This Week in Yankees History November 20th-26th Part One
November 20th
1869- Former HOF Yankees Pitcher (1903-1907) MLB Manager and Team Owner Clark “The Old Gray Fox” Griffith was born. (1869-1955) As their 1st team Manager from 1903-1908, veteran Starter Clark Griffth would take the Yankees to a 419-370 record. Before joining the Yankees in 1903, Clark had managed the 1901-1902 White Sox. In 1903, he would post a 14-11 record with a 2.70 ERA in 25 games for the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees pitcher, Clark would have a 32-24 record in 77 games. On June 24,1908, he was fired by the Yankees President Frank Farrell, being replaced by Player/Manager Kid Elberfeld for the rest of the season. From 1909 to 1911, he would manage the Reds. Next, Griffith would join the Senators as their skipper in 1912, he would purchase 10% percent ownership in the club. In November 1919, thanks to the support of grain broker William Richardson, he would increase his ownership share to 44% of the team, with Richardson owning 40.4% but agreeing to leave him full responsibility for running the team. v After the 1920 season., Clark would step down as Team Manager. Although the club won 3 AL pennants and the 1924 World Series, they would struggle in the 2nd division for most of his tenure at the helm. They had a hard time competing financially with the other teams. Griffith often had to sell off his star players to keep the team afloat. While being team owner of the Senators, Griffith had played a large role in popularizing MLB night baseball. He was responsible for signing many Latin American players. His connections with President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a large role in giving baseball the "green light" to go on during World War II. In 1946, he was elected to the Hall of Fame as a Pioneer and Baseball Executive. In 1952, he was honor by the Yankees. He was the team owner of the Washington Senators from 1912 until his death in 1955. Overall, Clark Griffith had posted a 237-146 record with a 3.31 ERA and 8 saves in 453 games during his 21 MLB season Pitching career that had started in 1891 and ending in 1914.
1882- Former Yankees Pitcher Andy Coakley (1911) was born. (1892-1963)
Veteran MLB Starter Andy Coakley had posted a 0-1 record with 5.40 ERA in 2 games for the 1911 Yankees. He had previously had pitched for the 1902-1906 A’s,1907-1908 Reds and the 1908-1909 Cubs. He appeared in 1 game in the 1905 World Series for A’s, losing 1 game. He would later become a college baseball coach at Williamson, later he was with Columbia Univ., where he coached a young Pitcher/1B named Lou Gehrig.
1888- Former MLB player (1913-1924) and Yankees Minor League Manager Ray Powell (1939-1942) was born. (1888-1962)
Former MLB player Ray Powell managed in the Yankees Minor League organization from 1939 to 1942. He was the Manager of the 1939-1940 Easton Yankees (ESL), 1941 Norfolk Yankees (NSL) and the 1942 Fond Duc Panthers (WSL). In the MLB, he had played the Outfield for the Tigers and the Braves.
1919- Former Yankees Pitcher Rugger Ardizoia (1947) was born. (1919-2015)
At the time of his death in 2015, 96-year-old Rinaldo "Rugger" Ardizoia was the oldest living ex-Yankees player. He had pitched 1 game in the MLB, he would spend 12 seasons pitching in the Minors, mostly with various teams in the Pacific Coast League. He was born in Italy, but he grew up in San Francisco. After graduating from high school in 1937, Rugger began playing for the AA San Francisco Missions in the (PCL). When the Missions moved to Hollywood for the 1931 PCL season; they became the Hollywood Stars. He would pitch 2 seasons for the Stars until being signed for the Yankees by West Coast MLB Scout Joe Devine. The Yankees would send him to their AA club, the Newark Bears (IL) in 1941. When World War II started, he was considered an enemy alien, since he was Italian-born. Rugger was not allowed to travel to the league’s 2 Canadian cities (Montreal and Toronto) with the team. So, in 1942, he was assigned to the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), which had no Canadian city based teams in their league. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army Air Force. Rugger was sent to McClelland Field in Sacramento, Ca., as an aircraft maintenance person. Later, he was sent to Hawaiiwith the 7th Air Force as a Tow Target Operator; then he went to Tinian and Iwo Jima with the 20th Air Force. Ardizoia was discharged from the Air Force in December 1945. In 1946, he went to the MLB Spring Training Camp with the Yankees, but Rugger would spend that season with the AA Oakland Oaks (PCL); where he had won 15 games. Ardizoia’s MLB Pitching career consisted of just 2 innings of relief pitching on April 30,1947. Yankees Manager Bucky Harris tabbed him to relieve Karl Drews in the 7th inning of the Yankees' game against the Browns at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. The Browns already held a 13-4 lead over the Yankees, so his MLB Pitching career amounted to nothing more than MLB mop-up duty. Ardizoia started out well, pitching an uneventful 7th inning. In the top of the 8th inning, Yankees 1B George McQuinn's RBI double chipped away at the Browns' lead, but in the bottom of the 8th, Ardizoia gave up 2 runs on Browns 1B Wally Judnich's 2nd HR of the game. In the top of the 9th inning, Johnny Lindell pinch-hit for him and his MLB pitching career with the Yankees came to an end. Ardizoia would spent the 1948 season back with the AA Hollywood Stars (PCL), later he was with the 1949 AA Seattle Rainiers (PCL) and in the 1951 season, he was with the Dallas Eagles (TXL) before retiring from baseball.
1929- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Lou Berberet (1954-1955) was born. (1929-2004) In 1950, the Yankees had signed Catcher Lou Berberet as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He appeared in just 7 games for the 1954-1955 Yankees, while hitting .400. He was blocked by the presence of All-Star Catcher Yogi Berra and Rookie Elston Howard, like many other young Yankees Minor League Catchers in the 1950’s; the team would trade Lou. On February 8,1956, he was traded by the Yankees along with a Player to be Named Later, INF Herb Plews, Outfielders Richard Tettelbach and Bob Wiesler to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would later send Minor League OF Whitey Herzog to the Senators to complete the trade. Lou would hit .261 for the 1956-1957 AL seasons for the Senators before being traded to the Red Sox in 1958. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1959-1960 Tigers. Overall, he had appeared in 468 MLB games, while hitting .230 with 31 HRs and 153 RBIs.
1930- Former Yankees Minor League INF Don Leppert was born.
In 1949, the Yankees had signed INF Don Leppert as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would never appear with the team at the MLB level. Don would be traded to the Orioles in the big 17-player trade in November of 1954. In 1955, he would play in 30 games for the Orioles, hitting just .141 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. During the 1956 baseball season, he would return to the Yankees organization, playing 2B for Birmingham Barons (SA), while hitting .278 in 68 games before retiring from pro baseball at the end of the season.
1934- A 17-year-old Japanese Pitcher named Eiji Sawamura gives up 1-hit, a HR to Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig, as the touring MLB All-Stars, win in Japan by the score of 1-0. At one point, Sawamura strikes out 4 future MLB Hall of Famer players in a row: Tigers 2B Charlie Gehringer, Yankees OF Babe Ruth, A’s 1B Jimmie Foxx and Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig.
1940- Former Yankees Minor League P Gil Downs was born. (1940-2019)
Gil Downs had a successful Minor League Pitching career, playing in 3 MLB organizations from 1963 to 1967. He made it to AAA in part or all of 3 seasons, though he never ascended to the MLB. He began in the White Sox system, going 13-3 with a 1.37 ERA in 27 games (25 starts) between the Lynchburg White Sox (3 Games, with a 1.13 ERA) and the Sarasota Sun Sox (24 Games, 1.38 ERA) in 1963. With the Sun Sox, he tossed 13 complete games and 6 shutouts; between both teams, he allowed just 140 hits and 48 walks in 191 innings for a 0.984 WHIP. He had 174 strikeouts. On June 20th, he tossed a 7-inning No-Hitter against the Ft. Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). The Yankees took him in the $8,000 1st Year portion of the 1963 Rule 5 Player Draft. For the 1964 Greensboro Yankees (SAL), he went 9-5 with a 2.83 ERA in 23 games (21 starts), while completing 4 games and 1 shut out. In 127 innings, he allowed 97 hits and 46 walks, while striking out 118 batters. Also, he went 4-1 with 0.87 ERA in 9 games (6 starts) with 4 complete games and 3 shutouts for the Yankees (FECIL) that season. Shifting to the bullpen in 1965, Downs went 7-2 with a 1.91 ERA in 42 games (3 starts) between the 2 teams. Most of his work came with the AA Columbus Confederate Yankees (SL) (42 Games, 1.18 ERA), though he made 2 starts for the AAA Toledo Mud Hens (IL), going 0-1 with a 8.00 ERA in 9 innings. In 1966, his only full season at AAA, he went 10-8 with a 3.47 ERA in 34 games (11 starts) for the Mud Hens. In 109 innings, he allowed only 82 hits, but he surrendered 61 walks. On December 20,1966, he was traded along with Cash by the Yankees to the Indians for veteran MLB Shortstop Richard Howser. He would spend 1 season in the Indians farm system, going 0-1 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 innings in 1967. Overall, Downs went 39-19 with a 2.30 ERA in 134 games (61 starts) in 5 Minor League seasons. He had 19 complete games with 8 shutouts. In 528 innings, he allowed 390 hits and 217 walks, while striking out 430 batters. Including his winter league statistics, he went 43-20 with a 2.17 ERA with 23 complete games and 11 shutouts. He was 10-10, with a 3.94 ERA in 40 games (13 starts) at AAA. He had served in the Army prior to starting his pro baseball playing career in 1963.
1945- Former Yankees DH/OF Jay Johnstone (1978) was born. (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 Reliever 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. In 1979, he had only played in 23 games, while just hitting .208 for the team, when he was traded to the Phillies. Overall, Jay had appeared in 59 games for the Yankees, while hitting .239 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs.
1962- Yankees CF Mickey Mantle collects his 3rd AL MVP Award of his MLB playing career. Mantle, who had hit .321 with 30 HRs and 89 RBIs in 123 games, also he led the AL in walks (122) along with a slugging percentage (.605), while helping the Yankees to win the 1962 World Championship against the Giants.
1967- The Yankees have obtained INF and future MLB Coach Bobby Cox from the Braves for P Dale Roberts and Reserve Catcher Bob Tillman. He will be the Yankees starting 3B for the 1968 AL season, appearing in 132 games, while hitting .229 with 7 HRs and 41 RBIs. Overall, Bobby will play in 220 games for the 1967-1968 Yankees, while hitting .225 with 9 HRs and 58 RBIs. He will become an MLB Coach for the Yankees in 1977, before joining the 1978 Braves as their MLB Manager. He would also be an MLB Manager for the Blue Jays, before returning to the Braves.
1967- Former Yankees Reserve INF Alex Arias (2002) was born.
On June 6, 2002, veteran MLB INF Alex Arias was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He would only appear in 6 games for the 2002 team with no hits. On October 28, 2002, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team.
1969- Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Charles “Paddy” Baumann (1915-1917) passed away. (1885-1969)
On March 3,1915, INF/OF Paddy Baumann was sent from AA Providence (IL) to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. Charles “Paddy” Bauman would hit .276 with 3 HRs and 61 RBIs in 204 games for the 1915-1917 Yankees. Paddy had started his MLB playing career with the 1911-1914 Tigers, as a Reserve player, appearing in 95 games, while hitting .272 with 1 HR and 40 RBIs. After leaving the Yankees in 1917, Paddy would play in the Minor Leagues until 1928, retiring at the age of 42.
1971- Former Yankees Reliever Gabe White (2003-2004) was born. On July 31, 2003, the Reds would send P Gabe White to the Yankees as part of a conditional deal. On December 7, 2003, Gabe was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Gabe went 2-2 with a 6.82 ERA in 36 games for the Yankees during the 2003-2004 AL seasons. On June 18, 2004, the Yankees would send Gabe back to the Reds for Minor League P Charlie Manning and Cash.
