This Week in Yankees History
July 4th - July 10th
July 4th - Happy Birthday America!
1884 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Warhop (1908-1915) was born. Jack went 69-93 in 221 games for the New York Yankees.
1904 - Jack Chesbro, the Highlanders spitball starter, wins his 14th game in a row, an AL pitching record until the Senators Walter Johnson wins 16 straight in 1912. The A's lose both games today, as the Highlanders sweep the 3 game series.
1925 - Philadelphia A’s Lefty Grove battles the New York Yankees' Herb Pennock 15 innings before taking a 1-0 loss. Herb Pennock is a model of control, issuing no walks and giving up only 4 hits.
1927 - The New York Yankees sweep the Washington Senators in a doubleheader, winning by score of 12-1 in both games.
1930 - Current New York Yankees owner George Steinnbrenner was born in Cleveland, Ohio. The owner of the New York Yankees since 1973 when he bought them from CBS for $10 million, George Steinbrenner is well known for his love of firing managers. He hired and fired Billy Martin 5 times. In more recent times he has changed that reputation sticking with Joe Torre as manager from 1996 to 2007. Since he has owned the club, the Yankees have won the World Series 6 times. Steinbrenner was routinely parodied on the show Seinfeld. The show’s co-creator Larry David portrayed his voice. Also in 1990, MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent banned him from MLB baseball for associating with gamblers to damage the reputation of former Yankees player Dave Winfield. He was re-instated by MLB in 1993. After the 2008 AL season, he stepped down and handed control of the team to his son Hal Steinbrenner. Steinbrenner was also an assistant football coach at both Northwestern University and Purdue University
1932 - New York Yankees All Star C Bill Dickey punches and breaks Carl Reynolds's jaw after the Washington Senator OF collides with him on a close play at home plate. The AL suspends the Yankees catcher for 30 days and fines him $1,000 for his 1-punch fight.
1932 - The Washington Senators widen their lead over the 2nd-place Yankees to 2 1/2 games with a double-bill victory before 77,365 holiday fans at Yankee Stadium, 6-5 in 10 innings and 3-2. The Yankees would finish in 2nd place in 1933 with a 90-59 record.
1934 - The 1934 AL pennant race has seesawed between the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers with New York only 1 game ahead. The improved Red Sox are 6 1/2 games behind, and the Senators, last year's AL Champion, are 7 games back and dropping fast. The Yankees would finish in 2nd place in 1934 with a 94-60 record.
1937 - After the July 4th games are played, the New York Yankees have opened a 3 1/2 game lead over the Chicago White Sox in the AL.
1939 - It's “Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day” at Yankee Stadium with "The Iron Horse's” Yankees uniform number 4 will be the 1st uniform ever to be retired. After emcee Sid Mercer informs the sell-out crowd the man of the hour is too moved to speak, Lou Gehrig changes his mind, when Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy encourages him, and delivers the keynote address history describing himself as "the luckiest man on the face of the earth".
1942 - Former Yankees INF Hal Lanier (1972-1973) was born. Hal was a good fielding INF with a weak bat. He was son of former NL pitching star Max Lanier.
1948 - Former Yankees minor league player OF/DH/C Wayne Nordhagen was born. On June 7, 1968, Wayne was drafted by the Yankees in the 7th round of the 1968 MLB amateur player draft. On June 7, 1973, he was traded by the Yankees along with players to be named later and OF/1B Frank Tepedino to the Atlanta Braves for starter Pat Dobson. The Yankees would send P Dave Cheadle on August 15, 1973 and P Al Closter on September 5, 1973 to the Braves to complete the trade.
1954 - New York Yankees purchased P Marlin Stuart from the Baltimore Orioles on waivers. Marlin went 3-0 in 10 games with 1 save for the Yankees in 1954.
1954 - Former Yankees P Jim Beattie (1978-1979) was born. The New York Yankees in the 4th round of the 1975 MLB amateur player draft drafted Jim Beattie. Jim went 9-15 in 40 games with the Yankees (1978-19 79). On November 1, 1979, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with P Rick Anderson, OF Juan Beniquez, and C Jerry Narron to the Seattle Mariners for OF Ruppert Jones and minor league P Jim Lewis. His MLB pitching career would end with shoulder problems. Jim has worked in the front offices for the Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles, as a General Manager.
1959 - New York Yankees starter Bob Turley turns in another 1-hit masterpiece at Washington’s Griffth Stadium. A lazy fly ball in the 9th inning by PH Julio Becquer drops in front of LF Norm Siebern for the only Senators hit. Yankees Shortstop Tony Kubek goes 8-for-10 in the doubleheader, as the Yankees sweep the Nats by scores of 10-6 and 7-0.
1960 - Mickey Mantle's 3-run 1st-inning HR off of P Hal Woodeshick is the 300th HR of his MLB career. Mantle becomes the 18th MLB player to join the 300 HR MLB club, but the Yankees drop a 9-8 decision to Washington Senators.
1961 - Before 74,246 fans, the largest crowd at Yankee Stadium since 1947, the Yankees split a doubleheader with the Detroit Tigers, winning the opener 6-2, before losing the nightcap 4-3 in 10 innings.
1964 - At Yankee Stadium, the Minnesota Twins are leading the Yankees by a score of 5-4, when Mickey Mantle parks a 3-run HR shot off of Twins reliever Al Worthington in the 8th inning to win it, by a score of 7-5.
1967 - At Metropolitan Stadium in Minnesota, Twins starter Jim “Mudcat” Grant stops the Yankees to give the Twins, an 8-3 victory. Mickey Mantle drives in all 3 Yankees runs with 2 HRs.
1967 - The New York Yankees obtained veteran starter Steve Barber from the Baltimore Orioles for 1B Ray “Buddy” Barker, minor league Outfielders Chet Trail and Joe Brody plus cash. Barber was washed up, never fully recovering from his arm problems. He went 12-14 in 37 games for the Yankees (1967-1968) before being drafted by the Seattle Pilots in the 1968 AL expansion player draft. Steve passed way in February of 2007.
