in the 6th inning for Harry Howell, while Willie Keeler has 4 hits to lead the Highlander offense. The game lasts 2 hours 10 minutes.

1914- Former Yankees Baseball Executive Cedric Tallis was born. (1914-1991)
Cedric Tallis joined the expansion Los Angeles Angels as business manager in 1961. He became vice president of operations in 1965. Tallis was then the original General Manager of the expansion Kansas City Royals from their inception until June 1974. He moved to the New York Yankees as Assistant General Manager in 1976-1977, General Manager in 1978-1979 replacing departed Gabe Paul, and Team President from 1980 to 1983, replacing Al Rosen, who went to the Houston Astros.

1928- The Cleveland Indians score 8 runs in the 1st inning and 9 runs in the 2nd inning in a 24-6 win over the Yankees at home. Johnny Hodapp of the Indians becomes the 1st AL player to get 2 hits in an inning twice in a game. He strokes 2 singles in both the 2nd and 6th innings of the game. The Yankees' lead in the AL shrinks from 11 1/2 games to just 6 games in 1 week.

1938- New York Yankees starter Spud Chandler pitches 15 innings as the Yankees beat the Chicago White Sox in Chicago by a score of 7-3.

1938- In a post game radio interview with Bob Elson in Chicago, New York Yankees OF Jake Powell’s will make nationwide headlines with remarks about "beating up n******s and then throwing them in jail" as part of his off-season duties as a policeman. For the statements, MLB Commissioner Judge Landis suspends Jake Powell for 10 days. The Yankees will trade him to the Washington Senators in 1940.

1951- Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Thomasson  (1978) was born.
 On June 15,1978, Gary Thomasson was traded by the Oakland A’s to the New York Yankees for OF Dell Alston, INF Mickey Klutts, and $50,000. Gary had 3 game winning hits, while filling in for the injured Mickey Rivers in CF, playing in 55 games with a .276 BA. On February 15,1979, Gary was traded to the Dodgers for C Brad Gulden.

1951- Before a Yankee Stadium crowd of 70,972 fans, the Yankees sweep the Chicago White Sox by scores of 8-3 and 2-0. Joe DiMaggio powers 2 HRs off of P Lou Kretlow in the opener, and ex-White Sox hurler Bob Kuzava out-duels Saul Rogovin to win the nightcap. With yesterday's game rained out, the White Sox are now 6 1/2 out of 1st place in the AL race.

1959- Former Yankees P Dave LaPoint (1989-1990) was born.
The New York Yankees signed P Dave LaPoint as a MLB free agent in 1988. He went 13-19 in 48 games for the Yankees.

1963- Former Yankees minor league P Steve Frey was born.
The New York Yankees in the 15th round of the 1983 MLB amateur player draft drafted Steve. Steve never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 11,1987, Steve was traded by the Yankees along with C Phil Lombardi and OF Darren Reed to the New York Mets for shortstop Rafael Santana and minor league player Victor Garcia

1966- The New York Yankees edge the Chicago White Sox by the score of 2-1, on Mickey Mantle's 14th HR in 24 games. Mickey Mantle moves ahead of Hall Of Fame 1B Lou Gehrig into 6th place on the MLB career HR list with the blast.

1969- New York Yankees reliever Jack Aker's string of 33 scoreless innings comes to an end as the A's rally for 3 runs to top the Yankees by a score of 6-5. Vida Blue, the Oakland A's starter, receives credit for his 1st MLB career victory.

1977- New York starter Ron Guidry and Closer Sparky Lyle combine for a 4-0 win as the Yankees streak to their 5th win in 6 games. Cliff Johnson and Graig Nettles, each hit HRs for the Yankees.

1978- The Yankee Stadium crowd is pleasantly surprised as recently resigned skipper Billy Martin returns to join in on the 1978 Old Timers' Day festivities. Much to their delight, the fans are informed "Billy the Kid' will return as New York Yankees skipper for the 1980 AL season.

1991- During a game at Yankee Stadium, Oakland A’s OF Jose Canseco is bombarded with assorted objects by unruly fans. Included among the objects are an inflatable doll, a transistor radio, and a head of cabbage. The A’s escape with a 10-8 victory, as Canseco strokes a double in 4 at bats.

1997- The Toronto Blue Jays pick up veteran INF Mariano Duncan from the New York Yankees for cash and minor league player Angel Ramirez.

2007- Former Yankees OF Bill Robinson (1967-1969) passed away. (1943-2007)
Bill Robinson came to the New York Yankees from the Atlanta Braves in the Clete Boyer trade during the winter of 1966.  Bill won the 1967 James P. Dawson Award for the best Yankee rookie in spring training camp. He was supposed to be the “black” Mickey Mantle, but he never adjusted to playing in New York City with all of the media pressure. He would hit .202 in 310 games for the Yankees. He was sent down to the Syracuse Chiefs (AAA). Later he would return to the MLB with the Pittsburgh Pirates, who drafted him from the Yankees organization in the MLB Rule 5 Player draft. He appeared in the 1979 World Series with the Pirates. He would later play for the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves. After retiring as a player, he became a MLB batting Coach for several MLB teams. In 1990 and 1991, he was an analyst on ESPN's "Baseball Tonight.” Also he was a minor league manager for the Giants and Phillies organizations. At the time of his death in 2007, he was the batting coach for the Dodgers AAA team in Las Vegas.

