This Week in Yankees History September 25th-October 1st Part One

September 25^th

1902- Former Yankees Pitcher Pat Malone (1935-1937) was born. (1902-1943)

On March 25,1935, the Yankees had purchased veteran Starter Pat Malone from the Cubs for $15,000 Cash. He had been a 20-game winner for the 1929-1930 Cubs. Pat Malone went 19-13 with a 4.67 ERA in 92 games as a Yankees hurler. He was unable to crack the Yankees Starting rotation; so, Pat became a swingman for the team. The 1936 AL season was his best as a Yankees Pitcher, posting a 12-4 mark with a 3.81 ERA in 35 games. Pat had appeared in 3 World Series with the 1929,1932 Cubs and the 1936 Yankees. His World Series pitching record was 0-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 6 games.  

1912- At Fenway Park, Boston Starter Smoky Joe Wood fires a 2-hitter at New York, winning the game by the score of 6-0. The Boston Ace strikes out 10 Yankee batters in winning his 33rd game of the 1912 AL season.

1917- Former Yankees HOF Shortstop and long-time Broadcaster Phil “Scooter” Rizzuto (1941-1942,1946-1956) was born. (1917-2007)

In 1937, the Yankees had signed Phil Rizzuto as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He won the 1940 Minor League player of the Year Award, while playing for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In 1941, he played his 1^st season as a Yankee regular appearing in 133 games, while hitting .307.  Phil would miss the 1943-1945 MLB seasons, while serving with the Navy during WWII. He was named to the AL All-Star squad 5 times. He led the AL shortstops in fielding in 1949-1950. In 1950, Phil had his best Yankee career season, as he won the AL MVP Award, while hitting .325 in 155 games with 200 hits, while scoring 100 runs. Also, in 1950, he won the MLB Best Player Award. In 1951, Phil won the Babe Ruth Award for hitting .320 against the Giants in the 1951 World Series. During the 1955-1956 AL seasons, Phil was slowed down by injuries; he was no longer the Yankees starting shortstop. On August 25,1956, Phil was released by the Yankees to clear an MLB roster spot for the re-acquired veteran OF Enos Slaughter from the Kansas City A’s. His Yankees lifetime BA was .279 with 38 HRs and 563 RBIs in 1,661 games. He played in 9 World Series for the team, while hitting .246 with 2 HRs and 8 RBIs. 

In 1957, Phil would start his long-time broadcasting career with the Yankees joining Mel Allen and Red Barber in the broadcasting booth, replacing veteran Jim Woods. In 1994, the Veteran’s Committee voted Phil into Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Former long Red Sox rival Ted Williams pushed for his election into the Hall. He was telling baseball people that Phil could beat you with his glove or bat. Also, if he had been with his Red Sox teams, they would have beaten the Yankees for the AL pennant.

1917- Former Yankees Pitcher (1951-1955) and MLB Pitching Coach (1961-1963) Johnny Sain was born. (1917-2007)

On August 29, 1951 Veteran P Johnny Sain was obtained from the Braves for Yankees Rookie P Lou Burdette and $50,000 Cash. He had won 100 games for the 1942, 1946-1951 Braves, including a 24-14 season in 1948. In the 1948 World Series, John went 1-1 in 2 starts for the Braves against the Indians. John had a 20-20 record, along with 67 saves for the Yankees coming out of their bullpen and making occasional starts for the team. His best Yankees season was 1953, when he had posted a 14-7 record with a 3.00 ERA with 19 saves in 40 games. He would lead the AL in saves in 22 in 1954, while going 6-6 with a 3.16 ERA in 35 games. Sain would appear as a Reliever in 3 World Series with the 1951-1953 Yankees, he had posted a 1-1 record in 4 games. On May 11,1955, Sain was traded to the Kansas City along with veteran OF Enos Slaughter for P Sonny Dixon. After the 1955 AL season was over, he would retire as an active player. Overall, Johnny had posted a 139-116 record with a 3.49 ERA in 910 games. Sain would later become a very successful MLB Pitching Coach starting with the 1959 A’s, 1961-1963 Yankees, 1965-1966 Twins, 1967-1969 Tigers, 1971-1975 White Sox and the 1977,1981-1986 Braves. In October of 1960, He became the new Yankees MLB Pitching Coach for new Manager Ralph Houk replacing former teammate Eddie Lopat, who was Casey Stengel’s 1960 MLB Pitching Coach. During Johnny Sain’s 1^st season as Yankees MLB Pitching Coach, Veteran Starter Whitey Ford would win 25 games, while pitching on a 4-day rotation schedule. After the 1963 World Series loss to the Dodgers, Johnny would leave the Yankees organization over a salary dispute with the Yankees Front Office. Then he would join the Twins for the 1965-1966 AL seasons. During the 1960s, Sain coached the pitchers of 5 of the AL's 10 pennant-winning teams. His attitude towards MLB pitching, made him a pitcher’s favorite coach, but he did draw criticism from team’s Managers and their front offices.

1921- At the Polo Grounds, the Yankees thrash the 2nd place Indians by the score of 21-7 to move a full game ahead of the Tribe. The Yankees knock out Tribe Starter Ray Caldwell in the 2nd inning and dust Reliever Duster Mails for 10 runs in his 2 innings. Yankees Starter Carl Mays goes the distance for the win.

1925- Former Yankee Minor League 1B/PH Tom Hamilton was born. (1925-1973)

On March 9,1950, 1B Tom Hamilton was signed by the Philadelphia A’s as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1952, he appears with team for 12 games, while hitting just .200. In 1953, he would play in 58 games for the team, while hitting just .196. On December 16,1953, Tom was traded by the A’s along with Starter Harry Byrd, 1B Eddie Robinson, INF Babe Loren and OF Carmen Mauro to the Yankees for Minor League All-Star OF/1B Vic Power, INF Don Bollweg, 3B Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, OF Bill Renna and Catcher Jim Robertson to the Philadelphia A’s. Tom never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level. He was sent to Yankees AAA Club, the Kansas City Blues (AA) for the 1954 season. Tom would play in the Yankees Minor League system from 1954 to 1960.

1926- The Yankees would take 2 games from St. Louis to nail down the 1926 AL flag, winning the opener by the score of 10-2 behind veteran Starter Herb Pennock. Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth's Grand Slam HR is the big blow. In the nightcap, Lou Gehrig HRs in the 3rd inning, off of Brown’s Milt Gaston, while Babe Ruth matches him with a 2-run HR in the 6^th inning off of Reliever Win Ballou. Then Babe Ruth adds a solo HR in the 9^th inning, his 46^th HR off of Reliever Joe Giard to seal the Waite Hoyt’s 10-4 victory. Despite the score, the game is played in a new AL record of 55 minutes. The NL record is 51 minutes, played on September 28,1919.

1929- At Fenway Park in Boston, the Yankees-Red Sox game is halted during in the 5th inning as the Umpires called time-out and have players from the both teams to gather at home plate. Bill McGowan, a respected AL Umpire, informs the team’s players that Bronx Bomber Manager Miller Huggins has just died from blood poisoning at New York City’s St. Vincent Hospital. Then he asks the Fenway Park crowd to stand for 1 minute of silence as the American flag in Center Field is lowered to half-staff. Three days before, Miller had turn over the team to Yankees MLB Coach Art Fletcher. He was only 49 years-old, he had managed the Yankees from 1918 to 1929. On the day of his funeral in Cincinnati, Ohio, the American League will cancel all games. "Hug”, who had won 6 pennants and 3 World Series in his 12 years as Skipper of the Bronx Bombers. Manager Miller Huggins will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1964

1931- Nats OF Sam Rice drops a fly ball and the Yankees rally for 5 runs in the 8th inning to beat the Senators by the score of 8-3. Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth has 2-solo HRs to help in the win. The 3rd place Yankees; now trail the Senators by a 1/2 game.

1934- Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig plays his 1,500th consecutive MLB game. His 48th HR of the 1934 AL season is an MLB career high.

1949- Despite 71 injuries that kept players out of games, Casey Stengel and his 1949 Yankees have been in 1st place in the AL all season. But today the Red Sox move into a tie for 1st place with a 4-1 victory over Bronx Starter Allie Reynolds. Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams hits his 43rd HR, as Boston Starter Mel Parnell wins his 25th game of the 1949 AL season. The lefty Red Sox hurler is 16-3 at Fenway Park this season. Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio listens to the game on the radio from a hospital, bedridden with pneumonia. The Yankees return to New York City, a huge crowd of fans greets them at Grand Central Station, including Mrs. Babe Ruth, who predicts, "Whoever wins tomorrow should go all the way."

1951- Former Yankees Reserve INF Nolen Richardson (1935) passed away. (1903-1951)

The Yankees had acquired veteran INF Nolen Richardson in 1935. He had previously played for the Tigers in 1929 and 1931-1932 AL seasons. In September of 1935, he appeared in 12 games for the Yankees, while hitting .217 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. He spent the bulk of the 1935 baseball season with the Yankees AA Club, the Newark Bears (IL) playing in 137 games, while hitting .282. In 1936, he would return to AA Newark again, hitting .286 in 153 games. The Yankees would sell him to the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) in 1937. In July of 1938, Nolan was purchased by the Reds from the AA Orioles, he would play in 35 games for the team.