1974 - Former New York Yankees co-owner Del Webb (1945-1964) passed away (1899 - 1974). He became part owner of the New York Yankees in 1945, when he was part of a group that purchased the team from the estate of the late Jacob Ruppert. The group included Dan Topping and Larry MacPhail. Dan Topping and Del Webb bought out Larry McPhail after the 1947 World Series. Dan Topping and Del Webb sold the club to CBS, Inc. in November of 1964.
1977 - New York Yankees stay 1 game ahead of the Boston Red Sox by edging the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-5. The Yankees get HRs from Chris Chambliss, Roy White, Lou Piniella, and Graig Nettles.
1983 - Lefty starter Dave Righetti pitches the Yankees' 1st no-hitter since Don Larsen's perfect game in the 1956 World Series, handcuffing the Boston Red Sox by a score of 4-0 before a holiday crowd of 41,077 fans at Yankee Stadium. It's the 1st no-hitter by a Yankee lefty starter since George Mogridge in 1917.
1984 - Yankees starter Phil Niekro strikes out 5 batters in the Yankees 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers to become the 9th pitcher in MLB history to record 3,000 MLB career strikeouts.
1986 - At Comiskey Park, with the score 1-1 in the bottom of the 8th inning, Chicago White Sox OF John Cangelosi leads off with a drive to the RF corner. A fans leans out of the stands and appears to touch the ball as he tumbles onto the field. Anticipating an interference call, Yankees OF Claudell Washington slows down, while the speedy Cangelosi easily makes 3B. The umps don't see any interference and Cangelosi remains on 3B, and scores on a sac fly. White Sox win the game by a score of 2-1.
1986 - Former Yankee P/INF Oscar Roettger (1923-1924) passed away. Although a pitcher, he appeared in 6 games as a hitter for the Yankees. On June 16, 1924, Oscar was traded by the New York Yankees to St Paul (American Association) for Cliff Markle. On May 29, 1925, Oscar was traded by the New York Yankees along with a player to be named later,Fred Hofmann and $50,000 to St Paul for INF Mark Koenig. The New York Yankees sent Ernie Johnson on October 28, 1925 to St Paul to complete the trade.
1988 - Texas Rangers starter Charlie Hough strikes out 4 batters in the 1st inning of a 13-2 loss to the Yankees.
1996 - The Yankees provide the fireworks, signing Darryl Strawberry. On June 24th, Yankee GM Bob Watson said 5 times that Strawberry "doesn't fit" with the New York Yankees. Strawberry will be assigned to the AAA Columbus Clippers (IL).
2002 - The Yankees defeat the Cleveland Indians by a score of 7-1. Indians slugger Jim Thome has his streak of consecutive games hitting a HR stopped at 7 games, 1 short of the MLB record.
2003 - In a 10-3 victory over the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox score all their runs with the long ball hitting a record 7 HR’s off the Yankee pitchers. Prior to today's Independence Day fireworks, the Bronx Bombers had given up 6 HRS in a game 4 times including 2 to Boston (1997 and 1977) and the Indians (1970).
July 5th
1884 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Quinn (1909-1912, 1919-1921) was born. John went 81-65 in 228 games for the Yankees. He won 18 games in a season twice for the Yankees in 1910 and 1921. On August 12, 1912, he was traded by the Highlanders along with Jack Martin to Rochester (IL) for Tommy McMillan. On December 20, 1921, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with P Rip Collins, INF Roger Peckinpaugh and Bill Piercy to the Red Sox for P Joe Bush, P Sam Jones and INF Everett Scott. Jack pitched in MLB until 1933.
1896 - Former Yankees P Herbert “Lefty” Thormahlen (1917-1920) was born. He went 28-20 in 76 games for the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1919, when he went 12-10 in 30 games. On December 15, 1920, he was traded by the Yankees along with 2B Del Pratt, C Muddy Ruel and OF Sammy Vick to the Boston Red Sox for P Harry Harper, P Waite Hoyt, INF Mike McNally and C Wally Schang.
1904 - Former Yankees P Bump Hadley (1936-1940) was born (1904-1963). Bump went 47-31 in 140 games for the Yankees. He went 2-1 in 3 World Series with the Yankees. His best Yankees season was in 1936, going 14-4. During the AL 1937 season, Bump Hadley threw a pitch that struck Tigers C Mickey Cochrane, leaving him unconscious for 10 days and ending his MLB playing career. In 1939, he posted 12-6 mark for the Yankees. In 1940, he will be sold to the A’s. He later became a baseball TV announcer.
1906 - The Yankees exploit 9 Boston errors to beat the Red Sox by a score of 8-3 at Fenway Park.
1917 - In the 1st of 2 games at the Polo Grounds, Frank “Home Run” Baker hits a 13th inning inside the park HR off of Washington Senators starter Walter Johnson to give the Yankees a 5-4 win. It is Baker's 5th HR off of Senators Ace Walter Johnson.
1934 - Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig hits an inside-the-park grand slam HR, as the Yankees beat the Senators by a score of 8-3. It is his 4th grand slam HR of the 1934 AL season, his 17th MLB career GS overall, passing Babe Ruth's MLB career total. Lou Gehrig will eventually set a MLB career record of 23 grand slams. Lou Gehrig now has 321 MLB career HRs to Babe Ruth's 698 MLB Career HRs.
1937 - Joe DiMaggio hits his 1st MLB career grand slam HR, in the 6th inning off of Red Sox hurlerr Rube Walberg to lead the Yankees to an 8-4 win in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. The Yankees won the 1st game by a score of 15-0.
1939 - Yankees rookie starter Atley Donald wins his 10th game of the 1939 AL season without a loss. He will finish the 1939 AL season with a 13-3 record with .813 WP.
1943 - Former Yankees OF/DH/1B/3B/C Curt Blefrey (1970-1971) was born (1943-2001). Before the 1962 AL Season, the Yankees signed Curt as an MLB amateur free agent. Curt was removed from the 40-man Yankees roster, when they acquired veteran INF Harry Bright from the Reds during April of 1963. The Orioles immediately claimed him. He would play for the Orioles, Astros, A’s and Yankees during his MLB career.