July 30th

1890- Former MLB player and HOF Yankees Manager Casey Stengel (1949-1960) was born. (1890-1975).
Casey Stengel was an outfielder in NL for 14 seasons with a lifetime BA of .284.  He played for the Giants, Phillies, Pirates, Dodgers, and finishing with the Braves in 1925. As a player with the New York Giants in 1923, Casey hit the 1st World Series HR at Yankee Stadium. Casey Stengel managed the great New York Yankees Dynasty teams of 1949-1960. Before joining the Yankees, Casey had managed in the National League with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Braves with no success. He had a long career as minor league manager with teams such as the Toledo Mud Hens, Milwaukee Millers and the 1948 Oakland Oaks (PCL). He won 5 straight World Championships with the Yankees (1949-1953). Also he won World Championships in 1956 and 1958. He finished his Yankees managing career with a record of 1,149-696, WP .619 with 10 AL Flags and 7 World Championships. He was let go by the Yankees after his manager’s contract expired in October of 1960. That winter, he was hired as a special talent consultant by Angels Owner Gene Autry, helping them with the expansion player draft choices.  He would return to New York in 1962 to manage the new NL expansion team, the Mets, a position that he held until 1965 when he suffered a serious hip injury that forced him to retire at the age of 76 from MLB. Casey Stengel was elected in a special election after being injured in an auto accident by baseball writers to the Baseball’s Hall of Fame on July 25,1966. He used his baseball earnings to buy a bank in California, and served late in life as the bank president, deciding on loans and other banking matters.

1914- Former Yankees P Steve Peek (1941) was born. (1914-1911)
 Steve Peek was signed as an MLB amateur free agent by the New York Yankees, before the 1937 AL season. He spent 4 seasons in the minors (1937-1940), having his best season in 1940 with the Newark Bears (International League), posting a 14-4 record with a 2.69 ERA in 144 innings, helping his team to the International League play-off championship. Steve looked strong in the 1941 spring training workouts. He made his MLB debut with the Yankees on April 16th. He appeared in 17 games, pitching 80 innings, while posting a 4-2 record before being sent back to Newark for the balance of the 1941 season. Steve went 3-1 with a 1.50 ERA for the Bears, missing his chance to play in a World Series; when the Yankees won the AL title by 17 games over the 2nd-place Boston Red Sox. The Yankees beat the 1941 National League Champion Brooklyn Dodgers 4 games to 1 in the 1941 World Series. Peek did not play in the series. He never returned to the MLB. Steve spent the next 4 years (1942-1945) with the U.S. Army during World War II. He returned from the service in time for the 1946 MLB season, at the age of 31, and spent the rest of his pro baseball career playing in the minor leagues, playing with the Newark Bears again before he finished out in 1948 with the Seattle Rainiers (Pacific Coast League). Steve's 8 seasons in the minors saw him post a 73-44 record, while appearing in 186 games and pitching 974 innings.

1919- The New York Yankees obtained P Carl “Sub” Mays from the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Hubert McGraw and Alan Russell, a minor leaguer to be named later, and $25,000. Carl Mays would go 80-39 in 4 ½ seasons with the Yankees, including 26-11 in 1920 and 27-9 in 1921. Unfortunately Carl and Yankees Manager Miller Higgins never got along, which resulted in his trade to the Cincinnati Reds in 1923.

1930- Former Yankees C/1B Gus Triandos (1953-1954) was born.
Gus Triandos appeared in 20 games with the Yankees in 1953-1954, just hitting .171. He was unable to beat out Yankees starting C Yogi Berra. Gus was traded on November 17,1954, with players to be named later, Pitchers Harry Byrd and Jim McDonald, INF Willy Miranda, C Hal Smith, and OF Gene Woodling to the Baltimore Orioles for players to be named later, pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, and INF Billy Hunter. Gus would become AL All Star catcher for the Orioles during the 1957-1958-1959 AL seasons.  Gus Triandos and Gene Woodling would give the Orioles some power hitters in their 1955 starting lineup.

1936- The New York Yankees, with Jake Powell back in CF for the injured Myril Hoag, drop a 5-4 decision to the Detroit Tigers. On August 1st, Powell will go to LF, with DiMaggio playing CF for the 1st time. George Selkirk will return to RF. The Yankees lose today, when Charlie Gehringer ties the match with a 2-run HR in the 8th inning. Yankees C Bill Dickey allows a ball to get by him in the 10th inning and Burns scores the winning run.  The Tigers starter Schoolboy Rowe pitches 10 innings for the win over Yankees starter Johnny Broaca.