1985- Yankees 1B Don Mattingly, who had hit .324, with 35 HRs and 145 RBIs, easily wins the 1985 AL Most Valuable Player Award over the Royals 3B George Brett (.335, 30 HRs, 103 RBIs). He becomes the 1st player on a non-championship team to win the AL MVP Award since Red Sox OF Jim Rice won in 1978.
1995-The Yankees had traded Minor League P Mike DeJean and a Player to be Named to the Rockies for Catcher Joe Girardi. He will solidify the catching position for the Yankees, while DeJean will set an MLB mark for most appearances without a loss. DeJean will post a 7-0 record through 1998, while making 88 appearances, breaking a little-known mark set by Phil Paine from 1951-1958. Joe Girardi will replace Mike Stanley as the Yankees starting catcher for the 1996 AL season. Stanley will be signed an MLB Free Agent by the Red Sox. The Player to be Named Later was Yankees Minor League P Steve Shoemaker, who went 4-5 in Class A ball with the Tampa (FSL) and Greensboro (SAL).
2001- The Yankees would lose veteran Reserve INF Jose Vizcanio to MLB Free Agency, as he signs with the Astros. On June 20, 2000, Jose was traded by the Dodgers along with Cash to the Yankees for Catcher Jim Leyritz. He would hit .276 with 0 HRs and 10 RBIs in 73 games.Jose Vizcaino had the game-winning hit in Game 1 of the 2000 World Series between the Yankees and Mets. He would hit .235 in 4 Series games for the 2000 Yankees.
2010- Former Yankees Pitcher Danny McDevitt (1961) had passed away. (1932-2010).
In 1951, the Yankees had originally signed P Danny McDevitt as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. However, after giving up 76 walks in 43 innings that season in the low Minors, he was released by the Yankees, before the start of 1952 AL season. Then the Dodgers signed him as an MLB Free Agent. On December 16,1960, Danny was purchased by the Yankees from the Dodgers. He was projected to replace Bobby Shantz as the lefty swingman for the 1961 Yankees pitching staff. Dan would post a 1-2 record with a 7.62 ERA and 1 save in 8 games with the Yankees, before being traded on June 14,1961 to the Twins for veteran Reserve INF Billy Gardner. Dan’s claim to MLB fame was being the last Brooklyn Dodger Pitcher to start, throw a shutout and win at Ebbets Field in September of 1957 against the Pirates. His best MLB season was in 1959, when he went 10-8 for the World Champion Dodgers. He didn’t appear in the 1959 World Series for the Dodgers against the White Sox. Danny would finish MLB Pitching career with a 21-27 record with a 4.40 ERA with 7 saves in 155 games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Twins and the 1962 A’s.
2012- The Yankees would re-sign veteran MLB Starter Hiroki Kuroda for 1 year for $15 million, giving him a big raise, after he had posted a 16-11 record with a 3.32 ERA in 33 games for the club in 2012.
2018-The Yankees have added Minor League Reliever Joe Harvey to their 40-Man MLB roster. On June 7, 2014, Joe Harvey was drafted by the Yankees in the 19th round of the 2014 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The young reliever has a 5-6 lifetime career record with 1.75 ERA with 25 saves in 102 games. He split the 2018 season between AA Trenton Thunder (EL) and AAA Scranton (IL), while posting a 3-2 record with a 1.67 ERA and 11 saves in 43 games. On July 31, 2019, Harvey was traded by the Yankees to the Rockies for Minor League P Alfredo Garcia. In 2020, he appeared in only 4 games for the Rockies with no decisions. On November 2, 2020, Joe was granted MLB Free Agency by the Rockies.
2020- The Yankees have selected the player contract of P Alexander Vizcanio from the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL), then they will select the player contracts of P Yoendrys Gomez and Shortstop Oswald Peraza from the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) adding them to their 40-Man MLB Roster.
November 21st
1885- Former Yankees Pitcher Harry Billiard (1908) was born. (1885-1923) Pitcher Harry Billiard had appeared in 6 games with no record for the 1908 Yankees.
1911- After a 6th place team finish with a 76-76 record for the 1911 AL season, 1B Hal Chase resigns as the Yankees Manager. Former MLB 3B Harry Wolverton replaces him as the Yankees Manager. Hal Chase will remain a player with the Yankees, until he is traded to the White Sox during the 1913 AL season. The Rookie AL Manager Harry Wolverton will go 50-100-1 for a last place finish for the 1912 AL season. Also, he had played 34 games at 3B, hitting .300. After leaving the team, Harry will never manage in the MLB again. Former Cubs Manager Frank Chance will replace him for the 1913 AL season.
1934- The Yankees had announced that they have purchased Minor League Star OF Joe DiMaggio from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) for Players to be Named Later and Cash. He will play for the Seals for 1 more PCL season before he will report to the Yankees for the 1936 AL season. The son of Italian immigrants will be 1 of 3 DiMaggio brothers to play in the MLB, Dom (Red Sox) and Vince (Braves and the Pirates). On December 19,1934, the Yankees will send INF Doc Farrell (Minors), P Floyd Newkirk, Minor League Players; Jim Densmore, Ted Norbert and $5,000 Cash (1935) to the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete the trade. Doc Farrell will refuse to report to his new team in 1935, he ended up playing briefly with Red Sox, before retiring as an active player.
1934- Former Yankees Pitcher Fred “Lucky” Glade (1908) passed away. (1876-1934)
On November 5,1907, veteran Starter Fred Glade was traded by the St. Louis Browns along with OF Charlie Hemphill and 2B Harry Niles to the Yankees for INF Hobe Ferris, OF Danny Hoffman and 2B Jimmy Williams. Fred will appear in 5 games for the 1908 Yankees, while posting a 0-4 record with a 4.22 ERA. He will retire from MLB, after the 1908 AL season was over. He finishes his MLB pitching career with a 52-68 record with a 2.62 ERA and 2 saves in 132 games. He had pitched for the Cubs in the NL, then with the Browns and the Yankees in the AL.
1947- Former Yankees Pitcher “Slow” Joe Doyle (1906-1910) passed away. (1881-1947) Hurler “Slow” Joe Doyle had posted a 22-21 record with 2.75 ERA in 70 games for the Yankees. On May 31,1910, Joe was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees for $2,000 Cash. Doyle was nicknamed “Slow” because the amount of time he took to throw his pitches in a game. Overall, Joe had an MLB lifetime pitching record of 22-21 with a 2.85 ERA in 75 games.
Norm “Red” Branch had played college baseball at the Univ. of Texas. In 1937, Red was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. The 6’3”, 200-Lb right-hander would pitch for the Norfolk Tars (PL) in his rookie year posting an impressive 14-4 record and earning promotion to AA Kansas City Blues (AA). By 1939, Branch was with the AA Newark Bears (IL), where he worked primarily as a relief pitcher, appearing in 41 games that season. In 1940, the 25-year-old would make 30 appearances for AA Newark Bears. In 1941, Red would join the Yankees MLB pitching staff. He would make his MLB Pitching debut on May 5,1941.He would appear in 27 games for the team, while posting a 5-1 record with a 2.87 ERA, although he didn’t pitch in the 1941 World Series against the Dodgers. In 1942, he made just 10 appearances for the Yankees, Red would enter in military service with the Coast Guard at the end of the year. Branch was initially stationed at Groton Naval base in Connecticut before moving to the Coast Guard Academy at New London, where he spent the rest of the war. He would pitch for the Coast Guard Dolphins. Returning from service at the end of 1945 with a sore arm, Branch pitched briefly for the AA Newark Bears (IL) and the Class A Beaumont (TXL) in 1946 before retiring from the game. As an MLB Reliever, Norm Branch had appeared in 37 games for the 1941-1942 Yankees, while posting a 5-2 record with a 3.73 ERA and 7 saves.
1973- Former Yankees OF Rickey Ledee (1998-2000) was born.
In the 16th round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft, the Yankees had selected OF Rickey Ledee. He was trying to break into the Yankees starting outfield, when on June 29, 2000, he was traded by the team along with 2 Pitchers: Zach Day and Jake Westbrook to the Indians for MLB veteran OF/DH David Justice. The arrival of Dave Justice would help the Yankees win the 2000 AL Flag. As a Yankees player, Ledee had appeared in 192 games, while hitting .258 with 17 HRs and 83 RBIs. Rickey had never reached his great promise as an MLB player due to various injuries that occur to him during his MLB playing career.
1973- Former Yankees Reliever Todd Erdos (1998-2000) was born. On March 7,1998, P Todd Erdos was traded by the Diamondbacks along with P Marty Janzen to the Yankees for Reserve INF Andy Fox. Todd went 0-0 with 5.03 ERA with 1 save in 20 games with the 1998-2000 Yankees. On July 12,2000, Todd was selected off waivers by Padres from the Yankees.
1978- The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Starter Tommy John, a re-entry MLB Free Agent formerly with the Dodgers. John will be a valuable addition to the Yankees starting rotation, winning 43 games in the next 2 AL seasons. He had become an MLB Free Agent, when the 1978 Dodgers refused to give him a 3-year contract. He had posted a 17-10 record with a 3.30 ERA and 1 save in 33 games for the 1978 Dodgers.
1980- Despite having led the 1980 Yankees to 103 wins and winning AL East Division, Manager Richard Howser resigns. He was tired of the constant interference by Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner over personnel and player decisions. Former Yankees MLB Player and Coach Gene “The Stick” Michael would replace him. In 1981, Howser will join the Kansas City Royals as their Manager.
1987- Former Yankees Reserve OF Dusty Cooke (1930-1933) passed away. (1907-1987)
Dusty Cooke played 8 seasons in the MLB, showing an ability to draw walks. He hit .306 in 1935 and his .400 on-base percentage was among the AL leaders. He would play the Outfield in the MLB, appearing in all 3-outfield positions in roughly equal amounts. Although he was with the Yankees for 3 seasons, he did not appear in post-season play (they finished 2nd in the 2 seasons that he had most of his at-bats with them). His Yankees player career totals were a .267 BA with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs in 122 games. On May 15,1933, Dusty was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for 2B Marv Olson, OF/1B Johnny Watwood and Cash. Cooke would play for the Yankees, Red Sox and the Reds during his MLB playing career. He joined the Navy in October of 1942; he served in Okinawa Bay during the war. Cooke received training in the Navy in Conditioning, so he became the MLB Trainer for the Phillies in 1946. Also, Cooke was a Phillies MLB Coach from 1948 to 1952; he was also the club's Manager for a short time (12 games) during the 1948 NL season.
1988- Current Yankees Minor League OF Ryan LaMarre (2021) was born.
Ryan LaMarre was signed by the Yankees to a Minor League contract with an invitation to their 2021 MLB Spring Training Camp. He is a former 2nd Round pick of the Reds in the 2010 1st Year Player Draft out of the Univ. of Michigan. In 2020, he had signed a Minor League deal with Tampa; he was released by the team on July 18th. On July 23rd, he was signed to a Minor League deal with the Cubs; he was assigned to their MLB Alternate site. On September 10th, Ryan was released by the Cubs. He has played in 5 MLB seasons with the 2015 Reds, 2016 Red Sox, 2017 A’s, 2018-2019 Twins and the 2018 White Sox. He has played in 120 MLB games, while hitting .236 with 4 HRs and 21 RBIs. He started the 2021 season with the Yankees AAA club in Scranton (IL), then he was briefly with the Yankees before being outrighted to AAA Scranton on June 16th. On July 18, 2021, the Yankees had purchased his Minor League contract from AAA Scranton (IL) adding him to their 25-man MLB roster, when the team’s outfielders went down with a series of injuries. He would appear in 9 games for the team, while hitting 2 HRs and 4 RBIs. He would be returned to AAA Scranton to finish out the season. In October of 2021, the Yankees had announced that Ryan had become a Free Agent. In March of 2022, Ryan would be signed by the team to Minor League deal with an invite to the 2022 MLB Spring Training Camp.