1948 - Despite a hitless day by slugger Ted Williams, the Boston Red Sox sweep doubleheader from the New York Yankees, winning by scores of 6-5 and 8-7. Denny Galehouse wins the opener for the Red Sox; he saves the win in game 2. But his 9th inning sac bunt results in his tripping over 1B, he will be out of action for 3 weeks.
1950 - In a sloppy game that features 18 walks, Cliff Mapes drives in 5 runs with a HR and single to pace the Yankees to an 11-8 win over the A’s. Tommy Byrne (9-3) is the winner despite giving up 6 hits and 6 walks in 5 innings (he walks 2 in the 6th inning). He also hits 4 batters to tie the MLB record. A’s starter, Alex Kellner, pitches 4 innings, and gives up 6 runs in the loss. The A's lose INF Eddie Joost who tears ligaments in his left knee in a collision with Cliff Mapes at 2B in the 7th inning.
1951 - Former Yankees HOF closer Rich “Goose” Gossage (1978-1983,1989) was born. Goose went 53-37 with 151 saves for the Yankees. Gossage was signed as a free agent in the winter of 1977. Goose won the 1978 AL Rolaids Award. His arrival and success mad the Yankees current closer expendable, leading to the 1978 trade of Lyle to the Rangers. He was named to the AL All Star teams in 1978, 1980-1982. Rich left the Yankees after the 1983 AL season, signing with the Padres. He pitched for several MLB teams and in Japan before returning to the Yankees during the 1989 AL season.
1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Roger Maris cracks a 7th inning solo HR against the Indians, and also is credited erroneously, as it turns out with a 3rd inning RBI on a single. The 2 RBIs are officially recorded, though just 1 appears in the game's box score, and the error will not be noted until 1995. With the correction, Roger Maris and the Orioles 1B Jim Gentile become co-leaders in RBIs for the 1961 AL season.
1966 - Former Yankees P (1988, 1991, 1995) and Current MLB Pitching Coach Dave Eiland was born. The Yankees in the 7th round of the 1987 MLB player amateur player draft drafted Dave. Dave went 6-10 in 36 games for the Yankees.
1971 - The Yankees and Red Sox each collect 16 hits, but for the 2nd day in a row the Red Sox hit 4 HRs to win, by a score of 12-7. The Red Sox score 6 runs in the 6th inning, when Rico Petrocelli hits a bases loaded triple, the next 2 Red Sox batters George Scott and Joe Lahoud follow up with HRs.
1998 - After defeating the Baltimore Orioles by the score of 1-0, the 1998 Yankees improve their record to 61-20, equaling the best 81-game start in MLB history. The mark matches the MLB record of the 1902 Pirates and the 1907 Cubs.
2002 - The Yankees obtained starter Jeff Weaver from the Detroit Tigers in a 3-team deal. Yankees send P Ted Lilly to the Oakland A's, while the A’s send INF Carlos Pena to Detroit. The Tigers also acquired P Franklin German and a player to be named from A’s, while the A's get minor league players: OF John Ford Griffin and P Jason Arnold from Yankees. The A’s sent minor league P Jeremy Bonderman on August 22, 2002 to the Tigers to complete the trade.
July 6th
1881 - Former Yankees INF/OF Roy Hartzell (1911-1916) was born. On February 11, 1911, Roy was traded by the St. Louis Browns with cash to the Highlanders for 3B Jimmy Austin and INF/OF Frank La Porte. Roy played every position for the Yankees except for catcher and pitcher. He appeared in 699 games for the Yankees, hitting .261.
1891 - Former Yankees reserve C and MLB Manager Steve O’Neill (1925) was born. On December 15, 1924, Steve was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Boston Red Sox. Steve appeared in 36 games, hitting .286 for the Yankees, before being released on July 31, 1925. After retiring as an active MLB player, he will become an MLB Manager.
1914 - The Philadelphia A's sell P Boardwalk Brown, who had a 17-13 record last season, to the Yankees. New York also brings back OF Birdie Cree by sending Bill Holden and cash to Baltimore Orioles (IL). Birdie hit .348 in 1911 and .332 (1912) before injuring his leg. He slumped to .272 in 1913, he was sold to Baltimore Orioles (IL), but he will hit .309 in 77 games for the Yankees this season.
1917 - Former Yankees reserve C Kenneth “Ziggy” Sears (1943) was born. Ken hit .278 in 60 games for the Yankees in 1943.
1920 - The New York Yankees score 14 runs in the 5th inning beating the Washington Senators by a final score of 17-0. It's the biggest inning ever until the Boston Red Sox score 17 runs in a 1953 AL season game.
1928 - Veteran Yankees hurler Urban Shocker (1916-1917, 1925-1928), who is in very poor health, resulting from a swollen heart condition; is released by the team after 1 appearance on the mound. He retires as a MLB player. He will pass away on September 9, 1928, at the age of 38. His Yankees pitching career record is 61-37 in 152 games. His overall MLB career record was 187-117 in 13 seasons with the Yankees and Browns. His trade in 1918 by the Yankees to the St. Louis Browns was considered to be one of the worst mistakes made by the Yankees front office in club history.
1932 - Yankees C Bill Dickey is suspended for 30 days and fined $1,000 for assaulting Senators OF Carl Reynolds and breaking his jaw. Reynolds has bowled over on a successful squeeze play to score the tying run in 2nd game of a doubleheader. Dickey got up and attacked Reynolds, breaking his jaw with 1 punch. Technically, the suspension was until Reynolds recovered. The Yankees lose the doubleheader to the Senators by scores of 5-3 and 12-6.
1933 - The 1st MLB All-Star Game is played at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Yankees OF Babe Ruth is the star for the AL team. His 2-run HR is the margin of victory in the AL squad’s 4-2 win over the NL team.