1940- Former Yankees reserve INF Cesar “Pepi” Tovar (1976) was born. (1940-1994)
Cesar Tovar played in 13 games hitting .154 in September 1976 for the New York Yankees. He retired as an active MLB player after the 1976 AL season.

1941- Former Yankees reserve OF Howie “Hawk” Shanks (1925) passed away. (1890-1941)
On December 10,1924, veteran OF Howie Shanks was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the New York Yankees for INF Mike McNally.  Howie appeared in 66 games for the 1925 New York Yankees, hitting .258. On December 16,1925, Howie Shanks was released by the New York Yankees. Howie Shanks played for the Washington Senators from 1912-1922, then the Red Sox before being traded to the Yankees.

1947- Former Yankees DH/1B Jim Spencer (1978-1981) was born. (1947-2002)
Jim Spencer was traded on December 12,1977 by the Chicago White Sox along with P Bob Polinsky (minors) and OF Tommy Cruz to the Yankees for Pitchers Stan Thomas, Ed Ricks (minors), and cash. Jim never hit as expected for the Yankees during his stay with the Bombers. His best Yankees season was in 1979, when he hit .279. On May 20,1981, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with P Tom Underwood to the Oakland A’s for 1B Dave Revering, hurlers Mike Patterson, and Chuck Dougherty (minors). After retiring from MLB, he coached the U.S. Naval Academy baseball team for several years. Jim passed away from cancer in 2002.

1951- New York Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio makes a rare mental error against the Detroit Tigers, catching a Steve Souchock fly ball in deep CF and, thinking it's the 3rd out, begins trotting in. It's only the 2nd out, and George Kell scores from 2B to make the score 4-2 in the 8th inning. Despite the Yankee Clipper’s mental lapse, the Yankees win the game by a score of 5-4, with Joe DiMaggio knocking in the winning run in the 9th inning.

1952- Journeyman hurler Lou Kretlow fashions his second consecutive two-hitter, as the Chicago White Sox down the New York Yankees by the score of 7-0.

1954- Against New York Yankees veteran starter Allie Reynolds, Baltimore Orioles 3B Bob Kennedy hits the 1st grand slam HR for the new Baltimore Orioles. The Orioles surpass the top season attendance the St. Louis Browns had in their 52 years, as they draw 27,385 for the game, giving them 7,000 more than the 712,918 fans that St. Louis drew in 1922.

1955- The Baltimore Orioles obtained veteran starter Ed Lopat from the New York Yankees for P Jim McDonald and cash. Eddie Lopat was at the end of his fine long MLB career. He would rejoin the New York Yankees organization in 1956, managing their AAA farm club in Richmond (International League). In 1960, he would replace the fired MLB pitching coach Jim Turner, being Casey Stengel’s final Yankees MLB pitching coach.

1957- Former Yankees P Steve Trout  (1987) was born.
On July 13,1987, Steve Trout was traded by the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees for pitchers Bob Tewksbury, Rich Scheid, and Dean Wilkins. Steve went 0-4 in 14 games with a 6.60 ERA for the Yankees, being a major disappointment. He was traded on December 22,1987, by the Yankees along with reserve OF Henry Cotto to the Seattle Mariners for Pitchers Lee Guetterman, Clay Parker, and Wade Taylor.

1966- Chicago White Sox starter Gary Peters shuts down the New York Yankees by a score of 6-0, facing just 29 batters. The efficient Peters used just 75 pitches for the win.

1977- New York Yankees starter Don Gullett picks up his 10th win of the year, a 9-3 victory over the Oakland A's. But it will prove to be his final win of the 1977 AL season, when he injures his shoulder in the 7th inning and leaves the game.

1986- Veteran MLB Catcher Ron Hassey is traded for the third time in 8 months. He is traded by the New York Yankees along with a player to be named later and OF Carlos Martinez to the Chicago White Sox for OF/DH Ron Kittle, INF Wayne Tolleson, and C Joel Skinner. The Yankees sent minor league C Bill Lindsey on December 24,1986 to the White Sox to complete the trade.

1990- In a surprisingly harsh ruling, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent orders New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner to resign as the club's general partner by August 20th and bans him from day-to-day operation of the team for life. The ruling is a result of Steinbrenner's $40,000 payment to confessed gambler Howie Spira for damaging information about since-traded Yankee All Star OF Dave Winfield.

1993- The New York Yankees obtained P Paul Assenmacher from the Chicago Cubs in a 3-way deal, which sees Yankees P John Habyan go to the Kansas City Royals and the Royals send OF Karl Rhodes to the Chicago Cubs. Paul would go 2-2 in 24 games for the Yankees.

1997- New York starter David Wells fires a 3-hitter as the Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals by a score of 7-0.  Yankees 1B Tino Martinez hits his 36th HR of the 1997 AL season and INF Luis Sojo has 4 hits

1999- The New York Yankees defeat the Boston Red Sox by a score of 13-3, as 2B Chuck Knoblauch raps out 5 hits, including a double and HR, and drives home 4 runs.

