This Week in Yankees History May 14th-May 20th Part One

May 14^th

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May 15^th

1908- The Yankees had purchased P James “Hippo” Vaughn from Hot Springs (ASL) for undisclosed amount of cash. He would first appear with the team in 1908 for just 2 games with no decisions. Then in 1910, James would post a 13-11 record with a 1.83 ERA and 1 save in 30  games. It would be his best season with the Yankees. He would struggle before being waived to the Senators on June 26,1912. Overall, James would post a 22-30 record with a 3.18 ERA with the Yankees (1908,1910-1912)  in 73 games. He would record a 4-3 mark for the 1912 Nats before being traded by the team on August 23,1912 along with Tillie Walker to the AA Kansas City Blues (AA) for Bert Gallia and Duke Kenworthy. Then on August 9,1913, he is traded by the Blues  to the Cubs for Lew Richie. James would find his MLB Pitching success with the NL Cubs, winning 20 games or more for 5 seasons. In the 1918 World Series against the Red Sox, James would post a 1-2 record with a 1.00 ERA in 3 games. He would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 178-173 record with a 2.49 ERA in 390 games.

1912- At Hilltop Park in New York City, Ty Cobb charges into the stands, attacking a crippled heckler named Claude Lueker. Other Highlander fans and Tigers players mix it up before order is restored; AL President Ban Johnson would suspend Ty Cobb indefinitely for the incident.

1922- In a 4-1 victory at the Polo Grounds, Tiger Hitter Ty Cobb beats out a grounder to Yankees Shortstop Everett Scott. Veteran Baseball Writer Fred Lieb scores it a hit in the game box score, that he files with the Associated Press. But official scorer John Kieran of the New York Tribune gives an error to Scott. At the season's end, the AL official records based on AP box scores, list Cobb at .401. New York writers complain unsuccessfully, claiming it should be .399, based on the official scorer's stats. Fred Lieb will reverse himself at the end of the year, but AL President Ban Johnson goes with the hit call.

1933- The Yankees would send Reserve OF Dusty Cooke to the Red Sox for OF Johnny Watwood and 2B Marv Olson. Both players received from Boston never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. During the 1931 AL season, OF Dusty Cooke had suffered a serious shoulder injury, that he really never fully recovered from it. At the time of the trade, he was currently playing for the Yankees AA club, the Newark Bears (IL). As a Yankees player, he had hit .267 with 7 HRs and 35 RBIs in 122 games.

1934- The Yankees had obtained INF Fred Mullen and $20,000 Cash from the Red Sox for INF Lyn Lary. Fred Mullen never plays for the Yankees at the MLB level. In 1928, Lyn Larry and OF Jimmy Reese were purchased by the Yankees from AA Oakland (PCL). In 1929, Lyn would join the Yankees as  Reserve INF.  During the 1930 AL season, he would become the Yankees starting Shortstop, after the team had traded veteran Mark Koenig to the Tigers. In 1931, he would hit .281 with 155 RBIs in 155 games. In 1932, he was beaten out for the starting Yankees Shortstop job by Yankees Rookie Shortstop Frank Crosetti in the Yankees MLB Spring Training Camp. With the 1932 Red Sox, he would become their starting Shortstop. Fred Mueller was sent to the Yankees AA team, Newark Bears (IL). He would never play in the MLB again.

1934- The Yankees had sent down 2 players to their AA team, the Newark Bears (IL), P Charles Devens and C Norman Kies, who had been the Yankees 3^rd string Catcher for the team. Devens would return to the Yankees later in the season. He hadn’t appeared in a game for the team. Kies would never return to play in the MLB again.

1935- The Yankees had sold veteran P Dan MacFayden to the Braves for undisclosed amount of cash. He had been obtained by the Yankees in a trade with the Red Sox in 1932. For the 1932-1934 Yankees, he had posted a 14-10 record with a 4.68 ERA and 1 save in 64 games.

1935- Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig steals home in a 4-0 Yankees win over the Tigers. It is his 15th and last steal of home, all of which were double steals.

1940- On May 15,1940, the Yankees had waived veteran P Leo Grissom to the Dodgers, who sent him down to their AA club, the Montreal Royals (IL). He went 0-0 in 5 games for the 1940 Yankees. On January 4,1940, he had been obtained from the Reds for P Joe Beggs. Leo had posted a 9-7 record for the 1939 NL Champs, the Reds.

1941- At Yankee Stadium, Joe DiMaggio gets a single in 4 at bats against White Sox P Eddie Smith to start his 56-game hitting streak. Joe D's hit goes unnoticed as the Yankees lose the game to Chicago by the score of 13-1. Taffy Wright hit a HR and drives in 4 White Sox runs, the 8th straight game that he's driven in a run.

1949- The Yankees would sell P Ed Kleiman to the White Sox for undisclosed amount of cash. The Yankees had obtained him from the Senators 12 days earlier. Ed had never appeared in a game with the Yankees.

1950- The Yankees had waived veteran OF/P Johnny Lindell to the Cardinals. Johnny had played for the team for 10 seasons as a OF and Pitcher. He had hit .275, while hitting 45 HRs and 63 RBIs in 742 games. In 1942, he had pitched for the Yankees, while posting a 2-1 record with a 3.76 ERA and 1 save in 23 games. Johnny had appeared in 3 World Series with the team, playing in 12 games, while hitting .324 with No HRs and 7 RBIs. In a separate player transaction, the Yankees would sell P Clarence “Cuddles” Marshall to the St. Louis Browns. As a Yankees hurler, Marshall had a 6-4 record with a 5.21 ERA and 3 saves in 45 games for the Yankees. He had been acquired by the Yankees in the winter of 1944 from AA Seattle (PCL) in a trade for MLB P Johnny Babich and Minor League Player Richard Hearn.

1955- In the 1^st game of a doubleheader, Yankees OF Irv Noren hits an Inside-the-Park Grand Slam HR in an 8-4 victory over the A's. The Yankees win the nightcap to sweep Kansas City. Yankees CF Slugger Mickey Mantle is 4-for-9 for the afternoon. He is currently hitting .311 for the 1955 AL season. He will finish the 1955 AL season with a .306 BA. 

1963- Down 4-0 to the Twins, Bronx CF Slugger Mickey Mantle hits a 2-run HR off of veteran Starter Pedro Ramos to put the Yankees on the board. Mantle, later scores the winning run as the Bombers win the game by a score of 4-3.

1965- At Baltimore’s Memorial Stadium, Yankees Slugger Mickey Mantle slices an opposite field HR in the 8th inning off of O’s Reliever Richard Hall to give Yankees, a 3-2 win over the Orioles.