1938 - At Crosley Field, Yankees' hurler Lefty Gomez is defeated for the 1st time in 4 All-Star game starts as the NL wins the All-Star game by a score of 4-1. NL shortstop and former Yankee Leo Durocher becomes the 1st Dodger to start in an All-Star Game and gets a 'bunt' home run.
1941 - A Center Field monument dedicated to Lou Gehrig is unveiled by the Yankees at Yankee Stadium. The memorial is a tribute by his teammates of their beloved team captain who died last month of ALS.
1944 - The Yankees sell reserve OF Larry Rosenthal (1944) to the Philadelphia A’s for cash. Larry hit .198 in 36 games for the 1944 Yankees.
1954 - Former Yankees All Star 2B MLB Coach and Manager Willie Randolph (1976-1988) was born. Willie Randolph was obtained on December 11, 1975, from the Pirates along with hurlers Ken Brett and Dock Ellis to the Yankees for P George “Doc” Medich. Willie was the Yankees regular starting 2B until 1988. Willie appeared in 1,694 games with a Yankee lifetime BA of .275. He appeared on 5 AL All Star teams as 2B for the Yankees. He left the Yankees for MLB free agency in 1988, signing with the Dodgers. Willie would spend 18 seasons in MLB staring with Pirates, followed by the Yankees, Dodgers, A’s, Brewers and finishing up with the Mets. He was the recent manager of the New York Mets until his firing in June of 2008.
1962 - The Yankees edge the Twins by a score of 7-5 in Bloomington, Minnesota, as Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, each hit a pair of HRs. The M&M boys hit back-to-back HRs in the 1st inning, off of Twins veteran starter Camilo Pascual (12-4), the 3rd time in 4 games that they've hit back-to-back HR shots. Yankees are now, a half-game in back of Indians.
1966 - Former Yankees P Sam “Sad Sam” Jones (1922-1926) passed away. On December 20, 1921, Sam was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with P Joe Bush and INF Everett Scott to the Yankees for P Rip Collins, P Jack Quinn, INF Roger Peckinpaugh and Bill Piercy Sam went 67-56 in 130 game for the Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1923, when he posted a 21-8 mark. On February 8, 1927, Sam was traded by the Yankees to the St. Louis Browns for OF Cedric Durst and P Joe Giard.
1966 - The Red Sox sweep a pair from the Yankees, with veteran reliever Don McMahon picking up both wins. He pitches 1 2/3 innings in the opener and another 2 innings in game 2. The only other pitcher to win a doubleheader from the Yankees was the Browns Dave Davenport in 1916, who had threw 2 complete game victories.
1971 - At Detroit, the Tigers 1B Norm Cash belts a pair of 3-run HRs to power the Tigers to a 12-7 win over the Yankees. Tiger’s starter Mickey Lolich goes all the way for the win, for his 13th victory of the 1971 AL season. Yankees starter Stan Bahnsen gave 7 runs in 1st inning. Roy White and Ron Hansen hit HRs for the Yankees
1990 - In his 1st start since losing a no-hitter in Chicago, Yankees starter Andy Hawkins pitches 11 2/3 innings of shutout ball only to lose in the 12th inning by a score of 2-0 to the Twins. Hawkins is now 1-6 as a Yankees starter.
1996 - During the Yankees 2-0 win over the Brewers, the team announces the purchasing of veteran OF Darryl Strawberry's contract from Columbus Clippers (AAA). Yankees closer John Wetteland preserves starter Jimmy Key's win with a save in his 20th consecutive appearance, breaking Lee Smith's MLB record.
1997 - Toronto Blue Jays starter Roger Clemens becomes the AL 1st 13-game winner, pitching a 4-hitter as the Blue Jays beat the Yankees, by a score of 2-0. Clemens has 10 strikeouts and 1 walk in his 1st shutout of the year. Ramiro Mendoza takes the loss for the Yankees.
2002 - The Yankees clip the Orioles, by a score of 13-9, scoring 8 runs in the 2nd inning to come back from a 7-run deficit. Oriole’s starter Sidney Ponson helps with 4 straight walks in the inning. The Yankees 3B Scott Brosius ties the MLB record for 3B by starting 4 DP’s in the game.
July 7th
1884 - Former Yankees INF/OF George Moriarty (1906-1908) was born. On August 8, 1905, George was purchased by the Highlanders from the Toledo Mud Hens (American Association). He hit .249 in 290 games for the Yankees. On January 14, 1909, George was purchased by the Tigers from the Highlanders.
1903 - In a game with the Highlanders, White Sox OF Danny Green is called out at 1B by Umpire John Sheridan, and after returning to the bench, he continues to yell at the umpire. Sheridan finally rushes the White Sox bench and hits Green with his mask, who in return belts the umpire. The umpire is taken from the grounds and locked up on charges of disorderly conduct. An hour later, he is released after Highlander’s President Joseph Gordon posts his bail.
1904 - Highlander’s starter Jack Chesbro's winning streak of 14 games comes to an end as the Red Sox beat the Highlanders by a score of 4-1. Jack Chesbro will win 41 games this year, to set a MLB record and Yankees team record. Newly acquired Kip Selbach drives in 3 runs for the Red Sox.
1913 - On August 20, 1908, INF John Knight was purchased by the Highlanders from Baltimore Orioles (IL). John played for the Yankees from 1909-1911, then spending one season with the Washington Senators returning to the Yankees in 1913. On February 17, 1912, he was traded by the Highlanders along with a player to be named later to the Senators for a player to be named later and Gabby Street. The Highlanders sent Rip Williams on February 22, 1912 to the Senators to complete the trade. He played in 435 games hitting .267 for the Yankees.
1915 - Owner Connie Mack of the Philadelphia A's continues to dismantle his team, by shipping front line starter Bob Shawkey to the New York Yankees for $85,000.