1989- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Pitcher Pascual Perez. The troubled Perez would go 3-6 with a 2.87 ERA in 17 games for the 1990-1991 Yankees. He had gone 28-21 in 3 seasons with the Montreal Expos. He was on the Yankees DL for shoulder injuries, that would end his MLB Pitching career. He finished his MLB Pitching career with a 67-68 record with a 3.44 ERA in 207 games with the Pirates, Braves, Expos and the Yankees.
1989- Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Jose Pirela (2014-2015) was born.
The Yankees had originally signed the Venezuela native INF/OF Jose Pirela, as a Non-Drafted Free Agent on July 2, 2006. Jose had a very good MLB Player debut starting at DH for the Yankees against the Orioles on September 22, 2014. He was batting 9th in the Yankees starting line-up, he went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and 1 RBI in a 5-0 win, with his 1stMLB hit being a triple off of Orioles Starter Wei-Yin Chen in his 1st MLB career at-bat in the 3rd inning. He was the last of 234 players to make their MLB Player debut in 2014. Pirela, 25, hit .230 (17-for-74) with 1 HR and 5 RBIs in 37 games with the 2015 Yankees. He missed the 1st month of the season on the concussion DL following an injury suffered during an MLB spring training game against the Mets on March 22 in Port St. Lucie. In 64-combined Minor League games-including his rehab assignment-with Class A Tampa (FSL), AA Trenton (EL) and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (IL), he hit .310 (76-for-245) with 3 HRs and 23 RBIs. On November 11, 2015, Jose was traded by the Yankees to the Padres for Minor League P Ronald Herrera.
2000- The Yankees had signed veteran MLB Free Agent Catcher Joe Oliver to a contract. He would hit .250 in 12 games as a Reserve Catcher for the 2001 Yankees, before being released by the team on June 20, 2001. He would finish out the 2001 AL season with the Red Sox.
2015- Former Yankees Reserve OF Kerry Dineen (1951-1975) had passed away. (1952-2015)
Outfielder Kerry Dineen was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 1973 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Dineen appeared in only 11 games as a Reserve Outfielder for the 1975-1976 Yankees, while hitting .345 before being traded to the Phillies for Reserve INF Sergio Ferrer. Kerry had appeared in just 5 games with the 1979 Phillies, while hitting .250. He had his pro baseball career end due to back injuries.
2015- Former Yankees Pitcher Ken Johnson (1969) passed away. (1933-2015)
Veteran Ken Johnson pitched two-thirds of an inning in Game 5 of the 1961 World Series for the Reds against the Yankees. He came on in the top of the 2nd with 1 out, already being the Reds' 3rd pitcher of the game, relieving Jim Maloney, who had relieved Starter Joey Jay. Johnny Blanchard was on 1B. Johnson got Elston Howard to line to 3B and Moose Skowron to fly out to center. The Reds lost the game by the score of 13-5 and lost the 1961 World Series to the Yankees by 4 games to 1. Ken Johnson is the only MLB Pitcher to lose a 9-inning complete game No-Hitter. On April 23,1964, while with the Houston Colt .45's, he was beaten 1-0 by the Reds; despite having thrown a No-Hitter. After 8 innings of no-hit ball, in the top of the 9th, Johnson faced his counterpart, Joe Nuxhall, who grounded out to 3B. Then Pete Rose reached 2nd, after Johnson made an errant throw to 1st on a bunt. After a sacrifice to the pitcher, Rose was 90 feet from home with 2 outs. Vada Pinson then sent a grounder to 2B Nellie Fox who booted it, allowing the run to score. Johnson got the next batter to fly out, but the Colt .45's couldn't score in the last of the 9th, pegging him with the loss. In 1952, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Philadelphia A’s. He had pitched for the A’s, Reds, Colt 45s, Expos (twice), Braves, Yankees and the Cubs. Overall, Ken had posted a 91-106 record with a 3.46 ERA in 334 MLB games. After being purchased from the Braves, Ken pitched briefly for the 1969 Yankees, appearing in only 12 games, he had posted a 1-2 record with a 3.46 ERA. The team sold him to the Cubs in August of 1969. After his MLB player retirement, he was a Baseball Coach for Louisiana College in Pineville, LA.
2018- The Yankees had acquired INF/OF Tim Locastro from the Dodgers for Minor League P Drew Finley and Cash considerations. He’s a .283 hitter through 626 AA plate appearances. Playing with the 2017-2018 Dodgers, he had appeared in 21 games, while hitting only .167. Finley, a 22-year-old righty, has yet to move past the low A level despite 3 attempts. In 120 innings as a Pitcher over 4 seasons, he carries an unsightly 5.48 ERA with a 2-11 record in 42 games in the Yankees organization. Finley was a 3rd-round pick of MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Yankees back in 2015. On January 16, 2019, Tim Locastro was traded by the Yankees the Diamondbacks for Minor League P Ronald Roman and Cash.
November 22nd
1901- Former Yankees and MLB OF/3B Harry Rice (1930) was born. (1901-1971) Veteran OF Harry Rice hit .298 with 7 HRs and 74 RBIs as a regular Outfielder in 100 games for the 1930 Yankees. During the 1930 AL season, he was obtained from the Tigers in the Waite Hoyt trade. Despite his good performance for the 1930 Yankees, the new Yankees Manager Joe McCarthy had no plans for the veteran Rice in the 1931 team’s starting Outfield. On January 31,1931, Harry was claimed on waivers by the Senators from the Yankees. As an MLB player for 10 seasons, he hit .299 with 48 HRs and 501 RBIs in 1,034 games. In 1933, after playing for the Reds, Harry would continue to play in the Minor Leagues. Later, Harry was a Minor League Player/ Manager from 1938-1941.
1926- Former Yankees and MLB Pitcher Lew Burdette (1950) was born. (1926-2007) On April 6,1947, Pitcher Lew Burdette was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. In 1947, he would break into pro baseball at age 20 with the Norfolk Tars (PL), going 1-1 with a 4.33 ERA in 6 games. Then he would pitch for the Amsterdam Rugmakers (CAML) in the same season, going 9-10 with a 2.82 ERA in 24 games. In 1948, Lou was with the Quincy Gems (3-I L), posting a 16-11 record with a 2.02 ERA. In 1949, Lew would pitch for the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), going just 6-7 with a 5.26 ERA in 36 games. In 1950, Lew went 7-7 with a 4.79 ERA in 27 games for the Blues and got a late look with the Yankees. He would appear in just 2 games with no record for the team. In 1951, he was sent back down to the Minors by the team to the AAA San Francisco Seals (PCL), where Lew posted a 14-12 record with a 3.21 ERA in 30 games; when on August 29,1951, he was traded by the Yankees along with $50,000 Cash to the Braves for veteran P Johnny Sain. He would pitch for the Boston/Milwaukee Braves from 1951 until mid-1963, while posting a 179-120 record with a 3.53 ERA and 24 saves in 468 games. Lew would come back to haunt the Yankees in 1957 World Series, winning 3 games against his former team; giving the Braves their 1st World Series championship since the 1914 NL season. In 2 World Series with 1957-1958 Milwaukee Braves against the Yankees, Lew went 4-2 with a 2.92 ERA in 6 games. He won 20 and 21 games for the 1958-1959 Braves, also he won 19 games twice and 18 once for the team.
He was named to the NL All-Star team Pitching Staff, 3 times. In 1960, he pitched a No-Hitter against the Phillies. Lew finished his MLB pitching career in 1967 with an MLB lifetime mark of 203-144 with a 3.66 ERA in 626 MLB games. He had pitched for the Yankees, Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies and finished his MLB Pitching career with the 1967 Angels. He later was an MLB Scout for the Braves organization, before retiring completely from baseball. Then he became involved in Public Relations work. Clipper Notes: If Lew had stayed with the Yankees, he could have a good chance to win 300 games. Former Yankees GM George Weiss would name Pitcher Lou Burdette and OF Jackie Jensen as the 2 young Yankee players that he shouldn’t have traded away during his GM days with the team (1948-1960).
1934- The Yankees had sold veteran P Danny MacFayden to the Reds. Dan had posted a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games for the 1932-1934 Yankees. His sale to the Reds was a conditional deal, if the team didn’t want to keep him, he would be returned to the Bronx. He posted a 1-2 record with a 4.75 ERA in 7 games for the 1935 Reds. On June 1,1935, he was returned to the Yankees. On June 4,1935, the Yankees would sell him to the Braves.
1943- Former Yankees Pitcher Wade Blasingame (1972) was born. After being obtained from the Astros on June 7,1972, NL veteran P Wade Blasingame went 0-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 12 games for the 1972 Yankees before being sent to the Cardinals on a conditional deal in March of 1973.
1946- Former Yankees INF Rich McKinney (1972) was born. On December 2,1971, INF Rich McKinney was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for Starter Stan Bahnsen. Rich hit .215 with 1 HR and 7 RBIs in 37 games for the Yankees in one of the worst modern era trades in the team’s history. He was unable to make the adjustment from 2B to 3B. On December 1,1972, he was sent by the Yankees to Oakland to complete an earlier deal made on November 24,1972. The Bombers sent a Player to be Named Later and P Rob Gardner to Oakland for veteran OF/DH Matty Alou. The Yankees would send INF Rich McKinney on December 1,1972 to Oakland to complete the trade. With the arrival of 3B Graig Nettles from the Indians, Rich’s fate with the Yankees was sealed. He was very happy to leave New York City. As an MLB player, Rich would hit .225 with 20 HRs and 100 RBIs in 341 games.
1955- Former Yankees INF Wayne Tolleson (1986-1990) was born. On July 30,1986, INF Wayne Tolleson was traded by the White Sox along with OF/1B Ron Kittle and C Joel Skinner to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, C Ron Hassey and OF Carlos Martinez. The Yankees would later send Minor League C Bill Lindsey to the White Sox to complete the trade. Wayne’s best season as a Yankees player was in 1986, when he hit .284 with No HRs and 14 RBIs in 60 games for the team. He finished his MLB playing career with the 1987 Yankees appearing in 121 games, while hitting .221 with 1 HR and 22 RBIs. Overall, Wayne had played in 689 MLB games, while hitting .249 with 8 HRs and 115 RBIs; while appearing with the Rangers, White Sox and the Yankees.
1956- Former Yankees Reserve OF Roy Carlyle (1926) had passed away. (1900-1956) On June 15,1926, OF Roy Carlyle was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Red Sox. He had originally been signed by the Senators, who later traded him to the Red Sox. He had appeared in 35 games for the 1926 Yankees, while hitting .323 with No HRs and 11 RBIs for the team. Roy was basically used as a left-handed Pinch-Hitter by the Yankees Manager Miller Higgins since the Yankee starting Outfield was already set with Babe Ruth, Earl Combs and Bob Meusel. In 1927, he would return to Minor Leagues, playing actively until 1934, retiring as a player at the age of 32.
1957- In a controversial AL MVP vote; Yankees CF Mickey Mantle edges Red Sox OF Ted Williams, 233 to 209 votes to win the 1957 AL MVP Award. Mantle had batted .365 with 34 HRs for the 1st-place Yankees, while Williams of the 3rd-place Red Sox, led the AL with a .388 average with 38 HRs, as well as a stunning .731 slugging percentage. Boston Team Owner Tom Yawkey fumes at the news, noting that 2 Chicago Baseball Writers had listed Ted Williams in the 9th and 10th places on their AL MVP voting ballots.
