This Week in Yankees History May 8th-May 14th Part One

May 8^th

1891- Former Yankees Pitcher Chester “Red” Hoff (1911-1913) was born. (1891-1998)

Chet Hoff is the longest-lived Ex-MLB Player ever. He was the last person alive to have played in the 1900’s. At the time of his death, he was 107 years, 4 months, 9 days old, outdistancing his nearest competitors, Karl Swanson, Bob Wright and John Daley by more than 5 years. He died a week after a fall in which he had broken a hip and not of the complications associated with his advanced age. In 1991, Hoff had gained some fame, when he turned 100. After his 100th birthday, Hoff delighted in signing postcard photos featuring him pitching in his Yankees uniform at age 100. It was reported that he used the $5 autograph fee for weekly trips to the shopping mall from his assisted living facility. On September 6,1911, Red Hoff  would make his MLB Pitching debut with the Yankees against the Senators. He had once struck out Tigers future HOF Ty Cobb. He had several cups of coffee with the Yankees through the 1913 AL season, then he would spend the 1914 season in the Minor Leagues. In 1915, he would return to the MLB with the St. Louis Browns. Red had his finest MLB season, posting a 2-2 record with a 1.24 ERA in 11 games. After that 1914 AL season, he would never return to the MLB, but he remained a Yankees fan for the rest of his long life. Chester “Red” Hoff had posted a 0-2 record along with a 3.89 ERA in 12 games for the Yankees. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with an overall record of 2-4 with a 2.49 ERA in 23 games. 

1903- After losing their 1st ever game against the Red Sox, the Yankees behind Veteran MLB Starter Jack Chesbro win their 1^st franchise victory by a score of 6-1. The veteran former NL Pirates Starter Chesbro would throw a 6-hitter against Boston. Red Sox 2B Hobe Ferris had hit a HR, his 2^nd for the season. 

1911- At Hill Top Park in New York City, Red Sox Starter Smokey Joe Wood beats the Yankees by the score of 4-0 in 6 innings. He gives up just 1 Yankees hit, a single to Pitcher Ray Caldwell.

1915- At the Polo Grounds, a crowd of 10,000 fans watch the Yankees pound the Red Sox by the score of 10-3, scoring all of their runs in the 4th inning. Sixteen Yankee batters will come to the plate in the 4th inning. Yankees Starter Ray Fisher picks up the easy Bronx complete game victory, improving his season pitching record to 5-0.

1919- At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Yankees Ace Bob Shawkey retires the 1st 14 Philadelphia batters that he faces in the game, then he allows a single for the A’s only hit of the game as the Yankees beat the Mackmen by score of 2-0. Shawkey’s 1-hit victory over Philadelphia, even outs his season record to a 2-2 mark. Bob Geary takes the complete game loss for the Mackmen, he is now 0-1 for the season.

1926- The Yankees would score 7 runs in the 2^nd inning, but they still lose the game to the Tigers by the score of 14-10, knocking themselves out of the AL lead; as the Senators would move into 1st place in the AL.

1927- At Chicago, the Yankees draw a record crowd of 52,000 fans to Comiskey Park, but Bronx Starter Waite Hoyt spoils the party by winning 1 of his AL-leading 22 games of the 1927 AL season by a score of 9-0; the 2nd straight shutout of the White Sox by Yankee Starters. Bronx Catcher Pat Collins hits HR in the 7^th inning, while 1B Lou Gehrig adds a pair of triples.

1937- Former Yankees Reserve OF Art Lopez (1965) was born.

In 1961, the Yankees had signed OF Art Lopez as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. When injuries struck the regular Yankee outfielders during the 1965 AL season, Art was not the answer for the Yankees OF problems, as he appeared in just 38 games, while hitting .143 with No HRs or RBIs. He had been a .280 hitter in the Yankees Minor League system, but he could never hit that well for the Yankees at the MLB level. He would spend the 1966-1967 seasons playing at AAA level in the Yankees and Tigers organizations. Later, he would play pro baseball in Japan, along with his former Yankees teammate 1B/OF Joe Pepitone. Art would spend the 1968-1972 seasons playing in Japan with Tokyo, Lotte and the Yakult pro teams, appearing in 750 games, while hitting .290 with 116 HRs with 401 RBIs.

1953- At Fenway Park, after 13 straight losses to the Yankees, the Red Sox win a dramatic 11-inning, 2-1 thriller. Billy Goodman's HR off of Yankees Starter Johnny Sain gives Red Sox Starter Hal “Skinny” Brown the 2-1 victory. Dick Gernert’s 2nd inning HR was the  only other Boston score in the game. In Red Sox previous win over the Yankees on August 9,1952, all of the Boston scoring came on solo HRs.

1957- At Cleveland Stadium, a crowd of 15,629 fans watch the Tribe batters CF Roger Maris, LF Gene Woodling and 1B Vic Wertz hit 3 HRs to back Veteran Starter Early Wynn's 10-4 win over the Yankees. All-Star CF Mickey Mantle has a HR and 3 RBIs for the Bronx Bombers. Yankees Reliever Tommy Byrne takes the loss the loss, giving up 5 Indian runs.

1959- The Yankees had re-obtained P Mark Freedman from Kansas City for veteran MLB hurler Murray Dickson. Mark Freeman will only appear in 1 game for the 1959 Yankees before being traded to the Cubs during the Spring of 1960. Murray Dickson will go 2-1 for the KC in 1959, before retiring from MLB.

1960- Former Yankees Reserve OF Howie Camp (1917) had passed away. (1893-1960)

On June 23,1917, OF Howie Camp was purchased along with INF Aaron Ward by the Yankees from Class C Charleston (SA). He would only play in 5 games for the Yankees, while hitting .286. In September of 1920, Howie Camp was traded by the Yankees along with Players to be Named Later to Class AA Vernon (PCL) for Shortstop Johnny Mitchell. On January 28,1921, the Yankees would send 2 Pitchers: Ernie Shore, Bob McGraw, Catcher Truck Hannah and OF Ham Hyatt  to Class AA Vernon (PCL) to complete the trade. Camp would continue to play baseball in the Minor Leagues from 1919 to 1930, before retiring as an active player. From 1928-1929, he was a Minor League Manager.

1961 -The new AL Expansion Team, the Los Angeles Angels had traded 2 veteran AL players: Reliever Tex Clevenger and OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers: Ryne Duren, Johnny James and Rookie OF/1B Lee Thomas. For Veteran OF Bob Cerv, it is his 3rd and final tour of duty in Yankees Pinstripes. Veteran AL Reliever Tex Clevenger will help out in the Yankees bullpen. He was expendable to the team, since they had other veteran MLB Relievers in their bullpen. He had posted a 2-1 record in 12 games for the Angels. Bob Cerv was once again was a Reserve Outfielder and power bat off the Yankees bench. He had appeared in 18 games for the Angels, while hitting just .158. Ryne Duren had lost his Yankees Closer job to lefty Veteran Reliever Luis Arroyo.  Houk felt that the Angels could give more work than the Yankees would. The Angels would have him be a starter and he made  1961 All-Star team. Young Starter Johnny James had appeared with the 1959-1960 Yankees, posting a 5-1 record with a 3.97 ERA and 2 saves in 30 games before being sent back to AAA Richmond (IL).  In 1962, James will injure his pitching arm in Angels MLB spring training camp. He would never pitched again in the MLB. James had posted a 0-2 record with a 5.30 ERA in 36 games for the 1961 Angels. Outfielder/1B Lee Thomas had spent 7 seasons playing in the Yankees farm system. In 1961, he was 1 for 2 with the Bombers before he was traded to the Angels. Thomas would have some success, while playing in MLB for several teams. After retiring as an active player, he would become a Baseball Executive. Later, he would become a General Manager for the Phillies. 

1962- Former Yankees1B/OF Orestes Destrade (1987) was born.

In 1981, the Yankees had signed 1B/OF Orestes Destrade as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Orestes would appear in only 9 games for the 1987 Yankees, while hitting .263 with only 19 at bats. On March 30,1988, he was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates for veteran Reliever Hipolito Pena. He would later play pro baseball in Japan.  After his MLB playing career had ended, he would become a Sports Announcer for ESPN.

1964- At Cleveland, there are tornado warnings in the weather reports, but the Yankees bat’s supplies damage, when CF Mickey Mantle cracks a 3-run HR off of Tribe Starter Tommy John in the 4th inning to lead the Bombers to a 10-3 victory. A crowd of 20,877 fans had attended the game played at Cleveland Stadium. Yankees Starter Ralph Terry pitches a complete game victory, bring his season record to a 1-1 mark, while Tommy John is now at the 1-1 mark

1971- Former Yankees Reserve C/DH Todd Greene (2001) was born.

On April 5, 2000, the Yankees had signed C/OF Todd Greene as an MLB Free Agent. In 1993, Todd had originally been signed by the Angels, who had released him in 2000. He would play for the 2000 Blue Jays as a Reserve Catcher. At the end of their 2001 MLB spring training camp, the team had released him. He would hit .208 with 1 HR and 11 RBIs in 35 games for the 2001 Yankees. He had appeared in 1 game of the 2000 World Series against the Diamondbacks, while going 1 for 2 at the plate. The club would release him in March during their 2002 MLB spring training camp. Todd would become a Reserve Catcher with the Rangers, Rockies and finishing up his MLB playing career with the 2006 Giants. In 2008, Greene was an MLB Scout for the Padres. In 2009, he was a Quality Assurance Coach for Tampa Bay. In 2010, he was an MLB Scout for the Mariners. In 2011, Todd was an MLB Scout for the Diamondbacks.

1991- Gambler Howard Spira is found guilty of trying to extort money from Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner. Spira had already received $40,000 in Cash payments from George Steinbrenner.

1991- Former Yankees Baseball Executive Cedric Tallis (1978-1983) passed away. (1914-1991)

Cedric Tallis was the original General Manager of the new AL Expansion Team, the Kansas City Royals from their inception in 1968 until June 1974. Then he moved to the Yankees organization as Assistant General Manager to GM Gabe Paul for the 1976-1977 seasons. He would take over the General Manager position (1978-1979), when Gabe Paul returned to the Indians in the winter of 1977. Cedric would replace Al Rosen as GM, when he left the Yankees to work in the Astros Front Office. From 1980 to 1983, Tallis would be the Yankees Team President.

1994- At a Sunday afternoon game played at Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 28,680 fans would see 3 Yankees batters: OFDanny Tartabull, C Mike Stanley and OF Gerald Williams hit back-to-back-to-back HRs for the Bronx Bombers in the 6th inning off of Boston Pitchers during their  8-4 win over the Red Sox. Yankees OF Gerald Williams will hit another HR in the 7^thinning. Yankees Starter Terry Mulholland picks his 4^th win of the season along with relief help from Donny Pall and Sterling Hitchcock, who gets his 2^nd save of the season. Red Sox Reliever Paul Quantrill would take the loss. 