1921 - Major League-leading slugger Babe Ruth brings the Yankees but apparently little else – least of all his A-game – to Forbes Field for an exhibition bout vs. the National League-leading Pirates. Ralph Davis of the Pittsburgh Press is clearly not at all impressed: "Bambino Didn't Shine. Babe Ruth didn't have a batting average yesterday. His strikeout average was .500. The King of Swatters didn't look good againstCarlson's pitching. He struck wide at several pitches and fanned twice. His other efforts were flies to Carey and Robertson. Rip Collins, the Yankee pitcher, witnessed the game from the press box. As Robertson captured Ruth's fly, he remarked: 'you can't make me believe that the National League ball is as lively as the American League sphere. If Ruth had cracked one like that in our league, the ball would have gone to kingdom come.' As a fielder, Ruth was a joke yesterday. Luckily for the Yankees, he didn't have many chances, but he surely looked slow and bad on those he had." One of those chances is Charlie Grimm's 2nd-inning triple, which bounces over Ruth's head, scoring the Pirates' 1st run and setting up the 2nd, which ties the contest at two all. One inning later, Dave Robertson unties it with a tape measure; two-run blast and the Pirates never look back.
1936 - The NL after having losing the 1st three All-Star Games, wins 4-3 at Boston's Braves Field with 4 different Cub players (Galan, Herman, Hartnett, and Demaree) scoring runs. After NL pitchers Dizzy Dean and Carl Hubbell, each pitch scoreless 3-inning stints, Curt Davis is hammered by the AL, including Lou Gehrig's HR, but then Lon Warneke shuts the door on the AL squad. Meanwhile, the NL team is helped by the Yankees rookie OF Joe DiMaggio's loose fielding and error and Augie Galan's HR. Yankees OF Joe DiMaggio is the 1st MLB rookie to play in an All-Star game.
1936 - Former Yankees hurler and AL umpire Bill Kunkel (1963) was born (1936 -1985). Bill went 3-2 in 22 games for the Yankees in 1963, working out of the bullpen. After retiring as an active MLB player, Bill became a MLB umpire in the AL in 1965. He was the father of former Rangers shortstop Jeff Kunkel. Sadly Bill died from cancer in 1985.
1937 - With President Franklin D. Roosevelt in attendance at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig drives in 4 runs with a HR and a double to lead the AL team to an 8-3 victory over the NL in All-Star action.
1948 - The Cleveland Indians stun the baseball world by signing Satchel Paige, veteran Negro League pitcher. The move is ridiculed by some as a Bill Veeck publicity stunt, and A.G. Spink in The Sporting News editorializes, "Veeck has gone too far in his quest for publicity . . . . To sign a hurler at Paige's age is to demean the standards of baseball in the big circuits." The 42-year-old Paige will answer the critics in tomorrow, getting a relief decision in an 8-6 win over Yankees in a DH sweep. He will finish the 1948 AL season at 6-1. Paige is the oldest player to debut in the majors, but not the 1st 40-year-old: Chuck Hostetler in 1944 was 40.
1951 - At Fenway Park, the Yankees lose to Boston, by a score of 10-4 with the Red Sox attack being led by Clyde Vollmer's grand slam HR in the 1st inning. Vollmer had a 2-run triple in yesterday's 6-2 win over the New York. Yankees Rookie OF Mickey Mantle, a late inning defensive replacement, hits a 9th inning HR off of Red Sox starter Ellis Kinder, who pitches a complete game for the win.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Yankees scores 2 runs to tie the Red Sox at 2-2 in the bottom of the 9th inning. Then with 2 on and 2 outs, Mickey Mantle breaks a 1-for-17 slump with a 3-run HR shot into the Yankee Stadium RF stands.
1968 - Former Yankees 2B/OF Chuck Knoblauch (1998-2001) was born. On February 6, 1998, he was traded by the Twins to the Yankees for OF/1B Brian Buchanan, INF Christian Guzman, pitchers Eric Milton, Danny Mota, and cash. Throwing problem at 2B forced Chuck to move to the outfield, playing LF for the Yankees. He finished his MLB career with Kansas City Royals.
1970 - AL All Star 3B Brooks Robinson cracks a 10th inning grand slam HR off of Yankees reliever Lindy McDaniel to give the Orioles, a 6-2 win.
1977 - The Yankees completes a 3-game sweep of Cleveland Indians behind the 4-hit pitching of starter Catfish Hunter. The Yankees win the game by a score of 8-2.
1978 - The Milwaukee Brewers Ace Mike Caldwell beats the Yankees Ace Ron Guidry by a score of 6-0. For Guidry (13-1), it is his 1st loss of the 1978 AL season. Caldwell had shut out the Yankees 9 days earlier, and will shut them out again on September 19th.
1982 - Former Yankees 3B/ 2B “Jumping “Joe Dugan (1922-1928) passed away (1897-1982). On July 23, 1922, Joe was traded by the Boston Red Sox along with Elmer Smith to the Yankees for Chick Fewster, Elmer Miller, Johnny Mitchell, Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000. Joe had a Yankee career BA of .286. In 1923, he led AL 3B in fielding.
1983 - Former Yankees OF and MLB Manager Ben Chapman (1930-1936) passed away (1908-1983). On June 14, 1936, he was traded by the Yankees to the Washington Senators for OF Jake Powell. Ben finished his Yankee career with a .306 BA and stole 184 bases. Many people forget about his fine MLB playing career, only to remember him as the bigot manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 1947, who taunted the Brooklyn Dodger’s Jackie Robinson.
July 8th
1904 - In the fight for 1st place in the AL, the Red Sox continue to roll, beating the Yankees by the score of 12-3, as Kip Selbach has a single and triple
1931 - Former Yankees P Zach Monroe (1958-1959) was born. The Yankees signed Zach Monroe as an MLB amateur free agent in 1952. He went 4-2 in 24 games with the Yankees. He appeared in 1 game in the 1958 World Series against the Braves. He was on the Richmond (AAA) roster in 1960, when he was sold to Jersey City (AAA-Reds). The transaction appears to be unofficial payment to the Reds for the Yankees buying veteran reliever Luis Arroyo, who was at the Reds AAA club in Jersey City (IL).
1935 - The AL All Star team winning streak reaches 3 games as the Junior Circuit beats the NL in All Star action at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, by the score of 4-1. The rule that no pitcher can throw more than 3 innings unless the game goes extra innings will be instituted after Yankees starter Lefty Gomez pitches 6 outstanding innings in the Mid-Summer Classic.
