This Week in Yankees History December 4^th-10th Part One

December 4^th

1890- Former Yankees Pitcher, MLB Coach and Manager Bob “Sailor Bob” Shawkey (1915-1927) was born. (1890-1980)
In 1927,  Bob Shawkey finished his Yankees Pitching career with a 168-131 record with a 3.10 ERA; while appearing in 415 games with 161 complete games and 26 shutouts. After being obtained from the 1915 Philadelphia Athletics for $85,000 Cash. Bob will become a 4-time 20 game winner (1916,1919-1920 and 1922) for the team. In April of 1923, he was the Yankees Starter at the Opening Day Game for Yankee Stadium. In 1929, Shawkey would join the Yankees MLB Coaching staff as their MLB Pitching Coach. Following the death of long-time Yankees Manager Miller Huggins in September of 1929, he became skipper of the club for the 1930 AL season, Bob will manage the Yankees to an 3rd place finish with an 86-68 record before being replaced by veteran NL Cubs Manager Joe McCarthy. He would go on to manage in the Minor Leagues for several seasons with the 1931 AA Jersey City Skeeters (IL), then the 1932-1933 Scranton Miners and the 1934 Yankees AA team, the Newark Bears (IL). After scouting for the Pirates and the Tigers organizations during the 1940’s, he would return to Managing, leading the Tallahassee Pirates during part of 1949 season and the 1950 Jamestown Falcons. Then he was the Head Baseball Coach at Dartmouth College from 1952-1956. In 1976, Shawkey threw out the ceremonial 1st pitch at newly renovated Yankee Stadium. In 1980, Bob would pass away at age 90, following a long illness.

1893- Former Yankees Pitcher Luke Nelson (1919) was born. (1893-1985)

Luke Nelson had pitched 24.3 innings for the 1919 Yankees, while posting a 3-0 record with a 2.96 ERA in 6 games.

1938- Former Yankees Reserve C/1B Bill Bryan (1966-1967) was born.

On June 10,1966, C/1B Bill Bryan was traded by the A’s along with P Fred Talbot to the Yankees for OF Roger Repoz, Pitchers Gil Blanco and Bill Stafford. Bill had hit .217 and .166 for the 1966-1967 Yankees. On November 28,1967, Bill was drafted by the Senators from the Yankees organization in the 1967 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He had been playing for the Yankees AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL).

1954- Former Yankees Reserve INF Tucker Ashford (1981) was born.

On October 24,1980, INF Tucker Ashford was traded by the Rangers along with Cash to the Yankees for Reserve INF Roger Holt. In 1981, Tucker will appear in only 3 games with the Yankees with no hits. On October 27,1982, he was purchased by the Blue Jays from the Yankees. On April 5,1983, Tucker was returned to the Yankees by the Blue Jays. On April 18,1983, Tucker is traded by the Yankees to the Mets for a Player to be Named Later and Minor League P Steve Ray. The Mets would send Minor League INF Felix Perdomo on May 3,1983 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Neither Ray and Perdomo would play in the MLB.

1957- The MLB kills the “Bonus Baby Rule” and raises the minimum MLB Player Salary to $7,000. Yankees GM George Weiss had stayed away from the Bonus Baby Rule type players, after the signings of 1B Frank Leja and INF Tommy Carroll. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel did not like to play the bonus baby players, who had to stay with the MLB team roster for 2 seasons before going to the Minor Leagues. He preferred to use his veteran players on the MLB 25-man roster instead.

1957- Former Yankees Reliever Lee Smith (1993) was born.

On August 31,1993, the Yankees had traded Minor League P Rich Bachelor to the Cardinals for veteran NL All-Star Closer Lee Smith. The former NL All-Star Cardinals Closer Lee Smith had appeared in 8 games with the Yankees, posting a 0-0 record with 3 saves in September of 1993; before leaving the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. He would sign with their AL Eastern Division rivals, the Orioles.

1957- Former Yankees Reserve OF Pat Sheridan (1991) was born.

On January 24,1991, OF Pat Sheridan was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. He had previously played for the Royals. He would only hit .204 in 62 games as a Reserve OF for the 1991 Yankees. In 1992 Yankees MLB Spring Training camp, he failed to make the team and he was released by the team.

1962- Former Yankees Reserve OF Stanley “Stan” Jefferson (1989) was born.

On October 24,1988, OF Stan Jefferson was traded by the Padres along with Pitchers Jimmy Jones and Lance McCullers to the Yankees for 1B Jack Clark and P Pat Clements. Stan will appear in only 10 games with the Yankees, just hitting only .083. On July 20,1989, Stan was traded by the Yankees to the Orioles for P John Habyan

1964- The MLB restore to the Commissioner's Office all powers rescinded after Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis's death in 1944. Principally, they waived their right to take legal action in the event of disagreements with the MLB Commissioner. They grant him authority to judge whether actions taken by the Owners in concert are, automatically "in the best interests of baseball." Voting for the annual MLB All-Star teams is turned back to the fans.

1964- MLB approves an MLB Free-Agent Player Draft at their 1964 MLB Winter Meetings held in Houston. The Minor League and Major League organizations establish a system, basically like that of Professional Football, which will take effect in January of 1965 and be held every 4 months thereafter. Choices will be exercised by clubs in the reverse order of their previous year's league standings. Draftees must be included in their club's 40-man roster or be susceptible to claim at the waiver price the following season. This move by the MLB Team Owners would end the dominance of the Yankees and Dodgers from spending big money to sign the young available players, giving the poorer teams a chance to sign young talented players. 

1968- The Yankees had obtained Reserve OF Richard Simpson from the Astros for Reliever Dooley Womack. After leaving the Yankees, Dooley Womack was never effective MLB Pitcher. Womack had pitched for the 1966-1968 Yankees, while appearing in 152 games, all but 1 in relief, while posting a 15-16 record with a 2.70 ERA and 24 saves. Dooley’s role as right-hander in the Yankees bullpen was greatly reduced with the arrival of veteran NL Reliever Lindy McDaniel from the Giants in July of 1968. Yankees Manager Ralph Houk prefer to use him over Womack. Simpson had appeared in only 6 games as a Reserve OF for the Yankees, while hitting .273 with No HRs and 4 RBIs before being traded to the new AL Expansion team, the Seattle Pilots on May 19,1969 for Reserve OF Jose Vidal, who never appears with Yankees at the MLB level. Vidal is sent by the Yankees to their AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL).

1968- The Dodgers had traded young left-handed P Mike Kekich (2-11 with a 4.38 ERA in 30 games) to the Yankees for Reserve OF/1B Andy Kosco. Andy never really showed the promise of being a power hitter, while playing for the Yankees, after being drafted from the Twins in MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. In 1968, he had hit .240 with 15 HRs and 59 RBIs as a Reserve OF/1B in 131 games for the team. Mike Kekich is more known for his wife and family trade with fellow Bronx teammate Fritz Peterson than for his MLB Pitching career with the Yankees. Overall, as a Yankees hurler from 1969-1973, he had posted a 31-32 record with a 4.31 ERA and 1 save in 125 games before being traded to the Indians in April of 1973 in the Chris Chambliss trade.

1969- The Yankees had traded former AL Golden Glove Winner 1B/OF Joe Pepitone to the Astros for 1B/OF/C Curt Blefary, who returns to the Yankees, the MLB team that he originally signed with in the early 1960’s. He was lost by the Yankees in a 40-man roster move made during the 1963 AL season, when the team added veteran INF Harry Bright from the Reds. The Orioles immediately claimed Curt, who was playing at AA Greensboro (SL). Curt will be a major disappointment for the Yankees, never showing the power hitting that he had with the Orioles during the mid-1960’s. He will appear in 120 games for the team, hitting just .210 with 10 HRs and 39 RBIs, before being traded to Oakland in 1971. Joe Pepitone had worn out his welcome with the Yankees GM Lee MacPhail and Manager Ralph Houk with his various personnel disputes with the team. He had played for the Yankees from 1962-1969, replacing veteran Bill “Moose” Skowron at 1B in 1963. He was moved to the outfield, when Mickey Mantle was shifted from the OF to 1B in 1967. Overall, as a Yankees player, Joe had hit .252 with 166 HRs and 543 RBIs in 1,050 games.

1974- Former Yankees Minor League INF Andy Morales was born.

After defecting from Cuba, 3B Andy Morales had played 2 seasons of minor league baseball. He had originally signed a 4-year, $4.5 million contract with the Yankees, but he was let go by the club later that summer after the team discovered that he was allegedly 3-years older than what Morales originally told them. He would play for the Red Sox organization the next summer.

1975- Former Yankees Pitcher Ed Yarnall (1999-2000) was born.