1999- The Mariners would defeat the Yankees by the score of 14-5 as Seattle’s 3B John Mabry gets 5 hits to led the Mariners’ hitting attack.

2009- In his 1st game of the 2009 AL season after missing 6 weeks because of hip surgery, Yankees Slugger Alex Rodriguez hits the 1st pitch that he sees from Baltimore's Jeremy Guthrie for a 3-run HR in a 4-0 Yankees win that ends a 5-game Yankees losing streak. Yankees Starter CC Sabathia pitches a 4-hit shutout in his best pitching performance, since signing a huge MLB Free Agent contract with the club over the winter of 2008.

2010- Yankees 1B Mark Teixeira became only the 2nd player in Yankees history to smack 3 HRs in a single game against the Red Sox at Fenway Park. The last Yankees player to do it was Lou Gehrig, who accomplished the feat on June 23,1927. That was also the only other time a Yankee has hit 3 HRs in a game against the Red Sox in either New York's Yankee Stadium or Boston's Fenway Park. "Man, that's humbling right there," the unassuming Teixeira said after the Yankees crushed the rival Red Sox by the score of 14-3. "Any time you talk about the Yankees -- Gehrig, [Joe] DiMaggio, the list goes on and on -- it makes you realize you have a long way to go to be in their category. So, there's a lot of work for me left to do." Reserve Catcher Francisco Cervelli, starting the game because of an injury to starting Catcher Jorge Posada, also drives in 5 runs. Teixeira's last dinger is hit against OF Jonathan Van Every, making the 2nd pitching appearance of his MLB Pitching career. The game is interrupted for 1:15 by a rain delay in the 5th inning, forcing Yankees Starter CC Sabathia out of the game early and giving Bronx Reliever Alfredo Aceves the win.

2013- The injury-riddled Yankees struggle to put together a line-up, today batting P David Phelps 8th and playing OF Vernon Wells at 3B for an inning in his 1^st MLB playing career appearance at the position, but they manage to keep on winning. Wells hits a 2-run HR in the 1st, then in the 9^th inning, Manager Joe Girardi uses a pinch-hitter for 3B Chris Nelson in scoring the deciding run in a 3-2 win over the Rockies. Out of back-up infielders, he puts Wells at the hot corner for the bottom of the 9th. Wells successfully fields a ground ball as Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera records his 12th save of the season - and the 1st of his MLB pitching career at Coors Field in Denver.

May 9^th

1903- The Boston Pilgrims (aka the Red Sox) top the visiting Highlanders by a score of 12-5 with a little help from AL Umpire Caruthers, who tosses out Highlanders Pitcher Jesse Tannehill and 2B Jimmy Williams for a ball call at home.

1930- The Yankees and the Tigers Outfielders make only 2 putouts for an AL record, which has never been equaled. Tiger's Starter George Uhle strikes out 8 Yankee batters in winning the game by the score of 5-4. This loss to Detroit drops the Yankees to 7th place in the AL. Bronx Starter Hank Johnson (7 innings) and Reliever George Pipgras (2 innings) are the Yankee hurlers in the game 

1940- The Press reports the impending sale of the Yankees by the Jacob Ruppert Estate to NYC Political Bigwigs Jim Farley and Jesse Jones. The Sporting News declares the sale will be made for $4 million. The imminent sale will resurface on the front page several times during the next year, but it never happens. The Yankees will be sold in January of 1945 by the Jacob Ruppert Estate to a group of buyers, consisting of Businessmen Del Webb, Dan Topping Sr. and former MLB Baseball Executive Larry MacPhail Sr.

1944- After missing much of the Yankees 1944 MLB Spring Training Camp and the early part of the 1944 AL season due to illness, Joe “Marsh” McCarthy returns as the Yankees Manager. The team with a majority of its regular players serving in the armed forces for World War II service, would finish in 3^rd place in the AL with an 83-71 record.

1949- At Briggs Stadium in Detroit, the Tigers set back the 1st-place Yankees by the score of 4-1 behind the 5-hit pitching of Starter Ted Gray, who is now 2-0. Yankees Starter Vic Raschi allows just 5 Tigers hits, including a HR by Richard Wakefieldin taking the loss. Yankees Starter Raschi’s pitching record for the 1949 season is now at 4-1 mark.

1953- At Fenway Park, a Saturday crowd of 26,065 fans see the 1st place Yankees beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-4. Yankees CF Mickey Mantle hits a HR off of Red Sox hurler Bill Werle. Mickey is robbed of another HR, when Red Sox CFJimmy Piersall makes a sensational catch at the Boston bullpen in RF-CF.  Veteran MLB Starter Ernie Blackwell pick-up his 1^st win of the season for the Yankees, with relief help work from Tom Gorman and Bob Kuzava. Losing Boston Starter Mickey McDermott is now at 2-3.

1954- At a Sunday doubleheader played at Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 23,909 fans watched as Philadelphia A’s Catcher Wilmer (Billy) Shantz, brother of Pitcher Bobby Shantz, hits a Grand Slam HR, the 1st HR of his MLB playing career. It comes off former A's hurler Harry Byrd, who is now with the 1954 Yankees. Shantz will hit just 1 more HR in his MLB playing career. Billy's Grand Slam HR is all the offense the A’s get as the Yankees win the game by a score of 7-4. The Yankees will hit 3 HRs in the game, by 3B Andy Carey, C Yogi Berra and RF Enos Slaughter. Byrd will pick-up his 1^st victory for the Yankees, along with Reliever Johnny Sain 2-scoreless innings, he gets his 3^rd save of the season. The nightcap ends in a 1-1 tie, after 9 innings were played. 

1958- After 6 straight home rainouts, the Yankees play their 1st home night game of the 1958 AL season against the Senators. A crowd of 18,604 fans see Yankees CF Mickey Mantle breaks a 2-2 tie in the 3^rd inning with an inside-the-park solo HR off of Nats Starter Pedro Ramos. The Bronx Bombers will roll on to a 9-5 win over the Senators. Bronx starter Bob Turleythrows a complete victory, he is now  4-0 for the season. Plus, he hits a solo HR in the 8^th inning off of Nats Reliever Bud Byerly.

1959- The Yankees would sell back veteran P Murry Dickson to the Kansas City. For the 1958 Yankees, he had posted a 1-2 record with a 5.75 ERA in 6 games. He had appeared in 2 games of the 1958 World Series against the Braves with no record. Before retiring from the MLB, he will go 2-1 with a 4.94 ERA in 38 games for the 1959 A’s. 

1964- At Cleveland’s Municipal Stadium, Tribe Starter Pedro Ramos gives up 4 HRs to Yankees batters: Tony Kubek, Mickey Mantle, Joe Pepitone and Hector Lopez, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 6-2.  Pedro Ramos would finish the 1964 AL season with the Yankees, coming to the team in a late season trade in September. He would help out Yogi Berra’s bullpen, but he was unable to play in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals, because the trade was made after August 31^stMLB Trade Deadline.

1966- At Metropolitan Stadium in Minneapolis, the Yankees (6-20) would edge the Twins by the score of 3-2. Yankee Sluggers Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle and Joe Pepitone with the game-winner in the 9th inning hit HRs for the Bronx Bombers.

1979- The Yankees had released veteran AL Golden Glove Winner Reserve OF Paul Blair, who then signs with the Reds. He had appeared in 172 games for the Yankees, often as a defensive replacement for Reggie Jackson, while hitting .223 with 2 HRs and 38 RBIs. Paul had played in 2 World Series (1977-1978) for the Yankees, while hitting .300 (4 for 12). 

1981- Seattle’s Tom Paciorek hits his 2nd game winning, bottom-of-the-9^th inning HR in as many games, a 3-run blow giving the Mariners, a 6-5 victory over the Yankees. The previous night, Paciorek had led off the 9th inning with a solo HR to give the Mariners, a 3-2 victory over the Yankees.

1984- Former Yankees 3B Chase Headley (2014-2017) was born.

Chase Headley was selected in the 2nd round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Padres. Headley was ranked #5 among Padres prospects in the Baseball America Prospect Handbook 2006, #6 in 2007 and #1 in 2008. He made his MLB Player debut with the Padres in June of 2007; but he only played 8 games in the MLB that 1st year, going 4 for 22. He played 91 games as a rookie in 2008, while hitting .269 with 9 HRs and 38 RBIs. He played mostly in LF in 2008 and 2009, before moving back to his natural position of 3B in 2010. His 1st 3 full seasons came with quite similar results, as he hit between .262 and .269 while hitting between 9 and 13 HRs. His average improved to .289 in 2011, but his power fell as he hit only 4 HRs. Headley had a breakout season in 2012. He was the NL Player of the Month for August when he hit .306, while leading the MLB with 31 RBIs and tying for 1st with 10 HRs. He also scored 20 runs during the month and slugged .611. He repeated as NL Player of the Month in September, when he hit .324, slugged, .647, hitting 9 HRs and collected 30 RBIs. He finished the season with a NL-leading 115 RBIs, to go along with 31 doubles and 31 HRs in 161 games. He also had an outstanding season with the glove, winning the NL Gold Glove Award at 3B that year. He finished 5th in the voting for the 2012 NL MVP Award voting. After his breakout season, Headley filed for salary arbitration heading into the 2013 NL season, but he was able to reach a deal with the Padres before the hearing. The 2 sides agreed on a salary of $8.575 million for 1 year, a raise of more than $5 million. On March 17th, however, he broke his thumb sliding into 2B in a spring training game and as a result was forced to miss the start of the season. The injury ushered in a fall back to earth for Headley, as his bat production fell to be more in line his previous seasons norms: he hit .250 with 35 doubles,13 HRs and 50 RBIs in 141 games. In 2014, Headley was bothered in the early season by a herniated disk in his back, which sapped his bat power. He improved after receiving an epidural injection in late June, but he was still only hitting .229 with 7 HRs and 32 RBIs in 77 games, when he was traded to the Yankees on July 22nd in return for INF Yangervis Solarte and P Rafael De Paula. With 3B Alex Rodriguez suspended for the 2014 AL season, they had struggled to find a replacement at 3B, after Rookie INF Solarte had cooled down following a strong season start. Kelly Johnson and another Rookie, Zelous Wheeler had shared the position in recent weeks, but without providing much production at the plate. Headley immediately headed to the Bronx after the trade was announced and made it in time to enter that night's game in the 9th inning; he proved to be the hero in the 14^th inning, when he drove in base runner Brian Roberts with the winning run in a 4-2 win over the Rangers. He ended up doing quite well with the Yankees, as he hit .262 with 6 HRs and 17 RBIs in 58 games; in addition to playing well on defense. The Yankees were quite pleased with his player performance. On December 15th, they would re-sign him to a 4-year player contract worth $52 million, clearly indicating that he was considered the team's 3B of the future; with the player that he had replaced, A-Rod having to earn his keep on the team as a DH. Headley will spent 3 full seasons as a starter for the Yankees from 2015 to 2017. He was used almost exclusively a 3B in the 1st 2 seasons, then he moved over to 1st base in mid-season in 2017; after the Yankees had acquired 3B Todd Frazier from the White Sox at the July 31^st MLB Deadline Trade. He did not do as well then in his 1st half-season in the Bronx, with an OPS+ of 90 and 91 in 2015 and 2016, with 11 and 14 HRs, along with 62 and 51 RBIs. In 2017, as the Yankees experienced a resurgence thanks to an influx of young players, he improved his BA to .273 with 12 HRs and 61 RBIs. Chase would get his 1st taste of the MLB Postseason in 2015, when he was 0-for-2 with a walk when the Yankees were shut out by the Astros in the ALWCS. In 2017, he went 0 for 12 in the ALDS against the Indians, and then he hit .389 (7 for 18) as the Yankees lost to the Astros in the ALCS. He was the team's primary DH in both series, as Rookie Greg Bird had taken over the 1B job. After the season on December 12th, he was traded back to the Padres along with P Bryan Mitchell in return for OF Jabari Blash. The trade came 1 day after Yankees had acquired NL All-Star Superstar Slugger Giancarlo Stanton in a trade with the Marlins; it was meant to slash team payroll to compensate for Stanton's huge MLB player contract. Headley was expected to start at 3B for the young Padres in 2018; but he quickly lost his job when Rookie Christian Villanueva had a 3-HR game in his 1st start at the position and went on to win Rookie of the Month honors in the NL. With the Padres having signed 1B Eric Hosmer to a large contract in the offseason, there was little or no playing time left for Headley on the team; he did not do much to prove his value, when he did get to play, as he was hitting just .115 with 52 at-bats in 27 games on May 12th, the day the Padres had him Designated for Assignment.