1939 - Prior to the 1st game of a doubleheader with the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium, a wall of Japanese beetles form in front of the home dugout. Although over 5,000 insects will be captured, the beetle problem will return later in the month.
1943 - Former Yankee minor league P George Culver was born. On May 9, 1963, George was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. He never played for the Yankees at the MLB level. On December 2, 1963, George was drafted by the Cleveland Indians from the New York Yankees in the 1963 first-year player draft. He would pitch for several NL teams during his MLB career.
1946 - In a special meeting of MLB clubs deals with Mexican League defections and attempts by players to gain new rights. Some results: $5,000 minimum salary, $25-per-week training-camp expenses, a fixed period for spring training, 25 days for post-season barnstorming, maximum pay cut of 25 percent. A pension fund aimed at providing $100 a month for retired 10-year players will be funded by World Series broadcast rights and net proceeds from All-Star Games. Each league will have a player representative to baseball councils. The 1st player reps named are Yankees P Johnny Murphy and the Dodgers OF Dixie Walker.
1947 - Clutch pinch hits by Luke Appling and Stan Spence lead the AL to a 2-1 win over the NL in the All-Star Game at Wrigley Field. Schoolboy Rowe pinch-hits for Johnny Sain, becoming the 1st player to appear for each side. Rowe pitched 3 innings for the AL in 1936. Yankees Frank “Spec” Shea is the 1st winning rookie pitcher in All Star game history.
1951 - The feud between Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio and Manager Casey Stengel reaches a head in the 2nd inning in a game against the Boston Red Sox. Because of a misplay in the 1st inning, Casey Stengel sends reserve OF Jackie Jensen out to CF to relieve the Yankee Clipper after he had already taken his position. The Red Sox clip the Yankees by the score of 6-3, as the red-hot Clyde Vollmer belts a 2-run HR.
1958 - The AL team edges the NL squad by the score of 4-3 in the All-Star Game played at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium. The Yankees Gil McDougald singles to score Red Sox 3B Frank Malzone with the deciding run. Billy O'Dell of the Orioles pitches perfect ball for 3 innings and gets the save. This is the 1st All-Star Game played without an extra-base hit.
1961 - At Yankee Stadium, Whitey Ford tops the Boston Red Sox by a score of 8-5. Mickey Mantle hits a HR in the 4th inning, off of rookie starter Tracy Stallard for his 10th HR this year in support of Ace starter Whitey Ford.
1962 - The Yankees complete a 3-game sweep of the Twins in Minnesota, winning by a score of 9-8 to regain 1st place in the AL. They will remain there the rest of the 1962 AL season finishing with a 96-66 record.
1964 - Former Yankees minor league P Ken Patterson was born. On June 3, 1985, Ken was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 3rd round of the 1985 MLB amateur player draft. He never appeared with the Yankees at the MLB level. On August 26,1987, Ken was traded by the New York Yankees along with a player to be named later to the Chicago White Sox for P Mike Soper (minors) and veteran MLB INF Jerry Royster. The New York Yankees sent minor league player Jeff Pries on September 19,1987 to the Chicago White Sox to complete the trade.
1966 - At Yankee Stadium, the Washington Senators win the opener of a doubleheader, by the score of 7-6, then they blow a 4-run lead in the nightcap to lose the game by a score of 7-5. Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle is 5-for-8 in the doubleheader, including a HR in each game. The 2nd HR, off of P Jim Hannan, is a 461 FT sky shot over the monuments into the CF Stadium bleachers. Mickey follows with a sure double in the 5th inning, but tears a hamstring muscle rounding 1B and will be sidelined for 2 weeks.
1969 - Former Yankees All Star 3rd baseman and MLB Manager Red Rolfe (1931, 1934 - 1942) passed away (1908-1969). Red Rolfe finished his 10-year Yankee career with a lifetime BA of .289. He led the AL 3B in fielding (1935-1936). Red was named to AL All Star team, 4 times as a Yankee. He led the AL in hits (139) and runs (213) in 1939, posting his highest season BA of .329. After his MLB playing career was over, Red was an MLB Manager with the Tigers (1949-1952) in 539 games, with a record of 278 -256 with a WP of .521. His best season as a MLB Manager was in 1950, when he finished 2nd place to the Yankees with a 95-59 mark. He was let go by the Tigers during the 1952 AL season. Also he was a MLB coach for the Kansas City A’s during the 1950’s.
1970 - The Orioles again wait until the late innings to beat the Yankees, this time striking in the 9th inning on a Frank Robinson HR and a 2-out single by Don Buford. The O's overcome an 8-6 deficit to win the game by the score of 9-8.
1974 - Yankees shortstop Jim Mason ties the MLB record with 4 doubles in a 12-5 victory over the Rangers. Off the field, the Yankees purchased veteran INF Sandy Alomar Sr. from the Angels for cash to strength their bench defensive.
1977 - The Yankees led by HRs off the bats of Thurman Munson and Graig Nettles beat the Orioles by the score of 7-5. Yankees starter Don Gullett wins his 7th victory of the season.
1980 - At Dodger Stadium, the 51st All-Star Game features J.R. Richard (10-4) and Steve Stone (12-3) are starters, with Richard going just 2 innings because of various back and shoulder problems he's been having. The NL squad battles back to wins its 9th consecutive All-Star Game 4-2, pinning the loss on Yankees P Tommy John. Reds OF Ken Griffey Sr. goes 2-for-3 with a solo HR to win the game's MVP Award.
1982 - Billy Martin records his 1,000th MLB career win as a manager as the Oakland A's beat the New York Yankees by the score of 6-3.
1984 - Current Yankees reserve INF/OF Kevin Russo was born. On June 6, 2006, Kevin Russo was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 20th round of the 2006 MLB amateur played draft. Kevin made his MLB debut this season with the Yankees.