1968- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Bill Drescher (1944-1946) had passed away. (1923-1968)

Catcher Bill Drescher would spend 11 seasons in pro baseball from 1942 through 1954. He had spent parts of 3 seasons, 1944, 1945 and 1946 in the MLB with the Yankees. He had appeared in 57 games for the Wartime Yankees, hitting .266 with No HRs and 16 RBIs. In 1942, Bill had broken into baseball with the Class C Amsterdam Rugmakers (CAML), he had appeared in 102 games, hitting at a .301 clip, in his only year in a league that wasn't Class A or better. During his career, Bill had played 8 seasons of AAA ball, 2 of AA and in 1943, he had a split season of AA and A. Bill had only 2 seasons above the .300 mark in his 11-year run, his 1st in 1942 and probably his best hitting year came in 1948 with the AA Kansas City Blues (AA), when he hit .319 with a career-high 7 HRs and 52 RBIs. Drescher wound up his Minor League playing career in 1954 with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL) in the Phillies Farm System. He had appeared in 875 Minor League games with 2,492 at-bats and 679 base hits, that included 28 HRs, while hitting .272. Also, he fielded the Catcher's spot at a .987 percentage.

 1969- Former Yankees Pitcher Hideki Irabu (1997-1999) was born. (1969-2011)

Following the 1996 Japanese baseball season, Hideki Irabu had announced he wanted to go to the MLB, so Chiba, which had a working agreement with San Diego Padres; so, they sold him to the Padres. Irabu, who stated that he would only pitch in the MLB for the Yankees, so he didn’t report to the Padres.  Finally, after Padres trade talks with the Yankees, he was traded by the team to the Yankees for OF Ruben Rivera, P Rafael Medina and $3 million in cash. In May of 1997,  Irabu would sign a $12.8 Million deal with the Yankees. Irabu would struggle in his 1^st MLB season with the Yankees, posting  a 5-4 record with a 7.09 ERA in 13 games. In 1998, Irabu  would blossom into what would be his best MLB pitching career season by going 13-9 with a 4.06 ERA in 29 games. Finishing out his Yankees Pitching career in 1999, Irabu had posted a 11-7 record with a 4.84 ERA in 32 games. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner wasn't a big fan of Irabu, though, he once called him a "fat toad" for his poor fielding performance during a Yankees spring training game.  On December 22, 1999, the Yankees would trade him to the Montreal Expos for 3 young Pitchers: Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly and Christian Parker. Overall, Hideki Irabu had went 29-20 with a 4.80 ERA in 74 games for the Yankees. 

1970- The Yankees had obtained veteran P Gary Waslewski from the Montreal Expos for Yankees Reserve 1B/OF Dave McDonald. To make room for him on the Yankees 25-man roster, the team would send down P Joe Verbanic to AAA Syracuse (IL), ending his MLB Pitching career. In 1970, Gary would go 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA in 26 games for the team. In 1971, he went 0-1 with a 3.28 ERA and 1 save in 24 relief appearances; but he did spend 2 months on the DL. On April 3,1972, the team would release him. Dave McDonald had spent the 1969 season with the AAA Syracuse Chiefs (IL). He would make his MLB Player debut in September of 1969 with the Yankees, hitting .217 in 9 games. The Expos would send him to their AAA club at Winnipeg (IL) for the 1970 season.

1975- The 1975 Mayor’s Trophy game is played at Shea Stadium. Before the game, Mets players Dave Kingman and Ed Kranepool received complimentary “Perfect Man Permanent” hair treatments. It didn’t help- the Yankees won the Mayor’s Trophy again by a 9-4 score. The Yankees hurler, former MLB P Bob Johnson called up from AAA Syracuse (IL) to pitch the game, he was the winner. Meanwhile, Mets’ veteran P George Stone trying to come back from arm problems, pitched reasonably well allowing only 4 Yankee hits and 3 Bronx runs in 6 innings of work, but he lost the game. The Yankees broke it open in the 7^th inning by sending 10 men to the plate against Mets Reliever Randy Tate.

1987- Former Yankees Reserve INF and Minor League Manager David Adams (2013) was born.

Yankees had selected INF David Adams in the 3rd round of the 2008 MLB Amateur Player Draft,   the 106th total selection. He was the Yankees 1st position player taken, following hurlers Gerrit  as Cole, Jeremy Bleich and Scott Bittle. David made his pro debut with the 2008 Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYAPL). He produced with a .257 BA with 45 runs in 67 games. He was 3 for 9 in the postseason. He was 6th in the NY-PA League in runs. He split 2009 season between the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), hitting .290 in 67 games and the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL), while hitting .281 in 65 games. He led the Yankees farm system in doubles (40), tied for 7th in triples (8), 3rd in RBIs (75), and he was 5th in walks (61). Baseball America had rated Adams as having the best strike-zone judgment in the Yankees farm system in 2010. That season, he would hit .309 with 31 runs, 15 doubles and 32 RBIs in 39 games for the AA Trenton Thunder (EL) before fracturing his right ankle in late May. He would miss the remainder of the 2010 season and need surgeries. Further ankle problems sidelined him 3 times in 2011, as he saw little action for the GCL Yankees, hitting .429, 13 Runs, 9 doubles in 17 games and Class A Tampa .308 in 12 games. He battled more health issues in 2012, missing a month with back spasms. He again did well when healthy, hitting .306 with 23 doubles in 86 games. In the IL playoffs, he was 8 for 30 with 3 doubles. He followed with a .286 fall for Scottsdale (AFL). He would begin 2013 season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (IL), he was batting .316 after 27 games. David was then called up to replace INF Chris Nelson on the roster; the injury-plagued 2013 Yankees had lost infielders Derek Jeter, Eduardo Nunez and Kevin Youkilis to injuries, given the injury-plagued Adams his chance at the MLB level. He started at 3B and hit 6th in the Yankees line-up in his MLB Player debut on May 15th, on his 26th birthday, grounding out against P Hisashi Iwakuma in his 1st MLB at-bat. He singled off of P Iwakuma in the 6^th inning for his 1st MLB hit, finishing the day 1 for 4. His 1st MLB HR came 5 days later off of veteran P Freddy Garcia. David would finish the 2013 AL season, playing in 43 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .193 with 2 HRs and 13 RBIs. The Yankees would release him at the end of the 2013 AL season. Since 2013, David has played in the Indians, Orioles and the Marlins organizations. In 2016, he played his last active season in the Blue Jays organization. In 2017, Adams became a Defensive Coach with the GCL Yankees East, then he moved up to the GCL Yankees West Manager's job in 2018. He would become the skipper the Class A short season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL) in 2019. He was scheduled to manage the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL) and to serve as the Tampa Training Complex Coordinator in 2020 before the minor league baseball season was cancelled due to COVID-19. In 2021, David worked as the Class A Tampa Tarpons Manager (FSL).

1996- The Mariners would spot the Yankees 4 runs, then hammer Bronx Starter Jimmy Key and 5 other Yankee pitchers for 19 hits to win the game by the score of 10-5. Seven Mariners batters collect 2 or more hits, as DH Edgar Martinez drives in 4 runs. A very wild Key takes his 5th straight loss, while Yankees Reliever Mariano Rivera records 4 outs to stretch his scoreless innings to 21 2/3 innings. The Yankees will place Jimmy Key on the 15-day DL.