1990- At Yankee Stadium, Oakland edges the Yankees by the score of 2-1 in 11 innings. A’s LF&nbs****ey Henderson scores the 1st run of the game, by scoring from 2B on a 6-3 ground out.&nbs**** Honeycutt is the A’s winning pitcher.

1990- Former Yankees Reserve INF Jace Peterson (2018) was born.

On January 2, 2018, Reserve INF Jace Peterson was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. On April 15, 2018, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. On April 16, 2018, he was resigned as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would only appear in 3 games with the team, while hitting .300. On April 24, 2018, Jace was selected off waivers by theOrioles from the Yankees.

1997- Against the Royals in the 6th inning, the Yankees catch Royals base runner Jay Bell in a rundown, when Bell is suddenly called out by Umpire Dale Ford, who thinks he passed the preceding Royals base runner Jose Offerman. However, Offerman had been forced out at 3B. Royals' Manager Bob Boone argues until the Umpires agree and put runners back at 2B and 3B and call for a resumption of play. Chili Davis then lines a 2-run single off of Yankees Starter Kenny Rogers to tie the score. The Royals win the game by a score of 7-5 in 12 innings with the victory going to Reliever Randy Veres. The Yankees protest that the rundown play should not have been reversed. Gene Budig of AL league office will dismiss the Yankees protest, stating that with the rundown there were several scenarios, where Jay Bell could have escaped a tag.

1999 - The Yankees would defeat the Mariners by the score of 6-1. Veteran MLB Reliever Mike Stanton makes his 1st MLB Career start for the Yankees, ending his MLB Pitching record streak of 552 consecutive relief appearances prior to his 1^stMLB start. The previous MLB record was 443 games, which was set by Giants Reliever Gary Lavelle.

2002- Yankees Closer Marino Rivera saves his 225^th MLB save, setting a new Yankees franchise Pitching record for Saves.

2010- Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez tied HOF Frank Robinson for 7th place with 586 MLB Career HRs list. A-Rod’s 3rd HR of the 2010 AL season, a solo HR shot, just cleared the LF wall in the 4th inning of the Yankees game against the Red Sox on Sunday night. It cut Boston's lead over the Yankees to 6-2. The Yankees eventually lost the game by a score of 9-3, but still took the 3-game series by winning the 1st 2 games by scores of 10-3 and 14-3. Alex Rodriguez's HR was his 21st at Boston's Fenway Park, tying him with Jim Thome for the most by an active opponent. Yankees Hall of Fame Sluggers Babe Ruth and Mickey Mantle top the overall MLB Players list with 38 HRs each.

2012- The Yankees find out what it's like not to have the greatest closer in history pitching for them anymore, as his replacement, new Closer David Robertson blows a 1-0, 9th-inning lead against the Rays. He loads the bases quickly, and then he gives up a game-tying sacrifice fly to B.J. Upton and a 3-run HR to Matt Joyce as Tampa Bay wins, the game by the score of 4-1. These are the 1st runs given up by Robertson this season; he had been successful in his 1st opportunity to close in place of the injured Mariano Rivera on May 8th.

2018- The Yankees have sole possession of 1st place in the AL East with a 9-6 win over the Red Sox, for their 17th win in their last 18 games. Boston has a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the 8th, but Red Sox Relievers Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel get tagged for 4 Yankee runs, on a 2-run triple by Brett Gardner and a HR by Aaron Judge. Gardner, who was hitting just .198 coming into the game, adds a pair of doubles and scores 3 runs for the Bronx Bombers.

May 10^th

1868- Future MLB Manager, HOF Baseball and Yankees Executive Edward Barrow (1920-1946) was born. (1868-1953)

Edward Barrow worked as a journalist and soap salesman before entering the business of baseball by selling concessions at games. From there, Barrow had purchased Minor League baseball teams, also serving as Team Manager and served as President of the Atlantic League. After managing the Tigers in 1903 and 1904, returning to the Minor Leagues, Barrow became disenchanted with baseball; he left the game to operate a hotel. He returned to baseball in 1910 as the President of the Eastern League. After a 7-year tenure, Barrow managed the Red Sox from 1918-1920. He was the Manager of 1918 World Champion Red Sox. He was the MLB Manager, who decided to make Babe Ruth, an everyday player because of his great hitting ability. In 1920, Ed will leave the Red Sox to become the Yankees General Manager, who will through a series of trades with the Red Sox build the Yankees into a World Championship team. In 1931, he had signed former Cubs Manager Joe McCarthy to manage the Yankees, replacing 1930 Yankees Manager Bob Shawkey. In 1932, he hired Minor League Executive George Weiss to run the newly created Yankees Minor League system. He will be run the Yankees front office until January of 1945, when the Jacob Ruppert Estate sells the team to Co-Team Owners Del Webb, Dan Topping Sr. and Larry MacPhail, who will replace Barrow as the Yankees President.  Edward Barrow would sell his 10% stake in the team to the group. Ed remained as Chairman of the Board and an Informal Adviser. Though he had signed a 5-year contract to remain with the Yankees, he exercised a clause in his contract to free himself as of December 31,1946 in order to officially retire from MLB. In 1953, he was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame as a Baseball Executive. On April 15,1954, the Yankees dedicated a plaque to Barrow, which 1st hung on the CF Wall at Yankee Stadium, near the flagpole and the outfield monuments to Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Manager Miller Huggins. The plaques and monuments were later moved to the Stadium's Monument Park, when Yankee Stadium was being remodeled in 1973-1975.

1906- The Yankees had sold OF Ed Hahn to the White Sox. He had hit .309 in 43 games with the 1905 Yankees. Overall, Ed had appeared in 54 games for the team, while hitting No HRs and 12 RBIs in 54 games. The Yankees had just acquired veteran MLB OF Danny Hoffman from the Philadelphia A’s, making Hahn expendable.

1910- The Yankees would sell OF Clyde Engle to the Red Sox. He was the 1909 Yankees full-time LF, hitting 20 doubles with 3 HRs and 71 RBIs; while hitting .278 in 140 games. He had reported to the Yankees 1910 MLB Spring Training Camp out of shape, he would start the season slowly going 3 for 13 in 5 games.

1911- The Tigers lose their 1st home game of the 1911 AL season by a score of 6-2, as the Yankees hands Tigers Starter George Mullin his 1st loss. The Tigers have a 21-2 record and will lead the AL until July 4th.  

1913 – The Yankees would commit 8 errors, but they still end up beating the Tigers by a score of 10-9 in 10 innings. Three of the 8 errors are made by Yankees Shortstop Claud Derrick, who will field just .872 for the season. Related? In 10 days, the Yankees will deal for Indians starting Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh to stabilize their shaky infield.

1926- At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Bomber Sluggers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth hit back-to-back HRs off of Tigers Starter Sam Gibson as the Yankees outscore the Bengals by the score of 13-9. Veteran Bronx Starter Herb Pennock is the winning pitcher for the Yankees. 

1934- Lou Gehrig hits 2 HRs (including a Grand Slam HR) and a pair of doubles, tying the record with 4 long hits and drives in 7 runs, but he leaves the game after 5 innings with a severe cold. The Yankees top the White Sox by the score of 13-3. During the game, Yankees OF Ben Chapman (1930-1936) shouts racial remarks at a Jewish fan. His racist behavior will lead the Yankees to trade him in 1936 to the Senators. During the 1947 NL season, as Manager of the Phillies, he will lead the dugout bigots in protest of Dodgers Black Rookie INF Jackie Robinson.

1936- At Yankee Stadium by beating the Athletics by the score of 7-2, the Yankees would move into 1st place, where they will remain there the rest of the 1936 AL season. Rookie OF Joe DiMaggio makes his belated Yankee Stadium debut for the Bronx Bombers hitting his 1st MLB career HR off of A’s hurler George Turbeville. Lou Gehrig has 4 hits along with 2 RBIs with Yankees Pitcher Johnny Murphy in his 1st start of the 1936 AL season, picking up the victory.

1937- Yankees Starter Monte Pearson pitches a 1-hitter in stopping the White Sox by the score of 6-0. Joe DiMaggio hits his 1st 2 HRs of the 1937 AL season, while RF George Selkirk hits his 5^th HR for the Bronx Bombers. Chicago's only hit is a 1-out 1st inning single by Larry Rosenthal, who was erased on a double play.

1941- Former Yankees Minor League Manager (1982) and Outfield Instructor Ken Barry was born.

Outfielder Ken Barry had played in the MLB from 1962 to 1975 with the White Sox, Angels, Brewers and the Indians. Ken was 2-time AL Golden Glove Award winner. He was a Yankee Minor League Manager with the 1982 Class A Oneonta Yankees (NYPL). He had finished in 1^st place, but his team lost in the League play-offs. Also, he was a Minor League Outfield Instructor for the Yankees. Ken has worked for several MLB organizations; Brewers, Mets, Padres and the White Sox as a Minor League Manager and Batting Coach.

1942- The Yankees would sell Reserve OF Mike Chartak to the Senators. As a Reserve Outfielder for the 1940 and 1942 Yankees, Mike had appeared in only 16 games; while hitting only .100 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. He had joined the Yankees farm system in 1938, playing for their 2 AA teams, Newark Bears (IL) and the Kansas City Blues (AA).