2000 - The Yankees whip the Mets by identical 4-2 scores in both ends of an unusual day-night doubleheader. With the 1st game played at Shea Stadium and the nightcap at Yankee Stadium, it is the 1st time since 1903, that 2 teams played 2 games in different stadiums on the same day. Dwight Gooden wins the 1st game with a 6-inning effort in his 1st start since returning to the Yankees. Roger Clemens wins the nightcap and precipitate a near brawl when he drills Mets C Mike Piazza in the helmet with an inside fastball. Piazza suffers a concussion.
2002 - Yankees 1B Jason Giambi out-homers NL All Star OF Sammy Sosa, 7-1, in the final round to take the 2002 All-Star Game Home Run Derby crown.
July 9th
1874 - Former Yankees P John “Jack” Powell (1905-1906) was born. On March 6, 1904, John was traded by the Browns to the Highlanders for Harry Howell and cash. John went 31-32 in 84 games before returning to the Browns in 1906.
1899 - Former Yankees P Walter Beall (1924-1927) was born. On August 28, 1924, Walter was purchased by the Yankees from the Rochester (IL) for $50,000. Walter went 4-5 in 33 games for the Yankees.
1929 - Former Yankees INF/OF Hector Lopez (1959-1966) was born. In 1952, Hector Lopez was purchased by the A’s from the Drummondville (Provincial) for $1,500. With the A’s, he played 2B and 3B, and the OF. On May 26, 1959, Hector was traded by the A’s with along P Ralph Terry to the Yankees for P Johnny Kucks and Tom Sturdivant, with INF Jerry Lumpe. Hector played 3B for the Yankees, before being moved to the OF in 1959. His best Yankees season was in 1960, when he appeared in 131 games, hitting .284. He appeared in 5 World Series with Yankees (1960-64), hitting .286 in 15 games. After only hitting .214 in 54 games during the 1966 AL season, Hector was released by the Yankees on October 19, 1966. He would become a player-manager at Buffalo (AAA) in the minor leagues before hanging up his spikes for good.
1932 - Former Yankees reliever Tex Clevenger (1961-1962) was born. Tex appeared out of the Yankee bullpen in 42 games going 3-1 before retiring as a MLB player. On May 8, 1961, he was traded by the new expansion Los Angeles Angels along with veteran OF Bob Cerv to the Yankees for OF Lee Thomas, Pitchers Ryne Duren, and Johnny James. The Boston Red Sox originally signed Tex, and then he played for the Senators, Twins and Angels, before being acquired by the Yankees.
1932 - Yankees OF Ben Chapman has 3 HRs in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the Tigers at Yankee Stadium. Two HRs are inside the park homers, as the Yankees win the game by a score of 14-9. He finished the game with 3-HRs and 6 RBIs. In the opener, the Yankees beat the Tigers by a score of 7-6, with HRs by Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe Swell.
1936 - The temperature is 106 degrees in Central Park, the hottest July 9th on record in New York City as the Indians take on the Yankees at the Stadium. The temperature at the ballpark is 102. The Yankees score 4 runs in the 1st inning, but the Indians come back to score 11 runs on 15 hits, including 5 HRs, to win the game by a score of 11-4. Hal Trosky, Roy Weatherly and Joe Vosmik, all homer in the 2nd inning to tie the MLB record. Trosky hits another HR to tie for the AL lead with 23 HRs. Also the Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig and Indians Earl Averill each hit HRs in the game.
1937- Joe DiMaggio hits for the cycle, as he delivers 2-HRs, a triple, double and single helping the Yankees maul the Senators, by a score of 16-2. The “Yankee Clipper” will accomplish this feat only once again in his MLB career during the 1948 AL season.
1939 - The Boston Red Sox win a doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 5-3 to sweep a 5-game series at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees AL lead is now 6 1/2 games. Red Sox shortstop Joe Cronin drives in runs in both games, giving him 12 games in a row with RBI.
1947 - The Yankees sell P Mel Queen Sr. (1942, 1944, 1946-1947) to the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash. Mel went 8-4 in 43 games for the Yankees before being sold to the Pirates. He is the father of former MLB player Mel Queen Jr.
1947 - Yankees relief ace Joe Page hits his 2nd MLB game winning HR in the 9th inning to beat the Browns by the score of 4-3 at St. Louis Sportmans Park.
1955 - Yankees slugger Mickey Mantle goes 5-for-5, as Yankees starter Bob Turley tosses a 2-hitter in a 4-0 win over the Washington Senators.
1958 - On Capitol Hill, Yankees Manager Casey Stengel and All Star CF Mickey Mantle appear in front of the Senate Anti-Trust and Monopoly Subcommittee which is investigating the baseball monopoly power in regards to sport's antitrust exemption. After “The Old Professor'” gives 45 minutes of rambling and confusing testimony, Senator Estes Kefauver laughs when Mickey Mantle's answers his inquiry about the topic with, "My views are just about the same as Casey's."
1959 - The Red Sox club the Yankees by a score of 14-6 before 30,253 fans; the largest crowd at Fenway Park, so far this 1959 AL season. Red Sox starter Frank Sullivan is the winner. Red Sox sluggers Vic Wertz, Ted Williams, and Bobby Avila club HRs. Williams and Avila, both drive in 6 runs in the game.
1960 - Yankees starter Jim Coates suffers his 1st loss after 9 straight wins, and 14 straight wins over 2 seasons, as the Red Sox beat the Yankees by a score of 6-5. The Red Sox are led by veteran 1B Vic Wertz, who slugs a HR, double and single to drive in 4 runs. Jim Coates' MLB career record is now 17-2.
1972 - The Twins lose to the Yankees, by a score of 9-6, despite Rich Reese's pinch-hit grand slam HR. For Reese, it is his 3rd pinch grand slam, tying Ron Northey's MLB record. Yankees starter Steve Kline picks up his 8th victory with relief help from Yankees closer Sparky Lyle, who gets his 19th save of the 1972 AL season.
1985 - Yankees starter Ron Guidry works 8 2/3 innings to win his 10th straight start, beating the Kansas City Royals by a score of 6-4. Guidry allows only 9 hits and strikes out 1 Royals batter.