1996- The Yankees outbid 4 other MLB teams as they signed Japanese P Katsuhiro Maeda to a $1.5 million player contract. The Yankees obtain the fastball hurler from the Seibu Lions for more than $350,000. Maeda, who has his hair dyed orange, he was 0-2 with the Lions from 1993-1995, but he refused to sign for the 1996 JPL season, unless he was traded to a MLB team. He will never appear with the Yankees at the MLB level. Maeda dyed his hair hot pink, silver or purple at times during his 1st year in the U.S. He had a 1-1 record with a 3.00 ERA for the GCL Yankees, a 4.22 ERA in 2 starts for the Class A Tampa Yankees (FSL). He went 3-2 with a 4.05 ERA for the AA Norwich Navigators (EL). He cut his walk total down to 21 batters in 53 1/3 IP, but he only struck out 30 batters. Baseball America still rated him as the #5 prospect in the Yankees Minor League system, right ahead of P Eric Milton and INF Cristian Guzman. He would spend the 1997 season with AA Norwich (EL); where he had an 8-10 record with 4.56 ERA. He had walked 62 batters and fanned 76 batters in 124 1/3 innings of work. In 1998, Kazuhiro was 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA with 1 save for Norwich; walking 31 batters, while striking out 27 batters in 37 1/3 relief innings. Also, he made 13 appearances with the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL), posting a 0-1 record with a 2.51 ERA; he had walked 8, while striking out 16 batters in 14 1/3 IP.  Maeda would spend all of 1999 Minor League season with AA Norwich (EL), going 3-2 with a 4.34 ERA and 1 save. He had walked 40 and struck out 48 batters in 76 2/3 IP. In 2000, he would split the season between AA Norwich (2-2 with a 4.80 ERA, 44 BB and 54 K in 50 2/3 IP) and the AAA Columbus Clippers (2 runs in 2 innings). The Yankees will release him at the end of the 1999 AL season, he will return to Japan to play baseball.

2005- Yankees 1B Tino Martinez hits 2 HRs and drove in 3 runs in the Yankees 6-4 victory over the Oakland A’s. The 2 HRs give Tino Martinez 8 HRs in his last 8 games.

2011- The Red Sox beat the Yankees by the score of 7-5 at New Yankee Stadium to complete a 3-game sweep and bring their team record to .500 for the 1st time after starting the 2011 MLB season at 0-6. Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz and Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit HRs for the Red Sox. The Yankees have now lost 9 of their last 12 games as the standings in the AL Eastern Division are completely bunched up, with all 5 Eastern teams within 3 1/2 games of each other. 

2014- In his 1st MLB outing, Mets Starter Jacob deGrom does something no other member of the pitching staff has been able to do yet this season: get a hit. His 3rd-inning single off of Yankees Starter Chase Whitley breaks a record 0-for-64 drought by Mets pitchers at the plate this season. DeGrom, who had been an Infielder his 1st couple of years in college before becoming a Pitcher, also pitches very well, allowing 1 run in 7 innings, but is a hard-luck loser losing to the Yankees by the score of 1-0, as Yankees hurlers Chase Whitley, Dellin Betances, Adam Warren and David Robertson combine on a 3-hit shutout. Whitley, who is also making his MLB Pitching debut, gives up no runs in 4 2/3 innings, also he collects his 1^st MLB hit off of Mets Starter Jacob deGrom.

2016- At a Sunday afternoon game played at Yankee Stadium, a crowd of 41,979 fans watch Yankees OF Carlos Beltran hit his 400th HR of his MLB playing career against White Sox Reliever Zach Duke, becoming the 4th Switch-Hitter in MLB history to reach the mark, after Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones. The Yankees beat the White Sox by the score of 7-5.

2017- Former Yankees Pitcher Bob “Sarge” Kuzava (1951-1954) had passed away. (1923-2017)

In 1941, the Indians had signed P Bob Kuzava as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would serve in the Army during World War II, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant (1943-1945). He would pitch in the MLB for the Indians, White Sox, Senators, Yankees, Orioles, Phillies, Pirates and the Cardinals from 1946-1957. On June 15,1951, Bob “Sarge” Kuzava was traded by the Senators to the Yankees for 3 Pitchers: Starters Fred Sanford, Bob Porterfield and veteran Reliever Tom Ferrick. He had posted a 23-20 record with a 3.39 ERA and 13 saves in 104 games for the Yankees. He had appeared in 3 World Series for the Yankees (1951-1953), going 0-0 with a 2.08 ERA and 2 saves in 3 games. Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had used him as a spot starter and reliever. On August 7,1954, Bob was selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Yankees. He had posted a 1-3 record with a 5.45 ERA and 1 save in 20 games for the 1954 Yankees.

This Week in Yankees History May 14th-20th Part Three

May 19^th

1891- Former Yankees Pitcher George Clark (1913) was born. (1891-1940)

Pitcher George Clark went 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 11 games for the 1913 Yankees.

1903- Due to Sunday Baseball Restrictions in Cleveland, a MLB game is played in Columbus, Ohio with the “hometown” Naps(aka Indians) defeating the Highlanders by the score of 9-2.

1928- Former Yankees INF Gil McDougald (1951-1960) was born. (1928-2010)

In 1948, the Yankees had signed INF Gil McDougald, as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Gil was a very versatile infielder for the Yankees. In 1951, he had won the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He would hit a Grand Slam HR in the 1951 World Series against the Giants. He would make AL All-Star team 5 times during his MLB playing career. In 1955, he led the AL 2B in fielding. In 1957, a tragic line drive hit by Gil off of Indians Starter Herb Score in the face affected the rest of his MLB playing career. Gil had lost his aggressive approach at the plate. In December of 1960, Gil had been drafted by the “new” Washington Senators in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. He refused to go to the new club. Also, Gil turned down a $100,000 Player-Manager job offer from the other new AL Expansion Team, the Angels. His former Yankees Manager Casey Stengel had recommended him to the Angels Team Owner Gene Autry for the job. He would retire from the Yankees. Gil would finish his fine Yankees playing career with a lifetime BA of .276, while hitting 112 HRs with 576 RBIs in 1,336 games. He had appeared in 8 World Series with the Yankees, while hitting .237 with 7 HRs and 24 RBIs. After his playing days were over, Gil was a College Baseball Coach at Fordham Univ. for 7 years. Away from the diamond, he ran a NJ Maintenance Com. As he got older, Gil had suffered a progressive hearing loss, the result of being struck by a line drive hit by Bomber teammate OF Bob Cerv during batting practice many years earlier. He eventually went deaf, which was repaired by cochlear implant surgery in 1995.

1929- During the 5^th inning of a Sunday afternoon game between the Red Sox and Yankees at Yankee Stadium, a sudden heavy rain-storm causes the crowd of 9,000 bleacher fans in right-field known as “Ruthville” stampede to the bleacher exits to get out of the rainstorm. The fan stampede to the exits results in 2 deaths with 62 people are injured.  A truck driver named Joseph T. Carter, age 59 and 17- year-old Hunter College student named Eleanor Price were the fatal victims of the fan stampede to the RF Bleacher exits. The game ended at 5 innings with the Yankees winning by the score of 3-1. With back-to-back HRs in the 3^rd inning by Bronx Bombers Sluggers Lou Gehrig and Babe Ruth provide the Yankees winning lead. Yankees Starter Fred Heimach picks up his 3^rd victory of the 1929 AL season, while Red Sox Starter Jack Russell drops to a 2-4 record. A crowd of 50,00 fans had attended the storm shorten game.