1959- At Yankee Stadium, lefty Ace Whitey Ford defeats the Orioles by the score of 5-2 with a complete game, allowing just 8 hits, 2 runs with 4-strikeouts. Yankees hitters Hector Lopez (2), Yogi Berra (1) and Norm Siebern (1) drive in runs. It would be the last Yankees victory of the 1959 AL season, as they would drop the last 2 games of the season to the Orioles. The Yankees would finish in 3^rd place in the AL with a 79-75-1 record behind the Indians (2^ndPlace) and 1959 AL Champions, the White Sox. 

1960- Yankees Starter Ralph Terry clinches the Yankees' 25^th AL pennant with a 4-3 win over the Red Sox. Reliever Luis Arroyo saves the win. It is Casey Stengel's 10^th AL pennant in 12 years at New York. The Yankees are in the middle of a 15-game winning streak, picking up victory #9 to end to the 1960 AL season.

1962- Yankees Ace lefty Starter Whitey Ford beats the Senators by the score of 8-3, as the Yankees clinch their 26^thAL pennant. Yankees Manager Ralph Houk becomes the 5th manager in MLB history to capture league pennants in each of his 1st 2 MLB Manager seasons.

1967- In an afternoon game, the Angels top the leading Twins by the score of 9-2 in Minnesota to move the idle Red Sox into a 1st-place tie. Detroit loses their game by the score of 2-0 to Yankees lefty Starter Al Downing.

1968- In Mickey Mantle's last appearance at Yankee Stadium, he slices a 2-out 1st inning single off of Tribe Starter Luis Tiant for the only hit for the Yankees. Tiant tosses his 9th shutout of the 1968 AL season, tops in the AL to win the game by a score of 3-0.  El Tiante's ERA drops to 1.60, the previous low for an Indians Pitcher was HOF hurler Stan Coveleski's 1.87 ERA in 1917.

1969- Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Tony Womack (2005) was born.

On December 20, 2004, veteran INF Tony Womack was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He had appeared in 108 games for the 2006 Yankees, while hitting a disappointing .249. On December 8, 2005, Tony was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to the Reds for 2 Minor League Players: Kevin Howard and Benjamin Hines.

1968- Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Holloway (1930) passed away. (1897-1968)

On June 30,1930, veteran P Ken Holloway was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians. He had previously pitched for the Tigers and the Tribe, while posting a 64-52 record. He had been 1-1 with an 8.40 ERA and 1 save in 12 games for the 1930 Indians. Ken would appear in 16 games for the 1930 Yankees with no decisions along with a 5.24 ERA and 1 save. It would be his last active MLB season. On November 28,1930, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P John Hopkins and Cash to the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) for 2 Minor League Players: C Tom Paddenand P Jim Weaver.

1969- Former Yankees Pitcher Dave Weathers (1996-1997) was born.

On July 31,1996, P Dave Weathers was obtained from Marlins for P Mark Hutton. In 1996, he went 0-2 with a 9.35 ERA, but he was more successful in the AL Post season, winning a game in both the Division and ALCS. In 1997, he would start off with a 0-1 with 10.00 ERA, which cause the team to send him down to  the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL). Overall, Weathers went 0-3 with a 9.57 ERA in 21 games, as a Yankees hurler. On June 9,1997, he was traded to the Indians for OF Chad Curtis.

1971- With Detroit Rookie Catcher Tim Hosley hitting 2 HRs and driving in 5 runs, the Tigers trip the Yankees by the score of 10-7. Les Cain pitches 6 innings for the win. He finishes with a 10-9 record with 145 innings, but he contends that Tiger’s Manager Billy Martin forces him to pitch; while he has a sore pitching arm. Later, Cain claims that it did permanent damage to his pitching arm, so he sues the Tigers. In a landmark decision, the Michigan Bureau of Workman's Compensation will order the Tigers to pay Cain $111 a month for the rest of his life. A lump sum payment was later agreed upon between the 2 parties. 

1977- Yankees Slugger Yankees Cliff Johnson continues his personal assault on the Blue Jays by slamming 2 HRs in the 2^nd game of doubleheader to lead the Yankees to a 2-0 win. Yankees Starter Ron Guidry won the opener by the score of 15-0, as the Yankees boosted their lead over the Red Sox to 3 games. The double shut out win was the 1^st by the Yankees since July 21, 1972. Cliff Johnson hit 6 of his 12 HRs off of the Blue Jays Pitching and batted .381 against them, compared to .296 against the rest of the AL.

1977- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Wil Nieves (2005-2007) was born.

On March 29, 2005, Catcher Wil Nieves was traded by the Angels to the Yankees for P Bret Prinz. Wil had appeared in 35 games as a Reserve Catcher for the Yankees, while hitting just .164. 

1985- Yankees LF Rickey Henderson steals his 75th base of the 1985 AL season in the Yankees 10- 2 win over the Tigers breaking the Yankees club record of 74 set by Fritz Maisel in 1914.

1989- Red Sox 3B Wade Boggs extends his own modern MLB record, when he collects his 200th hit for the 7th MLB consecutive season. The Boston 3B goes 4-for-5 as the Red Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 7-4.

1990- The Yankees tie an MLB record when their 1st 8-batters all hit safely in a 15-3 rout of the Orioles.  Birds Starter Anthony Telford allows the 1st 6 Yankee batters to get hits to take the loss. The Yankees would hit 6 HRs in the game.

1995- The Yankees would purchase veteran left-hander P Rick Honeycutt from the Oakland A’s. The Yankees to make room on their MLB roster, DFA P Jeff Patterson (0-0 in 3 games). Honeycutt went 0-0 in 3 games with the 1995 Yankees. On December 21,1995, Rick was purchased by the Cardinals from the Yankees.

1996- The Yankees had clinched the AL East title by pounding out 20 hits in a 19-2 win over the Brewers in the opening game of a doubleheader. The Yankees would score 10 runs in the 2nd inning, after plating 4 in the opening frame. Yankees 1B Tino Martinez leads with 5 RBIs. Yankees Starter David Cone (7-2) is the easy winner. Also, the Yankees win the nightcap by a score of 6-2 with Bronx Starter Kenny Rogers picking up his 12^th win of the season. Daryl Strawberry’s 2-run HR leads the Yankees hitting attack in the game.

1997- Current Yankees Minor League Catcher Ben Rortvedt was born.

Catcher Ben Rortvedt made his MLB player debut with the Twins early in the 2021 season and went on to play 38 games, hitting .169 with 3 HRs and 7 RBIs. He would served as the back-up to Ryan Jeffers and Mitch Garver, who got the bulk of the playing time for the MLB team that season. He had been originally drafted by the Twins in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Player Draft, out of a high school in Wisconsin. On March 13, 2022, he was traded to the Yankees as part of a blockbuster 5-player trade, which came 1 day after Garver, one of the men he had backed up in his rookie season, had been traded to the  Rangers in return for Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. This turned to actually set the stage for the next day's deal, as Rortvedt, Kiner-Falefa and former MVP Josh Donaldson were sent to the Bronx Bombers in return for C Gary Sanchez and 3B Gio Urshela. He has been recovering from a muscle injury, he is currently playing in the Minor Leagues.

1998- With a 6-1 victory over Tampa Bay, the Bronx Bombers set an AL record with their 112th win. Yankees Starter Orlando Hernandez improves his 1998 AL season record to 12-4. The 1906 Cubs, who went 116-36, are the only team with more victories than the 1998 Yankees.

2002- At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees defeat the Rays by the score of 4-3. Yankees Starter Roger Clements goes 5 innings leaving the game with a 3-3 tie. Reliever Jeff Weaver picks up the win for his 11^th victory of the 2002 AL season with Closer Mo Rivera getting his 28^th save. The losing pitcher for the Devil Rays was future Yankee hurler Tanyon Sturtze, who was now at 4-18 mark.

2011- Boston CF Jacoby Ellsbury hits a 2-out, 3-run HR off of Bronx Reliever Scott Proctor in the 14th inning to give Boston, a 7-4 win over the Yankees in the 2nd game of a doubleheader at New Yankee Stadium, halting a 4-game losing skid. They had lost the 1st game by score of 6-2 to the Yankees, while the Rays won their game by the score of 5-2 over the Blue Jays.

2014- In his last-ever home game at Yankee Stadium, Captain Derek Jeter provides a storybook ending with an opposite-field, game-ending single in the bottom of the 9th that gives the Yankees a 6-5 win over the Orioles. His hit off of Birds Reliever Evan Meek sends Pinch-Runner Antoan Richardson racing home from 2nd base, after Yankees Closer David Robertson had given up 3 Orioles runs in the top of the inning to tie the score, making Captain Clutch's final heroic moment possible.

2017- By hitting 2 HRs in an 11-3 win over the Royals, the Yankees' Rookie OF Aaron Judge reaches the 50 HR mark for the 2017 AL season, breaking the AL Rookie record of 49 set by A’s Mark McGwire in 1987.

2020- The Marlins cap off their incredible season by clinching a postseason slot for the 1st time since winning the 2003 World Series with a 4-3 win over the Yankees at New Yankee Stadium. They take the lead with a run in the top of the 10th, then load the bases with 1 out in the bottom of the frame. Yankees batter D.J. LeMahieu, one of the hottest hitters in the MLB all season is at the plate against Marlins Closer Brandon Kintzler, but he bounces into a game-ending double play to trigger a celebration in the empty ballpark.

September 26^th

1907- After Cleveland's Addie Joss had fired a 1-hitter against the Yankees yesterday, his Tribe pitching teammate Heinie Berger matches him today, also against hapless New York team. This is the 2nd time this century that teammates have thrown back-to-back 1-hitters.