On February 1,1999, P Ed Yarnall was traded by the Marlins along with Pitchers Todd Noel (Minors) and Mark J. Johnson to the Yankees for Rookie 3B Prospect Mike Lowell, who was blocked at 3B by the presence of Scott Brosius. GM Cashman was trying to restock the Yankees Minor League Pitching with this trade for 3 young pitchers. Ed will post a 1-0 record with a 5.40 ERA in 7 games with the Yankees. On July 12, 2000, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Prospects: OF Jackson Melian, 3B Drew Henson and P Brian Reith to the Reds for veteran MLB Starter Denny Neagle and Reserve OF Mike Frank. 

1984- The Yankees had traded P Ray Fontenot and OF/INF Brian Dayett to the Cubs for OF Henry Cotto, C Ron Hassey and 2 Pitchers: Rich Bordi and Porfi Altimirano. Ray Fontenot went 16-11 with a 3.51 ERA in 50 games with the Yankees. Brian Dayett had split the last 2 seasons shuttling between AAA Columbus and the Yankees, while appearing in 75 games, hitting .237 with 4 HRs. Cotto was a promising young Cubs Outfielder. Ron Hassey was an MLB veteran Catcher, who was recovering from successful knee surgery. Rich Bordi and Porfi Altimirano were Relief Pitchers for the Cubs. Rich Bordi will stay with the Yankees, while Altimirano was sent to the Minor Leagues; he never appears with the Yankees at MLB level.

1985- Former Yankees Pitcher Andrew Brackman (2011) was born.

Andrew Brackman was a 6' 11" right-handed Minor League Baseball Pitcher with the Yankees organization. He had signed a 4-year $4.55 million-dollar deal with $3.35 million signing bonus as the 30th overall pick of the 2007 MLB Amateur Player Draft. He had pitched in college for the North Carolina Univ. During the 2009 Minor League season, he had pitched for Class A Charleston River Dogs (SAL). In 2011, he had appeared in 3 games with the Yankees with no record. On October 31, 2011, Andrew was granted MLB Free Agency by the Yankees, when the team declined to pick-up his player contract option. He would be signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Reds, but he never pitches in the MLB again.

1989- The Yankees had traded Catcher Don Slaught for 2 Pirates Pitchers: veteran MLB Reliever Jeff Robinson and Minor League Prospect Willie Smith. Don Slaught had hit .266 with 14 HRs and 181 RBIs for 2 seasons with the 1988-1988 Yankees. Due to his injuries, he was replaced by Rookie Catcher Bob Geren during the 1989 AL season. Jeff Robinson was an MLB Reliever, who will go 3-6 with a 3.45 ERA in 54 games for the 1990 Yankees, before being granted MLB Free Agency by the team and signing with the Angels. Willie Smith never appears with Yankees at the MLB level.

1990- Former Yankees Closer Dave Righetti signs as an MLB Free Agent with his hometown team, the Giants. Overall, as a Yankee hurler, he had posted a 74-61 record with a 3.11 ERA in 548 games. As a Yankees Closer, he had saved 224 games. Originally, he was signed by the Rangers, then he was traded to the Yankees in the Sparky Lyle trade in the fall of 1978. He had won the 1981 AL Rookie of Year Award. On July 4,1983, he threw a No-Hitter at Yankee Stadium against the Red Sox. He became the Yankees Closer, when Closer Goose Gossage left the team for MLB Free Agency in 1984. He is currently the Special Advisor for the Giants front office; he had been the team’s long-time MLB Pitching Coach, before his front office promotion.

1992- Former Yankees Minor League OF Jake Cave was born.

Jake Cave had hit .594 as a HS Sr., while on the mound, he had posted a 6-3 record along with a 1.65 ERA, while fanning 101 batters in 55 innings. The Yankees took him in the 6th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Cave was 0 for 1 with a walk for the GCL Yankees that year, fracturing his kneecap in a home plate collision in his 1st game as a pro. After having knee surgeries, he would miss all of 2012 season. He would return in 2013 with the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL). Starting in CF, he hit .282 with 18 steals in 27 tries, 37 doubles and 69 runs. He was 2nd among Yankees farmhands in doubles and tied for 3rd with 6 triples. In the SAL. His .992 fielding percentage led all SAL Outfielders. In 2014, he was with Class A Tampa Yankees(FSL), hitting .304 in 90 games and the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) hitting .273 with a combined total of 9 triples and 74 runs. He was 3rd in the Yankees chain in Triples. In the FSL, he was 4th in BA. He was named to the FSL All-Star team as the LF even though he was mainly a CF. In 2015, he spent time with AA Trenton, hitting .269 and the AAA Scranton (11 for 24, 3 2B, 3B, 3 BB), with 17 steals in 20 tries and 6 triples. The Redswould take him as their 2nd pick of the 2015 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft, after fellow OF Tyler Goeddel and just ahead of teammate Evan Rutckyj. However, he failed to make the Reds MLB 25-Man Roster in 2016 Reds MLB Spring Training Camp; so, he was returned to the Yankees on April 3rd. They had assigned him to AA Trenton Thunder (EL), where he would hit .288 in 27 games, then Jake was promoted to AAA Scranton, where he played another 89 games, while hitting .261. Altogether, his 2016 season batting line was .268 with 8 HRs and 55 RBIs in 116 games. Again he would split the 2017 season between AA and AAA, with the majority of his games played at AAA Scranton. He had his best Minor League season to date, by hitting .305 in 103 games, including a .324 average in AAA. He had hit 26 doubles, 5 triples along with 20 HRs, while he scored 66 runs and drove in 56.  After the 2017 AL season ended, he was added to the Yankees 40-Man MLB roster, but Jake was cut only a couple of weeks into 2018 MLB Spring Training Camp, as the Yankees needed MLB 25-man roster room for some late acquisitions that were made by the team. On March 16,2018 he was traded by the Yankees to the Twins for Minor League P Luis Gil.

1992- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Shortstop Spike Owen (1993) to a 3-year contract. Spike hit a disappointing .234 with 2 HRs and 20 RBIs in 103 games with the Yankees, before being replaced as regular Shortstop by Mike Gallego in the 2^nd half of the 1993 AL season. On December 9,1993, Spike was traded along with Cash to the Angels for Minor League P Jose Musset. 

2010- The Yankees and AL All-Star Shortstop Derek Jeter agree on a 3-year deal worth $51 million dollars with an option for a 4th year. Derek Jeter will start the 2011 AL season to continue his march to his 3,00th MLB career hits.

2010- The Cardinals had signed MLB Free Agent 1B Lance Berkman from the Yankees. He will move to LF in St. Louis, since NL All-Star 1B Albert Pujols is very much entrenched at his position. Berkman and the Yankees had agreed to his MLB Free Agency, after the 2010 MLB season before joining the team, when he was traded by the Astros to the Yankees on July 31^st  MLB Trade Deadline for a Minor League Player.

2010- Former Yankees MLB Scout Tony Stiel passed away. (1927-2010)

Tony Stiel was a long-time MLB Scout. Stiel had worked as a Police officer. He was Chief Investigator for the Oakland County Prosecutor's Office. He was a MLB Scout for the Tigers, Orioles, Indians (1966-1970), Yankees, Brewers (1972-1974), MLB Scouting Bureau and the Braves (1981- ). He helped sign the following the MLB Players: Steve Avery, Paul Assenmacher, Kent Mercker, Joe Roa, Jim Kern, Chuck Oertel, Rich Maloney, Lary Sorensen, Bob Ow****o and Dale Polley. In 1998, he was inducted into the Major League Scouting Hall of Fame. 

December 5^th

1871- Former Yankees Pitcher Lewis “Snake” Wiltse (1902-1903) was born. (1871-1928)

Pitcher Lewis “Snake” Wiltse went 0-3 with a 5.40 ERA and 1 save in 4 games for the 1903 Yankees. He had pitched for the 1902 Baltimore Orioles, while posting a 7-11 record with a 5.10 ERA in 19 games. Overall, as an MLB Pitcher, he will finish with a 29-31 record with a 4.59 ERA with 2 saves in 68 games.

1894- Former Yankees Reserve INF Joe Gedeon (1916-1917) was born. (1894-1941)
Infielder Joe Gedeon came to the Yankees in 1916, after playing for the AA Salt Lake City Bees (PCL), hitting .315 with 19 HRs. He had previously played in the AL with the 1913-1914 Senators. Joe Gedeon would appear in 155 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .217 with No HRs and 35 RBIs. On January 22,1918, Joe was traded by the Yankees along with OF Nick Cullop, 2B Fritz Maisel, Catcher Les Nunamaker, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 Cash to the St. Louis Browns for veteran P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt. Veteran MLB hurler Eddie Plank refused to play for the Yankees, he would retire from baseball. Del Pratt would have 3 good seasons at 2B with the Yankees.