1941- Former Yankees Reserve 2B Joe Gedeon (1916-1917) passed away. (1893-1941)

The Yankees had purchased 2B Joe Gedeon from his Newark (Federal League) player contract for $7,500 Cash a considerable sum for an unproven player in those days. He had sign with Newark, but the Federal League had folded up. His old AL team, the Senators protested vehemently over his purchase, but AL President Ban Johnson ruled against them. He directed Joe Gedeon to report to Yankees, where he played as a Reserve Infielder in 1916 and 1917. Joe appeared in 155 game for the Yankees, while hitting just .215. The New York Evening Journal noted the week of September 1, 1916 that the Yankees had pulled off a double squeeze play against the  Red Sox at the Polo Grounds. In that game, the batter Gedeon was retired bunting while 2 runners scored. They repeated the feat 2 weeks later, with Gedeon at the center of the action once again. The normally staid and dry New York Times, of September 15, 1916, stated "The Yankees put the game right into the bag in the 7th inning, and called the double squeeze, one of the most spectacular of all scoring plays, into use. With one out Elmer Miller singled, and dashed to 3rd when Gedeon doubled to left field. Roxy Walters tipped the sign for the squeeze play when he came up, and Willie Mitchell, pitching for the  Tigers, was of invaluable assistance when he took a half wind up, and as he started his motion the runners hit the trail. Miller was almost home by the time the ball got to the plate, and Gedeon was a few feet from 3rd. Walters rolled a slow teaser to Pep Young, and Miller slid over the plate. His dust had only risen, it seemed, when a fresh cloud gestured into the air, hurled up as Gedeon hit the dirt and slid over the plate safely. The play was brought to the perfect ending, for Walters beat the hit out."  On January 22 1918, Gedeon was traded to the St. Louis Browns in a blockbuster deal. The Yankees received Star 2B Del Pratt and veteran southpaw (and future HOF) Eddie Plank in exchange for Gedeon, INF Fritz Maisel, P Nick Cullop, Catcher Les Nunamaker and a young right-hander named Urban Shocker. The trade worked out well for the Browns, despite the fact that Maisel, Cullop and Nunamaker were soon gone. Gedeon settled into the Browns' regular 2B job. Urban Shocker eventually became the ace of the Browns pitching staff. Pratt had 3 solid seasons with the Yankees, but the 42-year-old Eddie Plank refused to report to the Yankees. He took his 326 MLB lifetime victories into retirement. Joe Gedeon was also the "Ninth Man Out" in the Black Sox Scandal. He was an old friend of White Sox player Swede Risberg from their California days, he bet on theReds in the 1919 World Series, placing him at a meeting with gamblers, as they were discussing the plot to throw the World Series. He would testify to a Grand Jury after the 1920 MLB season. He was dropped from the St. Louis Browns MLB team roster. On November 3, 1921, Judge Landis banned him permanently for "having guilty knowledge" of the 1919 World Series fix and for not reporting it to the proper authorities. 

1954- Former Yankees Catcher Rick Cerone (1980-1985,1987,1990) was born.

Catcher Rick Cerone won Gold with the USA at the 1974 Amateur World Series. He was a 1st-round pick in 1975 MLB Amateur Player Draft by the Indians. He came to the MLB that same year for 7 games. His only time in the Minor Leagues was at the AAA level. He was traded by the Indians to the Blue Jays before the start of the 1977 AL season, he gradually got more playing time with the Jays until 1979, when he was the team's primary Catcher, but he never hit as high as .240. During the winter of 1979, the Yankees in the Chris Chambliss trade with the Blue Jays had obtained the young Catcher. He never lived up to his potential as hitting catcher, after replacing Thurman Munson as the Yankees regular catcher in 1980; following Munson’s tragic death in August of 1979. He had his best MLB Player career season in that 1980 AL season, hitting .277 with 14 HRs and 30 doubles on a Yankees team that won 103 games. He finished #7 in the AL MVP voting. For the next 4 seasons with the Yankees, he never hit over .244 (he suffered from various injuries), began to share playing time with veteran Catchers like Butch Wynegar and others. Then he was traded to the Braves for 1 season, where he hit .216. He was their starter during the 1981 MLB Postseason, hitting .333 with a HR in the ALDS, but falling to .100 in the ALCS and .190 in the World Series, although he did hit another HR. In 1987, the Yankees used him twice as a Pitcher, he gave up no hits or runs in 2 innings of work. Overall, Rick Cerone had appeared in 587 games for the Yankees, while hitting .241 with 31 HRs and 203 RBIs.

1955- Former Yankees Pitcher Ed Whitson (1985-1986) was born.

Starter Ed Whitson went 15-10 with a 5.38 ERA in 44 games for the 1985-1986 Yankees. Ed had signed a 5-year MLB Free Agent contract with the Yankees worth $4.4 million with a 6th-year option. Whitson got off to a terrible start in the Bronx, going 1-6 with a 6.23 ERA in his 1st 11 starts of the 1985 AL season. Soon he became a focal point for heckling Yankee fans. He began receiving verbal abuse and hate mail; he refused to let his wife, Kathleen attend home games at Yankee Stadium. On June 11,1985, after giving up 5 hits and 1 run against the Blue Jays in Yankee Stadium, Whitson retired the next 19 batters that he faced. Fans began to cheer Whitson during the game, although the game was lost by the Yankees bullpen in extra innings, Whitson left the game to a standing ovation in the 10^th inning. From there, Whitson turned his 1985 AL season around, by posting a 9-1 record with a 2.27 ERA over his next 16 starts. The Yankees were just 2.5 games back of the 1st place Blue Jays in the AL East. When Toronto came to the Bronx for a crucial 4 game series on September 12th. With the Blue Jays taking 2 of the 1st 3 games, Yankees Manager Billy Martin handed Whitson the ball for the 4th game. Whitson gave up 4 earned runs in just 2 innings as the Jays won the game by the score of 8-5 to take a 4.5 game lead in the Eastern AL Division race. Billy Martin would lift Whitson from his next scheduled start on September 20th. On September 22nd, while at a hotel bar in Baltimore, Whitson and Manager Martin got into a heated argument that spread to other parts of the hotel that resulted in a broken ulna in Martin's right arm and a bruised right side. Meanwhile Whitson had suffered a cracked rib and a split lip; he did not pitch again for the remainder of the 1985 AL season, finishing up with a 10-8 record along with a 4.88 ERA. After the 1985 AL season, Billy Martin was fired by the Yankees front office, which many Yankee fans suspected was because of his altercation with Whitson. During the 1986 AL season, Ed was used both as a Starter and Reliever by new Yankees Manager Lou Piniella. He was 4-0 despite having a high 7.36 ERA out of the bullpen and a 1-2 record with an 8.71 ERA as a Starter. Knowing that Whitson wanted out of the Bronx, the Yankees would trade Ed back to the Padres for veteran MLB Reliever Tim Stoddard on July 9,1986.