1921- At the Polo Grounds, Bronx Slugger Babe Ruth hits HRs # 57 and # 58, plus he has a double and a walk to beat the Indians by the score of 8-7; as the Yankees take a 2-game lead in the AL pennant race. On the losing side, Tribe 1B George Burns has a triple and 3 singles. The Indians load the bases in the 9th inning, but Tribe Catcher Steve Neill strikes out on a Carl Mays fastball in the dirt to end it.

1921- Former Yankees Baseball Executive John Johnson (1947-1969) was born. (1921-1988)

In 1947, John Johnson joined the Yankees organization, serving as a Secretary to GM George Weiss. He would rise through a series of front office posts, becoming the team's Farm Director and ultimately Vice President of Minor League Operations during the 1960’s. When Bowie Kuhn was elected MLB Commissioner in 1969, Johnson would leave the Yankees organization to join his staff. After serving there for 9 years, he became President of the National Association in 1978. He was credited with stabilizing the Minor Leagues and steering them through a period of growth.

1925- Former Yankees Pitcher Bobby Shantz (1957-1960) was born.

On February 19,1957, veteran hurler Bobby Shantz was obtained by the Yankees from the Kansas City A’s. He was originally a starter, who had injured his pitching arm, later he would become a very successful relief pitcher. He had originally come up with the 1949 Philadelphia A’s, after pitching only 1 season in the Minor Leagues. In 1951, he won 18 games for the lowly A’s. His best season with the team was in 1952, when he posted a 24-7 record with a 2.48 ERA in 30 games; while winning the 1952 AL MVP Award and The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award. Then he injured his pitching arm, became a reliever for the A’s. As a Yankees swingman, Bobby had posted a 30-18 record with a 2.73 ERA and 19 saves in 138 games. 

In 1957, he was the 1st Yankees player to win an AL Golden Glove Award. Bobby would win the award for AL Pitchers during the 1958-1960 AL seasons. He would continue his Golden Glove Award streak in the NL, winning it from 1961-1964, giving him an MLB pitching career total of 8.  Also, in 1957, Bobby led the AL pitchers in ERA with a 2.45 mark. Shantz had appeared in the 1957 and 1960 World Series for the Yankees, posting a 0-1 record with a 4.56 ERA and 1 save in 6 games. In 1960, his brother Billy Shantz, a veteran MLB catcher appeared with the Yankees for 1-game, the A’s had signed him. Bobby would appear in 3 MLB All-Star games 1951-1952 (A’s) and the 1957 (Yankees). The Yankees would lose Bobby in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft with him being selected by the new Washington Senators, as their #1 Draft pick; then they would trade him to the Pirates for 3 players (INF Harry Bright, 1B R.C. Stevens and P Bernie Daniels). In the fall of 1961, he was drafted again by the new Houston Colt 45’s. team from the Pirates in the  NL Expansion Player Draft. On April 10,1962, Shantz started for the Houston Colt .45s in the 1st game in their franchise history. He pitched and won an 11-2 complete game victory over the Cubs. It was the only game that he ever won for the Colt .45s. As an MLB Pitcher, Bobby had posted a 119-99 record with a 3.38 ERA and 48 saves in 537 games. He had pitched for the A’s, Yankees, Pirates, Colt 45’s., Cardinals, Cubs and finishing up with the Phillies in 1964. 

1926- The St. Louis Browns would sweep the Yankees twice in a doubleheader by the scores of 6-1 and 6-2 in a total playing time of 2 Hours, 7 Minutes, an MLB record for a twin bill. The 2nd game is the fastest in AL history: 55 minutes. The Yankees had total 19 hits, while the Browns collect 26 hits in the 2 games. Babe Ruth has 1 at bat, then he sits, as he misses Reliever George Sisler, who tosses 2 scoreless innings to finish for the Browns in Game 2 and when the Browns score 4 runs in the 8^th inning, picks up the victory. Ruth, who has 47 HRs twice the runner-up, also he leads the AL with 139 runs, 155 RBIs and 144 bases on balls. Babe Ruth is batting .372, 2nd to Detroit's Heinie M****h, who will go 6-for-9 on the last day to end at .378. Browns Coach Jimmie Austin, 46-years old, participates in the Nightcap as he contributes to the win by knocking in a run with a double and then stealing home. He is not the oldest to steal a base (Arlie Latham, 50 in 1909), but he is the oldest to steal home. The Yankees used veteran INF Fred Merkle in his MLB final game. The veteran 1B Fred Merkle replaces Lou Gehrig at 1B in the 6^th inning.

1949- Before a crowd of 67,434 fans at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled 7-6 victory, when Boston base runner Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. Leading by 1 game, the Red Sox move on to Washington for a 3-game series with the Senators before playing the last 2 games of the 1949 AL season with the Yankees.

1952- At Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, the Yankees clinched their 4th AL straight pennant, an 11-inning 5-2 win by beating the A’s behind the pitching of veteran Starter Eddie Lopat and Reliever Johnny Sain.

1954- Art Ditmar of the Philadelphia A’s defeats the Yankees by the score of 8-6 in the last game the A’s franchise will play at Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia, before moving to Kansas City for the 1955 AL season. Yankees All-Star Catcher Yogi Berra plays his only game at 3B in his MLB playing career. Mickey Mantle plays Shortstop again in Yankees Manager Casey Stengel's "power line-up."

1955- The Red Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 8-1 as Red Sox hitter Ted Williams goes 1-for-2. Williams finishes the 1955 AL season at .356, well ahead of Tigers Al Kaline’s .340, but he does not have enough at bats to win the 1955 AL Batting title. A rule change will be made to recognize plate appearances, not times at bat, to determine the batting champion.

1956- Orioles Rookie Starter Charlie Beamon throws a 1-0 shutout against the Yankees in his 1st MLB start.

1960- The Bronx Bombers current winning streak reaches the 10-game mark, when they defeat the Senators by the score of 4-2 by scoring 2 runs in the 9^th inning. Yankees Rookie Starter Bill Stafford goes 8-innings, while veteran Reliever Duke Maas picks up the win, going to 3-1 for the 1960 AL season. Yankees Reserve 1B Dale Long hits a 2-run HR off of veteran Nats Starter Pedro Ramos, who goes to a 11-17 record with the loss. 

1961- In New York's 159th game of the 1961 AL season, Yankees RF Roger Maris rips a Jack Fisher fastball into the RF seats at Yankee Stadium for his 60th HR of the season. Bronx Bombers beat the Orioles by a score of 3-2. Yankees OF Roger Maris ties Babe Ruth's 34-year-old single season AL HR record. There are fewer than 8,000 fans on hand at Yankee Stadium to view this historic MLB HR event.

1964- Behind Rookie Starter Mel Stottlemyre's 2-hitter, the Yankees roll over the Senators by the score of 7-0 for their 11th win in a row. Stottlemyre leads the offense with an MLB-record-tying 5 hits, the last pitcher to collect that many and just the 8th pitcher this century to do so (Jim Callahan of the White Sox did it twice). With a single in his last at bat in his last game, he's had 6 hits in a row.

1967- Detroit Starter Mickey Lolich blanks the Yankees by the score of 1-0 as the Tigers to tighten the 1967 AL pennant race. The Twins (91-68) lead with the White Sox (89-68) and the idle Red Sox (90-69) are a game back, with the Tigers (89-69) 1 1/2 games back.

1973- In front of a Milwaukee home crowd of 4,804 fans, Brewers Starter Jim Colburn wins his 20^th game for the team, defeating the Yankees by the score of 5-2. Brewers’ Slugger George Scott chips in with 2 RBIs, giving him 100 RBIs for the 1973 AL season. Colborn is the Brewers' 1st 20-game winner and the 1st in Milwaukee since Tony Cloninger did it for the 1965 Braves.

1978- Yankees Starter Ed Figueroa earns his 19^th victory of the 1978 AL season; while Closer Rich Gossage picks up his 28^th save as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays by the score of 4-1. Mickey Rivers’ 2-out, 2-run double in the 2^ndinning opens an early lead for the Yankees. Bronx Bombers have 1 game lead over the Red Sox in the AL Eastern Division race.

1980- At Detroit, Bronx Starter Ron Guidry gives up 5 runs in 6-innings, but he still wins his 16th victory with Reliever Ron Davis getting his 7^th save as the Yankees win the game by a score of 7-5. The Bomber’s hitting attack is led by Eric Soderholm’s 3-run HR and a solo HR by Willie Randolph.

1980- Former Yankees Pitcher Andy O’Connor (1908) passed away. (1884-1980)

Andy O’Connor appeared in 1 game for the 1908 Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record. On December 27,1909, Andy was purchased by AA Rochester (IL) from the Yankees. After retiring as an active player, Andy became an MLB Scout for the Red Sox.

1982- Former Yankees Minor League P Daniel McCutchen was born.

The Yankees in the13th round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected P Daniel McCutchen. The right-hander split his pro debut between the Class A Staten Island Yankees (1-0,1.13 ERA) and the  Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) posting a 1-0 record with a 2.14 ERA and 1 Save. He was suspended for 50 games for using a performance-enhancing substance. McCutchen said that it was a medication for Attention Deficit Disorder (ADT). In 2007, the former Oklahoma hurler impressed the Yankees front office with his performance with the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) (11-2, 2.50 ERA) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) (3-2). He tied Grant Duff for 2nd in the Yankees Minor Leagues in wins, trailing Jeffrey Marquez by 1; he was 3rd in the system in ERA. Baseball America rated him as having the best control in the Florida State League. He made the FSL All-Star team, 1 of 6 pitchers selected. McCutchen would open the 2008 Minor League season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), where he was 4-3 with a 2.55 ERA with 52 strikeouts in 53 innings. He was promoted to the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), where he went 4-6 with a 3.58 ERA. McCutchen was then traded along with Minor League OF Prospect José Tabata, Pitchers Ross Ohlendorf and Jeff Karstens to the Pirates in return for MLB OF/INF Xavier Nady and P Damaso Marte. He finished the 2008 season with the AAA Indianapolis Indians (IL), going 3-3 with a 4.69 ERA in 8 starts. 