1928- Former Yankees Minor League P Jack Urban was born. (1928-2006)

In 1949, the Yankees had signed P Jack Urban as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He never pitches for the Yankees at the MLB level. On April 5,1957, Jack was sent by the Yankees to the Kansas City  Athletics to complete an earlier deal that was made on February 19,1957. The Yankees had sent a Player to be Named Later, along with OF Irv Noren, 2B Milt Graff and 1B Wayne Belardi. Later, the Yankees would send Minor League P Jack Urban on April 5,1957 to KC to complete the trade. Then Kansas City would send INF Curt Roberts to the Bronx on April 4,1957. Then they would on June 4,1957, would send “Bonus Baby” Rookie INF Clete Boyer on to the Yankees to complete the trade. On April 8,1959, Jack was traded by the A’s back to the Yankees for P Mark Freeman. On May 12,1959, Jack was purchased by the Cardinals from the Yankees. Despite of all of this MLB trade activity, Jack managed to have MLB pitching career record of 15-15 with a 4.83 ERA and 1 save in 69 games with the A’s and the Cardinals. His best MLB playing season was in 1957, posting a 7-4 record with a 3.34 ERA in 31 games with the A’s

1958- The Philadelphia Phillies, hoping to fill the NL void in New York City caused by departure of the Giants and Dodgers to California, drop any plans for 1959 regular season broadcasts into New York City TV market after the Yankees threaten to broadcast their 1959 AL season games into Philadelphia TV market. The Pirates and Cardinals had thought about this plan as well, but they dropped out the idea of televising NL games in to the NYC TV market, upon learning what the Yankees would in response to their moves.

1959- Representing MLB, the Yankees' All-Star Catcher and MVP Yogi Berra visits Italy to present baseball equipment and aid in the sport's development in the country.

1964- Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Roenicke (1986) was born.

On December 12,1985, veteran OF/DH Gary Roenicke was traded by the Orioles along with a Player to be Named Later to the Yankees for Reliever Rich Bordi and Reserve INF Rex Hudler. The Orioles would send INF Leo Hernandez on December 16,1985 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Gary would hit .265 with 3 HRs and 18 RBIs in 69 games with the Yankees, before leaving the team for MLB Free Agency in January of 1987, signing with the Braves.

1969- The Yankees would send veteran Starter Al Downing and Reserve Catcher Frank Fernandez to Oakland A’s for 1B/3B Danny Cater and Reserve INF Ossie Chavarria. Downing was still coming back from pitching arm problems. He had a 62-48 pitching record for team, before having arm problems in 1968, winning just 3 games that season. In 1969, he would bounced back with a 7-5 record. He finished his 9-season Yankees Pitching career with an overall  72-57 record along with a 3.23 ERA and 2 saves in 208 games. Frank Fernandez was a weak hitting catcher, who had played in 149 games for the team, while hitting just .204. He was made expendable with the arrival of 2 young Yankees Catchers Thurman Munson and Johnny Ellis. Danny Cater had appeared in 276 games with the team, while hitting .290 with 10 HRs and 126 RBIs. In March of 1972, he would later be traded to the Red Sox for Reliever Sparky Lyle. Reserve INF Ossie Chavarria never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level, he was sent to the Yankees AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL). He had previously played in the MLB with the A’s, when they were still in Kansas City. The Yankees would later trade him in 1972 to the Mexico City Tigers for INF Celerino Sanchez.

1974- The Yankees had obtained Reserve INF Eddie Leon from the White Sox for Reliever Cecil Upshaw. Ed would only appear in 1 game for the Yankees before being released by the team on May 5,1975. Cecil Upshaw, who was obtained from the Indians in the Chris Chambliss trade in April of 1974, was a major disappointment for the Yankees. He had appeared in 36 games for the team, while posting a 1-5 record with a 3.02 ERA and 6 saves.

1984-The A's would send AL All-Star base stealing star OF Rickey Henderson and P Bert Bradley to the Yankees in exchange for MLB Pitchers: Jay Howell and Jose Rijo, Reserve OF Stanley Javier and 2 Minor Leaguer hurlers: Tim Birtsas and Eric Plunk.  Reliever Jay Howell had posted a 12-12 record with a 4.38 ERA and 7 saves in 86 games for the Yankees. Young 19-year-old Yankees OF Stan Javier and Pitcher Jose Rijo had spent time with the Yankees in 1984. Rijo went 2-8 with a 4.76 ERA and 2 saves in 24 games for the team. In 1984, Eric Plunk and Tim Birtas were pitching at Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees (FSL). Pitcher Bert Bradley would never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level.

1984- The Yankees had traded veteran Catcher Rick Cerone to the Braves for Minor League P Brian Fisher. Rick had only played in 38 games hitting just .208 as a Reserve Catcher for the 1984 Yankees, while spending 2 months on the DL. Brian Fisher would work out of the Yankees bullpen in 1985. He had posted a 9-11 record with a 4.28 ERA for the 1984 AAA Richmond Braves (IL)

1988- The Yankees had traded Shortstop Bobby Meacham to the Rangers for Reserve OF Bob Brower. Bobby had played in 457 games for the team, while hitting .236 with 8 HRs and 114 RBIs. He had been a former #1 Amateur Player Draft pick of the Cardinals. He was traded to the Yankees in the make-up deal for the ill-fated Bob Sykes trade. Bob Brower had hit .244 in 230 games for the Rangers. He would appear in 36 games as a Reserve OF for the 1989 Yankees, while hitting just .232.

1995- Former Yankees Pitcher Nick Nelson (2020-2021) was born.

Nick Green was drafted by the Yankees in the 4th round of the 2016 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Gulf Coast Community College (Panama City, FL). He has pitched for the Yankees organization since 2016. In 2019, he had pitched at 3 different levels in the Yankees farm system. First, with the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL), where he pitched in 1 game, with no decision. Then he was moved up to the AA Trenton Thunder (EL), where he posted a 7-2 record with a 2.35 ERA in 13 games. Next, Nick appeared with AAA Scranton (IL) for 4 games with a 1-1 record with a 4.71 ERA. Nick was invited to the Yankees 2020 MLB Spring Training camp. He was assigned by the team to their Alternate Training Site at Scranton. On August 1, 2020, he was called up by the Yankees, to work out of their bullpen. He had posted a 1-0 record with a 4.79 ERA in 11 games for the team. In 2021, he started out the season with AAA Scranton, making several call-up trips to the Bronx. Nelson finishes the 2021 AL season with a 0-2 record with an 8.78 ERA in 11 games. On November 19, 2021, Nick was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League Catcher Donny Sands to the Phillies for 2 Minor League Players: 1B T.J. Rumfield and P Joel Valdez.

1996- Two days after obtaining Catcher Joe Girardi from the Rockies, the Yankees would send veteran Reserve Catcher Jim Leyritz to the Angels in exchange for 2 Minor Leaguer Players; 3B Ryan Kane and P Jeremy Blevins. Jim Leyritz was the Yankees player with the longest tenure of 5 years,126 days; he was vulnerable because of his $1.75 million yearly contract. He leaves the Bronx with a .266 BA with 57 HRs and 243 RBIs in 512 games. 

1996- Former Yankees Reserve OF Cliff Mapes (1948-1951) passed away. (1922-1996) 

On November 1,1946, OF Cliff Mapes was drafted by the Yankees from the AA Baltimore Orioles (IL) the in 1946 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He had been playing in the Indians organization. He spent 1947 season with the AA Kansas City Blues (AA). In 1947, his best season was his best while playing in the Minor Leagues, he had 167 hits, 107 runs, 27 doubles, 11 triples, 21 HRs and 117 RBIs, while hitting .308 in 155 games. He led the American Association in RBI’s that season as the Blues finished in 1st place. He won an MLB job with the Yankees in the 1948 MLB Spring Training Camp at the age of 26, he broke into the MLB on April 20th. He had played for the Yankees (1948-1951), appearing in the 1949 and 1950 World Series. In 1948, Cliff was the last active Yankee player to wear Babe Ruth’s No. 3 Yankees uniform. When No. 3 was retired by the Yankees to honor Babe Ruth, then Cliff became the 1st Yankee player to wear uniform No. 13. In 1950 was his best season in MLB, when he had 88 hits, 60 runs, 14 doubles, 6 triples, 12 HRs, 61 RBIs with 1 stolen base ,while hitting .247 in 108 games. In the 1949 and 1950 World Series, he had 1 hit (but one that mattered), 3 runs, 1 double and 2 RBIs, while batting .071 in 5 games. On July 31, 1951, the Browns would acquire OF Cliff Mapes from the Yankees, sending P Bobby Hogue, 3B Kermit Wahl, INF Tom Upton and P Lou Sleater to the Bronx. His trade to the St. Louis Browns freed ups an MLB 25-man roster spot for Rookie OF Mickey Mantle's return from AAA Kansas City Blues (AA), as well as Mapes' #7 Yankees uniform number. Mantle had started his 1951 AL rookie season wearing Uniform No. 6. Overall, as a Yankees player, Cliff Mapes had appeared in 317 games, while hitting .245 with 22 HRs and 119 RBIs. 

1997- Former Yankees Minor League P Hayden Wesneski was born.