1957- Former Yankees Minor League P Ben Callahan was born. (1957-2007)

On June 3,1980, P Ben Callahan was selected by the Yankees in the 31st round of the 1980 MLB Amateur Player Draft. Ben would never appear with the Yankees at MLB level. On June 15,1983, Ben was traded by the Yankees along with DH/1B Marshall Brant and Cash to the A’s for veteran MLB Starter Matt Keough. Ben would post a 1-2 record with Oakland in his only MLB pitching career season. The Athletics would send him back to the Minor Leagues.

1960- The Yankees had traded P Mark Freeman to the Cubs for P Art Ceccarelli. The Yankees had traded Freeman to Kansas City on April 8,1959, but after 3 games with the team; they sold him back to the Yankees on May 8,1959. He was sent by the team to AAA Seattle (PCL). He did pitch 1 game for the Yankees with no decision. Ceccarelli was 9-18 with 5 MLB seasons with the A’s, Orioles and the Cubs. The Yankees would send him to their AAA club at Richmond (IL). He would never pitch in the MLB again.

1960- On May 19,1960, the Yankees had re-obtained veteran OF Bob Cerv from Kansas City for veteran 3B Andy Carey. Andy had lost his Yankees 3B starting job to Clete Boyer. Veteran OF Bob Cerv will provide power off the bench and outfield defense for the Yankees for the rest of 1960 AL season, before being lost to the new LA Angels team in the AL Expansion Team Player Draft in December of 1960. He would hit .250 with 8 HRs and 28 RBIs for the 1960 Yankees. Bob hit .357 in the 1960 World Series against the Pirates before getting hurt and missing the critical Game 7. He would be re-obtained by the Yankees from the Angels on May 8,1961 in the Ryne Duren trade.

1969- The Yankees had obtained OF Jose Vidal from the Seattle Pilots for Reserve OF/1B Richard Simpson. Jose would never play for the Yankees at MLB level. The team would send Jose to their AAA club, the Syracuse Chiefs (IL). Simpson had gone 3 for 11 in 6 games for the 1969 Yankees, before being send down to AAA Syracuse (IL).

1975- Former Yankees Minor League Manager Josh Paul was born.

Former MLB Catcher Josh Paul had managed the 2009-2010 Class A short-season Staten Island Yankees (NYPL). In 2018, Josh Paul was named the MLB Bench Coach of the Los Angeles Angels. He had previously been a Minor League Manager in the Yankees' organization, as well as the team's Minor League Catching Instructor. When Angels Manager Mike Scioscia retired after the 2018 NL season, Paul retained his job under his successor Brad Ausmus in 2019.

1977- Former Yankees Reliever Dan Giese (2008) was born.

On November 24, 2007, Reliever Dan Giese was signed as an MLB Free Agent by the Yankees. He will appear in 20 games for the 2008 Yankees, while posting a 1-3 record with a 3.53 ERA. On April 8, 2009, Dan was selected off waivers by the Oakland A’s from the Yankees.

1991- Former Yankees Reserve 1B/DH Ji-Man Choi (2017) was born.

Before the start of the 2017 AL season, Choi had signed with the Yankees as a MLB Free Agent, although he was far down the depth chart for 1B/DH, as the Yankees had already veteran players Chris Carter and Matt Holliday and youngsters Greg Bird and Tyler Austin already on hand. He would start the season with the AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (IL), where he did quite well, hitting .289 with 8 HRs and 43 RBIs in 56 games. With Bird and Austin both injured and Carter not producing with the bat, Ji-Man was called up to the Bronx on July 5th and homered and drove in 2 runs in each of his 1st 2 games with the team. Those were his only 2 hits before the MLB All-Star break, but on July 10th, the Yankees decided to release Carter, who was hitting .201 with a ton of strikeouts. It seemed like Choi was going to start at 1B until 1 of the 2 youngsters were ready to come back, or they acquired someone else in a trade, but the team did acquire someone, Minor League Slugger Garrett Cooper, who filled in the gap until a trading deadline deal brought in Todd Frazier to play 3B, freeing veteran INF Chase Headley to play 1st. The fallout for Ji-man was that he spent the rest of the season in AAA, finishing the season at .287 with 25 doubles, 15 HRs and 69 RBIs in 87 games. After the 2017 AL season ended, Choi became an MLB Free Agent. He was signed with the Brewers, who would trade him to the Rays during the 2018 MLB season. He has obtained MLB player success, while playing for the Rays.

1993- Former Yankees Reserve INF Oscar Grimes Jr. (1943-1946) passed away. (1915-1993)

On December 17,1942, veteran INF Oscar Grimes was traded by the Indians along with OF Roy Weatherly to the Yankees for OF Roy Cullenbine and AL All-Star Catcher Buddy Rosar. Oscar would appear in 281 games for the Yankees, while hitting .266 with 9 HRs and 96 RBIs. On July 11,1946, Oscar was purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics from the Yankees.

1999- Current Yankees Minor League P Deivi Garcia (2020-2023) was born.

Before start of the 2016 AL season, Pitcher Deivi Garcia was signed by the Yankees as an Amateur Free Agent from the Dominican Republic. He began his pro career with the DSL Yankees 2, while posting a 1-5 record with a 2.61 ERA in 12 starts. Then in 2017, he pitched for the 3 different teams. He was with the DSL Yankees for 3 games, then earned successive promotions to the GCL Yankees and Class A Pulaski Yankees. Combined, he went 6-2, with a 3.30 ERA in 30 games, with 85 strikeouts in 60 innings. In 2018, he made 8 starts for the Class A Charleston RiverDogs (SAL), where he was 2-4 with a 3.76 ERA, before earning a promotion to the Class A Tampa Tarpons (FSL). On August 6th, he pitched an absolute gem in the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Clearwater Threshers, with 7 perfect innings during which he struck out 12 opponents. Unfortunately for him, his teammates were unable to score as Tampa lost the game, when Reliever Christian Morris allowed a run without giving up a hit in the 8th. In 2020, he appeared at the MLB level for the 1^st time, Devi had appeared in 6 games for the Yankees, while posting a 3-2 record with a 4.98 ERA. In 2021, he was at AAA Scranton (IL), he was called up by the Yankees for 1 start, he went 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. In 2022, he pitched at AA and AAA levels with a 4-5 record  with a 6.89 ERA in 20 games. In 2023, he is at AAA, but he has 1 game with the Yankees, with 3 scoreless innings of relief before being sent back to Scranton.

2006- In a MLB Inter-League play game, Mets 3B David Wright wins the 1st Subway Series game of the 2006 MLB season between the 2 New York City teams, when he hits a 2-out RBI single off of Yankees Closer Mario Mariano Rivera in the bottom of the 9th inning to give the Mets a 7-6 victory over the Yankees.