1992- Former Yankees Minor League INF Dante Bichette Jr. was born.

Dante Bichette, Jr. was a 1st-round pick by the Yankees in 2011 MLB Amateur Player Draft. His father was former MLB player Dante Bichette, who had won the NL HR title in 1995. Bichette played in the 2005 Little League World Series, where his team was coached by former Yankees C Mike Stanley. He hit 10 HRs in 86 at-bats as a HS Sr. The Yankees took him as the 51st pick of the MLB Amateur Player Draft: it was New York's 1st pick that year. The choice was compensation for the loss of Starter Javier Vázquez to MLB Free Agency. Bichette was a Shortstop in HS, but he was projected as a 3B-OF. He had a Univ. of Georgia commitment. He signed instead with the Yankees, with a bonus of $750,000. Bichette made his pro debut with GCL Yankees. In his 1st 13 games, he showed good walk ability (15 BB) and defense (no errors), but he was making little contact his BA was .159. Dante would spend the 2016 Minor League baseball season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while appearing in 114 games, playing 1B for the Thunder, while hitting .243 with 9 HRs and RBIs. In 2017, he would play for the AA Trenton again, appearing in 72 games, while hitting .262 with 4 HRs and 33 RBIs. After the 2017 Minor League had ended, Dante was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. In 2018, he had played for the Independent League St. Paul Saints (AA), while appearing in 99 games, hitting .310 with 9 HRs and 52 RBIs.

1996- Former Yankees Pitcher Albert Abreu (2020-2021,2022) was born.

in 2014, Albert Abreu was originally signed by the Astros. On November 17,2016, Catcher Brian McCann was traded by the Yankees along with Cash to the Astros for 2 Minor League Pitchers: Albert Abreu and Jorge Guzman. In 2019, he would pitch for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), while posting a 5-8 record with a 4.28 ERA in 23 games. He would receive an invitation to the Yankees 2020 MLB Spring Training Camp. He had appeared in 2 games for the 2020 Yankees, posting a 0-1 record with a 20.65 ERA before being sent back to the Yankees Alternate Training Site in Scranton. He had started the 2021season with AAA Scranton, but he was called up to the Yankees, when their pitching staff suffered injuries working as a reliever out of their bullpen. He would finish the 2021 season with the Yankees, posting a 2-0 record with a 5.15 ERA and 1 save in 28 games. On April 2, 2022, Abreu was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Robby Ahlstrom for Catcher Jose Trevino. Abreu was out of Minor League options, so the Yankees had decided to traded him to the Rangers. He finishes Yankees pitching career with a record of 2-1 with a 5.68 ERA and 1 save in 30 games. The Rangers will add him to their 2022 Bullpen staff. The Rangers would waive him, so he was claimed by the Royals. When the Royals had waived him, he was claimed by the Yankees. He is currently out with pitching shoulder problems. For this 2022 season in the Bronx, he has an 2-2 record with a 3.24 ERA in 21 games.

1997- Four Yankees Pitchers combine to 1-hit the Tigers, winning the game by a score of 8-2. Andy Pettitte starts the game; he allows a 2-run single to Travis Fryman in the 3rd inning giving Detroit a 2-1 lead. Pettitte leaves after pitching 4 innings, he is succeeded by Brian Boehringer (3 innings), Mariano Rivera (1 inning) and Jeff Nelson (1 inning). Mo Rivera receives credit for the win, when Yankees offense explodes for 6 runs in the 9th inning.

1998- The Yankees would defeat the Devil Rays by the score of 3-1 for David Cone's 20th win of the 1998 AL season. Cone sets a record for the most years (10) between 20-win seasons, having won 20 for the 1988 Mets. Jim Kaat held the previous record at 9 seasons. Yankees Rookie OF Shane Spencer homers, his 6^th HR in 9 days and his 7^th HR in the month of September, a Yankees Rookie record.

2008- On a rainy night at Fenway Park, the Yankees would crush the Red Sox by the score of 17-8. Back-up Bronx Shortstop Cody Ransom has hits 2 HRs, while 2B Robinson Cano drives in 5 runs and LF Brett Gardner has 4 more in the Bombers rout. Boston's loss means that Tampa Bay officially clinches the 2008 AL East Division title. It is the 1st time since the 1997 AL season that neither Boston nor New York have won the AL Eastern Division race. Tampa Bay had never won 70 games in an AL season before this season.

2009- Yankees Starter CC Sabathia wins his 19th game of the 2009 AL season, giving up 1 Boston hit in 7th innings in a 3-0 Yankees victory over the Red Sox. Newly-appointed Supreme Court Judge Sonia Sotomayor, a lifelong Yankees fan better known in baseball circles for her ruling that ended the 1994 MLB players strike, throws the ceremonial 1st pitch to Yankees Catcher Jose Molina.

2011- The Rays defeat the Yankees by the score of 5-2 behind Starter James Shields' 16th win of the 2011 AL season and catch the Red Sox in the 2011 AL Wild Card race.

2012- Yankees Starter CC Sabathia strikes out 10 Twins batters over 8 innings to lead the Yankees over the Twins by the score of 8-2. But the Yankees can't put any additional distance between themselves and the 2nd-place Orioles, who remain 1 1/2 games behind them, as the Birds hit 7 HRs, while routing the Blue Jays by score of 12-2.

2013- At New Yankee Stadium, the Rays shut out the Yankees by the score of 4-0 as retiring Yankees Closer Mariano Rivera tosses 1 1/3 inning of work in his last-ever appearance at home.

2021- Boston Massacre Redux? The Yankees complete a 3-game sweep of the Red Sox at Fenway Park to take 1st place in the tight AL WC race, 1 game ahead of Boston and 2 ahead of Toronto, with Seattle still in the mix, with 1 week left to play. Like the infamous series in September of 1978 when they won 4 straight games in Boston in dominating fashion, the Bronx Bombers flaunt their power, with Giancarlo Stanton hitting huge HRs high above the Green Monster on consecutive nights, today's keying a 6-3 win in a nationally TV game. Stanton's 8th-inning HR blast off former Bronx teammate Reliever Adam Ottavino follows a 2-run double by Aaron Judge and proves to be the knockout punch.

September 27^th

1914- Tribe 2B Nap Lajoie collects his 3,000^th MLB career hit as his Indians team defeats the Yankees by the score of 3-2.

1919- Yankees Starter Bob Shawkey strikes out 15  batters in a 9-inning game with against his former teammates, the Philadelphia A’s. Bob Shawkey’s club record of 15K’s would stand until 1978 AL season, when Yankees Ace starter Ron Guidry strikes out 18 Angels’ batters.

1920- Yankees Starter Carl Mays beats Philadelphia by the score of 3-0, as he allows just 4 A’s hits. It is his 3rd straight shutout over the A’s, his 10th straight win against them. Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth drives in all the runs on a pair of HRs over the RF fence off of A’s hurler Ed Rommel, for his 52nd and 53rd HRs of the 1920 AL campaign. He hit 2 other liners to left and centerfield that were close to the wall.

1921- St. Louis Browns' Starter Urban Shocker stops the Yankees by the score of 2-0, racking up his 5th win in 9 decisions against his former Yankees teammates this season. It is his 27th win of the 1921 AL season. The Yankees had traded him to the Browns as a rookie pitcher in 1918.

1923- Columbia Univ. Baseball Star 1B/Pitcher Lou Gehrig, who was signed by the Yankees in June for a $1,500 bonus; he was recently brought up from Hartford (EL), Gehrig hits the 1st of his 493 MLB career HRs. The 1^st MLB HR comes off of Red Sox veteran P Bill Piercy at Fenway Park during a Yankee 8-3 win.

1924- At Shibe Park in Philadelphia, the A's beat the Yankees by the score of 4-3 to give the Senators a 2-game lead in the 1924 AL Pennant race with 2 games left to play.

1927- Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth connects for a Grand Slam HR off of A’s Starter Lefty Grove; while his Bronx teammate, 1B Lou Gehrig hits HR # 46 in a 7-4 win over Philadelphia. Babe Ruth has 57 HRs with 3 games left to play. One of the HRs is a Grand Slam HR, the Babe's 2nd in 3 days.

1930- Lou Gehrig plays the last of 885 consecutive games at 1B. In the next game, the 1930 AL season's finale, he will take Babe Ruth's LF position. The experiment of using Lou in the outfield, will not work out; he will return to 1B.

1931- Lou Gehrig hits HR to tie Babe Ruth at 46, while the Yankees pound A’s Starter Lefty Grove by the score of 13-1. They deny him his 32nd victory of the 1931 AL season. Grove throws just 3 innings in the warm-up start for the 1931 World Series against the Cardinals. Lou Gehrig drives in 2 runs as he (184) and Babe Ruth (163) combine to drive in 347 runs for the season, the most productive duo in MLB history. Catcher Bill Dickey has 4 hits and ends the 1931 AL season with no passed balls behind the plate; the only AL Catcher and the Yankees are the only AL team to ever accomplish the feat.