2001- The New York Yankees reacquired veteran P Sterling Hitchcock from the San Diego Padres, sending 2 minor league players: P Brett Jodie and OF Darren Blakely to the Padres. The Yankees had traded Hitchcock to Seattle Mariners in winter of 1995 as part of the deal for 1B Tino Marinez.

2008- The busy New York Yankees traded veteran reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Houston Astros for minor league INF Matt Cusick. Also that day All Star Catcher Jorge Posada underwent season-ending shoulder surgery, the Yankees acquired veteran AL All Star Catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez from the Detroit Tigers for veteran MLB reliever Kyle Farnsworth.

2010- The 2 best teams in the MLB this year, the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, begin a 3-game series before a rare sold-out crowd at Tropicana Field. Two batters into the game, New York leads 2-0 on a HR by Nick Swisher, but that's all the runs the Yankees will score in the game. Tampa Bay comes back with a 3-run HR shot by Matt Joyce in the 6th inning to win, by the score of 3-2. Wade Davis beats Phil Hughes, with Rafael Soriano picking up the save. Yankees All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, who has been sitting on 599 MLB career homers for a week, goes 0 for 4 in the loss.

2010- The New York Yankees snap up OF/DH Austin Kearns from the Cleveland Indians, although the bigger news is that they have tentatively reached a deal with Houston for veteran 1B Lance Berkman.

2011- The New York Yankees complete a doubleheader sweep of the Baltimore Orioles with a huge 1st inning in the nightcap, after winning the opener, by the score of 8-3. The Bronx Bombers score 12 runs as they chase Zach Britton, just back from the minors, after only one out, but not before he gives up 9 runs. They roll to a 17-3 win, accumulating 24 hits, as Yankees starter Ivan Nova benefits from the outburst; Robinson Cano goes 5 for 5 with 5 RBI, while Nick Swisher hits a 2-run HR in each game.

July 31st

1881- Former Yankees reserve INF and MLB Manager Robert “Bob” Unglaub (1904) was born. (1881-1916)
Bob Unglaub appeared in 6 games for the 1904 Yankees. Hitting .211. On June 17,1904, Bob was traded by the New York Highlanders to the Boston Americans for OF Patsy Dougherty. In 1907 he was the Manager of the Boston Red Sox. He was killed in a railroad accident in 1916.

1893- Former Yankees P Allan “Al” Russell (1915-1919) was born. (1893-1972)
Allan Russell appeared in 114 games for the New York Yankees, posting a 26-36 record with a 3.05 ERA. On July 29,1919, Al Russell was traded by the New York Yankees along with P Bob McGraw and $40,000 to the Boston Red Sox for veteran starter Carl Mays.

1916- Former Yankees minor league INF and MLB player, Manager Billy Hitchcock was born. (1916-2006)
Before the start of the 1939 AL season, Billy Hitchcock was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Billy never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. Billy was blocked by Phil Rizzutto at shortstop position in the New York Yankees minor league organization. He played for the Kansas City Blues (AAA) from 1939-1941. On September 8,1941, Billy was traded by the New York Yankees to the Detroit Tigers for players to be named later. The Detroit Tigers would send OF Tuck Stainback and Boyd Perry on December 4, 1941 to the New York Yankees to complete the trade.  Billy managed one game for the 1960 Detroit Tigers. Then he was the manager of the Baltimore Orioles 1961-1962. In mid-season of 1966, he took over the Atlanta Braves. He managed the team again in 1967, before being replace by Ken Silvestri at the end of season.

1919- Former Yankees announcer and long time Red Sox announcer Curt Gowdy was born. (1919-2006)
Curt Gowdy started his long time MLB -broadcasting career with the New York Yankees in 1949, working with Mel Allen. In 1951, he left the New York Yankees to join the Boston Red Sox broadcasting staff, later he was a NBC-TV’s MLB announcer covering 13 World Series for the network

1922- Former Yankees All Star OF and MLB Manager Hank Bauer (1948-1959) was born. (1922-2007)
Before the 1946 AL Season, the New York Yankees signed Hank Bauer as an amateur MLB free agent. He was AL All Star RF in 1952-1954. Hank appeared in 9 World Series with the Yankees with the 1958 Series against the Milwaukee Braves being his best, hitting .323 with 4 HRs and 8 RBI’s. Hank finished his Yankees career with a .277 BA, 158 HRs, and 654 RBIs in 1,406 games. On December 11, 1959, Hank was traded by the Yankees along with P Don Larsen, OF Norm Siebern, and  OF/1B Marv Throneberry to the Kansas City A’s for OF Roger Maris, INF Joe DeMaestri, and 1B Kent Hadley. Hank would finish his MLB playing career with the A’s in 1961. He would manage the A’s in Kansas City and Oakland. Hank would win the 1966 World Series with the Baltimore Orioles beating the Dodgers. Later he would manage in the New York Mets farm system at Tidewater (AAA) in the early 1970’s. Then he became a MLB scout for the Yankees afterwards. Hank passed away on February 9, 2007 from cancer.