2010- The Yankees learn that Catcher Jorge Posada has a broken bone in his right foot, he will be out of action for 3 to 4 weeks. Francisco Cervelli has already assumed the bulk of the playing time behind the plate this 2010 AL season. Posada joins teammate DH/1B Nick Johnson who is also out with a wrist injury, CF Curtis Granderson who is on the DL, while OF Marcus Thames and Nick Swisher are both day-to-day because of a sprained ankle and a sore biceps, respectively. The Rays take advantage of their banged-up Eastern Division rivals beating them by the score of 10-6 increasing their lead in the AL East to 4 games.

2015- Nationals hitter Ryan Zimmerman connects for a walk-off HR off Yankees Closer Andrew Miller in the 10th inning to give Washington an 8-6 win and put them into a tie for 1st place in the NL East with the Mets, after starting the 2015 NL season with a  7-13 record. For Ryan Zimmerman, it is the 10th such HR of his MLB playing career; for Miller, it's a 1st blown save after converting his 1st 13 save chances of the 2015 AL season.

2016- Former Yankees DH Jim Ray Hart (1973-1974) had passed away. (1941-2016)

On April 17,1973, veteran INF/OF Jim Ray Hart was purchased by the Yankees from the Giants. He was slowed down by injuries during his MLB playing career with the Giants in the NL. Jim had appeared in 124 games for the Yankees, hitting just .243 with 13 HRs and 52 RBIs. On June 7, 1974, Jim was released by the Yankees, ending his MLB playing career that had lasted 12 seasons, finishing with a .278 BA with 170 HRs and 578 RBIs in 1,125 MLB games with the Giants and the Yankees.

2017- Former Yankees 1B/PH Dave McDonald (1969) had passed away. (1943-2017)

Before the start of the 1962 AL season, 1B Dave McDonald was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Dave played in the Yankees organization from 1962 to 1970. In 1969, he appeared at the MLB level with the team for 9 games in September, hitting just .217 with No HRs and 2 RBIs as a 1B/PH. On May 15,1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Montreal Expos for veteran MLB Reliever Gary Waslewski. With the 1971 Expos, he would appear in 24 games, while hitting just .103. From 1971-1974, he played in AAA level with the Expos and Mets organizations before ending his pro playing career.

2021- Yankees Starter Corey Kluber is the latest pitcher to join this season's no-hitter parade, pulling off the feat with a 2-0 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field. It is already the 6th 9-inning no-hitter this season, and comes 1 day after Spencer Turnbull of the Tigers had pitched one.

May 20^th

1890- Former Yankees Pitcher Jesse ‘Jim” Buckles (1916) was born. (1890-1975)

Pitcher Jim Buckles had appeared in 2 games with no record along with a 2.25 ERA for the 1916 Yankees.

1893- Former Yankees Pitcher Walter Bernhardt (1918) was born. (1893-1958)

Pitcher Walt Bernhardt had appeared in 1 game with no record for the 1918 Yankees.

1897- Former Yankees Closer William Wilcy “Cy” Moore (1927-1929,1932-1933) was born. (1897-1963)

Wilcy “Cy” Moore was the Relief Ace of the 1927 Yankees, posting a 13-7 record with 13 saves. Overall, in 1927, Cy finished the season with a 19-7 record and a 2.28 ERA in 50 games. Wilcy Moore is now considered to have won the 1927 AL ERA title. However, under the rules of the time, he was not considered eligible for the title in spite of his 213 innings pitched, as he had only compiled 6 complete games - in 12 starts - fewer than the minimum 10 required at the time. His Yankees teammate, veteran Starter Waite Hoyt, who posted a 2.64 ERA for the Yankees, is therefore credited with the title in many reference sources. Wilcy was also the Yankees' pitching hero in the 1927 World Series, saving a 5-4 win in Game 1, and pitching a complete game victory in Game 4 to put the finishing touch on a 4-game sweep of the  Pirates. His Yankees Pitching career totals was a 36-21 record with a 3.31 ERA and 37 saves in 171 games. His World Series pitching record for the Yankees was a 2-0 mark with a 0.56 ERA and 1 save in 3 games. Wilcy Moore is considered to be the 1st of the great Yankees Closers in the team’s history. In 1930, the Yankees would send him to the AA St. Paul Saints (AA). He was drafted by the Red Sox in the 1931 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft. He pitched for the 1931-1932 Red Sox, while posting a 15-23 record with a 4.31 ERA and 12 saves in 90 games. On August 1,1932, the Yankees would trade P Gordon Rhodes to Boston for P Wilcy Moore. Moore had led the AL in saves in 1927 and the 1931 Red Sox (10). At the end of the 1933 AL season, the 37-year-old Moore was released by the Yankees. As an MLB Pitcher, he would finish his pitching career with a 51-44 record with a 3.70 ERA and 49 saves in 261 games.

1904- Former Yankees Pitcher Peter Appleton (also known as Peter Jablonski) (1933) was born.  (1904-1974)

Pitcher Peter Appleton had appeared in 1 game with 1933 Yankees, while posting no record. The Yankees would send him back to their AA team, the 1934 Newark Bears (IL). Pete had originally come up with 1927 Reds. Also, he would pitch for the Indians, White Sox, Senators (twice), Browns and the Red Sox in his 14-season MLB Pitching career finishing with an overall  57-67 record with a 4.30 ERA in 341 games.

1913- The Yankees had obtained Shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh from the Indians for 2 Players: INF Bill Stumpf and OF Jack Lelivelt. Roger would help stabilized the 1913 Yankees infield, while hitting .268 in 95 games. He would be the starting Shortstop for the Yankees for 8 seasons, while playing in 1,219 games, hitting .257 with 36 HRs and 428 RBIs for the team. He would be the Yankees Team Captain from 1914 to 1921. On December 20,1921, he was traded by the Yankees to the Red Sox for Shortstop Everett “Deacon” Scott, Pitchers Sam Jones and Joe Bush. Boston would trade him to the Senators that winter.

1922- Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth is named Yankees Team Captain. He will lose his Team Captain position on May 25,1922. Ruth will be replaced by Shortstop Everette “Deacon” Scott, who will hold the position from 1922-1925. The next Yankees Team Captain will be 1B Lou Gehrig, who will hold the Team Captain Title from 1935-1939.

1923- Yankees Slugger Babe Ruth’s 15^th inning 2-run HR gives Yankees Starter Herb Pennock, a 3-1 victory over the White Sox. Pennock goes the distance for the Yankees, while allowing only 4 White Sox hits and 1 run in 15 innings.

1925- The Indians scored 6 runs in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Yankees by a score of 10-9. Indians OF Tris Speaker scored the winning run from 1st base on a single.