1942- Red Sox Starter Tex Hughson wins his 22nd game to tie Cardinals Starter Mort Cooper for the MLB lead, as the Red Sox edge the Yankees. A Fenway Park crowd of 26,166 fans-including 4,293 youngsters, who gained free admission by bringing in 29,000 pounds of scrap metal for the war effort--watches Hughson scatter 11 Yankee hits. 

1950- Against the Philadelphia A's, Yankees Rookie hurler Whitey Ford relieves and loses his 1^st MLB game after 9 straight wins. The Yankees would lose the game to Philadelphia by a score of 8-7.

1960- Former Yankees Pitcher Frank “Lefty” Barnes (1930) passed away. (1900-1967)

Lefty Frank Barnes had appeared in 2 games with the 1930 Yankees, while posting a 0-1 record with an 8.03 ERA. The Yankees had obtained him from the AA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL). Frank had previously pitched in the MLB with the 1929 Tigers. He had posted a 0-1 record with a 7.20 ERA in 4 games. Later, he would pitch in the Minor Leagues from 1931 to 1934.

1960- Against the Senators, Yankees win their 11^th straight game by a score of 5-1. Three Yankee Pitchers, Starter Ryne Duren, Eli Grba and Bob Turley hold the Nats to 3 hits and 1-run. In a rare start, Ryne Duren only goes 4 innings, but he doesn’t get the win; Eli Grba does pick up his 6^th win of the 1960 AL season, while veteran hurler Bob Turley picks up his 4^th save of the season. Bronx Bombers 1B Bill Skowron hits his 28^th HR, as Johnny “Super Sub” Blanchard hits a triple, 3B Clete Boyer and Reserve 1B Dale Long, each hit doubles for the Yankees.

1962- Former Yankees Pitcher Don Schulze (1989) was born.

In November of 1988, the Yankees had signed P Don Schultze as an MLB Free Agent. He had appeared in only 2 games for the 1989 Yankees, while posting a 1-1 mark. On July 22,1989, Don was traded by the Yankees along with 3B Mike Pagliarulo to the Padres for a Player to be Named Later and P Walt Terrell. The Padres would send former Yankees Prospect P Freddie Toliver on September 27,1989 to the Bronx to complete the trade.

1963- Former Yankees Pitcher Andy Coakley (1911) passed away. (1882-1963)

Veteran hurler Andy Coakley appeared in 1 game for the 1911 Yankees, going 0-1 to finish out his MLB Pitching career. He had pitched for the A’s, Reds, Cubs before joining the 1911 Yankees. He had made 1 start for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1905 World Series, losing his only decision. Andy would finish his MLB pitching career with a 58-59 record with a 2.35 ERA and 3 saves in 150 games. 

1972- Trailing by the score of 5-1, the Tigers would score 3-runs in the 8th inning and 2-runs in the 9th inning to beat the Yankees Closer Sparky Lyle by the score of 6-5.

1978- At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees maintain their AL East lead by beating the Blue Jays by the score of 5-1. Bronx Starter Catfish Hunter wins his 9^th decision in 10 games. He gives up only 6 Blue Jays hits, allowing only 1-run. Graig Nettles and Reggie Jackson hit HRs for the Yankees.

1986- Tigers Starter Jack Morris shuts out the Yankees by the score of 1-0 in 10 innings; raising his pitching record for the 1986 AL season to 20-8. Morris snaps Yankees All-Star 1B Don Mattingly's hitting streak at 24 consecutive games.

1987- Former Yankees Pitcher David Hale (2018-2020) was born.

David Hale was originally signed by the Braves. He had pitched College Baseball at Princeton Univ. In winter of 2017, the Yankees would sign him to a Minor League contract. David had appeared in 3 games for the team with no record along with a 2.53 ERA. Hale was released by the team 3 times. He had a brief stay with the Twins before being DFA. When the Yankees released him for the 3^rd time, he elected MLB Free Agency. He was signed by the Hanwha Eagles (KBO) for the rest of the 2018 season. In December of 2018, the Yankees resigned David. For the 2019 Yankees, he went 3-0 with 2.89 ERA and 2 saves in 19 games, before getting injured. On August 22, 2020, the Yankees traded Reliever David Hale to the Phillies for Minor League Class AA Reliever Addison Russ. Hale had been DFA by the team earlier in the week. Hale had pitched for the 2018-2020 Yankees, posting a 3-0 record with a 2.98 ERA and 3 saves in 28 games. For the 2020 AL season with the Yankees, he had appeared in 5 games with a 0-0 record and 1 save. 

1991- The Indians lose their 100th game of the 1991 AL season as the Yankees beat Tribe Starter Greg Swindell by the score of 3-0. With 8 innings of work, Yankees Starter Pascual Perez (2-4) earns his last MLB pitching decision win.

1992- At Yankee Stadium, Toronto veteran Starter Jack Morris wins his 20th game of the 1992 AL season, by going 6-innings in a 12-2 blowout game over the 4th place Yankees. The Blue Jays scores 9 runs off of Yankees Starter Scott Sanderson, who leaves the game in the 2nd inning.

1998- The 1998 Yankees win their 7^th straight game to finish the AL season with a .704 winning percentage. The Bronx Bombers (114-48) become the 1st team MLB since the 1954 Indians (111-43) to play over .700 baseball for the entire MLB season.

2009- The Yankees are assured of the best record in the AL after a 4-2 victory over the Red Sox. Yankees Starter Andy Pettitte picks up the win and, as usual Closer Mariano Rivera gets the save in New York's 100th win of the 2009 AL season. The Yankees finished 9-9 against their bitter rivals, after dropping the 1st 8 contests between the 2 teams.

2011- The Rays stay tied with the Red Sox by beating the Yankees by the score of 5-3, thanks to HRs by Matt Joyceand Ben Zobrist, which account for all of their scoring. The Rays also pull a triple play in the 6th inning in the game.

2018- The Yankees' Starter CC Sabathia is ejected in the 6th inning of his team's 12-1 win over Tampa Bay for throwing at Jesus Sucre in apparent retaliation for Rays P Andrew Kittredge throwing a pitch near Catcher Austin Romine's head in the top of the inning. The ejection is literally costly, as it leaves CC 2 innings short of 155 on the year, a total which would have netted him a bonus of $500,000 had he reached it. The gesture will also result in a 5-game suspension for Sabathia, to be served at the start of the 2019 AL season. The Yankees will decide in December to pay him the bonus anyway.

2020- Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) passed away. (1945-2020)
On June 14,1978, OF Jay Johnstone was traded by the Phillies along with Minor League OF Bobby Brown to the Yankees for MLB Pitcher Rawly Eastwick. Jay would hit .262 in 32 games for the 1978 Yankees. On June 15,1979, Jay was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for P Dave Wehrmeister. He had only played in 23 games for the team in 1979, while just hitting .208 for the team. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the 1978-1979 Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs. He passed away on September 26, 2020 at age 74, a victim of COVID-19; he had been suffering from dementia for several years. 

This Week in Yankees History September 30th-October 1st Part 3

September 30^th

1882- Former Yankees Catcher Gabby “Old Sarge” Street (1912) was born. (1882-1951)

On February 18,1912, Catcher Gabby Street was traded by the Senators to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later and INF John Knight. On February 22,1912, the Yankees would send Rip Williams to the Senators to complete the trade. He had appeared in 29 games for the 1912 Yankees, hitting just .182. He later became a Minor League Manager then an MLB Manager with the 1930’s St. Louis Cardinals.

1885- Former Yankees Reserve INF Zinn Beck (1918) was born. (1885-1981)

In 1914, Zinn Beck was the regular 3B for the Cardinals. In 1915, he would lose his regular job and became a backup. In 1916, at age 30, he backed up the 20-year-old Rogers Hornsby at 3B. Beck hit .223, while Hornsby hit .313. On September 20,1917, INF Zinn Beck was drafted by the Yankees from AA Milwaukee (AA) in the 1917 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He would appear in 11 games with the 1918 Yankees with no hits. Later, Beck was the General Manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts. Beck then scouted for the Senators/ Twins organizations from 1948 until his passing at 95 years of age in 1981. 

1904- White Sox Left-hander Doc White pitches his 5th shutout in 18 days by defeating the Yankees. Of his 7 shutouts for the 1904 AL season, 6 of them came in the month of September.

1905- Former Yankees Pitcher Johnny Allen (1932-1935) was born. (1905-1959)

Johnny Allen was working as a bellboy in a hotel, when Yankees MLB Scout Paul Krichell discovered him. He reached the MLB with the 1932 Yankees. He went 17-4 with an ERA in 33 games, that season, leading the AL with a .810 winning percentage. Allen appeared in 1 game of the 1932 World Series against the Cubs with no record. He went 15-7 with an ERA in 25 games for the 1933 Yankees, but after holding out for a pay raise and suffering a sore arm, Johnny Allen became expendable. He had posted a 5-2 record with ERA in 13 games in 1934, then a 13-6 record with an ERA in 23 games in 1935. On December 11,1935, he was traded to the Indians for 2 hurlers: Monte Pearson and Steve Sundra. As a Yankees hurler, Johnny Allen finished with a 50-19 record with a 3.79 ERA in 94 games. He will go 67-35 in 5 seasons with the Tribe, including a 20-10 mark in 1936. He had a league leading 15-1 in 1937. He pitched for the 1941 Dodgers, going 10-6 and appearing in 3 games of the 1941 World Series against his old team the Yankees. He finished his MLB Pitching career with the 1944 Giants, going overall as a MLB Pitcher with a 142-75 record with a 3.75 ERA in 352 games.