1925- The New York Yankees released MLB veteran C Steve O’Neill. He hit .286 in 35 games for the 1925 Yankees.

1927- Former Yankee reserve C and Minor League Manager Billy Shantz (1960) was born. (1927-1993)
 Billy Shantz was the brother of New York Yankees hurler Bobby Shantz. They were both originally signed by the Philadelphia A’s. On April 4,1959, Billy was purchased by the New York Yankees from the Kansas City A’s. He spent the 1959 baseball season at Richmond (AAA). During the 1960 AL season, he appeared in 1 game for the Yankees. He spent most of the 1960 season at Richmond (AAA) as back-up catcher to starter Jesse Gonder. He would later become a minor league manager for the New York Yankees.

1928- New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits a fungo 447 FT HR in an unofficial test, beating all trial competition records.

1931- Former Yankees P Walter Lee “ Rip” Coleman (1955-1956) was born. (1931-2004)
Before the 1952 AL Season, the New York Yankees signed Rip Coleman as an amateur MLB free agent. Rip went 5-6 in 39 games for the Yankees in 1955-1956. He appeared in 1 game during the 1955 World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers. On February 19,1957, Rip was traded by the Yankees along with a player to be named later, INF Milt Graff, INF Billy Hunter, P Mickey McDermott, P Tom Morgan, and OF Irv Noren to the Kansas City A’s for players to be named later, Pitchers, Art Ditmar, Bobby Shantz, INF’s Jack McMahan, and Wayne Belardi. The Yankees sent P Jack Urban on April 5, 1957 to the A’s to complete the trade. The A’s sent INF Curt Roberts on April 4, 1957 and INF Clete Boyer on June 4, 1957 to the Yankees to complete the trade.

1936- Led by All Star 1B Lou Gehrig, who clouts his 33rd HR, as the Yankees down the Cleveland Indians by a score of 11-7 at Cleveland’s League Park. The loss snaps the Tribe's 5-game winning streak, leaving the Yankees 8 1/2 games ahead of the Tribe. Lou Gehrig and Red Rolfe clout HRs in the 5th inning to chase P Mel Harder, but the Indians answer back with 3 doubles by Earl Averill and a HR by Hal Trosky. Yankees starter Bump Hadley, with relief help from closer Johnny Murphy, hangs on for his 9th win of the 1936 AL season.

1951- The St. Louis Browns acquired OF Cliff Mapes from the Yankees, sending P Bob Hogue, 3B Kermit Wahl, shortstop Tom Upton and P Lou Sleater to the Yankees. The trade frees up an outfield spot for Mickey Mantle's return from the minors (Kansas City Blues AAA) as well as Mapes No. 7 Yankees players uniform.

1955- New York starter Don Larsen wins a 5-2 decision, as the Yankees and the Kansas City A’s collaborate for 9-Double Plays, with the Yankees turning in 6 of them. The A’s starter Cloyd Boyer, who had 3 of his first 8 pitches hit for HRs by Yankee sluggers Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra takes the loss. Cloyd was the older brother of MLB players Ken and Clete Boyer. He would later become a Yankees MLB pitching coach during the 1970’s.

1960- At Yankee Stadium, the Kansas City A's push over 3 unearned runs in the 11th inning on 2 throwing errors by New York Yankees 3B Hector Lopez to top the Bombers by a score of 5-2.

1962- At Washington D.C. Stadium, Mickey Mantle is on the bench with a wrenched knee, but veteran 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron supplies the Yankees power with a grand slam HR. New York wins the game by a score of 9-5.
 
1963- New York Yankees starter Ralph Terry uses just 75 pitches in a 5-hitter, winning by a score of 3-2 over the Kansas City A's. Terry has no walks and 5 strikeouts against the A’s starting lineup.

1970- Former Yankees reserve C Mike Figga (1997-1999) was born.
On June 5,1989, Mike Figga was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 44th round of the 1989 MLB amateur player draft. Mike appeared in 5 games for the Yankees. On June 3,1999, Mike was selected off waivers by the Baltimore Orioles from the Yankees.

1972- Former Yankees reserve C Rollie Hemsley (1942-1944) passed away. (1907-1972
On July 19,1942, veteran MLB C Rollie Hemsley was signed as a MLB free agent with the New York Yankees. He appeared in 174 games as a reserve catcher for the Yankees, hitting .262. On March 25,1946, Rollie was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies from the New York Yankees.

1977- New York 3B Graig Nettles scores 3 runs to lead the Yankees to a 9-2 win over the Oakland A's, the 8th win in 9 games for New York. The Yankees are a half game out of 1st place in the AL East.

1978- The New York Yankees stop the Texas Rangers by a score of 6-1, to move to 7 1/2 games behind Boston Red Sox in the AL East.

1985- The Cleveland Indians end Ron Guidry's win streak at 12 games, beating the Yankees, by a score of 6-5. Guidry and Curt Waddell, the Tribe winner, each go 6+ innings.