1946- Before a Friday Ladies' Day crowd at Yankee Stadium of 64,183 fans, the 1st-place Red Sox win their 15th straight game, a 5-4 victory over the Yankees. Boston Reliever Earl Johnson gets the win with 4 innings of scoreless relief. A Joe DiMaggio Grand Slam HR accounts for the all of the Bombers' scoring.

1947- Former Yankees Pitcher and MLB Pitching Coach John Cumberland (1968-1970) was born.

Before the start of 1966 NL season, John Cumberland was signed by the Phillies as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. OnNovember 29,1966, he was drafted by the Yankees from the Phillies in the 1966 MLB Minor League Player Draft. He would pitch at the AAA level in the Yankees Minor League system, before being called-up by the team in September of 1968. With the 1968-1970, Yankees John went 3-4 with a 4.11 ERA in 18 games. On July 20,1970, John was traded to the Giants for veteran MLB Starter Mike McCormick. Overall, he had a MLB Pitching career record of 15-16 with a 3.82 ERA; while pitching for the Yankees, Giants, Cardinals and the Angels. Later, he would become an MLB Pitching Coach, working for the Red Sox and Royals. Also, John has worked with several MLB organizations as Manager and Pitching Coach.

1952- At Yankee Stadium, Yankees veteran RF Hank Bauer goes 5 for 6 at the plate in an 18-3 romp over Boston. He hits 2 HRs and a double, finishing the game with 6 RBIs. The Red Sox come away with a record-tying 10 assists in the 5th inning. They had chased Yankees Starter Tom Morgan for 4 hits and 3 Runs in the 1^st 2 innings of the game. Then Yankee Relievers Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald and Bob “Sarge” Kuzava shut down Boston’s batting line-up with 7 innings of scoreless relief. McDonald pitches 5 innings of relief, picking up the win, as Kuzava gets credit for the save. Red Sox Starter Mickey McDermott takes the loss by allowing 7 Yankees runs on 7 hits; he is now 1-1 for the 1952 AL season.

1953- Veteran Yankees Starter Vic Raschi makes his 1st relief appearance in 2 seasons, limiting the Red Sox to 3 hits in 4 innings, as the Yankees win the game by the score of 7-4. Red Sox INF Billy Goodman sustains a freak rib accident, which will keep him out of action for 3-weeks, it occurred when CF Jim Piersall picks him up and lugs him from the field to break up Goody's argument with AL Umpire Jim Duffy. Del Wilber hits his 2nd consecutive pinch-hit HR in the 8^th inning; his 1st HR came on May 6th.

1956- At Yankee Stadium, Indians Starter Bob Lemon gives the Tribe a 7-2 victory over the Yankees. Mickey Mantle has a solo HR in the 6^th inning for the Bronx Bombers. For Mickey Mantle, it is his 20th HR of May, a new record. Also, the Yankees All-Starter  Slugger adds a double and 2 singles, he is currently hitting .425 with 50 RBIs. 

1958- Former Yankees Minor League Coach Dave Howard was born. 

Dave Howard has Coached and Managed in the Minor Leagues. Howard began his Baseball Coaching career at his alma mater, Georgia Southern College, where he worked as an Assistant to Head Coach Jack Stallings from 1981-1986. From 1987-1994, he was the 3B Coach and Hitting Coach for the Univ. of Florida, during which the team made the College World Series twice. Then Howard moved into pro baseball with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), coaching for them from 1994-1997. In 1998, he became the Manager of the Princeton Devil Rays, leading them to the finals of the Class A Appalachian League. In 1999-2000, Dave would coach baseball for the Tampa Prep School. Then he would return to manage in the Minor Leagues from 2001-2005 with the Hudson Valley Renegades. From 2006-2008, Howard was Major League Promotions Manager with Easton Sports. In 2009, He was the Hitting Coach of the  Lynchburg Hillcats, he was entrusted with 2008 Amateur Draft 1st-Rounder Pedro Alvarez. In 2010, he was the Hitting Coach for the Class A Bradenton Marauders, then in 2011, he was with the AA West Virginia Power and the State College Spikes in 2012.

1959- At Yankee Stadium, the Bombers sweep doubleheader from the Senators, winning by scores of 6-3 and 3-2 in 10 innings. Mickey Mantle's HR in the 3rd inning of the Opener starts the Yankees scoring, as they beat Nats Starter Chuck Stobbs. Mantle singles and scores the winning run in the 10^th inning of the nightcap. Yogi Berra has a HR in the 2^nd game. Yogi sets a new MLB record for consecutive errorless games by a catcher with 148.

1965- At Fenway Park, the 9th-place Yankees lose again to Red Sox by a score of 3-2, when Carl Yastrzemski out-hits a hobbling Mickey Mantle. Yaz hits a pair of HRs and sacrifice fly, while Mantle is 3-for-4 with a HR. After Mantle doubles with 2 outs in the 9^th inning off of Rookie Starter Jim Lonborg, who is lifted. Red Sox Closer Richard “The Monster” Radatz gets the final out of the game. It is Jim Lonborg's 1st MLB Pitching career win.

1965- The Yankees had traded Reserve INF/OF Pedro Gonzalez to the Indians for 1B Ray “Buddy” Barker. The trade was made to allow veteran 1B/OF Joe Pepitone move to the OF to replace the injured RF Roger Maris, meanwhile Barker would take over at 1B. He will appear in 176 games for the 1965-1967 Yankees, while hitting just .222 with 10 HRs and 44 RBIs. In 1967, he was Mickey Mantle’s back up at 1B. In 1963, INF Pedro Gonzalez had won the James P. Dawson Award. He had appeared in 101 games for the 1963-1965 Yankees, while hitting .266 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. His best season was in 1964, when had appeared in 80 games, while hitting .277.  Also, Pedro had appeared in 1 game of the 1964 World Series for the Yankees against the Cardinals with no hits.

1966- The Yankees had purchased veteran MLB Shortstop Richard “Ducky” Schofield from the Giants for $25,000 Cash. To make room for him on the Yankees MLB 25-man team roster, the team will send Rookie P Jack Cullen down to the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL).  He would only hit .155 with No HRs and 2 RBIs in 25 games for the team. On September 10,1966, he was traded by the Yankees to the Dodgers for P Thad Tillotson and Cash. Ducky had previous played in the MLB for the Cardinals, Pirates before joining the Giants. 

1973- The 1973 Mayor’s Trophy game is played at Shea Stadium. The Mets win the game by the score of 8-4 thanks to 5 runs in 2^nd inning, sparked by Mets’ batter Felix Millan. Mets Veteran Starter George Stone held the Yankees batters scoreless for 7 innings, but he eventually gave up a Grand Slam HR to Yankees 3B Craig Nettles. Yankees Minor League Pitcher Mike Pazik takes the loss for the Bombers.

1996- Yankees Veteran MLB Starter David Cone undergoes surgery to remove an aneurysm in his right pitching arm.

2010-  On the night they pay tribute to long-time Detroit Broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who had passed away last week, the Tigers beat Yankees by the score of 5-4 with key contributions from 3 former Yankee players. Johnny Damon, who had signed as a MLB Free Agent in the off-season, hits a HR in his 1st game against his former team, while former Yankees Minor League OF Prospect Austin Jackson drives in a run and Reliever Phil Coke gets 2 key outs late in the game. Jackson and Coke were both obtained in an off-season trade for OF Curtis Granderson, who is currently on the Yankees DL.

2015- For his part, Yankees Starter Michael Pineda strikes out a MLB Pitching career-high of 16 Orioles batters in 7 innings in picking up a 6-2 victory. The 16 strikeouts are tied for 2nd-most in Yankees club pitching history, the team record being 18 was made by Ron Guidry, while the Orioles set team records for most strikeouts against 1 pitcher and most in a game, as they whiff 2 more times in the final 2 innings to end up with 18 for the game.

May 11^th

1903-  New York’s 1^st Baseman John Ganzel hits the 1st Highlanders HR, as they defeat the Tigers by a score of 8-2. Also, his teammate, Shortstop William “Wild” Conroy hit a HR for the Highlanders in the game.

1919- At the Polo Grounds, Senators Starter Walter Johnson pitched a 12 scoreless innings in a duel with Yankees Veteran Starter Jack Quinn. Johnson had allowed only 2 Yankee hits as he retired 28 Bronx batters in a row. Future NFL Chicago Bears Owner Rookie OF George Halas, batting leadoff for the Yankees, went 0-for-5, while striking out twice.

1928- Former Yankees Minor League Player and MLB Pitching Coach Mel Wright (1974-1975) was born. (1928-1983)

Before the start of the 1950 AL season, the Yankees had signed P Mel Wright as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had pitched in the Yankees Minor League system from 1950 to 1953, while compiling a 50-26 pitching record. On April 11,1954, Mel was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Players INF Emil Tellinger and OF Bill Virdon to the Cardinals for veteran OF Enos Slaughter. He would pitch for the 1954-1955 Cardinals and the 1960-1961 Cubs finishing his MLB pitching career with a 2-4 record with a 7.61 ERA in 58 games. He would return to the Yankees in 1974 as their new Yankees Manager Bill Virdon’s MLB Pitching Coach. Mel was Bill Virdon’s MLB Pitching Coach on several NL teams that he managed.

1937- The Yankees had sold Veteran OF Roy Johnson to the Boston Bees (aka the Braves). On January 17,1936, Roy was traded by the Senators along with P Bump Hadley to the  Yankees for P Jimmie DeShong and OF Jesse Hill. In 1936, Johnson had hit .265 with 1 HR and 19 RBIs in 63 games. For the 1937 AL season, after 51 at bats, he was hitting .294 with No HRs and 6 RBIs for the team. He became expendable with the arrival of Yankees Rookie OF Tommy Henrich, who the team had called up from their AA team, the Newark Bears (IL). He would take Johnson’s spot on the 25-man MLB team roster.

1946- At Yankee Stadium, Bronx Starter Tiny Bonham puts the brakes on the Boston’s 15-game winning streak with a 2-0 complete game shutout. He allows only 2 Boston hits, while striking 4 Red Sox batters. Boston hurler Tex Hughson takes the loss. Yankees OF Tommy Henrich leads the Yankees hitting attack with a double and a HR for the Yankees scoring.

1954- The Yankees had sold Reserve INF Jim Brideweser (1951-1953) to the Orioles. He had been placed on suspension by Yankees GM George Weiss for reusing to report to their AAA club, the Kansas City Blues (AA) for the 1954 season. In 1950, the Yankees had signed Jim Brideweser as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Jim had played college baseball at USC. He couldn’t break into the Yankee starting infield. Jim had appeared in only 57 games for the 1951-1953 Yankees, while hitting .327 with No HRs and 5 RBIs.