1958- Former Yankees Pitcher Lee Guetterman (1988-1992) was born. On December 22,1987, P Lee Guetterman was traded by the Mariners along with fellow hurlers Clay Parker and Wade Taylor to the Yankees for MLB Starter Steve Trout and Reserve OF Henry Cotto. One of the more consistent relievers of his day, Guetterman would start the 1989 AL season for the Yankees with a run of 30 2/3 innings without giving up a run - the highest total in 41 years. This streak was the longest ever by a reliever to start the season. Lee’s best season with the Yankees was in 1990, when he went 11-7 with a 3.39 ERA and 2 saves in 64 games. Lee went 21-19 with a 3.73 ERA with 21 saves in 233 games as a Yankees hurler before being traded on June 9,1992 to the Mets for P Tim Burke. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 38-36 record with a 4.33 ERA and 25 saves in 425 games.
1974-The Yankees had traded veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson to the Indians for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. On June 7,1973, Pat had been obtained by the Yankees from the Braves for Minor League Players 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later. Dobson had pitched for the team from 1973 to 1975. In 1973, he posted a 9-8 record with a 4.17 ERA in 22 games. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA in 39 games. In 1975, he had slipped to a 11-14 record with a 4.07 ERA in 35 games. Then he was removed from the 1975 Yankees starting rotation by Yankees Manager Bill Virdon. The Bombers new Manager Billy Martin, also kept him out of the starting rotation, then Pat would ask the Yankees front office for a trade. Young OF Oscar Gamble was a young lefty slugger, who had hit 54 HRs for the Tribe during the past 3 AL seasons.
1985- Yankees Former Reliever Adam Ottavino (2019-2020) was born.
On January 17, 2019, it was announced that MLB Free Agent Reliever Adam Ottavino had signed a 3-year deal with the Yankees worth $27 million. He announced shortly afterwards that the Yankees had allowed him to keep his traditional uniform number, 0. That made him the 1st player in team history to wear the number and the only member of the team to have single-digit number, given uniform numbers 1 through 9 have all been retired by the team. He decision to allow him to use the number apparently had to be okayed by Team Owner himself! In 7 seasons with the Rockies, he had a 17-18 record with a 3.41 ERA and 17 saves in 463 games. He went 6-6 with a 1.90 ERA and 2 saves in 73 games for the 2019 Yankees. In the 2019 ALDS, he had a 0-0 record in 3 games against the Twins. In the 2019 ALCS against the Astros, he went 0-0 with a disappointing 11.57 ERA in 5 games for the Yankees. In 2020, he had appeared in 24 games for the team, while posting a 2-3 with disappointing a 5.89 ERA and no saves. On January 25,2021, Adam was traded to the Red Sox along with Minor League P Frank German for Cash compensation. He would last just 1 season with the Red Sox, going 7-3 with a 4.21 ERA and 11 saves in 69 games. On November 3, 2021, the Red Sox would grant him MLB Free Agency. He would be signed by the Mets.
1988- Former Yankees Reserve C/1B Austin Romine (2011, 2013-2019) was born. The son of former MLB Player Kevin Romine and brother of Andrew Romine, Catcher Austin Romine was selected by the Yankees in the 2nd round of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He made his pro debut that summer with the Class A Gulf Coast League Yankees, going 1-for-2 in 1st game there. In September of 2009, Austin Romine was named Florida State League Player of the Year. Romine would spend the bulk of the 2011 season with the AA Trenton Thunder (EL). He would hit .286 with 6 HRs and 47 RBIs. After spending 4 games with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL) at the end of the season, he was called up to the MLB to experience the pennant race the Yankees were involved in. Romine made his MLB Player debut on September 11th against the Angels in Anaheim. With his parents in the stands and brother Andrew on the Angels bench, Romine was brought in as a defensive replacement for fellow top catching prospect Jesus Montero. Romine caught the final 3 innings as Mariano Rivera picked up his 599th MLB career save. He had missed most of 2012 baseball season due to back problems. In 2016, he had appeared in 62 games as a Reserve Catcher and 1B for the team, while hitting .242 with No HRs and 26 RBIs. In 2017, Austin hit .218 with 2 HRs and 21 RBIs in 80 games. With injuries to starting Catcher Gary Sanchez in 2018, Austin would play in 77 games, while hitting .244 with 10 HRs and 42 RBIs. In 2019, Austin would appear in 72 games for the team, while Sanchez was on the IL, hitting .281 with 8 HRs and 35 RBIs. Overall, as a Yankees player for 8 seasons, he had played in 368 games, while hitting .239 with 25 HRs and 135 RBIs. After the 2019 AL season was over, Austin was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees. He would be sign by the Tigers, who were giving him a chance to be their 2020 starting Catcher. In 2020, he had played for the Tigers before being granted MLB Free Agency. In 2021, he would play for the Cubs, as a reserve catcher before being granted MLB Free Agency after the NL season had ended.
1995- The Angels had signed MLB Free Agent INF Randy Velarde, formerly of the Yankees to a 3-year MLB player contract. Randy will now have a chance to become the Angels full-time Shortstop for the 1996 AL season. In 10 seasons with the Yankees, Randy had appeared in 673 games, while hitting .261 with 43 HRs and 209 RBIs. He was originally signed by the White Sox. On January 5,1987, Randy was traded by the White Sox along with P Pete Filson to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers: Mike Soper (Minors) and Scott Nielsen.
2006- Former Yankees Pitcher Pat Dobson (1973-1975) passed away from Leukemia. (1942-2006) On June 7,1973, the Yankees would send 1B Frank Tepedino, OF Wayne Nordhagen and Players to be Named Later were sent to the Braves for MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers: Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. Pat went 9-8 for the 1973 Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1974, when he posted a 19-15 record with a 3.07 ERA and 12 complete games in 39 starts. Overall. Pat would post a 39-27 record with 19 complete starts in 72 games and 3.65 ERA for the Yankees, before being traded to the Indians in winter of 1975 for OF/DH Oscar Gamble. As an MLB Pitcher, Pat would post a 122-129 record with a 3.54 ERA in 414 games. He had appeared in 2 World Series with the 1968 Tigers and the 1971 Orioles with no record with a 3.97 ERA in 6 games. After his active MLB playing career ended, Dobson was Pitching Coach for the AA Nashville Sounds (SAL) in 1980-1981 and the 1982-1984 Brewers. He later held the same position with the 1988-1990 Padres, the 1991 Royalsand the Orioles in 1996. He was employed by the Giants as an Advance Scout at the time of his death in 2006 from leukemia, one day after receiving his medical diagnosis.
2010- Former Yankees Pitcher Tommy Underwood (1980-1981) passed away from Pancreatic Cancer. (1953-2010) Tommy Underwood was selected by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1972 MLB Amateur Player Draft. The Phillies would be traded to the Cardinals on June 15,1977, who in turn would trade him in December of 1977 to the new AL Expansion team, the Blue Jays. On November 1,1979, P Tommy Underwood was traded by the Blue Jays along with Catcher Rick Cerone and Reserve OF Ted Wilborn to the Yankees for All-Star 1B Chris Chambliss, Reserve INF Damaso Garcia and P Paul Mirabella. Tom would record 13-9 mark with a 3.66 ERA and 2 saves in 38 games for the 1980 Yankees, before slipping to a 1-4 record with a 4.41 ERA in 9 games in 1981. Overall, he went 14-13 with a 3.77 ERA and 2 saves in 47 games for the team. On May 20,1981, He was traded by the team along with veteran 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the A’s for 1B Dave Revering, OF Mike Patterson and Minor League P Chuck Dougherty. His younger brother Pat, also had pitched in MLB; with the Tigers. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with the 1984 Orioles. In 1985, Tom returned to the Yankees organization pitching at 3 levels before ending his active playing career. As an MLB Pitcher, Tom had posted an 86-87 record with a 3.89 ERA and 18 saves in 377 games.
2021- Former Yankees Minor League OF and MLB Player and Manager Bill Virdon (1974-1975) was born. (1931-2021)
In 1950, the Yankees had originally signed OF Bill Virdon as an MLB Amateur Player; he had played in the Yankees farm system from 1950 to 1953; reaching AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In the spring of 1954, he was traded along with P Mel Wright and OF Emil Tellinger to the Cardinals for veteran All-Star OF Enos “Country” Slaughter in 1954. In 1955, while playing for the Cardinals, he won the NL Rookie Of Year Award. Bill would later go on to be an NL All-Star OF with the Pirates. He had hit .241 with the Pirates in the 1960 World Series against the Yankees. He would manage the Pirates before coming to the Yankees to replace long-time Yankees Manager Ralph Houk, who resigned at the end of 1973 AL season. He is the only modern era Yankees Manager to not win a game at Yankee Stadium. Bill’s tenure as the Yankees Manager was when the team played their home games at Shea Stadium (1974-1975) during the remodeling of Yankee Stadium. In 1974, Bill was named The Sporting News American League Manager of the Year, for his 2nd place finish in the AL East with the Yankees. He had helped Bobby Murcer become a better MLB Outfielder in 1974. Bill had moved Elliot Maddox to CF, Bobby Murcer went to RF. The 1975 AL season was marred with injuries to key Yankees players such as OF Bobby Bonds, OF Lou Piniella and veteran Starter Mel Stottlemyre. After being replaced by the Yankees in 1975 midseason by Billy Martin, Virdon would later manage the Astros and Expos in the NL.
This Week in Yankees History November 20th-26th Part Two
November 23rd
1920- Former Yankees Minor League P and MLB Scout Red Zar was born. (1920-2008)
After high school, Pitcher Red Zar was signed with the Yankees. In 1939, he was 1-2 with a 12.68 ERA and 2.46 WHIP for the El Paso Texans. In 1940, Red was much better with the Idaho Falls Russets (PL), while posting a 17-6 record with a 3.21 ERA; he also hit .200. He tied Mel Ristau for 3rd in the Pioneer League in wins and was 2nd in ERA (1.02 behind Larry Jansen). He had tied Robert Weyrauch for 5th in wins by a Yankees farmhand. In 1941, he would move up to the Norfolk Tars (PL) while posting a 7-8 record with a 3.53 ERA. He would pitched briefly for the 1942 Fort Worth Cats and then the Seattle Rainiers (PCL), reaching AA (then the highest classification). He would join the Navy for World War II. Afterwards, he had coached at Mary Star HS. He had scouted numerous players from the San Pedro area: Joey Amalfitano, Alan Ashby, Bobby Balcena, Ray Deeter, Marco Guglielmo, Ed Hughes, Joe Lovitto, Garry Maddox, Nello Saggiani and Jerry Zuvela. He would start an oil company, General Petroleum.
1940- Former Yankees Pitcher Louis Tiant (1979-1980) was born. The Red Sox lose veteran Free Agent Starter Luis Tiant to the Yankees. He had posted a 13-8 record for the 1977 Red Sox. He would replace Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez, who left the Yankees to sign with the Red Sox. The veteran hurler Louis Tiant would post a 21-17 record with a 4.31 ERA in 55 games as a Yankees Starter. His best Yankees pitching season was in 1979, when he went 13-8 with a 3.90 ERA in 30 games. In 1980, he dropped off to an 8-9 mark with a 4.95 ERA in 25 games. In the winter of 1980, the team would grant him MLB Free Agency. He was signed by the Pirates as an MLB Free Agent. Overall, Luis would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 229-172 record along with a 3.30 ERA and 15 saves in 573 games. He was originally signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Indians.