1994- Former NL All Star hurler Steve Carlton, MLB Manager and player Leo Durocher and New York Yankees AL MVP (1950) and All Star shortstop Phil Rizzuto are inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame.

1996- At the trading deadline, the Detroit Tigers traded 1B-DH Cecil Fielder, 32, to the Yankees for OF-DH Ruben Sierra and minor league P Matt Drews. It is the 1st swap in MLB history in which 2 players with more than 220 MLB HRs are traded for one another.

1996- The New York Yankees obtained P David Weathers from the Florida Marlins for P Mark Hutton, but they will send him to the minors in 3 weeks.

1999- The New York Yankees bring back veteran C Jim Leyritz from the San Diego Padres for minor league P Geraldo Padua. Padua was 25-4 in 3 seasons in Class A League baseball, including a run of 20 straight wins. Mysteriously, Padua will lose 14 straight in the minors in 2000; he will earn a release from Altoona (AA) in May of 2001, after serving up 3 straight HRs.

2003- Veteran INF Aaron Bone was traded by the Cincinnati Reds to the New York Yankees for Pitchers Brandon Claussen, Charlie Manning and cash.

2004- A minute before the trading deadline, the New York Yankees deal the talented but underachieving former Cuban Pitching star Jose Contreras (8-5 with a 5.64 ERA) and $3 million to the Chicago White Sox for All-Star starter Esteban Loaiza (9-5, 4.86 ERA). Both hurlers are 32 years old.

2005- At Yankee Stadium, the Molina brothers, Bengie and Jose, both hit HR off of Yankees starter Randy Johnson. The Angel teammates join Hank and Tommie Aaron, Matty and Jesus Alou, Aaron and Bret Boone, Billy and Tony Conigliaro, Al and Tony Cuccinello, Rick and Wes Farrell, Vladimir and Wilton Guerrero, Graig and Jim Nettles, Cal and Billy Ripken and Paul and Lloyd Waner as siblings who have gone deep in the same MLB game.

2005- Among thousands of high-spirited Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs fans and the 48 Hall of Famers sitting on the dais, Wade Boggs and Ryne Sandberg are enshrined into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Also honored are Former Yankees player, now San Diego Padres announcer Jerry Coleman, winner of the Ford C. Frick Award, and sportswriter and broadcast analyst Peter Gammons, recipient of the J.G. Taylor Spink Award

2007- The 2007  New York Yankees tie the 1939 Yankees by hitting 8 HRs in a game, while crushing the Chicago White Sox. Hideki Matsui hits 2 HRs, with Johnny Damon, Shelly Duncan, Bobby Arbeu, Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera each hitting HRs for the Yankees.

2008- The New York Yankees finished their 2008 MLB trading deadline spree by shipping minor league INF Alberto Gonzalez  to the Washington Nationals for right-hander pitcher Jhonny Nunez.

2010- The New York Yankees complete yesterday's rumored deal with Houston Astros for veteran MLB player OF/1B Lance Berkman, also they add veteran MLB reliever Kerry Wood from Cleveland Indians not giving up any major leaguer players in the process.

August 1st

1890- Former Yankees P Edward “Slim” Love  (1916-1918) was born. (1890-1942)
Edward “Slim” Love had an ERA of 2.35 in 1916, and then in 1917, he won 13 games, second highest on the Yankee team. He was nicknamed “Slim” because of his height, he stood 6’7”. His Yankees pitching career record was 21-17 with a 3.05 ERA in 91 games. On December 18,1918, Slim Love was traded by the New York Yankees along with C Ray Caldwell, OF Frank Gilhooley, C Roxy Walters and $15,000 to the Boston Red Sox for  OF Duffy Lewis. Pitchers Dutch Leonard and Ernie Shore.

1903- Philadelphia A’s starter Rube Waddell no-hits the New York Highlanders, except for Kid Elberfeld, who has 4 singles. These, plus a lavish 6 walks, down the A's 3-2. Waddell observes afterward, "If I would have walked him 4 times, I would have pitched a no-hitter."

1922- The New York Yankees purchased C Benny Bengough (1922-1930) from Buffalo (International League). Benny would share catch duties with other Yankee catchers, until the arrival of catcher Bill Dickey in 1928. He would remain the team’s reserve catcher until 1930.

1923- Stepping in against the Cleveland Indians hurler Sherrod Smith in the 9th inning, Babe Ruth starts off batting right-handed. After taking a strike, he switches to LH and hits his 25th HR of the season. The Indians still win the game by a score of 5-3. The Babe will bat righty again 4 days later.
 
1925- The New York Yankees buy INF Tony Lazzeri from the Salt Lake City (Pacific Coast League) team for spring delivery in 1926. Tony Lazzeri will hit 60 HRs with 222 RBIs at Salt Lake City in 1925. Tony will earn the nickname of  "Poosh-em-up" from his legion of Italian admirers at Yankee Stadium.

1928- New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth hits HR #42 and is four weeks ahead of his 1927 AL season pace of hitting 60 HRs.