1916- Red Sox CF Tilly Walker, imitating Tris Speaker, his predecessor, dashes in for a low line drive and beats the runner back to 2B for an unassisted DP. It is an important play, as Dutch Leonard defeats Yankees Nick Cullop by the score of 1-0 in the 10^th inning on Harry Hooper's sacrifice fly. The win clinches a tie for the 1916 AL pennant for Boston. The Indians will beat the White Sox tomorrow to give the 1916 AL pennant to Boston.

1922- At Fenway Park, the Yankees would clinch their 2nd AL pennant by beating the Red Sox by the score of 3-1 behind the pitching of Waite Hoyt and Joe Bush.

1926- Former Yankees Pitcher and Long-time MLB Starter Robin Roberts (1962) was born. (1926-2010)

In the winter of 1961, Robin Roberts had his MLB player contract was sold by the Phillies to the Yankees for $100,000 Cash. In 1962 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, the team decided to keep veteran Bob Turley over Roberts, who released him before he had made a regular AL season appearance for the team. It was a rare pitching mistake by Manager Ralph Houk and Yankees MLB Pitching Coach Johnny Sain. Turley (3-3 with 4.57 ERA) would be sold to the Angels at the end of the 1962 AL season. In April of 1962,  MLB Free Agent Robin Roberts would be signed by the Orioles. Roberts put up 42 wins in 3 ½ seasons with the club. After being let go by the O's, he spent about a season with the Astros, a partial season with the Cubs. Fourteen games shy of 300 MLB career wins; the Cubs released him. He tried to stay in the game in 1967, pitching at age 40 for the Phillies AA club, the Reading Phillies (EL). He was 5-3 with a 2.48 ERA for the club, but pitching arm troubles ended his comeback attempt. Roberts ended his MLB pitching career with 286 wins and a 3.41 ERA, while striking out 2,357 batters. He threw 305 complete games, 45 career shutouts and for a long time held an MLB record with 505 HRs allowed.

1927- With the score tie at 2-2 in the 8th inning Yankees INF Mark Koenig triples, then his teammate Babe Ruth hits HR #60 off of Senators hurler Tom Zachary for a 4-2 win. Babe breaks his old HR Career mark of 59, that was done in 1921. In the 9th inning, Walter “The Big Train” Johnson makes his final MLB appearance as a player. He pinch-hits for Pitcher Tom Zachary and flies out to Babe Ruth. Yankees Slugger Ruth hits 17 HRs in September, the highest month's HR output till Rudy York's 18 HRs in August of 1937.

1934- At Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., a crowd of 15,000 fans, see longtime Bronx Slugger Babe Ruth is held hitless in his last game in a Yankees uniform. Babe went 0 for 3 with a walk and run scored. The Yankees would lose the game to the Senators by a score of 5-3.  Yankees starter Red Ruffing takes the loss, leaving him to finish the 1934 season with a 19-11 record. Nats starter Orville Armbrust gets his last MLB career victory, finishing the season at 3-0. The Yankees would finish the 1934 AL season in 2^nd place in the AL with a 94-60 record.

1936- In the 1936 World Series Opener played at the Polo Grounds, draws a crowd of 39,419 fans, who see Giants Starter Carl Hubbell scatters 7 Yankees hits and limits the Bronx Bombers scoring to a solo HR by George “Twinkletoes” Selkirk. The Giants take a decisive 6-1 victory. Yankees Starter Red Ruffing takes the complete game loss, allowing 6 runs and 9 Giants hits.

 1942- Down 7-0 to Yankees Starter Red Ruffing in the 1942 World Series Opener, the Cardinals storm back for 4-runs in the 9th-inning, not enough to win the game, but enough to portend the result of the World Series.

1945- Yankees 2B George Stirnweiss gets 3 hits on the final day of the 1945 AL season to raise his batting average to .309. The White Sox games are washed out, depriving the veteran Tony Cuccinello of a shot at the title. The only other .300 hitter playing full time in the AL is Johnny D*i*c*k*shot. Neither Cuccinello nor D*i*c*k*shot will ever play another game in the MLB. Only Elmer Flick in 1905 and Carl Yastrzemski in 1968 ever lead the American League with a lower batting average than George Stirnweiss, but the latter also leads the AL with 195 hits, 107 runs, 22 triples, 301 SB, 33 TB, and a .476 SA.

1947- In the 1st televised World Series game, Dodgers hurler Ralph Branca becomes the youngest player to start a World Series Opener. At Yankee Stadium, the 21-year (9 month) old right-hander and the Dodgers loses to the Bronx Bombers by the score of 5-3 before a crowd of 73,365 fans at Yankee Stadium. Bronx Starter Frank “Spec” Shea picks up the opening game victory for the Yankees with relief help from Closer Joe Page.

1948- Former Yankees OF Rusty Torres (1971-1972) was born.

Rusty Torres was a 54^th Round Draft selection by the Yankees in the 1966 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Rusty appeared in 89 games for 1971-1972 Yankees, while hitting .298 with 5 HRs and 16 RBIs. He was traded by the Yankees to the Indians in the Graig Nettles trade in the winter of 1972.

1951- The triumphant Yankees beat the Red Sox by the score of 3-0 behind Starter Frank “Spec” Shea’s 9-hitter. It is the 3rd shutout in a row for the Yankees pitching staff as they sweep the visiting Red Sox in 5 games, outscoring them 29-4.

1951- FW57Clipper51 was born in Plainfield, NJ.

1951- The Yankees would beat the Red Sox by the score of 3-0. It is game #154 to finish out the 1951 AL season with a 98-56 record, 5 games ahead of the Indians. The Yankees had already clinched the 1951 AL flag. It was Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio's last regular AL career game as a Yankees player (1936-1951). The winning pitcher for the Yankees was Frank "Spec "Shea, who won his 5th game (5-5) of the 1951 AL season. He had relief help from veteran hurler Johnny Sain. There wasn’t an HRs hit by either team in the game.

1953- At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees would defeat the Dodgers by the score of 9-5 in the 1st game of the 1953 World Series before a crowd of 69,374 fans. Dodgers Starter Carl Erskine is ineffective, walking the 1st 3 Yankee batters, who score on a Billy Martin triple. The Dodgers tie it up at 5-5; Clem Labine gets the loss in relief, after Joe Collins hits a HR in the 7^th inning.  Also, Yogi Berra homers for the Bombers. Veteran hurler Johnny Sain picks the win in relief of veteran Starter Allie Reynolds.

1955- At Ebbets Field, Dodgers Starter Johnny Podres defeats Yankees Starter Bob Turley, who fails to last 2 innings against the Bums. Catcher Roy Campanella leads the Dodgers attack with 3 hits and 3 RBIs, as Brooklyn wins the game by the score of 8-3 behind the strong effort of lefty Johnny Podres. Mickey Mantle hits a HR for the Yankees.

1956- Bronx Bomber Slugger Mickey Mantle nips rival Red Sox Slugger Ted Williams for the 1956 AL batting Title on the final day of the 1956 AL season to win the 1956 AL Triple Crown. The Yankees lost to Boston by the score of 7-4 at Yankee Stadium. Mickey hit .353 with 52 HRs and 130 RBIs in 150 games for the 1956 Yankees.

1960- The Yankees would beat the Red Sox by the score of 6-5. They set a new AL record for team HRs with 192. Yankees Shortstop Tony Kubek and Reserve Catcher Jesse Gonder hit the HRs today as the Bombers win their 13th straight game. The team HR record would last for only 1 season with the 1961 Yankees setting a new AL HR record with 240 HRs.

1962- At Yankee Stadium, White Sox veteran Starter Ray Herbert tops the Bombers by a score of 8-4. Mickey Mantle, batting leadoff to give him needed at bats, he is 2-for-3 and he qualifies for 2nd place in  AL hitting (.321) with 502 plate appearances. He also hits a HR, giving him 8 straight MLB seasons of 30 HRs.

1964- At his 1st MLB at bat, Tigers PH Bill Roman debuts with a HR, the only 1 of his brief MLB playing career. Even so, the Tigers lose to the Yankees by a score of 7-6 as a Mickey Mantle leadoff HR in the 2^nd inning off of Starter Mickey Lolich ignites a 5-run rally. The Yankees take the nightcap by the score of 11-8 for a doubleheader sweep.

1966- At Comiskey Park, the White Sox would tip the Yankees by a score of 6-5. The Yankees will win their next 2 games, but they will finish in 10th place in the AL; one-half game behind the 9^th place Red Sox.

1970- Yankees Starter Fritz Peterson wins his 20^th game of the 1970 AL season by defeating the Red Sox by the score of 4-3. Fritz will finish the 1970 AL season with a 20-11 record with 2.91 ERA, being the team’s only 20 game winner.

1971- The Senators draw a crowd of 14,000 fans for their final MLB game played in Washington, D.C, with another 4,000 fans crashing. Nats Starter Richard Bosman gives up HRs to Yankee batters Bobby Murcer, Roy White and Rusty Torres with the Senators are down by the score of 5-1 in the 6^th inning. Mike Kekich then grooves a fastball for Nats Slugger Frank Howard, who parks his 26th HR and thanks Thurman Munson as he crosses the plate. The Senators take a 7-5 lead, after Bobby Murcer makes the 2nd out in the 9^th inning, fans swarm onto the field, causing the game to be forfeited to the Yankees by the score of 9-0. All records stand, but Reliever Paul Lindblad losses the win by not recording the 3rd out, Yankees batter Horace Clarke. Of the Senators players, Jeff Burroughs will be the last active MLB player to retire, finishing up his active MLB playing career in 1985.