On August 1,2022, the Yankees would trade Minor League P Hayden Wesneski to the Cubs for MLB Reliever Scott Effoss. The Yankees had selected Hayden in the 6th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Player Draft from Sam Houston State Univ. (Huntsville, TX). For the 2022 Minor League season, Hayden had a 6-7 record with a 3.51 ERA in 19 games. In his 3 seasons in the Yankees farm system, he had a 18-14 record with a 3.52 ERA in 62 games. He would make his 1^st MLB pitching start with the 2022 Cubs on September 6, 2022, going 5 innings for his 1^st MLB victory.

2001- NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani announces he wants to complete new stadium deals for the Mets and Yankees before he leaves office at the end of the month. Before the September 11th attacks, which dramatically changed the city's financial stature the Mayor thought an arrangement in which the city, the state and the Owners agreed to pay one-third of the cost of the new stadiums might complete the negotiations with the teams.

2012- The Yankees see 2 potential replacements for injured 3B Alex Rodriguez slip away; as veteran INF Eric Chavez, who was A-Rod's back-up over the last 2 seasons, signs with his hometown Diamondbacks, meanwhile Jeff Keppinger, whom the Yankees were also pursuing as a MLB Free Agent, agrees to a 3-year deal with the White Sox.

2014- The Yankees make a couple of player moves today. First, they had signed MLB Free Agent Reliever Andrew Miller to a $36-million deal for 4 years; then they had acquire Shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Diamondbacks, as the heir apparent to the retired All-Star Shortstop Derek Jeter, parting with Pitcher Shane Greene with the Tigers also being involved in the deal. Trade Summary:  Shortstop Didi Gregorius is traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Diamondbacks to the Yankees. The Yankees would send P Shane Greene to theTigers. Meanwhile the Tigers would send 2 Players: Domingo Leyba (Minors) and Pitcher Robbie Ray to theDiamondbacks.

December 6^th

1873- Former Yankees 3B and Manager Harry Wolverton (1912) was born. (1873-1937)
Infielder Harry Wolverton had played 7 seasons in the Majors, making his MLB Player debut with the 1898 Chicago Orphans; hitting .327 in 13 games. His best player year was probably with the 1903 Phillies, when he hit .308 along with 12 triples. In 1912, he had replaced the 1911 Player-Manager Hal Chase (76-76) as the Highlanders Manager. Chase would return to 1B as a full-time player. Before managing the 1912 Highlanders, Wolverton had managed the 1910-1911 AA Oakland Oaks (PCL). After his 1 season with the Highlanders, he went on to manage 2 PCL AA teams: Sacramento and San Francisco. The 1912 Yankees would go 50-102 under the leadership of Manager Harry Wolverton. Former Cubs great INF and MLB Manager Frank Chance would replace him for the 1913 AL Season. As an MLB player, Harry had appeared in 33 games at 3B for the 1912 Yankees, while hitting .300 with No HRs and 4 RBIs. It was his final season as an active player, ending an MLB playing career that started in 1898, finishing with .278 BA with 7 HRs and 362 RBIs in 783 games. Harry was a Minor League Manager from 1907-1911,1913-1917 and in 1923, spending most his time running teams in PCL.  

1882- Former Yankees 3B Alvin “Cozy” Dolan (1911-1912) was born. (1882-1958)
Alvin “Cozy” Dolan had appeared in 37 games for the Yankees, while hitting .256 with No HRs and 17 RBIs. On May 31,1912, Cozy was purchased by AA Rochester (IL) from the Yankees.

1903- Former Yankees HOF 2B Tony “Poosh 'Em Up Tony” Lazzeri (1926-1937) was born. (1903-1946).

In 1925, 2B Tony Lazzeri set what were then Organized Baseball records, while hitting .355 with 60 HRs and 222 RBIs for the AA Salt Lake City Bees (PCL). Day after day at Salt Lake City in 1925, Bill Essick, an MLB Scout for the Yankees, watched a young Shortstop named Tony Lazzeri. Essick would report to Yankees Ed Barrow, the Yankees’ Business Manager (General Manager) that Lazzeri was hitting the ball exceptionally well, batting .355, while hitting 60 HRs. “But the air is thin out there,” Barrow told Essick. “The air may be thin, but this player is solid,” Essick responded. While other MLB teams were worried about Tony’s epileptic medical condition; the Yankees had his family’s medical history checked out; he never had an episode on the playing field during his MLB playing career. His epileptic medical condition was kept from the public. On August 1,1925, Tony was traded by the AA Bees to the Yankees for Players to be Named Later and $50,000 Cash. The Yankees would send in March of 1926, Rookie INF Mack Hillis, OF Frank Zoellers and P Curt Fullerton to the AA Bees to complete the trade. During his 12 seasons with the Yankees, Lazzeri had batted .293 with 1,784 hits, 327 doubles, 115 triples, 169 HRs and 1,157 RBIs. He had 7-100 RBI Seasons: (1926-1927,1929-1930,1932-1933 and 1936). He was on the 1st AL All-Star team in 1933. He had appeared in 7 World Series for the Bronx Bombers, while hitting .262 with 4 HRs and 19 RBIs. His best Yankees player season was in 1929, when he hit .354 with 18 HRs and 106 RBIs. On October 15,1937, upon his request to retire as an active player from MLB, Tony was conditionally released by the Yankees. 

Then he would be signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Cubs as a Player/Coach for 1938 NL season; then splitting the 1939 NL season, first starting out with the Dodgers and finishing up with the Giants in June of 1939. Lazzeri, then would manage the AA Toronto Maple Leafs (IL) during part of 1939 and 1940 IL seasons. Then he played for the 1941 AA San Francisco Seals (PCL). In 1942,  he was a Player-Manager with the Portsmouth Cubs (PL). Tony would end his pro baseball career as a Player-Manager of 1943 Wilkes-Barre Barons (EL), he hit .271 in 58 games. On August 6,1946, after returning home from a short vacation out of town, Mrs. Lazzeri found her husband slumped on the landing of their home in San Francisco, Ca. Sadly, the former Yankees Infielder had died alone of a heart attack at the age of 42. In 1991, Tony Lazzeri was elected to MLB’s Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

1920- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Gus Niarhos (1946-1950) was born. (1920-2004)
In 1941, the Yankees had signed Catcher Gus Niarhos, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He had missed playing time due to military service for WWII. Gus would play in 153 games for the Yankees, while hitting .264 with No HRs and 27 RBIs, showing little HR power with his bat. He went from 2^nd string Catcher in 1946 to 3^rd string in 1950. On June 27,1950, Gus was selected off waivers by the White Sox from the Yankees for $10,000 Cash. His Yankees MLB 25-Man Roster spot would be taken by young Minor League Pitcher named Whitey Ford. He was another of many young Yankee Catchers, who were blocked by the presence of All-Star Yogi Berra, starting behind home plate. He would play 9 seasons in the MLB before retiring in 1955.

1938- Brooklyn Dodgers Baseball Executive Larry MacPhail ends an agreement with the Yankees and Giants to ban Radio Broadcasts of their games in the New York City area, as he sells the radio rights of the Dodgers games to Wheaties Cereal.

1945- Former Yankees MLB 3B Coach Larry Bowa (2006-2007) was born.
Larry Bowa was a former MLB player (Phillies, Cubs and Mets), Coach, MLB Manager (Padres and Phillies) before joining the 2005 Yankees MLB Coaching staff for Manager Joe Torre. After the 2007 AL season, he had left the Yankees to join former Yankees Manager Joe Torre; who had taken over the Dodgers Manager’s job staying until his retirement in 2010. In 2011, he joined the MLB Network as an Analyst, he stayed until 2013. In 2014, he would return to MLB Coaching with the Phillies. On October 13, 2017, Bowa was relieved of his coaching duties, when he accepted the role as Matt Klentak's Senior Advisor to the Phillies General Manager.He is the Uncle of former Yankees Player 1B/DH Nick Johnson. 

1946- The Yankees had obtained 2B Ray Mack and Catcher Sherman Lollar from the Indians for Pitchers Al Gettel, Gene Beardon and OF Hal Peck. Ray Mack would be sent to the White Sox during the 1947 AL season. In 2 seasons with the Yankees, Sherman Lollar would catch only 19 games as a Reserve Catcher, while playing in 33 games for the Yankees before being traded to the Browns in 1948. He had appeared in 2 games with the Yankees in the 1947 World Series against the Dodgers; while hitting .750 (3 for 4). On December 13,1948, the Yankees would send Reserve Catcher Sherman Lollar, Pitchers Red Embree and Richard Starr along with Cash to the Browns for Browns Starter Fred Sanford and veteran Catcher Roy Partee. Later, he would become the starting catcher for the 1950’s White Sox teams. Lollar would appear in the 1959 World Series with the White Sox playing against the Dodgers in 6 games; while hitting just .227. He would finish his MLB playing career in 1963 with a lifetime .264 BA, while hitting 155 HRs with 808 RBIs in 1,732 games.