1932- The Detroit Tigers successfully protest a New York Yankees 6-3 win, but gain nothing when the rematch ends in a 8-8 tie and the game is called because of darkness.

1937- New York Yankees All Star 1B Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle against the St. Louis Browns, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-5. It is the 2nd time he has performed this feat in his MLB career.

1941- New York Yankees veteran starter Lefty Gomez pitches a 9-0 shutout over the St. Louis Browns despite walking 11 batters, the most ever issued in a shutout. Fifteen base runners are left stranded by the Browns.

1952- The New York Yankees purchased P Johnny Schmitz from the Brooklyn Dodgers for cash. He would go 1-1 with Yankees before being sent to the Cincinnati Reds on a conditional basis in September of 1952.

1961- Former Yankees minor league OF Todd Demeter was born. (1961-1996)
The son of former MLB outfielder Don Demeter, 1B/OF Todd Demeter was selected in the 2nd round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft by the Yankees, but he never made it to the majors.

1968- Against the Boston Red Sox, Stan Bahnsen strikes out 12 batters, the most ever by a Yankee rookie pitcher, in posting his 1st MLB shutout, winning by a score of 1-0. His mark will last 30 years until "El Duque" Hernandez K's 13 batters. A safe bunt by Tom Tresh, a steal, and a single by Bill Robinson accounts for the only run off of Red Sox P Dave Morehead.

1973- Catchers Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk brawl at Fenway Park. With a 2-2 score in the top of the 9th inning, Munson, attempting to score from 3rd base on a missed bunt by Gene Michael, crashes into Fisk and they both come up swinging. Red Sox win the game by the score of 3-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning.

1978- The New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox play a 14 inning 5-5 tie game that is suspended by AL curfew rules. The Yankees manage to blow a 5 run lead while the Red Sox relievers Bob Stanley and Tom Burgmeier stopped the Yankee hitting attack.

1979- Following the New York Yankees 9-1 win over the Chicago White Sox; members of the Yankees create a minor scandal by autographing the bare behind of a young woman who boards the team bus outside Comiskey Park.

1979- In an 8-player deal, the Texas Rangers send OF/DH Oscar Gamble, minor leaguer Amos Lewis, a former 1st pick in the 1978 MLB amateur player draft, and 2 players to be named to the New York Yankees and finally acquired OF Mickey Rivers and 3 players to be named. The Yankees sent minor league pitchers Bob Polinsky, Neal Mersch, and Mark Softy on October 8, 1979 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Mickey Rivers had been traded to the Rangers in June but the deal fell through. Both of the players to be named with Oscar Gamble will make the majors: Gene Nelson and Ray Fontenot, something that can't be said for the 3 players that the Yankees sent to the Rangers.

1989- Former Yankees reserve INF and MLB Manager Don “Jeep” Heffner  (1934-1937) passed away. (1911-1989)
Don Heffner was a reserve INF for the New York Yankees (1934-1937). On February 15,1938, Don was traded by the Yankees with $10,000 cash to the St. Louis Browns for INF Bill Knickerbocker. Don was a MLB Coach for the New York Mets. In 1966, Don managed the Cincinnati Reds, going 37-46 in 83 games, before being replaced by Dave Bristol.

1993- Former New York Yankees OF/DH Reggie Jackson (1977-1981) is inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, NY. Reggie receives 396 votes out of 423 HOF ballots issued. With the Yankees, Reggie appeared in 658 games hitting 144 HRs with 461 RBIs. He finished MLB career with 563 HRs with a .262 lifetime BA.

2010- In St. Petersburg, Tampa Bay's James Shields keeps the New York Yankees off the scoreboard for 7 innings in a 3-0 win that brings the Rays within a game of the AL East leaders.

2011- AL All Star starter  C C Sabathia wins his MLB leading 16th game in the New York Yankees' 3-2 defeat of the Chicago White Sox. The big lefthander is 9-1 over his last 10 starts for the Yankees.

August 2nd

1893- Former Yankees reserve OF Angel Aragon (1914,1916-1917) was born. (1893-1952)
Angel Aragon appeared in 32 games for the Yankees, hitting just .118. He is the father of MLB player Jack Aragon (1941).

1929- The Philadelphia A's 11-10 victory over the Detroit Tigers increases their AL lead to 11 1/2 games over the New York Yankees, who are losers today to the Cleveland Indians by the score of 9-8.

1931- The Boston Red Sox and the 3rd-place New York Yankees split a Sunday doubleheader before a record 40,000 fans, played at Braves Field because of religious restrictions involving Fenway Park. Former Red Sox hurler Red Ruffing wins the 1st game by score of 4-1, and ex-Yankees reliever Wilcy Moore blanks his former teammates by the score of 1-0 in the nightcap. Moore allows just 3 singles in topping George Pipgras. The Yankees will go 308 games before being shut out again.

1951- Former Yankees P Guy “Rebel” Cooper (1914) passed away. (1893-1951)
On August 11,1913, Guy Cooper was purchased by the New York Yankees from Petersburg (Virginia) for $1,500. He appeared in 1 game for the Yankees with no record. On May 27,1914, he was purchased by the Boston Red Sox from the New York Yankees.