1947- Former Yankees 1B/OF Frank Tepedino (1967,1969-1971,1971-1972) was born. On November 28,1966, 1B/OF Frank Tepedino was drafted by the Yankees from the Orioles Organization in the 1966 MLB 1st-year Player Draft. He would play in the Yankees Minor League system. On June 7,1971, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League OF Bobby Mitchell to the Brewers for OF Danny Walton. On March 31,1972, Frank was purchased by the Yankees from the Brewers. On June 7,1973, Frank was traded by the Yankees with Players to be Named Later and OF Wayne Nordhagen to the Braves for veteran MLB Starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send 2 Minor League hurlers Dave Cheadle and Al Closter to the Braves to complete the trade. As a Yankees player, Frank had appeared in 52 games, while hitting .221 with No HRs and 6 RBIs. After he had finished his MLB playing career with the 1975 Braves, Frank became a NYC Firefighter, who was one of the 1st responders to the 9-11 attack at the World Trade Center.
1951- The Yankees would send young Catcher Clint “Scraps” Courtney to the St. Louis Browns for P Jim McDonald. Clint Courtney was the 1st MLB Catcher to wear eyeglasses behind the Catcher’s mask. He had appeared in only 1 game for the 1951 Yankees. He was one of many young Yankees Catchers, who were traded away during the 1950’s because of the presence of All-Star Yogi Berra starting behind the plate. He would play in 946 MLB games from 1951-1961, while hitting .268 with 38 HRs and 313 RBIs. He would later become a Minor League Manager for the Braves organization. Hurler Jim “Hot Rod” McDonald would go 16-12 with a 3.57 ERA in 69 games with the Yankees.
1963- Former Yankees Reserve INF Dale Sveum (1998) was born. On November 25,1997, Reserve INF Dale Sveum was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Dale will appear in 30 games for the 1998 Yankees, while hitting only .155 with No HRs and 3 RBIs. On August 3,1998, Dale was released by the team. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1999 Pirates. Later, he became an MLB Manager for the 2008 Brewers and the 2012-2013 Cubs.
1971- Former Yankees Pitcher Aaron Small (2005-2006) was born. Aaron Small was originally signed by the Blue Jays. He had pitched for the Blue Jays, Marlins (twice), A’s, D-Backs, Braves and the Yankees. Aaron Small went 10-0 as a Yankees hurler in 15 games during the 2005 AL season. In 2006, Small was injured; he went 0-3 in 11 games. He would retire from MLB in 2007. As an MLB Pitcher, he had posted a 25-13 record with 5.20 ERA and 4 saves in 172 MLB games.
1977- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Reliever Richard “Goose” Gossage to a 6-year, 3.6-million-dollar contract. Rich Gossage had posted a 11-9 record with 1.26 ERA and 26 saves for the 1977 Pirates. He will join the 1977 AL Cy Young Award Winner Closer Sparky Lyle in the Yankees bullpen. He will replace veteran Reliever Sparky Lyle as the team’s main closer in 1977.
1977- The Yankees would lose MLB Free Agent Starter Mike Torrez to the Red Sox. On April 27,1977, Mike was traded by Oakland to the Yankees for Starter Dock Ellis, Rookie OF Larry Murray and Reserve INF Marty Perez. Mike had posted a 14-12 record in 31 games along with 15 complete games for the 1977 Yankees. He went 0-1 in the 1977 ALCS. Mike would post a 2-0 record with a 2.50 ERA in 1977 World Series against the Dodgers. He would leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency in the winter of 1977 to sign with their AL Eastern Division rivals, the Red Sox. He will give up Bucky Dent’s game winning HR in the 1978 AL Playoff game at Fenway Park.
1981- Former Yankees Minor League Catcher, Coach and MLB Coach (2018-2021) P.J. Pilittere was born.
Catcher P.J. Pilittere was selected by the Yankees in the 13th round of 2004 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He hit .215 that summer for the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL); he had 11 passed balls in 31 games. He did better with the same club in 2005, batting .250. His 47 assists led NYPL backstops. The next season, he hit .302 for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), he made only 1 error at Catcher, fielding .998. He led FSL Catchers in fielding percentage. Pilittere's batting line for the 2007 AA Trenton Thunder was .261, he led Eastern League Catchers in fielding percentage (.995), putouts (780) and assists (60). In 2008, he was back with AA Trenton, hitting .277 with a career-high 46 runs and 48 RBIs. He only struck out once per 11.38 AB, the best rate in the EL. P.J. split 2009 season between AA Trenton (.198 in 27 G) and the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (.244 in 28 G). He was a bench player for AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2010 (Jesus Montero did the bulk of the catching) but he did well when called on, hitting .357 in 62 plate appearances. In a similar role in 2011, he fared less well, batting only .209 in 75 plate appearances to end his active playing career. Overall, P.J. had hit .264 in 470 Minor League games with 178 runs, 183 RBIs, 16 HRs and 104 walks. He only struck out 173 times in 1,605 at-bats. He fielded .995 in 404 games at Catcher; with 47 passed balls and an opponent steal percentage around 77. He also played 23 games at 1B as a pro, fielding .987. He went into College Baseball Coaching with his alma mater, Ca. State Univ. in 2011. He then went back to the pro ranks, coaching for the 2012 GCL Yankees and 2013 Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), 2014 Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), 2015-2016 AA Trenton Thunder (EL) and in 2017, he would move up to AAA Scranton (IL). In 2018, he was named the Yankees Assistant MLB Batting Coach by new Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. At the end of 2021 AL season, his MLB Coaching contract wasn’t renewed by the Yankees. Then he would move to the Rockies in 2022 as an MLB Assistant Hitting Coach again.
1983- Former Yankees Minor League OF/P and Coach Randy Guillen was born.
Randy Guillen was signed by Yankees MLB Scout Victor Mata in 2000. He made his pro baseball debut in 2001 with the DSL Yankees, hitting a sound .281 with 11 HRs in 62 games. He tied Tiago Magalhães for the Dominican Summer League lead in dingers. Coming stateside in 2002 with the GCL Yankees, he batted .306 with 38 runs in 59 games. Baseball America rated him as the #11 prospect in the Yankees chain and as the 2nd-best Gulf Coast League prospect, behind one Hanley Ramírez. In 2003, he put up a .260 line with 29 doubles, 13 HRs and 79 RBIs for the Battle Creek Yankees (ML). He joined Kennard Jones and Félix Pie as the League’s All-Star outfielders. Baseball America upgraded him to the Yankees' 3rd-best prospect. They listed him as #18 in the MWL (between John Baker and Jon Connolly). Guillen began to stumble in 2004, in which he played for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL) (.264, 1 HR, 1 SB in 307 AB) and GCL Yankees (6 for 14). Baseball America dropped him to 12th on the Yankees prospect list, though they did list him as having the best Outfield arm in their farm system. Rudy split 2005 seasons between Class A Tampa (FSL) (.260 in 100 Games) and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) (.257). He was again rated as having the best Outfield arm of a Yankees farmhand, but he was no longer was considered one of the system's top 25 prospects by Baseball America. In 2006, he continued to sputter with Class A Tampa (.267, 10 HRs, 14 SB in 85 Games) and AA Trenton (.173, 27 K in 75 AB). Moving to the mound, he pitched 3 games for the 2007 GCL Yankees. In 4 innings, he allowed 4 hits, 3 walks and 3 runs, though he did strike out 6 batters. During the 2012-2014 Minor League seasons, he was the Pitching Coach DSL Yankees 2. In 2014-2015, he was the Rehab Pitching Coordinator for the Yankees’ Latin Béisbol Academy.
1988- Leaving the 1988 World Champion Dodgers, MLB Free Agent 2B Steve Sax signs a 3-year deal with the Yankees. Meanwhile former Yankees AL All-Star 2B Willie Randolph will sign with the Dodgers. Steve will play in 471 games for the 1989-1991 Yankees, while hitting .294 with 19 HRs with 161 RBIs. He was named to the 1989-1990 AL All-Star teams. On January 10,1992, Steve Sax was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for 3 Pitchers: Domingo Jean, Melido Perezand Bob Wickman.
1994- Former Yankees Reserve INF/OF Tyler Wade (2017-2021) was born.
Shortstop Tyler Wade was selected by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft from Murrieta Valley HS (Murrieta, CA). He signed with the Yankees, receiving a $371,300 signing bonus. He made his pro baseball debut with the Gulf Coast Yankees (Rookie-level GCL). Near the end of the season, he was promoted to the Class A Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). In 2014, Wade played for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs of (SAL). He started the 2015 season with the Class A Tampa Yankees ( FSL). Tyler was promoted to the AA Trenton Thunder ( EL) during the 2015 season. Wade received a non-roster invitation to 2016 MLB spring training camp by the Yankees. He had started the 2016 season back with AA Trenton (EL). Wade finished the 2016 season by hitting .259 with 5 HRs and 27 RBIs. Due to an injury to the Yankees starting Shortstop Didi Gregorius in the World Baseball Classic games, Wade competed to earn a spot on the Yankees' 25-man roster in 2017 MLB Spring Training Camp. Wade began the 2017 season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL). The Yankees would promote Wade to their MLB roster on June 27, 2017 to replaced injured Yankees 2B Starlin Castro. He would appear in 30 games for the team, while hitting just .155 with No HRs and 2 RBIs. In 2018, Wade started the season with AAA Scranton (IL) hitting .255, when he was called up when injuries struck the Bombers; he would appear in the outfield, playing in 36 games; while hitting just .167 with 1 HR and 5 RBIs. In 2019, Wade would play in 43 games for the team, hitting .245 with 2 HRs and 11 RBIs. In 2020 AL short season, he played in 52 games, hitting just .170 with 3 HRs and 10 RBIs. He was used as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner by Yankees Manager Aaron Boone. In 2021, he had played in 103 games, while hitting .268 with No HRs and 5 RBIs. On November 19, 2021, the Yankees had designated Tyler Wade for assignment. Then He would be traded to the Angels. Wade finishes his Yankees playing career with a .212 BA along with 6 HRs and 33 RBIs in 264 games. The Angels would release him during the 2022 AL season after hitting only .218 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 67 games. Then he would be resigned by the Yankees, who would send him AAA Scranton (IL). Wade didn’t make any appearances with the 2022 Yankees. In October 10, 2022, the Yankees would announce that Tyler Wade had elected to become an MLB Free Agent.
2006- Former Yankees Minor League OF Ted Del Guercio passed away. (1927-2006)
Ted Del Guercio came to the Yankees from the Orioles Minor League system in the big 17-player trade in November of 1954. He never played for the Yankees or Orioles at the MLB level. He is the only player in the 1954 Orioles-Yankees 17-player trade that never appeared in an MLB game. The Red Sox originally signed Ted during the mid-1940’s. He had been a HS star Baseball player in Newark, New Jersey. Also, he had attended Seton Hall Univ. Ted had played the Outfield in the Minor Leagues for 12 seasons before retiring, after the 1956 Minor League baseball season had ended.
2013- After making do with makeshift solutions at Catcher position all of last season, the Yankees decide to sign 7-time NL All-Star with the Braves Catcher Brian McCann to a 5-year, $85 million contract. He will become the Yankees 2014 starting Catcher.