1953- Former Yankees OF/DH Gary Ward (1987-1989) was born.
On December 24,1986, OF/DH Gary Ward was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. During with his stay in the Bronx, Gary would never hit like he had done earlier in his MLB playing career with the Twins. He had appeared in 245 games for the 1987-1989 Yankees; while hitting .242 with 20 HRs with 103 RBIs. On April 16,1989, Ward was released by the Yankees. He would be picked up by the Tigers and finished his MLB playing career with them in 1990.

1959- Former Yankees 3B Wid Conroy (1903-1908) passed away. (1887-1959)

In October,1902, 3B Wid Conroy had jumped from the NL Pirates to the new AL team, the New York Highlanders. Conroy had played in 796 games for the 1903-1908 Yankees; while hitting .250 with 12 HRs and 266 RBIs along with 184 stolen bases. On February 17,1909, veteran 3B Wid Conroy, who was now 32 years old was purchased by the Senators from the Yankees. The Yankees 1908 Manager George Stallings had decided that he wanted a younger player to play at 3B.

1968- The Yankees had obtained Reserve INF Nate Oliver from the Giants for 3B Charlie Smith (A classic nothing for nothing trade that leaves nothing). After being traded for Yankees AL All-Star OF Roger Maris by the Cardinals in December of 1966, Charley Smith would appear in 181 games for the 1967-1968 Yankees, while hitting just .221 with 10 HRs and 45 RBIs. His 1968 AL season was limited to just 46 games due to off-season knee surgery. Nate Oliver will appear in 1 game with no hits for the 1969 Yankees. On April 19,1969, he was traded to the Cubs for INF Lee Elia. He had appeared in 44 games for the 1969 Cubs; while hitting .159. Elia never appears at the MLB level with the Yankees.

1971- Former Yankees Pitcher Jose Contreras (2003-2004) was born in Cuba.
In 2003, the Yankees had signed Cuban Free Agent hurler Jose Contreras as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. A former pitching star in Cuba, Jose never really felt comfortable pitching while with the Yankees. In 2003, he had posted a 7-2 record with a 3.30 ERA in 18 games for the team. In 2004, Jose was 8-5 with a 5.64 ERA in 18 games for the Yankees, when he was traded in July to the White Sox for Starter Esteban Loaiza.

1973- The Yankees had purchased Shortstop Jim Mason from the Rangers for $100,000 Cash. In 1973 as a Rangers Rookie Reserve INF, Jim had hit .206 with 3 HRs in 92 games. The Yankees wanted someone to replace aging veteran Shortstop Gene Michael, who had weak hitting bat, but still had a great glove.  In 1974, Jim would hit .250 in 152 games for the Yankees, before dropping off at the plate to .152 and .180 in the next 2 seasons as a Reserve INF for the team. Overall, as a Yankees player, Jim would hit .208 with 8 HRs and 67 RBIs in 334 games for the team. The Yankees had left Jim unprotected in the 1976 AL Expansion Player Draft. He was selected by the Blue Jays from the Yankees as their 30th pick in the 1976 AL Expansion Team Player Draft (the Blue Jays and Mariners.) In the 1976 World Series against the Reds, Jim hit the only HR for the Yankees in that Fall Classic.

1977- The Yankees had purchased Starter Andy Messersmith from the Braves for $100,000 Cash. After a 1978 MLB Spring Training Camp shoulder injury with Yankees 1B Cliff Johnson in a grapefruit game at 1B. Andy would only appear in 6 games for the 1978 team, while posting a 0-3 record. After the 1978 World Series, the Yankees would release him. He would finish MLB Pitching career with his old team, the Dodgers.

 1977- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher (2009) and Current MLB Manager Kevin Cash was born.

On December 23, 2008, veteran MLB Catcher Kevin Cash was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He had appeared in 10 games with the 2009 Yankees, while hitting .231, spending most his season with the Yankees AAA club, the Columbus Clippers (IL). On September 5, 2009, the team would release him. Since 2015, Kevin has been the MLB Manager for the Tampa Bay, replacing the departed Joe Maddon, who became the new Cubs Manager.

1978- Former Yankees Reserve INF Chris Basask (2007) was born.
With the 2007 Yankees, Reserve INF Chris Basask would appear in 5 games with no hits. He had spent most of the 2007 season with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).

1985- The Yankees had traded Reserve OF Billy Sample to the Braves for Minor League INF Miguel Sosa. For the 1985 Yankees, Billy Sample was a Reserve OF/ PH, hitting .288 with 1 HR and 15 RBIs in 59 games. Sosa had never appeared in the MLB with the Braves nor will he with the Yankees. in February of 1985, Billy Sample had been obtained by the Yankees in the Toby Harrah trade made with the Rangers. 

1992- The Yankees would trade 3 Minor League Players: 1B J.T. Snow, Pitchers Russ Springer and Jerry Nielsen to the Angels in exchange for Starter Jim Abbott. J. T. Snow’s refusal to learn how to play the Outfield, when the Yankees front office had suggested the position change; since he wasn't going to play 1B with All-Star Don Mattingly in the Yankees starting line-up, that made him expendable. Starter Jim Abbot would post a 20-22 record with a 4.45 ERA in 56 games for the team. During the 1993 AL season, Jim threw a No-Hitter against the Indians. In 1995, he was granted MLB Free Agency by the team; he would be signed by the White Sox.

1997- Former Yankees Reserve OF Lou Clinton (1966-1967) passed away. (1937-1997)
On January 14,1966, OF Lou Clinton was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for Reserve Catcher Doc Edwards. In 1966, Lou hit would .220 with 5 HRs and 23 RBIs in 80 games. He had appeared in only 6 games for the 1967 Yankees, before being sold to the Phillies. He would spend most of the 1967 season with the Phillies AAA team, the San Diego Padres (PCL). Lou had originally come up to the MLB with the Red Sox in 1960.

2002- In a cynical move‚ the Yankees Front Office offer the same 2-year $4.6 million contract to 3 lefty MLB Relievers - Mike Stanton‚ Mark Guthrie and Chris Hammond - and give them each 15 minutes to decide. Chris Hammond‚ 37‚ who signs for $4.8 million over 2 years. Chris Hammond‚ out of MLB baseball for 2 years‚ had a remarkable 2002 season posting a 0.95 ERA in 63 games; he did not allow an earned run after June 28th. He is the 3rd pitcher since 1900 to post a sub-one ERA while pitching 70+ innings. The veteran Mike Stanton doesn't bother to respond to the stepchild treatment‚ preferring to remain in the NYC area‚ he will sign a 3-year contract with the Mets a week later.

2013- The Yankees continued their MLB Free Agent signings activity despite losing All-Star 2B Robinson Cano to the Mariners and CF Curtis Granderson to the Mets. They will add MLB Free Agent veteran OF Carlos Beltran to a 3-year deal worth $45 million. He will be joining recently signed MLB Free Agent CF Jacoby Ellsbury in the 2014 Yankees starting outfield. Also, they booster their 2014 starting rotation with the return of veteran hurler Hiroki Kuroda to a $16 million, 1-year deal. For the 2013 Yankees, Kuroda had posted a 11-13 record with a 3.51 ERA in 32 starts. The Yankees will continue to rebuild their team with another MLB Free Agent signing with INF/OF Kelly Johnson to a 1-year deal. He had hit .235 with 16 HRs and 52 RBIs in 118 games playing with Tampa Bay.

2017- The Yankees had officially introduce former MLB Player Aaron Boone as their new Manager for the 2018 AL season, succeeding the recently departed Joe Girardi. Boone, whose coming appointment was leaked to the media 4 days earlier. He has worked exclusively as a Broadcaster since his MLB player retirement after the 2009 MLB season.

2021- The Yankees have signed former MLB INF Jose Peraza to a Minor League contract. He has previously spent 1 season with the 2015 Dodgers, then he had played for the 2016-2019 Reds, next he would play for the 2020 Red Sox and the 2021 Mets. He has an MLB .266 BA along with 35 HRs and 82 RBIs in 618 games. On July 15, 2022, Jose Peraza was released by Yankees. He had hit .239 with 5 HRs with AAA Scranton. He would be signed by the Red Sox. He is currently an MLB Free Agent.