1955- The Yankees made several player moves to get down to the MLB 25-Man Roster limit. First, the Yankees had obtained Reliever Sonny Dixon from Kansas City for veteran OF Enos “Country” Slaughter and P Johnny Sain. Slaughter would return to the Yankees in August of 1956; his 1st stay was a major disappointment by hitting only .248 with 1 HR and 19 RBIs in 69 games. Johnny Sain was at the end of his fine MLB Pitching career that had started with the Braves in the late 1940’s. As a Yankee Pitcher, he had posted a 33-20 record with a 3.31 ERA and 41 saves in 130 games. Reliever Sonny Dixon would appear in 3 games for the 1956 Yankees, going 0-1 with a 2.08 ERA before leaving the MLB. He had previously pitched in the MLB for the Senators and the A’s. Then team would option P Don Larsen to the AAA Denver Bears (AA), where he would go 9-1 before being recalled by the team in late July. Next, the Yankees would sell P Art Schallock to the Orioles for Cash. On July 12,1951, Art was traded by the Dodgers to the Yankees for 2 Minor League Players: Bob Landeck, C Eddie Malone and Cash. Art would post a 3-2 record with 3.90 ERA and 1 save in 28 games for the 1951-1954 Yankees.

 1958- Former Yankees Pitcher Walt Terrell (1989) was born.

On July 22,1989, Starter Walt Terrell was traded by the Padres along with a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for INF Mike Pagliarulo and P Don Schulze. The Padres would send former Yankees Minor League P Freddie Toliver on September 27,1989 to the Bronx to complete the trade. He never makes an appearance with the Yankees. Walt had posted a 6-5 record with a 5.20 ERA in 13 games for the 1989 Yankees. On November 13,1989, Walt was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He would be signed by the Pirates for the 1990 NL season.

1961- At Kansas City’s Municipal Stadium, a crowd of 15,986 fans watch their team lose to the visiting Yankees by the score of 9-4. Yankees new Veteran AL Reliever Tex Clevenger picks up the win in relief of Starter Ralph Terry. Kansas City Starter Bud Daley takes the loss for the A’s by allowing 8 Yankee hits and 7 runs. He is now 3-4 for the 1961 AL season. On June 14,1961, Bud will be traded by KC to the Yankees.

1979- The Yankees had purchased veteran MLB lefty hurler Jim Kaat from the Phillies. He would help out in the Yankees bullpen. He would post a 2-3 record with a 3.86 ERA and 2 saves in 40 games for the team before being sold to the Cardinals in 1980.

1981-Former Yankees Reserve OF Sammy “Babe Ruth’s legs” Byrd (1929-1934) passed away. (1906-1981)

Outfielder Sammy Byrd was often used as Babe Ruth’s late inning defensive Outfield replacement, earning him the nickname of “Babe Ruth’s legs.” He had appeared in 565 games for the Bombers, while hitting .281 with 27 HRs and 155 RBIs. Sam had played in 1 game of the 1932 World Series for the Yankees against the Cubs with no hits. On December 19,1934, he was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees. He would play for the Reds for 2 seasons, before he retiring from the MLB. Overall, as an MLB Player Sammy ended his playing career with a .274 BA with 38 HRs and 220 RBIs in 745 games. He later would become a Pro Golfer, who won 23 PGA Pro events during his PGA Golfing career (1942-1946).

1990- MLB All-Star OF Dave Winfield rejected a trade that would have sent him from the Yankees to the Angels in exchange for Veteran MLB Starter Mike Witt. A no-trade clause in Winfield's MLB player contract gave him the right to turn down the deal. Five days later, Winfield will reach an agreement with the Yankees Front Office and give his permission to let the trade to take place. On May 16,1990, the trade would be finalized by the 2 teams.

2006- Yankees LF Hideki Matsui broke his left wrist and his consecutive-games streak ended in the Red Sox 5-3 victory at Yankee Stadium. Going back to his days in Nippon Pro Baseball, when he had appeared in 1,768 consecutive games. Matsui had played in 518 consecutive games (a record for the start of an MLB career) since joining the Yankees in 2003, after playing in 1,250 straight for the Yomiuri Giants from August 22,1993 through 2002 season.

2020- Former Yankees Pitcher Larry Gowell (1972) passed away. (1948-2020)

The Yankees in the 4th round of the 1967 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected P Larry Gowell. He went 0-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 2 games for the 1972 Yankees. On October 4,1972, Gowell had hit a double off of Brewers P Jim Lonborg for his 1st and only MLB hit and the last hit by a pitcher in a regular season AL game before the start of the DH rule in April of 1973. The baseball Gowell hit was accepted as a historical baseball into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY, where it now resides. He would pitch in the Yankees organization until 1974. In 1975, he pitched in the Mexican League for 1 season before retiring the game. 

This Week in Yankees History May 8th-14th Part Three

May 13^th

1914- On May 13,1914, the Yankees had acquired C/1B Les Nunamaker for Cash from the Red Sox. He would be the Yankees main Catcher until the 1918 AL season, when he was traded in the Urban Shocker trade to the St. Louis Browns. His best Yankees player season was in 1916, when Les would hit .296 in 91 games for the Yankees. As a Yankees player, Les had appeared in 396 games, while hitting .262 with 2 HRs and 107 RBIs. 

1929- At Cleveland's League Park, the Indians defeated the Yankees by a score of 4-3 in the 1st game in MLB history in which players from both teams wear numbers on the back of their jerseys.

1929- Former Yankees and MLB Manager George Stallings (1909-1910) passed away. (1867-1929)

George Stallings had reached the MLB as a player in 1890, going hitless in 4 games with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms. He was soon back in the Minor Leagues and began his managing career with the Augusta Electricians (SL) in 1893. Also, from 1893-1896, he was the Head Baseball Coach at Mercer Univ.. In 1897, he would become the Phillies Manager, also appeared in 2 games as the club finished in 10th place in the NL. He would play in 1 game with the team the next summer, but he was replaced by Bill Shettsline at the helm on June 18th. Stallings had led the Tigers to a 3rd place finish in 1901. Then he would find success with the AA Buffalo Bisons, leading the club to 2 Eastern League titles. He took over the job as Yankees Manager for the 1909 AL season. The 1909 Yankees had finished in 5^th place with a 74-77 record. With the 1910 Highlanders, the team was in 2nd place late in the season, before he resigned on September 21st. Stallings had a disagreement with Yankees Co-Team Owners Farrell and Devery over 1B Hal Chase’s play. He strongly felt that that Chase was trying to throw games and gambling on them as well. Ironically, Stallings was replaced by the team’s Co-Team Owners with 1B Hal Chase. Overall, George Stallings Yankees Manager record was 153-138. After 2 more seasons back with Buffalo, Stallings became Manager of the Boston Braves in 1913. He took the club from last place to a NL pennant the next summer. “The Miracle Braves”, as the 1914 squad was known, were in last place for much of the 1st part of the season and as late as July 18th. On August 4th, they had climbed to 4th place, but they didn't reach 1st until August 25th. They dropped back into 2nd, but by September 5th, they were atop the NL standings for good. They went on to sweep the Athletics in the 1914 World Series. Under Stallings' leadership, the Braves would finish in 2^nd place in 1915, he would continue to manage the team through the 1920 NL season. In 1959, Stallings was elected to the International League Hall of Fame. 

1943- Former Yankees Pitcher Pat Malone (1935-1937) passed away. (1902-1943)

After the 1934 NL campaign had ended, veteran Starter Pat Malone was traded by the Cubs to the Cardinals. However, he immediately clashed with Cardinals GM Branch Rickey over his MLB player salary; before the start of the 1935 AL season, he was sold to the Yankees for $15,000 Cash. With the Cubs, Pat had posted a 115-79 record with a 3.57 ERA in 265 games. He had won 22 games in 1929 and 20 games in 1930. Unable to crack a Yankees starting rotation that included Lefty Gomezand Red Ruffing, he was moved to the Yankees bullpen, where he found success in 1936. That season, he would win 12 games. Pat had led the AL Relievers with 9 saves. Playing in the 3rd World Series of his MLB Pitching career that fall, he would earn a save in Game #3, but then he took the loss in Game #5. Nonetheless, the Yankees had defeated their cross-town NL rivals, the Giants in 6 games. He had appeared in 92 games with the Yankees, while posting a 19-13 record with a 4.97 ERA and 18 saves before being released by the team in January of 1938.

1946- The Yankees use air transport for travel as an MLB team for 1^st time. They would lease a plane from United Airlines, nickname it “Yankee Mainliner.” Despite the advantages of flying, 4 Yankee players, including Pitcher Red Ruffing, still chose to take the train.

1947- Three Yankee batters Charlie Keller, Joe DiMaggio and Johnny Lindell would hit consecutive HRs in 6^th inning off of St. Louis Browns Starter Fred Sanford to lead the Bronx Bombers to a 9-1 victory.

1948- The Yankees had obtained OF Leon Culberson and $20,000 in Cash from the Senators for OF Bud Stewart. On May 15,1948, the Yankees would option Leon to their AAA team, the Kansas City Blues (AA), where he would hit .259 in 83 games.

1950- “Ed Barrow Day” is staged at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees honor their long-time Team President (1939-1945) and General Manager (1920-1945), who had run the Yankees Front office. He had created a farm system that allowed the team to dominate the AL. Also, he would engineer the famous trades that would make the team dominate in the MLB from 1920’s to 1940’s.

1950- Former Yankees OF Juan Beniquez (1979) was born.

On November 10,1978, OF Juan Beniquez was traded by the Rangers along with Minor League Players: OF Greg Jemison, Pitchers Mike Griffin, Paul Mirabella and Dave Righetti to the Yankees for Reserve Catcher Mike Heath, Pitchers Sparky Lyle, Larry McCall, Dave Rajsich, Reserve INF Domingo Ramos and Cash. While battling with injures, Juan would appear in only 62 games for the Yankees, hitting .254 with 4 HRs and 17 RBIs. On November 1,1979, Juan was traded by the Yankees along with Pitchers Rick Anderson and Jim Beattie, Reserve Catcher Jerry Narron to the Mariners for OF Ruppert Jones and P Jim Lewis. 

1953- The Yankees would waive veteran Pitcher Johnny Schmitz to the Senators. With the 1952-1953 Yankees, Johnny had posted 1-1 record with a 3.26 ERA and 1 save in 8 games before joining the Nats. On August 1,1952, the Yankees had purchased Johnny Schmitz from Dodgers. On August 28,1952, the Yankees would trade Johnny as part of player package to the Reds in the Ewell Blackwell trade. On February 16,1953, the Yankees would purchase Schmitz from the Reds. He had posted a 1-0 record in 3 games with the 1952 Reds. For the 1953 Yankees, he had a 0-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in 3 games.

1955- At Yankee Stadium, Mickey Mantle would hit HR’s from both sides of the plate for the 1st time in his MLB playing career. The Yankees Slugger would finish the game with 3 HR’s - 2 left-handed and 1 right-handed - and drove in all of his team's runs in a 5-2 victory over the Tigers. Whitey Ford was the winning pitcher, while Steve Gromek was the loser for the Tigers.

1965- Former Yankees Pitcher Jose Rijo (1984) was born.