2016- Former Yankees (1954) and Long-time Dodgers Pitcher Ralph Branca passed away. (1926-2016)
Pitcher Ralph Branca played 12 seasons in the MLB, mostly with the Dodgers; appearing in 2 World Series and 3 MLB All-Star Games. He is most well known as the man who gave up the "Shot Heard 'Round the World", Bobby Thomson's HR that clinched the 1951 NL pennant for the Giants in the NL Play-off Game. In 1943, he was signed as an MLB Amateur Free Agent by the Dodgers, Branca made his pro debut that summer with the Olean Oilers. By the following season, he was in the MLB as an 18-year-old during World War II, when many older players were serving overseas. He had won 21 games in 1947 (2nd in the NL). He made the NL All-Star team for the 1st of 3 straight seasons, while his team reached the World Series. He would earn the win in Game 6, but the Dodgers would fall to the Yankees in 7 games. In 1949, he posted a 13-5 record and led the NL Pitchers with a .722 Winning Percentage. The Dodgers again reached the World Series, again in 1949, losing to the Yankees. Starting in 1950, Branca began to be used more often out of the bullpen than as a Starter. In 1 relief outing on October 3,1951, in the 3rd game of a 3-game playoff, he gave up a HR to Giants Thomson that cost his team the NL pennant. The "Shot Heard 'Round the World" completed a monumental collapse by the Dodgers, who were leading the NL by 13 1/2 games on August 11th. Branca and Thomson eventually became friends. In 1991 and 2001, they toured the country together for the 40th and 50th anniversaries of "The Shot". After giving up 12 earned runs in his 1st 7 outings for the 1953 Dodgers, Branca was acquired by the Tigers, who later released him. Then he would move on to the Yankees to finish out the 1954 AL season, where he had posted a 1-0 record with a 2.84 ERA in 5 games. Later, he was released by the Yankees. In 1955, he would pitch for the AAA Minneapolis Millers (AA). Then he would end his MLB Pitching career in 1956 with 1 more appearance for the Dodgers. He would finish his MLB pitching career with an 88-68 record along with a 3.79 ERA and 19 saves in 322 games.
November 24thHappy Thanksgiving Day!
1930- Former Yankees Pitcher Robert “Warrior” Friend (1966) was born. (1930-2019) On December 10,1965, veteran NL All-Star Starter Bob “Warrior” Friend was traded by the Pirates to the Yankees for Reliever Pete Mikkelsen and Cash. It was another great over the hill veteran for youth trade by Yankees GM Ralph Houk. Bob will post a disappointing 1-4 record with a 4.84 ERA in 12 games for the 1966 Yankees, before being sent to the Mets in June of 1966. Bob would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 197-200 record along with a 3.58 ERA and 10 saves in 497 games; with the 1958 NL season as his best with a 22-14 mark with a 3.68 ERA in 38 games for the Pirates. He was named to the NL All-Star team, 3 times as a member of the Pirates. Bob was 0-2 with a 13.50 ERA in 3 games for the Pirates against the Yankees in the 1960 World Series
1942- Former Yankees Pitcher Fred Beene (1972-1974) was born.
In 1964, the Orioles had signed P Fred Beene as MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would pitch for their AAA club, the Rochester Red Wings (IL) from 1966 to 1971; while posting a 46-20 mark during that span. He went 15-7 with a 2.98 ERA in 31 games for the 1969 Red Wings. On January 19,1972, P Fred Beene was traded by the Orioles in a Minor League deal to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later. The Yankees would later send Minor League P Dale Spier on April 10,1972 to the Orioles to complete the trade. In 1972, Beene had posted a 1-3 record with a 2.34 ERA and 3 saves in 29 games. In 1973, Fred went 6-0 with a 1.68 ERA and 1 save in 19 games. Overall, Fred would go 7-3 with 1.99 ERA and 4 saves in 54 games for the Yankees before arm injuries finished him in 1973. On April 26,1974, Fred was traded by the Yankees with along with 3 Pitchers; Reliever Tom Buskey, Starters Steve Kline and Fritz Peterson to the Indians for 1B Chris Chambliss, Pitchers Richard “Dirt” Tidrow and Cecil Upshaw. After his playing days, he had scouted for the Brewers organization for 20 years. In 1991, he was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame.
1962- Former Yankees INF Randy Velarde (1987-1995, 2001) was born. On January 5,1987, INF Randy Velarde was traded by the White Sox along with P Pete Filson to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers; Scott Nielsen and Minor League hurler Mike Soper. Randy hit .272 in 121 games in 1992 and .286 in 111 games in 1995. Overall, as a Yankees player for 10 seasons, Randy had hit .261 along with 43 HRs and 209 RBIs in 673 games. In the fall of 1995, he was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Angels. On August 31, 2001, Randy was traded by the Rangers to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later. The Yankees would send Minor League Players Randy Flores and Rosman Garcia on October 11, 2001 to the Rangers to complete the trade. Velarde only appeared in 15 games for the Yankees for the rest of the 2001 AL season. He did get his chance to play in a World Series for the Yankees, appearing in 1 game against the Diamondbacks, going 0 for 3 at the plate. After the 2001 World Series was over, he would become an MLB Free Agent, finishing his MLB Playing career with the 2002 Oakland A’s.
1970- Former Yankees Reserve INF Spencer Adams (1926) passed away. (1897-1970) On January 20,1926, INF Spencer Adams was purchased by the Yankees from the Senators. Spencer would appear in 28 games as a Reserve INF for the 1926 Yankees, while hitting just .120. Adams appeared in 2 games of the 1926 World Series against the Cardinals with no hits. He was one of 1st Mormons to play in the MLB. He would finish his MLB playing career with the 1927 Cardinals.
1970- Former Yankees Pitcher Ivy “Poison” Andrews (1931-1932,1937-1938) passed away. (1907-1970) On July 24,1929, PIvy Andrews was purchased by the Yankees from Mobile (SA) for $20,000 Cash. In 1931, Andrews had appeared in 7 games for the Yankees, while posting a 2-0 record with a 4.19 ERA. On June 5,1932, Ivy Andrews was traded by the Yankees along with P Hank Johnson and $50,000 Cash to the Red Sox for P Danny MacFayden. On August 14,1937, Andrews was purchased by the Yankees from the Indians for $7,500 Cash. He would post a 3-2 record with a 3.12 ERA in 11 games for the Yankees. In 1937 World Series, he appeared in Game #6 against the Giants, pitching 5 2/3 innings of relief with no record. In 1938, he slipped to 1-3 mark with a 3.00 ERA in 19 games. Ivy posted a Yankee Pitching career record of 8-6 with a 3.12 ERA in 41 games in 2 tours with the team. He would pitch in the Minor Leagues from 1939 to 1944, including 2 seasons with the Yankees 2 top Minor League teams; 1939 AA Newark Bears (IL) and the 1940 AA Kansas City Blues (AA). Later, he was a Minor League Manager for the Philadelphia A’s organization.
1972- The Yankees had acquired veteran OF/DH Matty Alou from the A’s for P Rob Gardner and INF Rich McKinley. It is the 2nd time the Yankees have traded P Rob Gardner to the Oakland for another Alou brother. Last year, it was for older brother, veteran OF Felipe Alou. Matty was a major disappointment with his bat for the 1973 Yankees despite hitting .296 in 123 games, but he had a very low HR production of just 2 HRs and RBI production of just 28 runs. On September 6,1973, the Yankees would sell him to the Cardinals for Cash.
1977- Former Yankees Minor League Manager and MLB Manager Mayo Smith passed away. (1915-1977) In 1968, Manager Mayo Smith led the Tigers to World Championship. Before becoming a Tigers Manager, Mayo had managed in the Yankees organization. For the 1949 season, the Yankees hired him as a Player-Manager for their Class C farm team, the Amsterdam Rugmakers (CAML). Smith led by example, by hitting .297 with 19 HRs with 116 RBIs in 119 games. Never known for his power, he lit up that lower circuit. He was tied for 3rd in HRs. He was 3rd in RBI’s despite missing 20 games. His team went 67-71-1 and finished in 5th place. The next season, he batted .323 with 10 HRs with 53 RBIs in only 66 games; the team finished 4th place at 72-65-1. Smith won in the 1st Playoff round, but they lost in the finals. Smith would not play regularly again, getting into 1 game in 1952 season; he had completed his 2-year run as a Player-Manager. In 1951, Smith was promoted to the Class B Piedmont League to manage the Norfolk Tars. He led the team to a league title in 1951, again in 1952, when the team posted the 2nd-best winning percentage (.727) in the history of the Piedmont League. He moved up another rung in the Yankees organization, when he managed in the Class AA Birmingham Barons (SA) for 2 seasons. After managing in the MLB with the Phillies and Reds organizations during the 1950’s; in 1959, he became a Yankees MLB Scout for 7 years before joining the Tigers in 1967. After managing the Tigers, Mayo was an MLB Scout for the A’s.
1986- In another unwise trade of young pitching prospects for aging veteran hurlers, the Yankees had traded 3 young Pitchers; Relievers Brian Fisher and Logan Easley and Starter Doug Drabek to the Pirates for 3 veteran hurlers; Starter Rick Rhoden, Relievers Cecilio Guante and Pat Clements. Later, Doug Drabek will win the 1990 NL Cy Young Award.
1986- Former Yankees Reserve INF Dean Anna (2014) was born.
The Padres in the 2008 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected INF Dean Anna. On November 21, 2013, Anna was acquired from the Padres by the Yankees in return for Minor League P Ben Paullus. He managed to win a job as a Reserve INF with the team during 2014 Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp, although given the age and uncertain health of many of the Yankees' regulars, he was expected to see significant playing time. He made his MLB Player debut on April 4th against the Blue Jays as the starting Shortstop in place of Derek Jeter, after playing 554 games in the Minor Leagues. He went 1 for 4 with a run and a walk; his 1st MLB hit was a single off of Blue Jays Reliever Jeremy Jeffress in the 9th inning. He hit his 1st MLB HR against Red Sox Starter Clay Buchholz on April 10th, a solo HR shot in a 4-1 Yankees victory. On April 19th, he had to play a more unfamiliar position as he was called on to pitch the 8th inning of a game against the Rays in which the Yankees were already trailing in the game by the score of 14-1, after starting the game at Shortstop. He gave up a pair of runs on 3 hits in what was his 1st pitching appearance as a pro baseball player. The fairy tale only lasted so long, however, as on April 24th, the Yankees, desperate for pitching with Starter Ivan Novalost for the 2014 AL season and Starter Michael Pineda having been handed a 10-game suspension, the team sent him back to AAA Scranton (IL) to add a couple of arms to their 25-man MLB Roster. He was hitting only .136 with 1 HR and 3 RBIs. On July 5, 2014, Dean was selected off waivers by thePirates from the Yankees.
November 25th
1903- Former Yankees Pitcher Jim “Big Jim” Weaver (1931) was born. (1903-1983) On November 28,1930, P Jim Weaver was traded by the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) along with Minor League Catcher Tom Patten to the Yankees for 2 Pitchers: MLB P Ken Holloway, Minor League P Jack Hopkins and Cash. Jim went 2-1 with a 5.31 ERA in 17 games for the 1931 Yankees. On September 10,1933, Jim was purchased by the Browns from the Yankees. He would be returned to the Yankees by St. Louis in 1934, the Yankees would sell him to the Cubs for the waiver price of $12,400 Cash.