This Week in Yankees History December 4th-10th Part Three

December 9th

1871-  Former MLB Player and Yankees MLB Scout (1915-1916) Joseph James Kelley was born  (1871-1943)

Joseph James Kelly was an American LF in MLB, who starred in the Outfield of the Baltimore Orioles teams of the 1890s. Making up the nucleus of the Orioles along with John McGraw, Willie Keeler and Hughie Jennings, Kelley received the nickname "Kingpin of the Orioles". In his MLB playing career, Kelley played in the NL for the 1891 Boston Beaneaters, 1892 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1892-1898 Baltimore Orioles and the 1899-1901 Brooklyn Superbas, before he jumped to the upstart American League to play for the 1902 Baltimore Orioles. He returned to the NL with 1902-1906  Reds and then the 1908 Boston Doves. Kelley served as Player-Manager of the 1902-1905 Reds and the 1908 Doves. After extending his playing career in the Minor Leagues, he was an MLB Coach for the 1926 Brooklyn Robins (aka Dodgers). He was an MLB Scout for the 1915-1916 Yankees. Kelley was regarded as an excellent batter, a good base runner, and a great leader. Over his 17-season MLB playing career, Kelley had a .317 batting average. He had batted over .300 in 11 consecutive seasons. Kelley stole a career-high 87 bases in the 1896 season, which led MLB. He finished in the league's top 10 in categories such as batting average, HRs, RBIs and stolen bases numerous times. He served as Team Captain of the Orioles and the Superbas. In recognition of his MLB playing career achievements, Kelley was elected a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1971.

1902- The American League announces purchase of grounds for a stadium in New York City. The next day, the National League declares its readiness to make peace with the rival American League.

1923- Former Yankees Manager (1915-1917) and MLB Player William “Wild Bill” Donvan died in a train wreck at the age of 47. (1876-1923)
William “Wild Bill” Donvan went 220-239 as the Yankees Manager from 1915-1917. His Yankees teams finished 5th, 4th and 6th place in the AL. He had succeeded Player-Manager Roger Peckinpaugh, who finished out the 1914 AL season after Manager Frank Chance was fired by Team Owners. Peckinpaugh would return to his regular shortstop position in 1915. Donvan was a former veteran MLB Pitcher with the Tigers. Donvan was 0-3 in 10 games as a Yankees pitcher. His overall MLB Pitching career record was 185-130 (1899-1918) while pitching for 4 teams. In the winter of 1917 by Yankees Co-Owner Jacob Ruppert Houston hired veteran NL Manager Miller Huggins to replace Bill Donvan. He would manage in the Minor Leagues from 1912-1914, then again in 1919-1920. In 1921, he managed the Philadelphia Phillies for 1 season. Donovan then successfully managed the New Haven Indians (Eastern League) for 1922-1923 seasons. He was expected to be hired as Manager of the Washington Senators for the 1924 AL season. He was on his way to the 1923 Baseball Winter Meetings in Chicago, IL, when he was a victim of one of the most famous American Train Wrecks of the 20th Century, “the crash of the 20th Limited at Forsyth, NY”, 25 miles east of Erie, PA. He was killed instantly, 1 of 9 victims of the train wreck tragedy. Bill was buried in Yeadon, Pa.

1923- Traveling to Chicago for the MLB Winter Meetings, Wild Bill Donovan, the New Haven Manager is killed in a train wreck. Bill Donovan was a Pitcher for Tigers and MLB Manager for the 1915-1917 Yankees and the 1921 Phillies. New Haven Team President George Weiss had swapped berths with Bill Donovan and escapes with only a minor injury. Phillies Owner William F. Baker is also on the train, but he is unhurt. Under Yankees GM Ed Barrow, George Weiss in 1932 will start running the new Yankees farm system. George Weiss would later become the Yankees General Manager in 1949, holding the position until October of 1960. 

1928- Former Yankees Reserve INF Joe “Oats” DeMaestri (1960-1961) was born. (1928-2016)
On December 11,1959, veteran AL INF Joe DeMaestri was part of the trade that sent OF Roger Maris and 1B Kent Hadley to the Yankees for P Don Larsen, OF Hank Bauer, OF/1B Norm Siebern and Reserve 1B/OF Marv Throneberry, who were sent to the A’s. The Red Sox originally had signed Joe as an MLB Amateur Player. He had played for the White Sox and the Browns before joining the A’s. In 1957, Joe was with the A’s, when he was named the starting Shortstop for the AL All-Star team. In 1960, Joe got into only 49 games, hitting .229, playing as a Reserve for Yankees regular Shortstop Tony Kubek. In Game 2 of the 1960 World Series against the Pirates, Joe had singled coming off the Yankees bench and scored a run in the Yankees' 16-3 rout over the Pirates. In Game 7, Joe would replace Tony Kubek at Shortstop in the 8th inning after Tony was hit in the throat by a ground ball off the bat of Pirates batter Bill Virdon. The 1961 AL season would be Joe DeMaestri final season in MLB. In his Reserve INF role, he appeared in only 30 games and hit for the lowest batting average of his MLB career, a docile .146 in 41 at-bats. However, he was around for one of baseball's most historic moments on October 1,1961, when Roger Maris hit his 61st HR of the season to break Babe Ruth's single-season record of 60. "Oats", along with Tony Kubek and Bill Skowron pushed Roger Maris out of the Yankees dugout to make a curtain call, which at that time was an unusual practice. After the 1961 World Series against the Reds had ended, Yankees GM Roy Haney and Manager Ralph Houk asked Joe to come back in 1962 as a Reserve Infielder, but he decide to retire. The 1962 Yankees would end up using Rookies Tom Tresh, Phil Linz and veteran Billy Gardner in their infield, when starting Shortstop Tony Kubek was called up for 6-month active-duty tour with the Army Reserves. Joe would miss out on a chance of playing in the 1962 World Series against the Giants in his hometown of San Francisco, Ca.

1946- Former Yankees Reserve OF Rich Bladt  (1975) was born.
On January 6,1970, OF Rich Bladt was sent by the Cubs to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal made on September 11,1969. The Cubs sent a Player to be Named Later, Minor League P Terry Bongiovanni and Cash to the Yankees for veteran OF Jimmie Hall. The Cubs would send OF Rick Bladt on January 6,1970 to Yankees to complete the trade. Rich had hit .222 in 52 games as a Reserve OF in 1975. On January 20,1977, Rich was traded by the Yankees along with OF Elliott Maddox to the Orioles for veteran AL Golden Glove OF Paul Blair.

1948- Former Yankees Pitcher George "Doc" Medich (1972-1975) was born. 
The Yankees in the 30th round of the 1970 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected hurler George Medich. “Doc” will post a 49-40 record with a 3.40 ERA in 111 games with the Yankees. The 1974 AL season will be his best Yankees pitching season, when George posted a 19-15 mark with 3.60 ERA in 38 games. Doc was traded by the Yankees to the Pirates in the winter of 1975 for Pitchers Ken Brett, Dock Ellis and Rookie 2B Willie Randolph. George Medich was nicknamed “Doc”, because he was studying medicine in the off-season to become a Doctor. After retiring from baseball, he would become a Doctor.

1965- While giving a speech in Columbus, MO, Branch Rickey collapses and dies a few days short of his 84th birthday. The former MLB Player and Manager, an extraordinary judge of baseball talent and a shrewd trader; he became perhaps the game's most influential Baseball Executive. He was the creator of the concept for a farm system for MLB teams, while running the Cardinals. Rickey was the Dodgers Baseball Executive, who was responsible for bringing Jackie Robinson to MLB in 1947. As a former MLB Catcher, Branch played for the 1907 Yankees, hitting just .182 in 52 games, while playing with a bad shoulder.

1965- Former Yankees Reliever Joe Ausanio (1994-1995) was born.
On December 13,1993, Reliever Joe Ausanio was drafted by the Yankees from the Expos organization in the 1993 MLB Minor League Player Draft. Joe would post a 4-1 record with a 5.57 ERA and 1 save in 41 games for the 1994-1995 Yankees.

1965- Former Yankees Reserve OF Charles “Dutch” Sterrett (1912-1913) passed away. (1889-1965)
Reserve OF Dutch Sterrett appeared in 87 games with the 1912-1913 Yankees, while  hitting .253 with 2 HRs with 65 RBI’s. He was a graduate of Princeton Univ., where he had played college baseball. During the 1913 AL season, the Yankees will send him to AA Venice Tigers (PCL). After the 1913 PCL season, he will leave pro baseball.

1970- Former Yankees Reserve OF Tony Tarasco (1999) was born.
Reserve OF Tony Tarasco had appeared in 14 games, hitting .161 for the 1999 Yankees. Tony is most famous for leaping to catch a Derek Jeter fly ball at the Yankee Stadium wall in the 1996 ALCS, when Jeffrey Maier hauled the ball over the fence for a HR. He was playing for the Orioles at the time.

1977- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Reliever Rawley Eastwick for more than 1 Million Dollars. His MLB Free Agent signing didn’t make much sense since the Yankees already had Closer Sparky Lyle and newly signed MLB Reliever Rich Gossage in their bullpen for the 1978 AL season. Eastwick and Yankees Manager Billy Martin didn't get along, so by June of 1978, he was traded to the Phillies for OF Jay Johnstone and Minor League OF Bobby Brown.

1981- One day after announcing that Manager Bob Lemon will return for the 1982 AL season, the Yankees announce that former Manager Gene Michael, whom Bob Lemon had replaced on September 6th, will return as Manager for the 1983 AL season. They won't wait that long, as Bob Lemon will give way to Gene Michael after only 14 games into the 1981 AL season.