Rookie Pitcher Jose Rijo had posted a 2-8 record with a 4.76 ERA and 2 saves in 24 games for the 1984 Yankees. The team had rush him up to the MLB to match the Mets young Rookie Pitcher Doc Gooden. In December of 1984, the Yankees would trade him to Oakland in the Rickey Henderson trade. He would later find success in the MLB, while pitching for the Reds.

1969- Former Yankees Minor League OF Lyle Mouton was born.

On June 3,1991, OF Lyle Mouton was selected by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1991 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Lyle never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On April 22,1995, Lyle was sent by the Yankees to the White Sox to complete an earlier deal made on December 14,1994. The Yankees had sent a Player to be Named Later and Keith Heberling (Minors) to the White Sox for veteran MLB Starter Jack McDowell.

1974- The Yankees had sold veteran 1B Mike Hegan to the Brewers. On August 18,1973, Mike had been acquired by the Yankees from Oakland. He would share the Yankees 1B job with veteran Matty Alou. With the arrival of 1B Chris Chambliss from the Indians on April 27^th, Mike had been sharing the 1B job with veteran INF Bill Sudakis. He had played in 18 games for the 1974 Yankees, while hitting .226 with 2 HRs and 9 RBIs. He would ask the Yankees front office for a trade to the Brewers, Tigers or the Red Sox. With the Brewers, he would become their Reserve 1B for AL All-Star Veteran 1B George Scott.

1977- Yankees Starter Ed Figueroa wins his 4^th straight complete game, beating his former teammates the Angels by score of 3-0. Yankees Catcher Thurman Munson hit his 7^th HR of the 1977 AL season.

1984- Former Yankees Minor League Pitcher J. Brent Cox was born.

The Yankees had selected Reliever P J.  Brent Cox in the 2nd round of the 2005 MLB Amateur Player Draft, a pick that was compensation for the loss of P Orlando Hernández to MLB Free Agency. He had signed for a $550,000 bonus. At the Univ. of Texas, he was the set-up man for Closer Houston Street. Debuting professionally in High Class A, Cox was 1-2 with a 2.60 ERA in 16 games for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), striking out 27 batters in 28 IP and allowing a .206 average. Cox had another fine season in 2006, going 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA and 3 saves in 41 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). He would allow a .196 average. Baseball America rated him as having the best slider in the Yankee system and being the team's 8th-best prospect. Cox had struck out 7 batters in 7 innings for Team USA in the American Qualifiers for the 2008 Olympics (held in 2006), allowing 4 runs and having no decisions or saves. He pitched scoreless ball against Brazil (2 IP, 3 H), Venezuela (1 2/3 IP) and Nicaragua (2 IP). He had struggled, though, against Cuba in the finale. Relieving Kevin Slowey with a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the 6^th inning, Cox was charged with 2 runs in that inning and 2 more in the 7^th inning (though Jeff Ridgeway was on the hill, when both runners scored) as Cuba tied it. In March of 2007, Cox had elbow surgery; he did not pitch a game that season. In 2009, he would appear in 12 games for AAA Scranton (IL) and 5 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). In 2010, he would play his last season in pro baseball, splitting time between 2 teams: AA Trenton (EL) and Class A Tampa (FSL).

1987- Former Yankees Pitcher D. J. Mitchell (2012) was born.

D.J. Mitchell had played baseball and basketball in high school. He was 3-time All-Conference in baseball. Going on to Clemson Univ., he would hit .289 as a backup RF. He stole 8 bases in 11 tries. He started all 3 games of the 2006 College World Series. Mitchell would help the Thomasville HiToms win the Coastal Plain League title that summer. He had scored 15 runs in 21 games; he had a 2.25 ERA as a reliever. In the championship game, he got the start on the hill and won, allowing 1 run and 2 hits in 5 innings. In 2007, D.J. struggled as a part-time outfielder with a .208 BA, 8 steals in 11 tries again) but he did well on the mound (5-0, 3.27 ERA) signaling a switch of positions. With the Bourne Braves that summer, he had a 1-2 record with a 1.47 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 49 innings. He would lead the prestigious Cape Cod League in strikeouts and was 4th in ERA. On the league All-Star team, he him as the loop's #22 prospect between Brett Jacobson and Jason Castro. As a Junior in 2008, he would post a 6-5 record with a 3.47 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 20 appearances. It was the highest strikeout total by a Clemson hurler since Kris Benson 12 years prior. Mitchell made 1st-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. The Yankees in the 10th round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected D. J. Mitchell. He was signed by the team for a $450,000 bonus,but he did not play professionally that season due to a muscle strain. He made his pro debut the following summer with the Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), going 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA in 6 starts before being transferred to the High Class A Tampa Yankees(FSL) in May. With Tampa for the remainder of the season, he went 8-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 19 games for the team. He had tied Lance Pendleton for 2nd in the Yankees chain in wins (behind David Phelps), Mitchell was 2nd in strikeouts (125, behind Pendleton) and he was 4th in ERA. He helped Class A Tampa Yankees win the FSL title. Mitchell spent most of the 2010season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while posting a 11-4 record with a 4.06 ERA. In August, he was promoted to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL) for whom, he was 2-0 with a 3.57 ERA in 3 late-season starts. He had allowed 3 earned runs in 5 innings in an IL postseason start with Scranton, he got a no-decision. He was back with Scranton for the entire next season, going 13-9 with a 3.18 ERA in 28 games. He led the 2011 International League with 2 shutouts and tied Zach McAllister for the league lead with 3 complete games. He also was 2nd in the IL in wins and 5th in ERA. He led Yankee farmhands in wins and was 3rd in ERA. He was named the 2011 Yankees Minor League Pitcher of the Year. After making 4 starts AAA Scranton to begin the 2012 season (2-1 record with a 3.13 ERA), when he was called up to the Yankees in late April to replace Reliever Cody Eppley. He made his MLB Pitching debut on May 1st, facing the Orioles, entering with a 7-1 deficit in the 9^th inning. He began by striking out J.J. Hardy. Nick Markakis singled but Mitchell got Adam Jones to hit into a force out. Matt Wieters singled, but he was out trying for a double to end Mitchell's scoreless inning of relief. After 1 more appearance 2 days later, he was sent back down to Scranton to clear an MLB roster spot for Reserve OF Dewayne Wise. On July 23, 2012, Mitchell was traded along with Minor League P Danny Farquhar to the Mariners for veteran AL All-Star OF Ichiro Suzuki.

1991- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher John Ryan Murphy (2013-2015) was born. 

In 2009, Catcher John Ryan Murphy was the 2nd-team HS All-American Catcher according to Baseball America behind Bryce Harper. The Yankees had selected him 76th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft; the pick was compensation for failing to sign Scott Bittle the year before. He was the Yankees 2nd selection, following OF Slade Heathcott. He turned down a scholarship to the Univ. of Miami, signed late. Murphy played in just 9 games for the GCL Yankees (11 for 33, 2 BB, 1 HR, 3 BB). He would hit .255 for the 2010 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), fielding .973 with 13 passed balls in 53 games, while throwing out 23% of attempted base-stealers. He did come up with a big day August 13th against the Hickory Crawdads, with a Grand Slam HR, a 3-run HR and 2 more RBIs to fall 1 RBI shy of the South Atlantic League single-game record. Backing up fellow Catching prospectGary Sanchez for Charleston in 2011, he fared better, hitting .297 in 63 Games. He moved up to the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) hitting .259 in 23 Games. He had hit 29 doubles in 341 at-bats that season. In 2012, he would play for Class A Tampa (FSL) hitting .257 in 67 Games, he moved up to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while batting .231 in 43 Games. He had 11 errors, 13 passed balls and threw out 32% of attempted base-stealers. He was 6 for 26 with 2 HRS and 4 RBIs for Trenton in the Eastern League playoffs. J.R. would open the 2013 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), hitting .268 in 49 Games. Then he was moved up to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL) hitting .270 with 12 HRs and 29 doubles in 59 Games. He was a September call-up to the Bronx. In his MLB Player debut was on September 2nd, when he pinch-hit for 2B Robinson Cano in the bottom of the 8th of a 9-1 blowout of the White Sox. Murphy singled off of Dave Purcy, then he exited the game in the top of the 9th. He would hit .154 in 16 games in his 1st taste of the MLB action. He started the 2014 season back in the Minors (5 for 26, 3 2B for Scranton,) but J.R. was soon called up to the Bronx to back up newly signed C Brian McCann, when Reserve Catcher Francisco Cervelli went on the DL. He hit his 1st MLB career HR on April 26th, connecting off of Angels P Hector Santiago in the 5th inning; after having hit a 2-run single in the 2nd. His offensive heroics were key to a 4-3 win. He ended playing in 32 games for the 2014 Yankees, while hitting .284 with 1 HR and 9 RBIs. In 2015, John Ryan began the season as the Reserve for starting Catcher Brian McCann, following Cervelli's trade to the Pirates in the off-season. On July 25th, his 1st HR of the 2015 AL season was a dramatic one against the Twins. The Yankees had fallen into an early 5-0 hole, but 3 HRs by Alex Rodriguez, including a solo HR in the 9^th that had tied the score at 5-5. Facing AL All-Star Closer Glen Perkins later that inning, he hit a 3-run HR shot that gave the Yankees an 8-5 win. He would play in 67 games for the 2015 Yankees, while hitting .277 with 3 HRs and 14 RBIs, showing that he was ready to step into an MLB Catcher starting job. However, this was not to come with the Yankees, with veteran MLB Catcher Brian McCann having signed to a long-term MLB Player contract and with another young Catcher waiting in the wings in Gary Sanchez. After the 2015 AL season, the Yankees would trade Murphy to the Twins for OF Aaron Hicks. In 2016, Ryan would only played in 26 MLB games for the Twins, hitting just .146 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs, before being sent down to AAA. During the 2017 AL season, the Twins had traded him to the Diamondbacks for a Minor League player. On April 30, 2019, John became Yankees veteran Starter CC Sabathia 3,000 MLB career strike out victim in a game between the D-Backs and the Yankees.

1996- Former Yankees Pitcher Justus Sheffield (2018) was born.