1986 - The San Diego Padres traded P Tim Stoddard to the Yankees for P Ed Whitson, who had become the target of such fan abuse in New York City, that Yankees Manager Lou Piniella could no longer pitch him at Yankee Stadium.
1999 - The uniform Lou Gehrig wore when he made his famous "luckiest man on earth" speech on July 4, 1939 is sold for $451,541 at auction. Leland's spokesman Marty Appel says the flannel pinstripe uniform worn by the Hall of Fame 1B was purchased by a south Florida man who did not want his name made public. The winning bid was made over the telephone.
2000 - The Yankees lose to the Mets starter Mike Hampton, by the score of 2-0. Benitez closes for the Mets, while Yankee starter Andy Pettitte is the loser. The Yankees also lose regular LF Shane Spencer, who blows out his knee and ends his 2000 AL season. The game at Shea Stadium draws 54,283 fans, the largest regular season crowd for the Mets since the 1970 NL season. Newly acquired Dave Justice from the Indians will take over the regular LF position for the Yankees.
July 10th
1908 - The Boston Red Sox purchased 1B Jake Stahl from the Highlanders.
1916 - The New York Yankees sign free agent shortstop Rube Oldring (1905, 1916) again.
Rube appeared in 43 games with the Yankees in 1916, hitting just .234.
1917 - Thanks to Ray Caldwell's 9-2/3 innings of no-hit relief, the Yankees beat the Browns in St. Louis, by a score of 7-5 in a 17- inning game.
1934 - The 2nd annual All-Star Game produces Carl Hubbell's amazing feat of striking out 5 future HOF players in a row. Off to a shaky start with 2 men on base in the 1st inning, Hubbell uses his screwball to fan AL sluggers Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, and Jimmy Foxx. He adds Al Simmons and Joe Cronin to start the second inning. After 3 scoreless innings, he leaves with the NL, ahead by a score of 4-0. The AL batting lineup rallies, scoring 9 runs off of NL pitchers Warneke, Mungo, and Dean, while Mel Harder pitches 5 shutout innings in relief of Yankees starter Red Ruffing to hold the lead. Frankie Frisch and Joe Medwick hit HRs for the NL squad. The Indian’s Earl Averill's 3-RBI’s are decisive for the AL squad’s 9-7 victory.
1936 - The Yankees roll to an easy victory over the Cleveland Indians, as Red Ruffing takes the shutout, winning by a score of 18-0. Lloyd Brown, the 1st of 3 Indians pitchers, is the loser. Yankees 1B Lou Gehrig has a pair of HRs to take over the 1936 AL HR lead with 23.
1956 - In the All-Star Game, Ken Boyer of the Cardinals makes 3 sparkling plays at 3B and gets 3 hits as the NL defeats the AL by a score of 7-3. All Stars Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Ted Williams, and Stan Musial hit HRs in the game. Willie Mays's pinch-hit 2-run HR off of Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Yankees lefty.
1965 - Former Yankee reliever Buddy Groom (2005) was born. On February 9, 2005, Buddy was signed as a MLB free agent with the Yankees. He appeared in 24 games, posting a 1-0 mark. On July 31, 2005, Buddy was sent to the Arizona Diamondbacks by the Yankees as part of a conditional deal.
1977 - A 5-0 loss to the Baltimore Orioles drops the Yankees into 2nd place in AL East, ½ game behind the Red Sox. The Yankees would not re-enter 1st place until August 23, 1977 and would soon fall 5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East.
1978 - Former Yankees P Sam Marsonek (2004) was born. On December 13, 1999, Sam was traded by the Texas Rangers along with P Brandon Knight to the Yankees for OF/DH Chad Curtis. Sam appeared in 1 game with the Yankees with no record, before becoming a free agent.
1988 - Former Yankees P Ernie Nevel (1950-1951) passed away. Before the 1946 AL Season, Ernie Nevel was signed by the New York Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent. Nevel was farmed out to theAugusta Tigers of the South Atlantic League where the 27-year-old would go 5-3 with a 4.85 ERA in 36 appearances. This would be the 1st year of 9 seasons that he would spend in the minors. After 4 more years of minor league baseball and tying for the league lead with a 21-win performance in the Texas League with the pennant-winning Beaumont Roughnecks in 1950, Ernie would make it to the Yankees. He got a very short look by the Yankees in late September of 1950, making 3 appearances, losing 1 game and having a 9.95 ERA.
The Kansas City Blues of the American Association would be Ernie's home for the biggest part of the 1951 season; he would go 14-11 with a 3.86 ERA. He would show up again in Yankee Stadium, appearing in 1 game, pitching 4 innings with no decisions and that was it for his 2nd shot at the MLB hitters. It was back to Kansas City in 1952, where he went 7-6 in 22 appearances before being traded to the Reds. Ernie appeared in a total of 4 games with the Yankees, posting a 0-1 record. On August 28,1952, Ernie was traded by the New York Yankees along with minor league players outfielders Jim Greengrass and Bob Marquis, MLB P Johnny Schmitz and $35,000 to the Cincinnati Reds for veteran starterEwell Blackwell.
1997 - Yankees rookie hurler Hideki Irabu strikes out 9 batters and gets the win in his MLB debut as the Yankees defeat the Detroit Tigers by a score of 10-3.
1999 - The Yankees' winning streak of 124 consecutive games when they led entering the 9th ends as Mets pinch-hitter Matt Franco singles off of Yankees closer Mariano Rivera giving the Mets a dramatic come-from-behind Subway Series inter-league 9-8 victory.
2001 - In his final All-Star appearance, Baltimore Orioles 3B Cal Ripken is named the MVP of the game. His HR, along with consecutive HRs from fellow AL teammates Derek Jeter and Magglio Ordonez, power the AL team to its 5th victory in a row beating the NL squad at Seattle's Safeco Field, by a score of 4-1.
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(As always I'd like to thank Fw57Clipper51 for his great contribution.)
Posted byGreg Cohen
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