1973- The Yankees would close out their 50^th season at old Yankee Stadium by losing to the Tigers by a score of 8-5. Recently acquired Catcher/DH Duke Sims hits the last Yankee HR at the old ballpark. Tigers Ace John Hiller was the winner, while Yankees veteran Reliever Lindy Mc Daniel lost the finale game. It would be McDaniel’s last game appearance as a Yankees pitcher. He would be traded during the off-season to the Royals for OF Lou Piniella and P Ken Wright.

1973- After 11 seasons at the helm of the Yankees (944-806 .539), long-time Manager Ralph Houk resigns as the Yankees Skipper. Houk leaves the team despite new Team Owner George Steinbrenner’s promise of spending more money on players to rebuild the team into a winner. Houk doesn’t trust George, he leaves the organization that he has been part of since 1939. The 'Major' will manage the Tigers next season. He will manage the Red Sox before retiring as an MLB Manager in 1984. Houk will finish out his long MLB career working as a Baseball Executive in the 1987-1989 Twins front office, working in their Player Development Department.

1977- Former Yankees 2B Del Pratt (1918-1920) passed away. (1888-1977)

On January 22,1918, 2B Del Pratt was traded by the Browns along with veteran Starter Eddie Plank to the Yankees for Pitchers Nick Cullop and Joe Gedeon, INF Fritz Maisel, Catcher Les Nunamaker, Starter Urban Shocker and $15,000. Del Pratt appeared in 420 games with the Yankees, while hitting .295 with 10 HRs and 208 RBIs. On December 15,1920, Del was traded by the Yankees along with Catcher Muddy Ruel, P Hank Thormahlen and OF Sammy Vick to the Red Sox for hurlers Harry Harper and Waite Hoyt, INF Mike McNally and Catcher Wally Schang.

1978- The Yankees top the Indians by a score of 7-0 behind Starter Ed Figueroa's 20th win of the 1978 AL season. The Yankees clinch a tie for the 1978 AL East pennant.

1980- In a 12-9 Indians win over the Yankees, the Tribe's Ron Hassey has a double and HR in the 8-run 2nd inning. There are 4 HRs hit in the game, including the Yankees Reggie Jackson's 38^th HR of the 1980 AL season.

1984- In the dramatic race for the 1984 AL Batting title, Don Mattingly goes 4-for-5 in the Yankees season-ending 4-2 win over the Tigers to edge out his Yankees teammate Dave Winfield .343 to .340. Dave Winfield goes 1-for-4 in the game.

1997- The Indians would score 5 runs in the 1st inning, but the Yankees will come back to win the game with 5 runs of their own in the 6th inning to defeat the Indians in Game 1 of their 1997 AL playoff series by a score of 8-6. Yankee hitters Tim Raines, Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill hit consecutive HRs in the decisive inning, giving Bronx hurler Ramiro Mendoza the victory.

1998- Yankees lefty Starter Andy Pettitte's strong pitching gives the Bronx Bombers, a 2-0 lead in their playoff series with a 3-1 victory over the Rangers. Rookie OF Shane Spencer and 3B Scott Brosius would hit HRs for the Yankees.

2004- The Yankees would clinch their 7^th straight AL East title, beating the play-off bound Twins by the score of 6-4 for their 100^th victory of the 2004 AL season.

2008- Former Yankees Reserve INF Ed Brinkman (1975) passed away. (1941-2008)

On June 13,1975, veteran INF Ed Brinkman was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers. Ed came to the Yankees at the end of his fine MLB playing career, he appeared in 44 games for the 1975 Yankees, hitting just .175. On March 29,1976, Ed was released by the Yankees. He retired as an active player.

2011- The opening game of the 2011 ALDS between the Yankees and Tigers at New Yankee Stadium is suspended by rain in the middle of the 2nd inning with the score tied at 1-1 with the teams’ Aces Justin Verlander and CC Sabathiaon the mound. The game will be continued tomorrow.

2012- The Yankees would defeat the Blue Jays by the score of 9-6 to clinch a 2012 AL Postseason Playoff spot.

2020-In the 2nd Series, the Yankees' bats once again put up runs in double figures thanks to 3 homers, including a grand slam HR by Giovanny Urshela off of James Karinchak, but it's a sacrifice fly by Gary Sanchez followed by a single by D.J. LeMahieu off of Closer Brad Hand in the 9th that gives them their wild, 10-9 win in a game that takes 4 hours and 50 minutes, not including rain delays totaling another 76 minutes.

October 1st

1889- Former Yankees OF/INF/C Charles “Dutch’ Sterrett (1912-1913) was born. (1889-1965)

The former Princeton Univ. baseball player, Dutch Sterrett would hit .253 with 1 HR and 35 RBIs in 87 games for the 1912-1913 Yankees. During the 1913 AL season, the Yankees would send him to the AA Venice Tigers (PCL).

1904- Former Reserve INF Yankees Jimmy Reese (1930-1931) was born. (1901-1994)

In 1927, the Yankees had obtained INF Jimmy Reese from the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). Debuting with the Yankees in 1930, Jimmy would hit .346 in 77 games, while backing up 2B Tony Lazzeri. He was assigned as Babe Ruth's roommate and famously joked that in reality, he roomed with Ruth's suitcase. He said Ruth treated him "like a son." In 1931, Reese returned to earth, hitting .241, while playing in 65 games. He played with the Yankees in 1930-1931. Then he was picked up on waivers by the Cardinals in 1932. After retiring as active player, Jimmy became a Coach and Manager in the Minor Leagues. In 1973, he became the long-time Conditioning Coach for the Angels, until his death in 1994. The Angels would honor Jimmy Reese by retiring his uniform number.

1908- Veteran Yankees Starter Jack Chesbro notches his final victory in a Yankees uniform, a 5-hit win against the Senators Starter Walter Johnson beating the Nats by the score of 2-1. Jack finishes his Yankees pitching career with 126 wins, including an MLB record season of 41 wins in 1904.

1912- The Yankees lose their 100^th game of the 1912 AL season, a 4-3 loss to the A’s at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. The Yankees finish the 1912 AL season with a 50-102 mark, 55 games behind the 1^st place Red Sox, the worst finish in the team’s franchise history.

1921- After clinching their 1^st AL pennant by defeating the Philadelphia A’s by the score of 5-3 in the 1^st game of a doubleheader. Yankees Babe Ruth comes in to pitch in the 8^th inning of the nightcap and comes out the winner. Ruth took the mound in the top of the 8^th inning, promptly allowed the Mackmen to score 6 A’s runs to tie the game at 6-6, but then he settles down and holds them scoreless until the Yankees won the game with a run in the 11^th inning.

1931- Former Yankees Pitcher Fred Kipp (1960) was born.

The Dodgers originally had signed P Fred Kipp in 1953. He went 6-6 with a 5.04 ERA and 1 save in 43 games for the 1957-1959 Dodgers. On April 5,1960, Fred was traded by the team to the Yankees for Reserve OF Gordon Windhorn and Minor League INF Dick Sanders. Fred would post a 0-1 record with a 6.23 ERA in 4 games for the 1960 Yankees. He would spend the rest of his time with the Yankees, pitching for their AAA Richmond team (IL), before retiring as an active player after the 1962 baseball season had ended.

1932- Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth as baseball legend has it, called his HR off of Cubs Starter Charlie Root in the 5^thinning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series played at Wrigley Field. The Yankees win the game by a score of 7-5 before a Wrigley Park crowd of 49,986 fans. Ruth’s Yankees teammate Lou Gehrig hits 2 HRs for the Yankees. Yankees Starter George Pipgras is the winning pitcher, while veteran hurler Herb Pennock picks-up the save.

1933- With the Yankees already eliminated from the 1933 AL Pennant race, the Yankees try to attract fans to see Babe Ruth, who is named the starting pitcher for today’s game. He responds by beating the Red Sox by the score of 6-5. He allowed 11 Red Sox hits, no walks along with 3-strikeouts. As a hitter,  Ruth goes 1 for 3, as he hits the game-winning HR. It would be the last time that he would ever pitch in his MLB playing career. The final game of the 1933 AL season did attract 25,000 fans to Yankee Stadium. The Yankees would finish the 1933 AL season in 2^nd place with a 91-59 record.

1943- MLB statistics show the 1943 pitchers' marks are topped by Yankees Spud Chandler's 1.64 ERA, the best since 1919. Also, Chandler has the best winning percentage at .833, with a 20-4 won-lost mark for the 1943 Yankees.

1944- The Yankees drop their 4^th straight game to the St. Louis Browns by a score of 5-2. This win gives the Browns their only AL pennant in their franchise history in St. Louis.

1949-  On “Joe DiMaggio Day”, some 69,551 fans jam Yankee Stadium to watch the Yankees and Red Sox battle to a 5-4, come-from-behind Bronx victory on a Johnny Lindell 8^th inning HR. The Yankees entered the game trailing the Red Sox by 1 game with 2 games to go, both games are against the Red Sox.

1955- In Game 4 of 1955 World Series is played at Ebbet’s Field, a crowd of 36,796 fans watched the Dodgers defeated the Yankees by a score of 8-5. Dodgers’ Reliever Clem Labine is the winner, while Yankees Starter Don Larsen takes the loss. Dodgers’ hitters Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider led the Brooklyn hitting attack with HRs. While Gil McDougald hits a HR for the Yankees.

1955- Former Yankees Reliever Jeff Reardon (1994) was born.