1914- Future Hall of Fame Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio (1936-1951) was born in Martinez, California. (1914-1999) On November 21,1934, Joe DiMaggio was traded by AA San Francisco Seals (PCL) to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later and Cash. On December 19,1934, the Yankees would send INF Doc Farrell, Pitcher Floyd Newkirk, Minor League Players: Jimmy Densmore, Ted Norbert and $5,000 Cash (1935) to San Francisco Seals (PCL) to complete the trade. Doc Farrell refused to report to his new team in 1935. The son of Italian immigrants, Joe DiMaggio will make his MLB Player debut with the Yankees in 1936, hitting .323 with 29 HRs and 125 RBIs in 138 games. Joe would win the AL Most Valuable Player Award 3 times (1939, 1941 and 1947). Joe missed the 1943-1945 AL seasons due to military service in the Army for WWII. Joe played in 13 MLB All-Star Games. In 1936, he was the 1st Rookie voted to an MLB All-Star team. He led the AL in hitting in 1939 (.381) and in 1940 (.352). Joe led the AL in RBIs in 1941 (141) and in 1948 (155). In 10 World Series with the Yankees, Joe appeared in 51 games, while hitting .271 with 8 HRs and 30 RBIs. He will finish his Yankees playing career in 1951 with a lifetime BA of .325, while hitting 361 MLB Career HRs with 1,537 RBIs; while playing in 1,736 games. His 56 Consecutive Games Hitting Streak in 1941 set a new MLB Consecutive Games Hitting Record. Joe had reached the .300 BA mark in 11 seasons of the 13 AL seasons in his Yankees playing career, with his .381 in 1939 as being his best season. In 1955, Joe will be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame. Joe’s 2 brothers Vince (Braves and Pirates) and Dom (Red Sox), also played in the MLB.
1923- Former Yankees Reserve OF Archie Wilson (1951-1952) was born. (1923-2007) In 1947, the Yankees had signed OF Archie Wilson, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Archie would appear in only 7 games with the team, while hitting just .167 with No HRs and 1 RBI for the Yankees before being traded on May 3,1952, along with OF Jackie Jensen, Pitcher Frank “Spec” Shea and INF Jerry Snyder to the Senators for 2 Outfielders: Irv Noren and Tom Upton.
1949- Red Sox OF Ted Williams, who had lost the 1949 AL Triple Crown, when his batting average was .0002 below that of Tigers 3B George Kell, he wins the 1949 AL MVP Award vote in a landslide. Yankees Shortstop Phil Rizzuto and Closer Joe Page finished 2nd and 3rd in the AL MVP voting.
1951- Former Yankees Shortstop (1977-1982) and MLB Manager (1988-1989) Russell Earl “Bucky” Dent was born. The Yankees had obtained the 1978 AL 1 play-off game hero Shortstop Bucky Dent on April 5,1977 from the White Sox for OF/DH Oscar Gamble, 2 Minor League Pitchers: La Marr Hoyt and Bob Polinsky and $200,000 Cash. His HR in the 1978 AL Playoff game against the Red Sox is considered to be one of the most dramatic HRs in Yankees franchise history. In 1978, he won the AL Babe Ruth Award and the World Series MVP Award for his .417 BA. Dent will be named to the AL All-Star team as Shortstop in 1976 and 1980-1981. He had appeared in 2 World Series with Yankees, while hitting .349 with 0 HRs and 9 RBIs. In 1982, with the arrival of Roy Smalley from the Twins and struggling with his .169 BA, Bucky had lost his starting job as the Yankees Shortstop. On August 8,1982, he was traded by the Yankees to the Rangers for veteran OF/DH Lee Mazzilli. As a Yankees player, Dent had appeared in 695 games, while hitting .239 with 27 HRs and 209 RBIs. As an MLB player, Bucky would finish his playing career by appearing in 1,392 games, while hitting .247 with 40 HRs and 423 RBIs. After retiring as an MLB player, he will return to the Yankees organization as Coach, then as a Manager at AAA Columbus (IL) before managing the Yankees in 1988-1989, going 36-53 in 89 games. He was replaced by Stump Merrill. Then Dent became a Cardinals MLB Coach from 1991 to 1994. He was a member of the 1995-2001 Rangers MLB Coaching staff. In 2006, he would joined the Reds MLB Coaching staff as Bench Coach for his former teammate with the Yankees, Catcher Jerry Narron. He would leave the Reds on July 3,2007, 2 days after Narron was fired with the team in last place in the NL Central Division.
1953- The Yankees lose Minor League OF Jerry Lynch to the Pirates in the 1953 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. Lynch would later become a successful MLB Pinch-Hitter for the Pirates and Reds during the 1950-1960’s.
1965- Former Yankees Minor League P Royal Clayton was born. In 1987, Royal Clayton would join the Yankees Minor League organization. He never would appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. He would pitch in the Yankees Minor League system from 1987-1994, making it as far as the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL), while posting a 41-27 record. He is older brother of MLB Player Royce Clayton.
1966- Former Yankees OF/DH Mark Whitten (1997) was born. On January 9,1997, veteran MLB OF Mark Whitten was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. Mark will hit .265 with 5 HRs and 24 RBIs in 69 games for the Yankees before being released by the team in August of 1997.
1970- Yankees Rookie Catcher Thurman Munson receives 23 of the 24 1st-place ballots; as he is named the 1970 AL Rookie of the Year. Munson had batted .302 with 6 HRs and 53 RBIs in 132 games during the 1970 AL season. Indians OF Roy Foster is also named on a 1st place ballot.
1973- Former Yankees Reliever Octavio Dotel (2006) was born. On January 4, 2006, veteran Reliever Octavio Dotel was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He was still recovering from arm injury in 2006, which limited his pitching to only 14 games with no record and a 10.80 ERA during the 2006 AL season. He will leave the Yankees, signing as an MLB Free Agent with the Royals in 2007.
1980- Former Yankees Shortstop and MLB Coach Gene Michael becomes the 25th manager in Yankees club history, replacing a resigning 1980 Manager Richard Howser. Under Gene Michael, the Yankees will win the AL Pennant in 1981, but lose the 1981 World Series to the Dodgers. Howser will go on to manage the Royals, before passing away from Brain Cancer in 1985.
1980- Former Yankees RF/DH/1B Nick Swisher (2009-2012) was born. On November 13, 2008, OF/1B Nick Swisher was traded by the White Sox along with Minor League P Kanekoa Texeira to the Yankees for Minor League P Jeff Marquez, MLB INF Wilson Betemit and P Jhonny Nunez. As a Yankees player, Nick appeared in 450 games, while hitting .267 with 81 HRs and 256 RBIs. He is the son of former MLB Catcher Steve Swisher. After the 2012 AL season, Nick became an MLB Free Agent, signing with the Indians. During the 2016 AL season, Swisher rejoined the Yankees organization as a Minor League player, playing 1B at AAA Scranton (IL). Recently, he was a Special Instructor for the Yankees working with Minor League players at the Tampa Player Training Complex for a week.
1997- Current Yankees Minor League OF Prospect Estevan Florial (2020-2022) was born.
OF Estevan Florial is a top prospect for the Yankees. Before the start of the 2015 MLB season, Florial was signed by the Yankees as a 17-year-old and played that 1st season with the DSL Yankees 1, hitting .313 in 57 games. After that excellent pro debut, he was moved to the U.S. in 2016, he had played for 3 different teams. He began the year with the Yankees Class A Pulaski Yankees (APPYL), but before the season was out, he had also seen some action with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL) and the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL). In 67 games, he would hit .227 with 8 HRs and 30 RBIs. He then had a breakthrough season with Charleston and Tampa in 2017, where he hit .298 in 110 games, along with 23 doubles, 7 triples and 13 HRs. He would score 77 runs while he would drove in 57, while stealing 23 bases and being caught 8 times. His main negative was 148 strikeouts, but he did draw 50 walks, a good total for such a young hitter with power. His performance earned him a spot on the World Team for the 2017 Futures Game, which was played in Miami, FL and an invitation to MLB 2018 Spring Training Camp with the Yankees. The 2018 Minor League season saw him split playing time between 3 teams, while appearing in 84 games, hitting .283 with 6 HRs and 35 RBIs. In 2019, he would appear in 74 games with the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL), where he would hit .237 with 8 HRs and 38 RBIs. At the start of the 2020 AL season, he was on the Yankees' team at the Alternative Training Camp, with the Minor Leagues being shut down by COVIDS outbreak; then he was called up to the Bronx on August 28th for a doubleheader against the Mets. In his MLB player debut, he went 1 for 3 along with a couple of strikeouts as the starting Centerfielder in the 1st game, finishing the 2020 AL season with a .333 BA. Some MLB Scouts question his ability to judge pitches in the strike zone, causing him to strike out too much. In 2021, he would appear in 11 games for the team, while hitting .300 with 1 HR and 2 RBIs, before being returned to play at AAA Scranton (IL). In 2022, he would appear in just 17 games for the Yankees, while hitting .097 with 0 HRs and 1 RBI. At AAA Scranton, he would hit .283 with 15 HRs and 46 RBIs in 109 games.
2008- Former Yankees Pitcher (1946-1948), MLB Coach (1957), Minor League Manager and MLB Scout Randy Gumpert passed away. (1918-2008)
In 1936, Randy Gumpert was signed by the Philadelphia A’s, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. in July of 1939, the Athletics would release Randy outright. He was picked up by the Yankees organization. After his WWII military service was over, he had his finest season with the 1946 Yankees; by going 11-3 with a 2.31 ERA in 33 games. In 1947, Randy would post a 4-1 record with a 5.43 ERA in 24 games. In 1948, after going 1-0 with a 2.88 ERA with a 3.20 ERA in 15 games, he was placed on waivers by the team. On July 25,1948, he was signed by the White Sox. For the Yankees, Randy had posted a 16-4 record with a 3.20 ERA and 1 save in 72 games. Randy was the MLB Pitcher, who gave up Mickey Mantle’s 1st MLB HR on May 1,1951 at Comiskey Park in Chicago. It was a 450 FT shot into the visiting Yankees bullpen. Randy will finish his MLB Pitching career with a 51-59 record along with a 4.17 ERA and 7 saves in 261 games. After his active pitching career was finished, Randy would manage in Yankees Farm system with the 1956 Bradford Yankees,1956-1958 Kearney Yankees and the 1960 St. Petersburg Saints. Also, he would serve as a Yankees MLB Scout for 20 years. He was a Scouting Supervisor for the MLB Scouting Bureau for several years before retiring from the sport.
2019- The Yankees announced that they had traded Reliever Nestor Cortes Jr. to the Mariners for International Bonus Allotments ($250,000 Cash). He had been DFA by the team. Nestor had posted a 5-1 record with a 5.67 ERA in 33 games for the 2019 Yankees. Overall, he finished his Yankees Pitching career with a 5-1 record with a 5.80 ERA in 37 games.
November 26th
1878- Former Yankees Pitcher Thomas “Long Tom” Hughes (1904) was born. (1878-1956) On December 20,1903, Starter Tom Hughes was traded by the Boston Americans to the Yankees for P Jesse Tannehill. In 1903 ,Tom had posted a 20-7 record with Boston, while Jesse Tannehill had a 15-15 record in New York. For the Americans, Tannehill would become a 20-game winner for Boston for the 1904-1905 AL seasons. A disappointing Tom Hughes would post a 7-11 record with a 3.70 ERA in 19 games for the Yankees before being traded on July 20,1904 by the team along with P Barney Wolfe to the Senators for veteran MLB Starter Al Orth, who will go 11-6 as a Starter for the 1904 Yankees.