1929-Former Yankees Minor League Player, MLB Scout and Manager Lamar North was born. (1929-2011)

Catcher Lamar North spent 13 seasons playing in the Minor Leagues. In 1948, North debuted with the Eastman Dodgers, hitting .271. In 1949, he batted .322 and slugged .420 for Eastman. He was among the Georgia State League's top 10 in batting average. North moved up to the Portsmouth Cubs in 1950, hitting .262. He had missed 1951-1952 seasons, presumably due to military service. North returned to Portsmouth in 1953, he batted only .216, showing rust. He did lead all catchers in the Piedmont League with 73 assists. In 1954, Lamar hit .249 for Portsmouth, followed by .258 in 1955. In 1956, he moved from the Cubs to the Yankees organization. The veteran backstop batted .256 for the Binghamton Triplets (EL). With Binghamton again in 1957, he hit .260. He hit .256 with a career-high 18 HRs, while slugging .424 for the 1958 New Orleans Pelicans (SA) and played 1 game with AAA Richmond. Lamar hit .247 in 60 games for 1959 Binghamton, also North spent time with the AAA Houston Buffs (7 for 47) and the AAA Richmond Virginians (4 for 20), getting his longest looks at AAA. He batted .235 for 2 Texas League clubs in 1960. He was 6 for 33 for the 1962 Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees and was 0 for 1 for the 1963 AAA Richmond club to end his active playing career. Now a Minor League Manager for the Yankees, he would managed the 1962 Harlan Smokies, 1964 Johnson City Yankees, 1965 Greensboro Yankees and the Fort Lauderdale Yankees in 1966 and 1970. He would later become MLB Scout for the Yankees (1968-1971), Dodgers (1973-1975) and the Orioles (1977-?), signing future MLB players Ken Gerhart, Gregg Olson and Nick Markakis among others.

1930- Former Yankees Reliever and MLB Pitching Coach Tom “Plowboy” Morgan (1951-1952,1954-1956) was born. (1930-1987). 

Before the start of the 1949 AL season, the Yankees had signed Pitcher Tom Morgan as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. He would miss time from the Yankees during the 1952-1953 AL seasons due to military service. Tom was a Relief Pitcher for the Yankees during the early 1950’s. His Yankee pitching career totals were a 38-22 record with 26 saves in 156 games. Tom was traded to Kansas City in February of 1957 as part of the Bobby Shantz trade. He had appeared in 3 World Series with the Yankees, while posting a 0-1 mark in 5 games. He would pitch for the 1957 A’s, 1958-1960 Tigers,1960 Senators before being drafted by the Angles in the 1960 AL Expansion Team Player Draft. He would end his MLB Pitching career in 1963 with the Angels with an overall 67-47 record with a 3.61 ERA and 64 saves in 443 games. After retiring, Morgan was a Minor League Pitching Instructor for the Angels organization in 1964 and 1965. He would manage the Idaho Falls Angels for part of 1966 season, then he returned to his Coaching duties in 1967 and 1968. Later, Morgan would manage the San Jose Bees for part of 1969 season. Then he was an MLB Scout for the Yankees.

1943- Former Yankees Reserve 1B/PH David McDonald (1969) was born. (1943-2017) 

Before the start of the 1962 AL season, 1B Dave McDonald was signed by the Yankees as an MLB Amateur Free Agent. Dave had played in the Yankees organization from 1962 to 1970. In 1969, he had appeared at the MLB level with the team for 9 games in September, hitting just .217 with No HRs and 2 RBIs as a 1B/PH. On May 15,1970, Dave was traded by the Yankees to the Expos for MLB Reliever Gary Waslewski. With the 1971 Expos, he would appear in 24 games, while hitting just .103. From 1971-1974, he would play at the AAA level with the Expos and Mets organizations before ending his pro playing career.

1945- St. Louis Browns One-armed OF Pete Gray enjoyed an incredible day against the Yankees. Pete Gray made 3 outstanding catches, collected 4 hits with 2 RBIs and scored the winning run during the Browns doubleheader sweep of the Yankees.

1946- Former Yankees INF/DH/OF, MLB Coach and Yankees Broadcast Announcer Robert “Bobby “Murcer (1965-1966,1969-1974,1979-1983) was born. (1946-2008)

Bobby Murcer was groomed to be the next Mickey Mantle, but it didn’t work out that way, he still had a very good playing career with the Yankees. He played briefly with the team as an infielder in 1965-1966, before being drafted into the Army, missing the 1967-1967 AL seasons. In 1969, the Yankees would switch Bobby from the INF to the OF. He made the AL All-Star team in 1971-1974. He won AL Golden Glove in 1972. His best season with the bat as a Yankees player was in 1971, when he hit .331 with 25 HRs and 94 RBIs. In the winter of 1974, he was traded to the Giants for NL All-Star OF Bobby Bonds. The trade was unpopular with both team’s fans. Bobby was upset that Yankees Team Owner George Steinbrenner broke his promise to him, that long as he owned the team, Bobby would remain a Yankees player. He would play 2 seasons for the Giants before being traded him to the Cubs in the winter of 1976. Bobby would return to the Yankees from the Cubs during the 1979 AL season, hitting .273 in 74 games. In 1980, Bobby would play in 100 games as a Regular OF, while hitting .269 with 13 HRs and 57 RBIs. Injuries would slow him down during the 1981-1983 AL seasons. Bobby would play in his only World Series for the 1981 Yankees, while appearing in 4 games with no hits. Finishing out his Yankees playing career in 1983, Bobby would become a Yankees Broadcasting Announcer, until the date of his passing on July 12, 2008, except for the1989 season when he was an Assistant General Manager for the club. He also served as Chairman of the Baseball Assistance Team.

1946- Former Yankees OF Jim Lyttle (1969-1971) was born.

In 1966, OF Jim Lyttle was selected by the Yankees in the 1st round (10th selection) of the MLB Amateur Player Draft. Jim’s best Yankees’ season was in 1970, when he hit .310 in 87 games. In 1971, he missed most of the season being sick with mono, only appearing in 49 games, while hitting just .198. On October 13,1971, Jim was traded by the Yankees to the White Sox for P Rich Hinton. Overall, as a Yankees player, he had appeared in 164 games for the team, while hitting .241 with 4 HRs and 25 RBIs. He would play in the MLB for the Yankees, White Sox, Expos and the Dodgers in an MLB playing career spanning from 1969 through 1976. Then he would play pro baseball in Japan for 2 teams: the Hiroshima Carp and Nankai Hawks from 1977 through 1983. He had a 472 consecutive games played streak in Japan at one point. He had played on 2 Nippon Series championship teams with Hiroshima in 1979 and 1980. He was a teammate of Adrian Garrett on the 1979 Nippon Series Championship team. The Hiroshima Toyo Carp (led by Garrett, Lyttle, Koji Yamamoto and Sachio Kinugasa), became the 1st Japanese team to hit 200 HRs in a season that year. He was then named MVP of the 1980 Nippon Series, after he hit 3 HRs and drove in 6 runs while batting .400 to defeat Charlie Manuel and the Kintetsu Buffaloes. He was voted to 1 All-Star Team while in Japan, in 1981. He put up spectacular stats that year: Jim led the Central League with 157 hits, hit 33 HRs, collected 100 RBIs, hitting .318 and had an OPS of .940 in only 128 games. He would hit 166 HRs, had 945 hits and have a career OPS mark of .816 during his pro playing career in Japan; also he won 4 Diamond Gloves. Later, Jim Lyttle was the Head Baseball for the College of Boca Raton in 1987-1988.

1948- Yankees CF Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle and collected 6 RBIs in the 13-2 Yankees victory over the White Sox. DiMaggio hit 2 HRs, a triple, a double and a single and narrowly missed another extra-base hit, when White Sox LF Ralph Hodgin made a spectacular catch at the outfield wall.