Pitcher Justus Sheffield was selected by the Indians in 2014 MLB Amateur Player Draft (the pick was compensation for the loss of Ubaldo Jimenez). He is the Nephew of former Yankees OF/DH Gary Sheffield and Brother of 2013 draftee Jordan Sheffield. In the 2013 World Junior Championship, he was roughed up in starts against Cuba and Taiwan but the US rallied to win both en route to the Gold. He won the 2014 Gatorade Player of the Year after going 10-0 with a 0.34 ERA and 131 K in 61 2/3 IP. Gary Sheffield won the 1st such honor in 1986. Sheffield began his pro career at 18 years old, going 3-1 with 29 strikeouts and a 4.87 ERA in 20 1/3 innings for the AZL Indians in 2014. On January 20, 2015, he was arrested for aggravated burglary and underage drinking. That did not affect his season, however, as he pitched for the Lake County Captains that season and went 9-4 with a 3.31 ERA in 26 starts; he had 138 strikeouts in 127 2/3 innings and earned Midwest League Mid-Season All-Star and MiLB.com Organization All-Star selections. Going into the year, he had been ranked the #4 prospect in the Indians system by Baseball America. Going into 2016, he was ranked the #4 prospect in the Indians system and the #81 prospect in all of baseball by BA. He began the season with the Lynchburg Hillcats. In 19 starts, he went 7-5 with a 3.59 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings. On July 31st, he was traded to the Yankees along with Tribe Prospects: OF Clint Frazier, Pitchers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller in return for veteran MLB Closer Andrew Miller. He would finish the 2016 Minor League season with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), pitching in 5 games, while posting a 3-1 record with a 1.73 ERA. He had started the 2017 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL.) He was with the 2018 AAA Scranton (IL). With the 2018 Yankees, he would work out of the bullpen, when he was called up to the Bronx. He had appeared in 10 games with a 0-0 record with a 10.13 ERA in 3 games. On November 19, 2018, Sheffield was traded along with 2 Minor League Players: OF Dom Thompson-Williams and P Erik Swanson for Mariners MLB Starter James Paxton.

2012- The Mariners beat the Yankees by the score of 6-2 in Andy Pettitte's return to Yankees pinstripes, after a 1-year retirement from the game. Mariner batters Justin Smoak and Casper Wells hit HRs against Pettitte; veteran MLB Starter Kevin Millwood picks up his 1st win for Seattle. Wells is a dutiful son on Mother's Day, hitting his long ball after his Mom, who drove all the way from Schenectady, NY to the Big Apple to attend the game, asked him to hit a HR to make it memorable.

2016- Former Yankees MLB Pitching Coach (1982-1984,1986) and MLB Pitcher Sammy Ellis passed away. (1941-2016) 

After playing college baseball at Mississippi State Univ. (MSU) for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, Sammy Ellis was signed by the Reds an MLB Amateur Free Agent in 1961. At Mississippi State, he had lettered 1 year (1961) with a pitching record of 12–7, leading the team in strikeouts (73) and innings pitched (57 2/3). He was named to MSU's Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012. Ellis made his MLB Pitching debut at the start of the 1962 NL season. His 1^st MLB appearance was on April 14,1962, in which he lost.  His 1st MLB victory came 10 days later on April 24th, when he walked 11 batters, but he only allowed 1 hit. After spending part of the 1962 and all of the 1963 season in the Minors, Ellis rejoined the MLB club in 1964 as a Reliever. He would finish the season with a 10–3 record along with a 2.57 ERA; he had pitched in 52 games and threw fewer walks in those 52 games (28) than he did in 1962 in 8 games (29). Ellis had an excellent season in 1964, as the Reds' top Relief Pitcher, by saving 14 games, while posting a 10-3 record and a 125/28 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He was moved to the Reds starting rotation in 1965. He made the 1965 NL All-Star team, winning 22 games, while striking out 183 NL batters. Only 24 at the time, he seemed to have a great future ahead of him, but after a 12-19 season in 1966, he had developed pitching arm problems, Sammy was out of MLB baseball by mid-1969. He had pitched for the Reds, Angels and the White Sox. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, Sammy had posted a 63-58 record with a 4.15 ERA in 229 games. Ellis, later became a successful Pitching Coach for a number of MLB teams in the 1980s and 1990s. He was a Yankees MLB Pitching Coach in 1982, from 1983 to 1984 and again in 1986. He was then a roving Minor League Pitching Coach for the 1987 White Sox. Sammy was on the White Sox MLB Coaching staff from 1989 to 1991; then he spent the 1992 NL season across town as the Cubs MLB Pitching Coach. He was later a member of the Mariners MLB Coaching staff in 1993-1994, then with the 1996 Red Sox MLB Coaching staff and the 2000 Orioles MLB Coaching staff.

May 14^th

1899- Future Yankees HOF CF Earle “The Kentucky Colonel” Combs (1924-1935) was born. (1899-1976)

In 1923, OF Earl Combs hit .380 for the AA Louisville Colonels (AA). He had his Minor League player contract purchased by the Yankees prior to the start of the 1924 AL season for $50,000 cash, a huge sum at the time. Earl was a lifetime MLB .325 hitter for the Yankees. He was the leadoff hitter for the Yankees, the 1^st player to wear Yankees Uniform #1. Combs' best season came with the 1927 Yankees, when he hit .356, while scored 137 runs and led the AL with 231 hits. In 1934, Combs suffered a serious injury that could have cost him his life, fracturing his skull after running into the outfield wall at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. He was carried unconscious from the field. He remained in the hospital for 2 months afterwards, but he miraculously returned to the playing field in 1935. However, his MLB player career was shortly thereafter ended by another injury, this time with a broken collarbone. He had batted .340 in 4 World Series with the Yankees, 8^th highest in MLB history. He was the 1^st of the great Yankee Centerfielders. After he stopped playing, Earl became a Yankees MLB Coach (1936-1944). He taught Rookie OF Joe DiMaggio, how to play centerfield at Yankee Stadium. Earl Combs became a member of the 1947 St. Louis Browns MLB Coaching staff. Later he would coach for the 1948-1952 Red Sox for Former Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy. He would spend the 1954 NL season with the Phillies MLB Coaching Staff. In 1970, Earle was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame 

1913- Former Yankees Minor League P Johnny Babich was born. (1913-2001).

Pitcher Johnny Babich grew up in the San Francisco area. In 1931, he began his pro baseball career with the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). In 1933, Johnny was traded by the Seals to the cross-town Missions (PCL); where he went on to win 20 games. He would win 10 games during the 1934 PCL season before being acquired by the Dodgers, where he went 7-11 as an MLB Rookie hurler. After posting a 6.66 ERA for the 1935 Dodgers, he was sent back down to the Minors. Babich spent most of the 1935 season pitching in the PCL; he did play in 3 games for the Boston Bees (aka the Braves). After going 19-17 with a 3.27 ERA for the 1938 AA Hollywood Stars (PCL), he was acquired by the Yankees, who sent him to their Minor League AA team, the Kansas City Blues (AA). One year later, he was selected by Philadelphia Athletics in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. With the 1940 A’s, he had posted a 14-13 record with a 3.73 ERA. Johnny had a 5-0 record against the 1940 Yankees. He would play 1 more season in the MLB, going 2-7 for the 1941 A’s. Following his MLB Pitching career, Babich would manage in the Minor Leagues; he continued to pitch as well. He would lead the 1947 Stockton Ports to a California League title, while going 5-2 on the mound. 

1917- Former Yankees Minor League OF Bob Thurman was born. (1917-1998)

Outfielder Bob Thurman was a star player in the Negro Leagues and in the Winter Baseball Leagues. On July 29,1949, it was announced that the Yankees had purchased his player contract from the Kansas City Monarchs (Negro Leagues). He was assigned to the AA Newark Bears (IL), where he hit 3 HRs in his 1st week. For the rest of the 1950 International League season, he would hit .317 for the Bears in 59 games, before a hand injury had sidelined him. The Yankees would send him to the Cubs that winter. Bob would reach the MLB with the 1955 Reds. After his MLB playing career had ended, Bob would join the Twins as an MLB Scout. Later, he would scout for the Reds and the Royals as well as working for the MLB Scouting Bureau.

1931- Former Yankees Pitcher Eustance “Doc” Newton (1905-1909) was passed away. (1877-1931)

On October 4,1904, P Doc Newton was drafted by the Highlanders from the AA Los Angeles (PCL) in the 1904 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He had previously pitched in the NL for the Reds and Dodgers from 1900 to 1902. He had jumped from the Dodgers in 1902 to pitch in the PCL with the AA Los Angeles (PCL). With the 1905-1909 Yankees, Doc will post a 20-25 record with a 2.96 ERA with 1 save in 78 games. 

1934- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Lou Criger (1910) passed away. (1872-1934)

On December 16,1909, veteran Catcher Lou Criger was traded by the St. Louis Browns to the Yankees for OF Ray Demmittand P Joe Lake. Lou only appeared in 27 games as a Reserve Catcher for the team, hitting just .188 for the Yankees. In 1911, he will go back to the Browns to finish out his MLB playing career. He would play a few more seasons in the Minor Leagues after that, including a stint as Player-Manager for Boyne City (MSL) in 1911. He was then the 1912 St. Louis Browns MLB Pitching Coach, catching 1 game as an emergency injury replacement. In 1914, he had developed Tuberculosis, then he would move to Arizona, where he died in 1934.

1937- Former Yankees INF (1967-1968), MLB Coach (1968-1978) and Manager (1980) Richard Howser was born. (1937-1987) 

Infielder Richard Howser was signed by the Kansas City A’s, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1961, A’s Shortstop Richard Howser was a Topps All-Star Team Rookie. Also, he was named to the 1961 AL All-Star team as a member of the A’s. Later, he would play for the Indians, before joining the Yankees in 1966. On December 20,1966, Howser was traded by the Indiansto the Yankees for Minor League P Gil Downs and Cash. As a Yankees player, Howser would appear in 148 games, while hitting .211 with No HRs and 13 RBIs. Overall, as an MLB player, he had played in 789 games, while hitting .248 with 16 HRs and 165 RBIs. Richard Howser finished his MLB playing career with the Yankees in 1968, becoming an MLB Coach for the team. He was the 1st player from Florida State Univ. to come to the MLB. Howser returned to FSU as Head Baseball Coach in 1979, before the Yankees brought him back to the Bronx as their MLB Manager the next year. He would manage the Yankees in 1980, taking the team to a 103-59 record before losing to the Royals in AL Title Playoffs. He would later manage the Royals, going to the 1985 World Series winning the World Championship, before he passed away from Brain Cancer in 1987.

1947- Former Yankees Pitcher Richard “Dirt” Tidrow (1974-1979) was born. (1947-2021)

On January 28,1967, Pitcher Richard Tidrow was drafted by the Indians in the 4th round of the 1967 MLB Amateur Player Draft (January Secondary). He would pitch for the Tribe from 1972 to April 1974. As an Indians starter, he had posted a 29-34 record with a 3.78 ERA in 85 games. On April 26,1974, Richard “Dirt” Tidrow came over to the Yankees from the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade. With the Yankees, he became the Set-Up Man for Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle. After pitching effectively in relief for several seasons, he returned to the starting rotation in 1978, following injuries to veteran Bronx Starters Catfish Hunter and Don Gullett as he went 7-11 with a 3.84 ERA in 31 games for the team. As a Yankees Pitcher, he had posted a 40-33 record with a 3.61 ERA and 23 saves in 211 games, before being traded to Cubs for P Ray Burris during the 1979 AL season. He would finish with an MLB Pitching career with a record of 100-94 with a 3.68 ERA and 55 saves in 620 games. Tidrow had pitched in the MLB for the Indians, Yankees, Cubs, White Sox and the Mets. “Dirt” appeared in 2 World Series with the Yankees, pitching in 4 games with no record. In the AL Post Season, he went 1-0 in 8 games for the Yankees. Since his MLB Pitching career ended in 1984, Tidrow has been an MLB Scout for the Yankees. Since 1994, he has worked in the front office for the Giants. Tidrow was a Special Assistant to the GM in 1996. Tidrow was the Giants Farm Director from 1997 to 2005. In 2012, he is the "Vice President, Player Personnel,” a job he has held since at least 2008.