1908- Former Yankees Hall of Fame Pitcher Veron “Lefty Gomez (1930-1942) was born. (1908-1989) On August 17,1929, hurler Veron “Lefty” Gomez was purchased by the Yankees from the AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). Lefty would post a 189-101 record with a WP of .637 with a 3.34 ERA in 357 games during in his Yankees Pitching career. Also, Gomez would finish with 1,468 strikeouts along with 173 complete games and 28 shutouts. He appeared on 7 AL All-Star teams, including the very 1st team in 1933, starting and winning the 1st game. His AL All-Star pitching record was 3-1 in 5 games. His World Series record as a Yankees Starter was 6-0 with a 2.86 ERA and 4 complete games in 7 games. Lefty led the AL Pitchers in Strikeouts (1933,1934,1937), Shutouts (1934,1937,1938), ERA (1934,1937) and Wins (1934,1937). During the 1939-1940 AL seasons, he was slowed down by pitching arm injuries. He would have 1 last good season with 1941 Yankees, by posting a 15-5 record with a 3.74 ERA in 23 games. In 1942, he posted a 6-4 record with a 4.28 ERA in 13 games. On January 25,1943, Lefty was purchased by the Braves from the Yankees. The Braves would release Gomez before appearing in a game with them, then he was picked up by the Senators, going 0-1 in 1 game; before retiring as an active MLB player on July 14,1943. Later, Lefty would manage in the Yankees Minor League system with Class A Binghamton (EL), where he worked with a young Yankees Pitching Prospect named Whitey Ford. Later, Lefty worked as Representative for the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. In 1972, he would be elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee. He was one of the most colorful players to ever wear the Yankees pinstripes, his player nicknamed was “Goofy.”
1910- Former Yankees Minor League Pitcher and Manager Ray White was born. (1910-1995)
Ray White was a Yankees Minor League Baseball Pitcher and Manager. He had pitched in their farm system from 1933 to 1940, going 55-37 with a 4.79 ERA in 170 games. Over the course of his 6-year pitching career, he threw 877 innings. In 1934, he went 17-9 while splitting the season between the Norfolk Tars (PL) and the Binghamton Triplets (EL). With the 1937 Bassett Furnituremakers (Bi-STL)), he was 13-8 with a 2.21 ERA. As a Yankees Minor League Manager, he led the 1937 Bassett Furnituremakers (Bi-STL), the 1938-1940 Norfolk Tars (PL) and the 1940 Augusta Tigers (SAL).
1941- Former Yankees MLB Coach and MLB Manager Jeff Torborg (1975-1976) was born. As an MLB player for 10 MLB seasons, Jeff Torborg had played for the Dodgers and Angels. He had caught 3 MLB No-Hitters by MLB All-Star Starters Sandy Koufax, Bill Singer and Nolan Ryan. He was with the 1965 Dodgers, but he didn’t appear in the 1965 World Series against the Orioles. In 1963, Jeff Torborg was a College All-American Catcher at Rutgers Univ. He was good hitter in college, but he was a very weak hitter at the MLB level with a .214 lifetime BA, while hitting only 8 HRs and 101 RBIs in 574 games. Jeff Torborg was a Yankees MLB Coach from 1975-1976, before leaving the team to take an MLB Coaching job at Cleveland. He was named the Tribe’s skipper in 1977. After that, he spent 10 seasons as a Yankees MLB Coach. He later went on to manage the White Sox, Mets, Expos and the Marlins. In 1990and 1991, his White Sox teams finished 2nd, he was Manager when the Rookie Slugger Frank Thomas came up. In 1990, he was named AL Manager of the Year. In 2003, he was the Manager - for part of the season - for the Marlins, who had won the 2003 World Series, after he was fired. He was also a TV Broadcaster for the FOX Sports Network from 1997to 2001; then again in 2004 and 2005. He would join the Braves TV broadcast team in 2006.
1947- Former Yankees Pitcher Larry Gura (1974-1976) was born. On May 7,1974, Pitcher Larry Gura was traded by the Rangers along with Cash to the Yankees for veteran C/DH/1B Duke Sims. He will post a 12-9 record with a 3.21 ERA in 34 games with the Yankees. After being in Billy Martin’s doghouse, on May 16,1976, Larry was traded by the Yankees to the Royals for Reserve Catcher Fran Healy. As a Royals Starter, he would give the Yankees constant trouble. He was a former Arizona State Univ. baseball player, who was selected in 2ndround of the 1969 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Cubs. Overall, Larry would post a 127-97 record with 3.76 ERA in 403 MLB games.
1955- Former Yankees Reliever Jay Howell (1982-1984) was born. On August 2,1982, Pitcher Jay Howell was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on August 19,1981. The Cubs would send Players to be Named Later to the Yankees for Minor League INF Prospect Pat Tabler. On April 1,1982, the Cubs would send P Bill Caudill to the Yankees. Then on August 2,1982, Jay Howell was sent to the Yankees to complete the trade. Jay had posted a 12-12 record with 4.38 ERA and 7 saves in 86 games. His best Yankees season was in 1984, when he went 9-4 with a 2.69 ERA and 7 saves in 41 games. On December 5,1984, Jay was traded by the Yankees with along P Tim Birtsas, Reserve OF Stanley Javier, Pitchers Eric Plunk and Jose Rijo to Oakland for All-Star LF Rickey Henderson, P Bert Bradley and Cash. In his 15 MLB seasons, Jay had posted a 58-53 record with a 3.34 ERA and 155 saves in 568 games.
1958- The 1958 AL MVP winner is announced with Red Sox Slugger Jackie Jensen, who had hit .286 with 35 HRs and 122 RBIs in 154 games, winning over Yankees Pitcher Bob Turley (21-7 record with a 2.97 ERA in 33 games) and Indians OF Rocky Colavito, who had hit .303 with 41 HRs and 113 RBIs in 143 games. Yankees Starter Bob Turley will walk away with the 1958 MLB Cy Young Award for MLB Pitchers.
1962- The Dodgers traded veteran Starter Stan Williams (14-12 record with a 4.46 ERA in 40 games) for Yankees veteran All-Star 1B Bill “Moose” Skowron (.270 BA, 23 HRs, 80 RBIs). Bill Skowron will hit a HR against his former Yankee teammates in Game 2 of the 1963 World Series. Yankees Rookie 1B/OF Joe Pepitone will take over the regular duties at 1B. Bill Skowron leaves the Yankees with a lifetime BA of .294 with 165 HRs and 672 RBIs in 1,087 games in 12 seasons with the club (1954-1962). In 7 World series with the Yankees, Bill played in 35 games, while hitting .292 with 7HRs and 26 RBIs. Stan Williams would go 9-8 with a 3.21 ERA in 29 games for the 1963 Yankees. In 1964, Stan dropped to a 1-5 mark with a 3.84 ERA in 29 games for the Yankees. On March 30,1965, the Yankees sold him to the Indians. He had appeared in 1 game for the Yankees in 1963 World Series, pitching 3 scoreless innings of relief against his former Dodger teammates. Later, he would become a successful MLB Reliever with the Twins.
1962- The Yankees in the 1962 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft had selected Pitcher Bill Kunkel from the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL), where he had posted a 6-1 record. In 1963, Bill Kunkel will pitch for the Yankees out of their bullpen, posting a 3-2 record in his last active MLB season. He had previously pitched in the MLB for the 1961 Kansas City A’s recording a 3-4 record. After retiring as an active player, Bill will later become an MLB Umpire in the AL.
1969- Former Yankees Pitcher Sam Militello (1992-1993) was born. The Yankees in the 6th Round of the 1990 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected P Sam Militello. He made his pro baseball debut in 1990, with the Class A Oneonta Yankees (NYPL). He led the Short-Season NYP League with 119 strikeouts; his 1.22 ERA was 2nd in the league. In 1991, he was the Pitcher of the Year in the Carolina League, for compiling a 12-2 record with a 1.22 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 103 innings for the Prince William Cannons. He finished the season with the AA Albany-Colonie Yankees (EL) with whom he put up a 2-2 record with a 2.35 ERA in 7 starts. In 1992, he was named the Most Valuable Pitcher in the International League, when he compiled another 12-2 record with a IL-leading 2.29 ERA in 22 games with the AAA Columbus Clippers. In 1992, he post a 3-3 record with a 3.45 ERA in 9 games for the team. In 1993, Sam had posted a 1-1 record with a 6.75 ERA in 3 games. Overall, Sam would post a 4-4 record with a 3.98 ERA in 12 games with the Yankees. Pitching arm injuries would cut Sam’s MLB Pitching career short. In 1996, he retired as active player. In 1999-2000, he was a Pitching Coach in the Indians farm system for the Burlington (NC) Indians and the Columbus RedStixx. In 2009, Militello was an Associate Head Baseball Coach for Joe Urso at the Univ. of Tampa. Since 2010, Sam has been an Assistant Head Baseball Coach at UT.
1985- Former Yankees Minor League P Jhonny Nunez was born. On July 31, 2008, Pitcher Jhonny Nunez was traded by the Nationals to the Yankees for Minor League INF Alberto Gonzalez. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On November 13, 2008, he was traded by the Yankees along with MLB INF/OF Wilson Betemit and Minor League P Jeff Marquez to the White Sox for 1B/OF/DH Nick Swisher and Minor League Pitcher Kanekoa Texeira.
1986- Current Yankees INF/OF/DH Matt Carpenter (2022) was born.
From 2011 to 2021, INF/OF Matt Carpenter would play for the Cardinals. He would hit .262 with 153 HRs and 576 RBIs, while playing in 1,329 games. He would become an MLB Free Agent at the end of the 2021 season, following the completion of his Cardinals contract. The team did not make an effort to retain his services. After the settlement of the 2021 MLB Owner’s Lockout, the Rangers would sign him to a Minor League contract. They gave him a look in their MLB Spring Training Camp in March 2022. He was sent to their AAA club, the Round Rock Express to start the 2022 Minor League season, where he would hit .275 with 5 doubles, 6 HRs and 19 RBIs in 21 games there. That hitting performance would raise the interest of other MLB teams, he asked for and received his player release from the Rangers on May 19th, then he would sign with the Yankees, 1 week later. They immediately brought him up to the Bronx, as they were suffering a rash of player injuries and he stepped right in, with one of the best 1st 10-game stretches by anyone in franchise history: he went 8 for 24 with 6 HRs, 10 runs scored and 13 RBIs. His performance forced the team with the best record in the MLB at the time to give him playing time. When he hit his 6th homer - his 2nd of the game in an 18-4 demolition of the Cubs on June 12th, he was only the 2nd player since 1900 to have 6 of his 1st 7 hits in a season be HRs (the 1st was Trevor Story during the amazing start of his MLB playing career); also he added a double later in the game and finished with a personal best of 7 RBIs. It was also his 1st game in the field, at 3rd base, his other appearances having all come as the DH. He ended the 1st half with an otherworldly stat line: a .354 average in 31 games, with 13 HRs, 23 runs scored and 34 RBIs for an OPS of 1.300. The magical comeback story came to a crashing end on August 8th, when he fouled a ball off his leg in a game against the Mariners, breaking his foot. He had begun to cool down a bit, as his average now stood at .305 in 47 games with 15 HRs and 37 RBIs, but his OPS+ was still 220. He was expected to miss at least a month and possibly the remainder of the season. He would finish the 2022 season with a .305 BA with 15 HRs and 37 RBIs in 47 games. He did make it back for the AL Postseason, hitting just .100 (1 for 12) with 7 strikeouts in 6 games. He is currently an MLB Free Agent.
2009- New York Yankees Public Address Announcer Bob Sheppard officially retires at the age of 99. Known as the "Voice of God," Sheppard had been the Yankees PA announcer from 1951 to 2007 before his deteriorating health forced him to step down. He briefly returned in 2008 to announce the Yankees lineup for the final home game at the old Yankee Stadium.
2018- The Yankees have announced that they’ve claimed Pitcher Parker Bridwell off waivers from the Angels. They have designated veteran Reserve INF Ronald Torreyes for Assignment, who will be traded to the Cubs on November 28, 2018 for future considerations. Bridwell had an MLB pitching record of 11-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 26 games with the 2016 Orioles and the 2017-2018 Angels. On December 21, 2018, Parker was selected off waivers by the Angels from the Yankees.