After signing as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees, veteran reliever Jeff Reardon went 1-0  with an 8.38 ERA with 2 saves in 11 games for the 1994 Yankees.

1961- At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris hits his 61st HR of the 1961 AL season against Red Sox Starter Tracy Stallard. The homer eclipsed Babe Ruth’s 34-year-old single-season MLB 60 HR record. The Yankees win the game by a score of 1-0. Yankees Starter Bill Stafford picks up the win for the Yankees with relief help from the Yankees bullpen. The historic HR is hit before a crowd of only 23,000 fans at Yankee Stadium.

"As a ballplayer, I would be delighted to do it again. As an individual, I doubt if I could possibly go through it again." -ROGER MARIS, commenting about his historic 1961 season with the Yankees.

1962- Former Yankees Minor League P Darin Cloninger was born.

The Padres in the 11th round of the 1983 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected P Darin Cloninger. He was 0-3 with a 3.54 ERA for the Spokane Indians that summer, but he averaged over a strikeout per inning. In 1984, Darin had pitched 3 games for the Marlins, then he was sent along with P Dennis Rasmussen to the Yankees for veteran All-Star 3B Graig Nettles. Cloninger was 4-9 with a 2.85 ERA between Miami and the Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL) for the season. He was 4th in the FSL in ERA. He would split his last pro season, in 1985 between Class A Fort Lauderdale (4-4, 3.70 ERA) and the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (1-3, 5.35 ERA). Overall, his Minor League Pitching record was 9-19  mark with a 3.50 ERA in 3 seasons in pro baseball. He would retire from baseball to  became a teacher; later, he became a HS Principal in California.

1964- Former Yankees All Star OF Roberto Kelly (1987-1992, 2000) was born.

In 1982, OF Roberto Kelly was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. He was an AL All-Star team member in 1992-1993. When the Yankees front office asked Roberto to move to RF to let Rookie Bernie Williams to play CF, but he refused. Then Kelly was traded by the Yankees to the Reds by the Yankees for OF Paul O’Neill. His final Yankees player career totals were a .278 BA, 57 HRs and 259 RBIs with 151 stolen bases. He hit over .300 with 4 different teams and appeared in post-season play 4 times with 3 different teams.

1968- Former Yankees Pitcher Jeff Patterson (1995) was born.

On November 8,1994, Jeff Patterson was sent by the Phillies to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on February 9,1994. The Phillies sent a Player to be Named Later and P Terry Mulholland to the Yankees for 2 Minor League players: INF Kevin Jordan, P Ryan Karp and MLB hurler Bobby Munoz. Jeff  had appeared in 4 games for the 1995 Yankees with no record.

1973- As the renovations begin at Yankee Stadium, home plate and 1st base from the old ballpark are presented respectively to Mrs. Babe Ruth and Mrs. Lou Gehrig. The Bronx Bombers will play their home games at Shea Stadium during the next 2 AL seasons (1974-1975).       

1975- Former Yankees Pitcher Brandon Knight (2001-2002) was born.

On December 13,1999, Brandon Knight was traded by the Rangers along with P Sam Marsonek to the Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. On December 11, 2000, Brandon was drafted by the Twins from the Yankees in the 2000 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. On March 28, 2001, he was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Twins to the Yankees. Brandon appeared in 11 games for the Yankees with no decisions and a 10.71 ERA before being released by the team in 2002.

1975- Former Yankees President and Team Co-Owner, Larry MacPhail (1946-1947) passed away. (1890-1975)

Larry MacPhail was part of the Ownership group (Dan Topping and Del Webb) that bought the Yankees from the Jacob Ruppert Estate in January of 1945. MacPhail had previously worked with the Reds and Dodgers in NL. He had replaced Edward Barrow as the Yankees General Manager. As Yankees GM, Mac Phail started signing black players for the Yankees organization. When he sold his interest in the Yankees in the fall of 1947, MacPhail was replaced by Minor League Director George Weiss; as the new Yankees, General Manager. He would be elected into the Hall of Fame as a Baseball Executive in 1978. MacPhail and his son, Lee MacPhail are the only father-son baseball executives elected into to the Hall of Fame. Lee had worked for the Yankees and Orioles front offices before becoming the AL President in the early 1970’s.

 1977- While the Yankees and Tigers sit out a 2:42 rain delay. The Orioles defeat the Red Sox by a score of 8-7 at Fenway Park, and thereby hand the Yankees their 2^nd consecutive AL Eastern Division Championship. The Yankees added insult to injury by losing the game to the Tigers by the score of 10-7, after the rain delay had ended, but the Yankees won the final game of the 1977 AL season.

1978- The Indians would beat the Yankees by the score of 9-2 behind Starter Rick Waits on the last day of the 1978 AL season to force a 1-game playoff between the Yankees and the Red Sox. The Red Sox had won their 8th straight game, a 5-0 victory over the Blue Jays. The AL play-off game would be played on October 2^nd at Fenway Park in Boston.

1995- The Yankees become the 1st Wild Card winner in the American League.

1998- Current Yankees Reliever Lou Trivino (2022) was born.

In 2013, Lou was signed by the Oakland A’s. In 2022, he had a 1-6 record with 10 saves for Oakland. His MLB pitching career record was 20-25 with 4.04 ERA in 260 games. On August 2, 2022, Lou was traded by the Oakland Athletics along with Starter Frankie Montas to the Yankees for  INF Cooper  Bowman (minors), P  Luis Medina (minors), Pitcher JP Sears and Minor League Starter Ken Waldichuk. He has working out of the Yankees bullpen with all of injuries that have occurred this season

2005- In the 161st game of the 2005 AL season, the Yankees prevail over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, clinching their 8^th straight AL East crown title.

2011- The suspended game in the opener of the other ALDS, between Tigers and Yankees resumes with the score tied 1-1 in the middle of the 2nd inning. Doug Fister and Ivan Nova take over on the mound for starters Justin Verlanderand CC Sabathia, who had originally started the game that was rained out. The Yankees break-through for a run in the 5th and 6 runs in the 6^th inning to take a 9-3 win. Yankees 2B Robinson Cano drives in 6 runs, including a Grand SlamHR off of Tigers Reliever Al Alburquerque in New York's big inning.

2011- Former Yankees Pitcher Johnny “Bear Tracks” Schmitz (1952-1953) passed away. (1920-2011)

On August 1,1952, Johnny Schmitz was selected off waivers from the Dodgers by the Yankees. He'd end up posting a 3.60 ERA in 5 games with the Bombers before being traded along with OF Jim Greengrass, OF Bob Marquis and P Ernie Nevel to the Reds for veteran starter Ewell “The Whip” Blackwell. He gave up 0 runs in 5 innings of work (in 3 games total) for the Reds that season. Shoulder and arm problems would result in him playing less and less. In the 1952-1953 off-season, the Yankees had purchased him. He only appeared in 3 regular season games in 1953 with them before being picked up by the Senators off waivers on May 12th. His time with the 1953 Nats was quite similar to the last few seasons, when he posted an overall 2-7 record.

2015- The Yankees have clinched a 2015 AL Wild Card spot, ending a 2-season absence from the MLB postseason by beating their rivals the Red Sox by the score of 4-1 at Yankee Stadium. Yankees veteran Slugger Carlos Beltran and Rookies 1B Greg Bird and 2B Rob Refsnyder, all homered for the Yankees in the franchise’s 10,000^th regular-season win. Yankees veteran Starter CC Sabathia goes 5 innings for the victory with bullpen help from Adam Warren and Dellin Betances, who gains his 9th save of the 2015 AL season.

2015- Former Yankees Minor League C Cal Neeman passed away. (1925-2015)

In 1949, the Yankees had signed C Cal Neeman as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The Yankees organization assigned Cal to the Class C, Joplin Miners (WA), where he spent both the 1949-1950 baseball seasons. He would hit .292 for the 1950 Miners in 95 games to help them win the league pennant (with help from teammate Mickey Mantle). Then Neeman was called up by the military to serve during the Korean War, returning in time for the start of the 1953 baseball season. Cal would spend the next 4 seasons in the Minor Leagues with his best season coming in 1955, when he caught in 122 games, while hitting .294 for the Birmingham Barons (SA.) In 1956, he would split time between the Yankees 2 AAA farm clubs: Richmond Virginians (IL) and the Denver Bears (AA) and he played well. Cal never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level; he did attend the Yankees MLB Spring Training Camps during his time in the organization. On December 3,1956, Cal Neeman was drafted by the Cubs from the Yankees organization in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. His MLB numbers showed that he had 7 active seasons behind the plate, where he had a good .988 fielding percentage, but he wound up with only a lifetime .224 BA, while hitting 30 HRs and 97 RBIs, appearing in 376 MLB games. Cal played in the MLB as a Reserve Catcher for the 1957-1960 Cubs,1961 Phillies,1962 Pirates, 1963 Indians and finishing up  his playing career with the 1963 Senators. Cal had also spent time in all or parts of 9 Minor League seasons finishing with a .261 BA with 30 HRs, while playing in 719 games.

2020- In the 2nd Series, the Yankees' bats once again put up runs in double figures thanks to 3 HRs, including a Grand Slam HR by Giovanny Urshela off of James Karinchak, but it's a sacrifice fly by Catcher Gary Sanchez followed by a single by D.J. LeMahieu off of Reliever Brad Hand in the 9^th inning that gives them their wild, a 10-9 win in a game that takes 4 HRs and 50 minutes, not including the rain delays totaling another 76 minutes.