1959- The Tigers beat the Yankees by a score of 13-6 to place the Bronx Bombers in last place in the AL for the 1st time in 19 years, since May of 1940. The team was plagued by injuries to virtually every starting player in the Yankees regular starting line-up, plus the pitching staff had several key arm injuries, including 1958 Cy Young Award Winner Bob Turley. The 1959 Yankees would finish in 3^rd place in the AL with a 79-75 record, behind the 2^nd place Indians and the 1959 AL Champion’s White Sox.

1960- Former Yankees Catcher Pat Collins (1926-1928) passed away. (1896-1960)

On August 30,1925, Catcher Pat Collins was traded by the AA St. Paul Saints (AA) to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later, $25,000 Cash and 3 Players to be Named Later. On December 16,1925, the Yankees would send veteran MLB Shortstop Pee-Wee Wanninger to the AA St. Paul Saints to complete the trade. Pat had been a Catcher with the 1919-1924 St. Louis Browns. He would appear in 264 games for the Yankees, while hitting .269 with 20 HRs and 85 RBIs. Pat had appeared in 11 World Series games for the Yankees (1926-1928), while hitting .500. On December 13,1928, Pat was purchased by the Braves from the Yankees.

1963- Former Yankees Pitcher David “Boomer” Wells (1997-1998,2002-2003) was born.

On December 24,1996, Veteran Starter David Wells was signed as an MLB Free Agent with the Yankees. On May 17, 1998, David Wells pitched the 13th perfect game in modern MLB history, as the Yankees beat the Twins by a score of 4-0. His Perfect Game against the Twins was the 1st by a Yankees Pitcher since Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, also set an ALrecord by retiring 37 batters in a row, dating back to his last start on May 12th against the Royals. Dave’s best Yankees Pitching season was in 2002, when he went 19-7 with a 3.75 ERA in 31 games. In 1998, he went 18-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 30 games; He won the ALCS MVP Award. Dave was named to the 1998 AL All-Star team. His Yankees World Series pitching record was 1-1. In ALCS play, he went 6-1 for the Yankees. On February 18,1999, Dave was traded by the Yankees along with Reserve INF Homer Bush and Reliever Graeme Lloyd to the Blue Jays for AL All-Star Starter Roger Clemens. In 2002, he would return to the Yankees as an MLB Free Agent. David would post a 19-7 record for the 2002 Yankees. In 2003, he went 15-7 with a 4.14 ERA in 31 games for the Yankees. At the end of the 2003 MLB post season, David left the Yankees for MLB Free Agency. His final Yankees Pitching career record was 68-28 with a 3.90 ERA in 124 games. At the end of the 2003 MLB post season, David would  leave the Yankees for MLB Free Agency He would sign with his hometown MLB team, the San Diego Padres. Wells would finish his MLB Pitching career with a 239-157 record with a 4.13 ERA and 13 saves in 660 games.

1969- The Yankees had acquired veteran Reliever Jack Aker (1969-1972) from the Seattle Pilots for Yankees Starter Fred Talbot. Jack Aker, Steve Hamilton and Lindy McDaniel would help stabilized the Yankees bullpen for 4 seasons. Aker would post at 16-10 record with a 2.23 ERA and 31 saves in 124 games for the team. On May 17,1972, the Yankees would send P Jack Aker to the Cubs to complete an earlier deal that was made on January 20,1972. The Yankees had traded for Cubs veteran NL All-Star OF Johnny Callison for a Player to be Named Later. As a 1966-1969 Yankees Pitcher, Fred Talbot had posted a 14-24 record with a 3.99 ERA in 89 games.

1976- Another Yankees-Red Sox brawl took place at Yankee Stadium. Which pile-on fights resulting in Red Sox Starter Bill “Spaceman” Lee seriously injuring his left pitching arm. It all started when Yankees OF Lou Piniella, crashed into Red Sox Catcher Carlton Fisk, while trying to score from 2B on a single by Graig Nettles. Red Sox RF Dwight Evans throw had Lou out at the plate, but he barreled into Fisk resulting in a fight between them, which emptied both team benches.

1980- Former Yankees Reserve OF Austin Kearns (2010) was born.

On July 30, 2010, OF Austin Kearns was traded by the Indians to the Yankees for a Player to be Named Later. The Yankeeswould send  Minor League P Zach McAllister on August 20, 2010 to the Indians to complete the trade. Austin had appeared in 36 games for the Yankees, while hitting just .234 with 2 HRs and 7 RBIs. On November 1, 2010, Austin was granted MLB Free Agency by the team. He would resign with the Indians for 2011 AL season.

1981- The Yankees had traded Starter Tom Underwood and 1B/DH Jim Spencer to the Oakland A’s for 1B Dave Revering, OF Mike Patterson and Minor League P Chuck Dougherty. Underwood had gone 13-9 with a 3.66 ERA and 1 save in 25 games in 1980, but in 1981, he was 1-4 with a 4.41 ERA in 5 games for the team. The Yankees would replace him in the starting rotation with lefty Rookie Starter Dave Righetti, who was 5-0 with 1.00 ERA with AAA Columbus (IL). Spencer had dropped in his hitting from .288 with 23 HRs in 1979 to .236 with 13 HRs in 1980 to .143 in 25 games in 1981. Dave Revering would platoon at 1B with veteran 1B Bob Watson. Patterson and Dougherty were sent by the team to the Minor Leagues. They never would appear with the Yankees at the MLB level

2006- A New York Yankees uniform worn by Joe DiMaggio in his final World Series (1951) was sold for $195,500 during the 2nd day of an auction of his memorabilia. Yesterday, DiMaggio's 1947 AL MVP Award plaque was sold for $281,750, which included a 15 % buyer's premium. It was his 3rd AL MVP award, but it was the only plaque. The 2-day auction featured more than 1,000 items of Joe DiMaggio memorabilia also included a leather-bound album featuring autographs from DiMaggio's  Yankees teammates and members of the Red Sox, a typed note signed by entertainer Frank Sinatra, an a signed photograph of DiMaggio's one-time wife, Actress Marilyn Monroe. Joe DiMaggio memorabilia auction was held by Hunt's Auctions Inc., located in New York City. A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.

2014- Bronx Starter Masahiro Tanaka suffers his 1st loss in the MLB, when the Cubs beat the Yankees by the score of 6-1, behind Starter Jason Hammel. Tanaka was unbeaten in 42 straight regular season starts, since August 19, 2012; including a perfect 24-0 season in Nippon Pro Baseball in 2013, although he had lost a postseason start during the streak.

2021- Former Yankees Reserve Catcher Phil Lombardi (1986-1987) had passed away. (1963-2021)

The Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1981 MLB Amateur Player Draft had selected Catcher Phil Lombardi. He would hit .250 with 2 HRs and 6 RBIs in 25 games for the 1986-1987 Yankees. On December 11,1987, he was traded by the Yankees along with Minor League P Steve Frey and OF Darren Reed to the Mets for Shortstop Rafael Santana and Minor League Player Victor Garcia.