1948- Former Yankees Reliever Dave LaRoche (1981-1983) was born.

The Yankees had signed Veteran Reliever Dave La Roche as an MLB Free Agent. He went 8-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 72 games with no saves for the 1981-1983 Yankees. Dave was known for his unique pitch called the "LaLob". He is one of the last MLB Pitchers to use an eephus pitch, which he utilized as an "out pitch" late in his career. His eephus pitch was thrown overhand, but it would arc as high as 20 feet on its way to home plate. He later became a Minor League Pitching Coach for the Yankees, Mets and the Royals Minor League systems. His son, Adam  would play in the MLB.

1951- The Yankees had obtained 1B Don Bollweg and $15,000 Cash from the Cardinals for veteran INF Billy “The Bull” Johnson. He had been with Yankees since 1943. He had missed playing time in 1944-1945 due to wartime duty with the Navy. He had been the team’s regular and part-time 3B. In 1951, he had only appeared in 15 games for the team, while hitting .300 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. Billy would finish his Yankees playing career with .275 BA along with 45 HRs and 388 RBIs in 735 games. He had appeared in 4 World Series with the team, while playing in 18 games, hitting .237 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. Don Bollweg was sent to the Yankees AAA team, the Kansas City Blues (AA). He would play for the Blues for the 1951-1952 Minor League seasons. In 1953, he would appear in 70 games for the Yankees, while hitting .297 with 6 HRs and 24 RBIs. In December of 1953, Don was traded by the Yankees to Athletics in the Vic Power trade.

1958- The Yankees had sold hurler Al Cicotte to the Senators for Cash. He had spent 9 seasons pitching in the Minor Leagues. In 1956, he would post a15-12 record for AAA Richmond Virginians (IL). In 1957, he had appeared in 20 games for the Yankees, while posting a 2-2 record along with a 3.03 ERA; he didn’t appear in the 1957 World Series for the team against the Braves. For the 1958 AL season, he hadn’t appeared in any games for the club.

1967- Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle joined the 500 HR MLB club, when he connected off of Orioles Veteran Reliever Stu Miller. Mantle became the 6th MLB player to reach the 500 HR MLB career mark, joining Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Willie Mays, Mel Ott and Ted Williams. Mantle's HR helped the Bombers to a 6-5 victory over the Birds at Yankee Stadium.

1977- Former Yankees MLB Scout Louis Majuolo (1947-1975) passed away. (1899-1977)

Lou Maguolo was an MLB Scout for the 1936-1942 St. Louis Browns. During World War II, Maguolo had served in the Army in the Pacific Northwest. His duties were primarily in Special Services Recreation, where he attained the rank of Major. In 1947, he moved to the Yankees, becoming an MLB Scout  (1947-1970.) He would retire in 1970, but he continued to work for the Yankees as a part-time MLB Scout from 1970-1975.He was best known for signing Yankee greats as 1B Bill Skowron, INF Tony Kubek, Pitchers Fritz Peterson, Jim Bouton and OF/C Elston Howard. He is credited with signing at least 40 athletes who eventually played in the MLB; 10 of them for the St. Louis Browns including Al LaMacchia, Don Lenhardt, P Marlin Stuart, Fuzz White, Jackie Juelich, Babe Martin, George Hausmann and 1B Roy Sievers. Other players that he signed for the Yankees included: OF Whitey Herzog, C Cal Neeman, OF Norm Siebern, OF Lee Thomas, C Jim Robertson, OF Jay Ward, P Bob Keegan, INF Herb Plews, INF Lou Skizas, P Bob Wiesler, OF Al Pilarcik, 1B Bud Zipfel, Pitchers Paul Hinrichs, Zach Monroe, Lloyd Merritt, Steve Karly, Tom Metcalf, Mike Jurewicz, John Gabler and Hal Stowe, OF Jim Finigan, OF/P Joe Pactwa, OF Larry Murray, INF Jerry Lumpe, INF Jerry Kenney, INF Dennis Werth and 1B Dave Bergman. While working for the Yankees, he was their Chief Midwest MLB Scout for a while.

1977- Before a crowd of 41,000 fans in California, Yankees Starter Don Gullett hurls a 4-hitter, as he out-duels Angels Ace Nolan Ryan by the score of 4-1.

1985- Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Byrd (1954) passed away. (1925-1985)

Starter Harry Byrd had joined the Yankees in winter of 1953, after coming over from the Philadelphia A’s trade that saw Minor League Star 1B/OF Vic Power and other players go to the A’s. In 1952, Harry had won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, while posting a 15-15 record with a 3.31 ERA in 37 games for the A’s. The Yankees had hoped that he could help out in the rebuilding of the aging Yankees starting rotation. Harry would post a 9-7 record with a 2.99 ERA in 25 games for the 1954 Yankees before being traded to Orioles in the big 17-man MLB Trade in December of 1954. Harry would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 46-54 record with a 4.35 ERA in 187 games, while pitching for the A’s, Yankees, Orioles, White Sox and the Tigers.

1986- Former MLB INF and Long-Time Yankees MLB Scout Frank O’Rourke (1952-1983) passed away. (1891-1986)

Frank O'Rourke was a good-field, little-hit infielder, who had played 14 seasons in the MLB; stretched out in the period from 1912 to 1931. After his playing days, O'Rourke was a Minor League Coach. Also, he would manage the 1931-1933 AA Milwaukee Brewers, 1935 Charlotte Hornets, 1936-1939 El Dorado Lions and the 1942 Cordele Reds. Later, he was a MLB Scout with the Reds from 1941 to 1951 and then he was with the Yankees from 1952 to 1983.

1996- At Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 20,786 fans had attend a Tuesday afternoon game see Veteran MLB Starter Dwight Gooden became the 8th pitcher in New York Yankees team history to throw a No-Hitter in the with a 2-0 victory over the Seattle Mariners. Doc walks 6 Mariners batters, while striking out 5 Seattle hitters. Doc is now 2-3 for the 1996 AL season. Former Yankees Pitcher Sterling Hitchcock takes the loss for Seattle, he is now 3-2 for the 1996 AL season.

2004- Former Yankees Pitcher Walter “Rip” Coleman (1955-1956) passes away. (1931-2004)

Before the start of the 1952 AL season, Walter “Rip”  Coleman was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1955, he went 2-1 with a 5.28 ERA and 1 save in 10 games for the Yankees. Coleman had appeared in Game 4 of the 1955 World Series for the Yankees, giving up 5 Dodgers hits in 1 inning of work. Rip Coleman went 5-6 with a 4.07 ERA and 3 saves in 39 games for the Yankees before being traded to the Kansas City in the Bobby Shantz trade that was made in February of 1957. He would finish his MLB Pitching career in 1960 with the Orioles. He had posted a 7-25 lifetime record with a 4.58 ERA in 95 games.

2010- After Twins Manager Ron Gardenhire orders an intentional walk to 1B Mark Teixeira and brings in righty Matt Guerrier to face Yankees Slugger Alex Rodriguez in the 7^th inning, the Yankee 3B blasts his 19^th MLB career Grand Slam HR to pass Frank Robinson for 7th on the all-time MLB career HR list and give the Bronx Bombers an 8-4 win.

2011- It wouldn't be the Yankees-Red Sox series without a bit of soap opera. Today, veteran DH Jorge Posada asks to be taken out of the Yankees starting line-up 40 minutes before the game, after being listed as the 9th-place hitter against the Red Sox. Posada was hitting just .165, the DH claims he has a bad back, something which Yankees GM Brian Cashman denies. After the game Posada explains that he feels "a little bit disrespected". With veteran Andruw Jones taking Posada's place, the Yankees lose the game, 6-0 to the Sox with a 2-run double by Jacoby Ellsbury and a 3-run HR by Adrian Gonzalez against Yankees Starter CC Sabathia providing the key blows in support of Josh Beckett's 6 scoreless innings. Jones hits  9th in the game, the 2nd #9 hitter in MLB history with 400+ HRs to his credit - the prior one was Jimmie Foxx from his days as a pitcher at the tail end of his MLB Playing career. 

2014- Bronx Starter Masahiro Tanaka pitches his 1st MLB shutout as the Yankees defeat the Mets by the score of 4-0. The Japanese off-season Free Agent signee is now 6-0 with a 2.17 ERA, after 8 starts in the MLB. The Yankees' win follows 6 straight losses to the Mets, dating back to last season.

2017- The Yankees officially retire Uniform Number 2 in honor of Derek Jeter and unveil a plaque in his name in Monument Park at New Yankee Stadium between games of a doubleheader against the Astros. They win the opener by the score of 11-6, thanks to a bases-loaded triple by Chase Headley and HRs by Starlin Castro, Aaron Judge and Brett Gardner. In the nightcap, Masahiro Tanaka gives up 3 1st-inning HRs, including a Grand Slam HR by Alex Bregman as New York goes down by the score of 10-7. George Springer HRs twice for Houston which leads 9-0 before the Yankees score some late runs to make the game appear closer than it is. Before the games, they had place Closer Aroldis Chapman on the DL with inflammation in his left shoulder.

2020- Former Yankees 1B/DH (1980-1982) and General Manager Bob Watson (1996-1997) passed away. (1946-2020)

On November 8,1979, Veteran 1B Bob Watson was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. Bob had played for the Red Sox in 1979, hitting .337 with 13 HRs and 53 RBIs. Watson had played for the Astros from 1966 to June,1979, hitting .297 with 139 HRs and 782 RBIs in nearly 1,400 games. The Astros had traded him to the Red Sox. He was expected to replace the recently traded regular Yankees 1B Chris Chambliss. He hit .307 with 13 HRs and 68 RBIs for the 1980 Yankees. In 1981, Bob suffered a groin injury that limited him to playing to only 59 games, while hitting just .212. On April 23,1982, Bob was traded by the Yankees to the Braves for Minor League P Scott Patterson. His Yankees playing career totals were a .282 BA with 19 HRs with 83 RBIs. He would finish his MLB playing career with a .295 BA  along with 184 HRs and 989 RBIs in 1,832 games. After his MLB playing career had ended, Watson was an Oakland A’s MLB Coach for 3 seasons. Then he was the Astros Assistant GM from 1989 to 1993. Bob Watson became the 2nd African-American General Manager in MLB history, when he was named to that post with the Astros in 1994. Then he would hold the General Manager position with the Yankees in 1996-1997. Later, Bob would work in the MLB Commissioner’s Offices, before retiring from baseball.