1982- In what will turn out to be a pair of unwise deals; the Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent OF Steve Kemp to a 5-year contract. Next, they traded OF Dave Collins, P Mike Morgan and 19-yearold Class A Minor League 1B Fred McGriff to the Blue Jays for veteran MLB Reliever Dale Murray and Minor League OF Tom Dodd. The Yankees were hoping that the veteran Murray could strength their bullpen for the 1983 AL season.

1988- The Yankees had signed a 12-year Television contract with the Madison Square Garden Cable Network.

1993- The Yankees had traded veteran INF Spike Owen and Cash to the Angels for Minor League P Jose Musset, who never appears with the Yankees at the MLB level.

2010- The 2010 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft, the Yankees would lose 2 Pitchers: George Kontos (Padres) and Lance Pendleton (Astros), meanwhile they will select 2 Pitchers; Robert Fish (Dodgers) and Daniel Turpin (Red Sox).

2013- The Baseball Hall of Fame announces the election of 3 former MLB Managers, Joe Torre, Bobby Cox and Tony LaRussa.

2017-  The rumor in today's morning news is that the Yankees have acquired superstar NL Slugger OF Giancarlo Stanton from the Marlins. The Yankees take the inside track after Stanton reportedly nixed tentative deals with the Giants and the Cardinals by refusing to waive his No-Trade clause in his MLB Player’s contract to join either NL team, while the Yankees are apparently on the short list of teams that he would be prepared to join. The question is what New York is prepared to give up to make the trade happen, and if simply picking up the remainder of Stanton's huge MLB Player contract, with some token players thrown in, may be enough, given the Marlins are mainly seeking salary relief-on-field competitiveness be damned. The trade will be made official in 2 days.

2020- Former Yankees INF Phil “Super Sub” Linz (1962-1965) passed away at age of 81. (1939-2020)

In 1957, the Yankees had signed Shortstop Phil Linz as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would play in the Yankees Minor League system from 1957 to 1961 as a Shortstop. In 1961, he was beaten out for the starting shortstop job at AAA Richmond Virginians (IL) by Tom Tresh, so he was sent to the Amarillo Gold Sox (TXL) as their starting Shortstop for the 1961 Minor League season. Phil made the team in 1962, along with other Yankee Rookies, who were known as the “Amarillo Gang” (1B Joe Pepitone, Pitcher Jim Bouton and Linz). Linz was beaten out for the Yankees starting Shortstop job in 1962 MLB Spring Training Camp by Rookie teammate Tom Tresh. This happen because Yankees regular Shortstop Tony Kubek was away from the team for Army Reserve active duty until mid-July. Phil would become the 1962 Yankees infield utility man, he could play the OF and INF. Phil is most known for the 1964 harmonica incident on the team bus in Chicago with Manager Yogi Berra, following a tough Yankee loss on August 20, 1964. Following a 4-game sweep at the hands of the White Sox capped by a 5-0 shutout, Linz pulled out his harmonica as the team bus was delayed leaving for Chicago’s O'Hare Airport. That infuriated Manager Yogi Berra, who at 1st told him to stop. Linz, however, couldn't hear him and asked his teammate Mickey Mantle what he said. Mantle, ever playful, said "He said play it louder." So, Linz did. Then Yankees veteran 3B MLB Coach Frank Crosetti apparently said, "That's the worst thing I've ever heard!" By then Manager Berra completely lost his cool, charging Linz to have him stop the noise (Linz could barely play the instrument). The incident degenerated into a loud shouting match, and then Berra swiped at the instrument. It landed on Joe Pepitone, who apparently then shouted, "Corpsman! Oh, my knee, get me a corpsman!" and with a number of reporters on the bus, it was all over the next day's newspapers. Fans then began to throw harmonicas on the field at every game. Linz would receive a $10,000 Cash endorsement from Hohner Harmonica Company. Then he was featured on the back page of the Yankees' 1965 Yearbook with the ad line "Play it again, Phil". This bus incident sparked the 1964 Yankees to regain the AL Championship by winning 99 games. Not a big HR hitter normally, he would hit 2 HRs in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals Ace Bob Gibson. The 2nd HR was off of Cardinals Ace Bob Gibson in the 9th inning of the 7th game. Linz would bat leadoff in all 7 games of the 1964 World Series. With the retirement of Tony Kubek at the end of the 1965 AL season due to back and neck injuries, the Yankees were left without a starting shortstop. Would the team bring in Tom Tresh from the Outfield to play Shortstop again or try to use Linz or make a trade? OnNovember 29,1965, Yankees GM Ralph Houk traded Phil to the Phillies for former NL Golden Glove Shortstop Ruben Amaro Sr. The Yankees should have kept Linz because Amaro despite being a better infielder, was a complete disaster for the Yankees including a collision with Tom Tresh in the outfield during the start of the 1966 AL season that ruined Tresh knees and his MLB playing career. Linz’s final Yankees player career totals was a .246 BA with 10 HRs and 67 RBIs in 354 games. His stay in Philadelphia would last just 63 games, as Phil hit .205 with 1 HR and 11 RBIs. The Phillies would trade Linz to the Mets, where he played in 102 games, while hitting .208 with No HRs and 18 RBIs in 102 games. As an MLB player, Phil had appeared in 519 games, while hitting 11 HRs and 96 RBIs finishing his MLB playing career with a lifetime .235 BA. Later, he managed in the Orioles Minor League system for 1 season.

December 10th 

1900- Former Yankees Reserve OF Roy Carlyle (1926) was born. (1900-1956)

On June 15,1926, OF Roy Carlyle was selected off waivers by Yankees from Red Sox. He was used mainly as a Pinch-Hitter by Yankees Manager Miller Higgins, since he was a poor outfielder. He appeared in 35 games with the 1926 Yankees, hitting .323 with No HRs and 11 RBIs. He did not appear in the 1926 World Series with the Yankees. From 1927 to 1934, Roy would play in the Minor Leagues before retiring from the game. He had played in the MLB from 1925-1926 with the Senators, Red Sox and the Yankees. He finish his MLB playing with a .312 BA with 9 HRs and 76 RBIs in 174 games. 

1919- With the opposition led by Yankees, Red Sox and White Sox Team Owners, the AL Directors pass a resolution accusing Ban Johnson of overstepping his duties. They demand that League files be turned over to them and that an auditor review all financial accounts. The 3 teams' dissatisfaction with Johnson can be traced back to his attempt to suspend Pitcher Carl Mays, after he left his team the Red Sox without authorization during the past season. The Red Sox would trade the unhappy hurler to the Yankees on July 29, 1919 for 3 Players and Cash.

1924- The Yankees had obtained INF/OF Howard Shanks from the Red Sox for INF Mike McNally. Howard would appear in 66 games, hitting .258 for the 1925 Yankees in his final MLB season. INF Mike McNally came to the Yankees in 1920 from the Red Sox in the Waite Hoyt trade. He had hit .252 in 4 seasons with the team as a Reserve INF.

1930- The Yankees had purchased veteran Catcher Ralph “Cy” Perkins from the A’s. Cy had appeared in 16 games for the Yankees, while hitting .255. In 1932-1933, Cy was an MLB Coach for the Yankees. Later, he was an MLB Coach with the Tigers and the Phillies.

1940- In Chicago, a curious rule that was designed to "Break up the Yankees" is continued by the American League, a rule which prohibits the team winning the championship from trading with any other AL club. The rule was voted in at the 1939 December MLB Winter Meetings by the 7 other AL Team Owners, after the Yankees had won 4 straight World Series Championships (1936-1939). The Major and Minor Leagues agree that players taken into the military will not count against their team roster limits.

1946- The Yankees had signed veteran 1B George Mc Quinn, who was recently released by the Philadelphia A's. Team Owner/Manager Connie Mack thought that he was “too old” to be a regular 1B  for his 1946 A’s team. The 36-year-old 1B still has 2 good seasons left in him. He will hit .304 with 80 RBIs for the 1947 Yankees. In 1948, he will only hit .248, but he will have high slugging percentage of .421. He was named to the 1947-1948 AL All-Star teams. After the 1948 AL season ends, he will retire from MLB.

1947- The Indians send P Red Embree to the Yankees for Reserve OF Allie Clark. The Yankees almost took Red Embree instead of Starter Allie Reynolds in a trade a year ago, that involved former AL 1942 Most Valuable Player 2B Joe “Flash” Gordon. 

1958- Former Yankees 3B Alvin “Cozy’ Dolan (1911-1912) passed away. (1882-1958)
Infielder Al Dolan had appeared in 37 games for the Yankees, while hitting .256. On May 31,1912, Cozy was purchased by AA Rochester (IL) from the Yankees.

1960- Former Yankees Reliever Paul Assenmacher (1993) was born.