1961-The New York Yankees beat the Kansas City A’s by a score of 12-5 with Mickey Mantle walloping a 1st inning HR off of their former Yankees teammate, now  A’s starter Art Ditmar. Yankees All Star sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris are now both at 40 HRs mark.

1975- Former 1950’s Yankees player Billy Martin becomes the new Yankee manager replacing Bill Virdon. Vidron was saddled with an injury-plagued team (Elliot Maddox, Mel Stottlemyre and Bobby Bonds) in 1975. Bill had been named The Sporting News Manager of the year for his work with the Yankees in 1974, bringing the Yankees to 2nd place finish in the AL East. The 1975 Yankees were 53-51 under Bill Vidron. Under Billy Martin, the Yankees went 30-26 for the remainder of the 1975 AL season, finishing in 3rd place with an 83-77 record in the AL East. Bill Vidron will soon become the Houston Astros Manager.

1978- The New York Yankees take a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox, but Boston ties it in the 8th inning on 3-wild pitches, 2 bases-loaded walks, and a collection of bloop hits. The game ends in a 14-inning tie at 5-5.

1979- New York Yankees Captain and AL All Star C Thurman Munson, 32,  (1947-1979) perishes at Canton, Ohio, in a crash of the jet plane, that he was piloting. A crowd of 51,151 fans will attend the memorial tribute for Thurman Munson at Yankee Stadium tomorrow.

1985- Ozzie Guillen scores from 2B on an infield hit in the 11th inning to give the Chicago White Sox a 6-5 victory over the New York   Yankees. Salazar's slow roller down the 1B line is fielded by P Mike Bordi, and with no play at 1B, Guillen keeps running. In the 7th inning, when White Sox C Carlton Fisk tags out 2 Yankee runners at home plate during the same play. The unusual 8-6-2-2 double play results as both Bobby Meacham and Dale Berra try to score on Rickey Henderson's double in the gap.

1990- New York Yankees rookie 1B Kevin Maas hits his 10th HR in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. But the Yankees lose to the Detroit Tigers by a score of 6-5 in 11 innings.

2005- Former Yankees minor league INF Milt Graf passed away. (1930-2005)
Milt Graf was drafted by the New York Yankees in the Rule 5 player draft from the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. Milt was traded to the Kansas City A’s in February of 1957 in the Bobby Shantz trade. He would work for the Pittsburgh Pirates as MLB infield coach and in the front office after retiring as an active player. Also he was a MLB scout for the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

2009- New York Yankees OF Melky Cabrera hits for the cycle and drives in 4 runs in the Yankees' 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox. He is the first Yankees batter to have hit for a cycle since INF Tony Fernandez in 1995.

2010- At New York, the Toronto Blue Jays lash out a record-tying 6 doubles in the 5th inning, including two by Travis Snider, to beat the New York Yankees by the score of 8-6. Brandon Morrow beats former Blue Jay's starter A.J. Burnett, while Kevin Gregg retires Alex Rodriguez after giving up a solo HR to Nick Swisher to end the game and earn his 24th save of the 2010 AL season.

2011- The New York Yankees' 6-0 win over the Chicago White Sox is shortened to 7 innings by rain at U.S. Cellular Field, but not before Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira sets a record by hitting a HR from both sides of the plate for the 12th time of his MLB career. He hits a long ball right-handed off starter John Danks in the 3rd inning, then one left-handed in the pouring rain off reliever Jason Frasor in the 7th inning. Teixeira had been tied with Eddie Murray and Chili Davis with 11 such games. Yankees starter Phil Hughes is the winner in his best outing of the 2011 AL season.

1966 New York Yankees: Mickey Mantle continues his HR Streak in Yankees win

July 29, 1966- The New York Yankees edge the Chicago White Sox by the score of 2-1, on Mickey Mantle's 14th Home Run in 24 games. Mickey Mantle moves ahead of Hall Of Fame New York Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig into 6th place on the all-time  MLB career HR list with the HR blast #494.

New York Yankees HOF Mickey Mantle and Lou Gehrig

1955 New York Yankees: Yanks-A's game 9 Double Plays

July 31, 1955- New York starter Don Larsen wins a 5-2 decision, as the Yankees and the Kansas City A’s collaborate for 9-Double Plays, with the Bronx Bombers turning in 6 of them. The A’s starter Cloyd Boyer, who had 3 of his first 8 pitches hit for HRs by Yankee sluggers Hank Bauer, Mickey Mantle, and Yogi Berra takes the loss. Cloyd was the older brother of MLB players Ken and Clete Boyer. He would later become a Yankees MLB pitching coach during the 1970’s.

Yankees P Don Larsen, A's Rookie INF Clete Boyer and P Cloyd Boyer

On this day in 1975, Billy Martin replaced Bill Virdon to start his first of five stints as Yankees manager.

33 years today that Thurman Munson left us.....