On July 30,1993, Paul Assenmacher was traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Cubs to the Yankees. The Yankees would send hurler John Habyan to the Royals. Then the Royals sent OF Tuffy Rhodes to the Cubs. Paul would appear in 26 games for the Yankees, while posting a 2-2 record. On March 21,1994, Paul was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for P Brian Boehringer.

1966- The Pirates had traded veteran Starter Bob Friend to the Yankees for P Pete Mikkelsen and Cash. Bob Friend was over the hill; he would be sold by the Yankees to the Mets in June of 1967. A very bad trade for the Yankees made by the CBS, Inc. controlled Front Office. After leaving the Yankees, Reliever Pete Mikkelsen would have 5 successful seasons in the NL.

1966- The Yankees had traded veteran Closer Pedro Ramos to the Phillies for P Joe Verbanic and Cash. Ramos had helped the Yankees win the 1964 AL pennant by going 1-0 with 8 saves in 13 games in September of 1964. Since he was acquired from the Indians after September 1,1964, so he wasn’t allowed to play in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals. In 1965, he went 5-5 with 19 saves in 65 games. In 1966, Pedro slipped to a 3-9 mark with only 13 saves in 52 games.

1972- The MLB adopts the “Save” as an official statistic. A pitcher shall be credited with a save if, when entering a game as a reliever, he finds the tying or winning run-on base or at the plate, and he preserves the lead. Or he pitches 3 effective innings and preserves the lead.

1972- The American League votes unanimously to adopt the Designated-Hitter rule for a 3-year experimental basis. The DH will replace the pitcher in the lineup unless otherwise noted before the start of the game. In the December 1975, meeting the AL will vote to permanently adopt the DH. The National League declines to go along with the AL.

1973- The Yankees had released veteran MLB Reserve INF Hal Lanier. He had been obtained from the Giants in 1972. He had appeared in 95 games as a Reserve Infielder for the 1972-1973 Yankees, hitting just .208. Hal was the son of former 1940’s Cardinals Pitcher Max Lanier.

1980- Former Yankees Pitcher Rosy Ryan (1928) passed away. (1898-1980)

Rosy Ryan was the 1st NL pitcher, and 2nd pitcher overall (after Jim Bagby) to hit a HR in the World Series. His HR blast came in Game 3 the 1924 World Series, off of Pitcher Senators Allen Russell. It was also his 1st  MLB career HR (he would hit another 1 in the regular NL season in 1925), making him the 1st player to hit his 1st MLB HR in a Postseason game. No other Relief Pitcher would hit a HR in the postseason until Cubs Travis Wood did so in Game 2 of the 2016 NLDS. The veteran Rosy Ryan had appeared in only 3 games with no record for the 1928 Yankees. After his MLB Pitching career ended, Ryan would manage the 1941-1942 Eau Claire Bears and the 1944-1945 AA Minneapolis Millers (AA). He was then the GM of the AA Millers (AA) (1946-1957), next he was with the 1958-1959,1966-1973 AAA Phoenix Giants (PCL) and the 1960-1965 AAA Tacoma Giants (PCL).

1988- Former Yankees AL All-Star 2B Free Agent Willie Randolph signs with the Dodgers. He will replace former All-Star 2B Steve Sax in the Dodgers’ lineup, who had earlier this month signed with Randolph's former club, the Yankees.

1991- Admitted Gambler Howard Spira is sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for attempting to extort $110,000 Cash from Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner.  

1992- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent Starter Jimmy Key to a 4-year contract. Jim will post a 48-33 record with a 3.68 ERA in 93 games with the Yankees. In 1993, he posted his best Yankees season going 18-6 with a 3.00 ERA in 34 games.

1994- Current Yankees Pitcher Nestor Cortes (2019, 2021-2022) was born.

After being taken by the Yankees in the 36th round of the MLB Amateur Player Draft, Pitcher Nestor Cortes began his pro career. In his 1st year, he had a 2.27 ERA with 38 strikeouts in 31 2/3 innings. In 2014, his mark was 2.26 ERA and he again averaged more than a strikeout per inning. The 2016 season was his breakout campaign: in 106 innings between 4 levels, he was 11-4 with 115 strikeouts and a 1.53 ERA while allowing just 61 hits and 24 walks (0.802 WHIP). He reached AAA for the 1st time that year (winning his lone start), then he played in the Arizona Fall League. He was a Post-Season All-Star in 2015 and a Mid-Season All-Star in 2016. He was drafted by the Orioles in the 2017 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He made his MLB Pitching debut with the Orioles on March 31, 2018, pitching 2 scoreless innings of relief against the Twins. Cortes would be returned to the Yankees 2 weeks later, spending the remainder of the season in the Minors. The Yankees brought him up in 2019 for 33 appearances (including a start): in 66 2/3 innings, he finished with a 5-1 record with a 5.67 ERA and 69 strikeouts. On November 25, 2019, Nestor was traded by the Yankees to the Mariners for future considerations. With the 2020 Mariners, he went 0-1 with a 15.26 ERA in 5 games. Seattle would grant him MLB Free Agency. On January 4, 2021, he was signed by the Yankees to a Minor League contract and an invitation to their 2021 MLB Spring Training camp. When the MLB Spring Training Camp had ended, he was assigned to AAA Scranton. During the 2021 AL season, Cortes was called up to the Bronx, posting a 2-3 record with a 2.90 ERA in 22 games. In a surprise 2022 AL season, Nestor would post a record of 12-4 with a 2.44 ERA in 28 games. He was named to the 2022 AL All-Star team.

1997- The Yankees had signed MLB Free Agent DH/OF Chili Davis to a 2-year contract. The veteran DH/OF Chili Davis would hit .273 with 22 HRs and 87 RBIs in 181 games with the 1998-1999 Yankees, before retiring from MLB.

1999- New York Yankees Hall Of Fame Slugger Babe Ruth is voted Player of the Century by an Associated Press panel. The Giants Hall Of Fame CF Willie Mays comes in second in the voting. 

1999- Former Yankees Catcher MLB Free Agent Joe Girardi is signed by the Cubs to a 3-year contract.

2008- The Yankees reach an agreement with MLB Free Agent hurler C. C. Sabathia for a 7-year, $161 million deal, a new record for an MLB Pitcher. Sabathia had gone 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA for the 2008 Brewers. He had won the 2007 AL  Cy Young Award with the Indians.

2009- The 2009 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft is held. The Nationals will select OF Jamie Hoffmann from the Dodgers with their 1st pick, but he is immediately sent to the Yankees to complete an earlier trade for veteran Reliever Brian Bruney. The Yankees will lose 2 Pitchers in the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft;  Zach Kroenke (D-Backs) and Kanekoa Texeria (Mariners).

2015- At the MLB Rule 5 Player Draft held at Nashville, TN., the Yankees will lose OF Jake Cave to the Reds and P Evan Rutckyi to the Braves. At the Lower levels of the Draft, they lose the following Minor League Players: P Luis Niebla, OF Danny Oh, Catcher Eduardo De Oleo, Shortstop Alfredo Reyes and P Yoel Espinal. The Yankees AAA Scranton (IL) selects the following Players: P Yefrey Ramirez (D-Backs), P Julian Aybar (Cubs) and Catcher Santiago Nessy (Royals).  During the 2016 MLB Spring Training Camp, he will be traded by the Yankees to the Twins for Minor League Pitcher. OF Jake Cave will be returned to the Yankees by the Reds during the 2016 MLB Spring Training Camp. He will be traded by the Yankees to the Twins for Minor League Pitcher Luis Gil. 

2019- The Yankees had sign MLB Free Agent Pitcher Gerrit Cole to the biggest player contract ever for a MLB Pitcher, a 9-year deal worth $324 million. In 2020 AL 60 game short season, he went 7-3 with a 2.84 ERA in 12 starts. In the 2020 AL Postseason, he posted a 2-0 record for the team. For the 2021 AL season, Cole had a posted a record of 16-8 with a 3.23 ERA in 30 games. He lost the AL Playoff game to the Red Sox, by lasting only 2 innings in his disappointing post season start for the team.

2020- The 2020 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft is held and in spite of no Minor League Baseball having been played this year, it's a busy one, with 18 players being selected in the MLB phase, with another 74 players in the Minor League phase. In the MLB phase, the Yankees will lose the following players: P Garrett Whitlock (Red Sox), Shortstop Kyle Holder (Phillies) and P Trevor Stephan (Indians). Holder will be returned to the Yankees by the Phillies. In the Minor League phase, the Yankees will lose the following players: P Mathew Wivins (Rangers), Kaleb Ort (Red Sox) P Reggie McClain (Phillies) and OF Ben Ruta (Padres). They will select P Matt Krook from the Rays and P Reggie McClain from the Phillies, who had briefly pitched for the 2020 Phillies. He will receive a 2021 Spring Training Camp invite from the team.

2021- The Yankees have resigned veteran MLB Catcher Rob Brantly to a Minor League contract. He had previously been granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He will provide MLB catching experience at  AAA Scranton for the team in case of an injury to the teams 2 MLB Catchers.