1896 - Former HOF Yankees Manager Bucky Harris (1947-1948) was born (1896-1977). Bucky won the 1947 AL pennant and World Series, while managing the Yankees. Bucky was a 2nd baseman in the AL during the 1920-1930’s. He won AL pennants with the Washington Senators in 1924-1925 as a player-manager, earning him the nickname of “Boy Wonder.” After the 1948 AL season, finishing in 3rd place in the AL, veteran NL Manager Casey Stengel was named by Yankees management to replace him.
1942 - Former Yankees OF William “Birdie” Cree (1908-1915) passed away. (1882-1942) Birdie hit .292 in 8 seasons with the Yankees. His best Yankee season was in 1911, when he hit .348 in 137 games. In 1912, he injured his leg, only appearing in 50 games, never regaining his playing form of the 1911 AL season. He was sold to the Baltimore Orioles (IL) after a mediocre 1913 AL season with the Yankees. However, on July 6, 1914 the Yankees sent OF Bill Holden and cash to the Orioles to get him back. He retired from MLB after 1915 AL season, going into the banking industry.
1951 - The Yankees AL All Star C Yogi Berra wins the 1st of his 3 AL MVP awards. He hit .294 with 27 HRs, 88 RBI’s in 141 games for the 1951 World Champion Yankees. During the 1951 AL season, Yogi caught Yankees starter Allie Reynolds two no-hitters against the Indians and Red Sox.
1961 - With only one Cy Young Award given for the 2 MLB leagues, Whitey Ford, the AL leader in wins (25) and innings pitched (283), won the honor ahead of the Braves Warren Spahn, who led the NL in wins (21) and ERA (3.02). In one of the closest votes in MVP Award history, future HOF’s Whitey Ford and Warren Spahn totaled 9 and 6 points respectively.
1977 - Former Yankees HOF Manager, MLB Scout, General Manager and MLB player Bucky Harris dies on his 81st birthday. Harris had won 2 World Championships (1924 and 1947) and 3 AL pennants over a 29-year MLB manager career, which included managing the Senators, Tigers, Red Sox, Phillies and the Yankees. He won AL pennants with the Senators in 1924-1925 and with the Yankees in 1947. He was the General Manager of the Red Sox in 1959-1960. He would later become a MLB scout for the White Sox. Bucky Harris was elected to Baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1975.
1979 - The Yankees sign veteran free agents 1B/DH Bob Watson and P Rudy May to long-term contracts. The two MLB veterans will help the Yankees to an AL leading 103 victories in the 1980 AL season.
1990 - Former Yankees reserve 1B and MLB Coach Clifford “Earl of Snohomish” Torgeson (1961) passed away (1924-1990). On June 17, 1961, Earl was signed as a free agent with the Yankees, after being released by the White Sox. He appeared in only 22 games, just hitting .111, before being released by the Yankees as a player, finishing the 1961 AL season as an MLB 1B coach for the Yankees.
2005 - The Yankees let All Star 1B Tino Martinez leave the team, declining their $3 million option on the popular 1st baseman. Tino Martinez will return to Yankees in 2005. He will hit .241 in part-time duty with the Yankees, hitting 17 HRs with 49 RBI’s. He was a staple in the starting Yankees' lineup from 1996-2001, helping the team to win 4 World Series Championships and 5 AL pennants with his clutch hitting and reliable defense at 1B.
1889 - Former Yankees P Tommy Thompson (1912) was born. Tommy went 0-2 in 7 games for the Yankees in 1912.
1897 - Former Yankees reserve OF Harvey “Gink” Hendrick (1923-1924) was born. On January 3, 1923, Harvey was traded by the Red Sox along with P George Pipgras to the Yankees for C Al DeVormer and cash. Harvey hit .282 in 77 games for the Yankees as a reserve OF. He appeared in 1 game of the 1923 World Series for the Yankees. He would play in MLB for 11 seasons (1923-1934) hitting .308 for 7 teams: Yankees, Indians, Dodgers, Reds, Cardinals, White sox and Phillies. On October 29, 1941, Harvey committed suicide at the age of 43.
1912 - Veteran 1B Frank Chance is sold by the Cubs to the Reds. When all NL clubs waived claims to him in December, the Reds freed Frank Chance to manage the Yankees. Frank Chance will manage the Yankees in 1913-1914, going 118-170, before he is fired.
1919 - Former Yankees INF Jerry Priddy (1941-42) was born. (1919-1980)Before the 1937 AL season, the Yankees signed Jerry as an MLB amateur free agent. He appeared in 115 games for the Yankees, hitting .248. He appeared in 3 games of the 1942 World Series against the Cardinals. Jerry was unable to unseat All Star Joe “Flash” Gordon as the Yankees starting 2B. On January 29, 1943, Jerry was traded by the Yankees along with P Milo Candini to the Senators for P Bill Zuber and cash.
1931 - Former Yankees minor league OF, MLB player/Manager Whitey Herzog was born. Before the 1949 AL Season, the Yankees signed Whitey as an MLB amateur free agent. He spent the 1953-1954 seasons in the Army. Unable to crack the Yankees MLB starting outfield, Whitey never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 2, 1956, Whitey was sent by the Yankees to the Senators to complete, an earlier deal made on February 8,1956. The Yankees sent a player to be named later, C Lou Berberet, P Bob Wiesler, 2B Herb Plews, and OF Richard Tettelbach to the Senators for P Mickey McDermott and INF Bobby Kline. The Yankees would send OF Whitey Herzog on April 2, 1956 to the Senators to completing the trade. After his 8-year MLB playing career was over, Whitey went into front office work with the Mets, later he would become a very successful MLB manager for 19 seasons.
1953 - Reaffirming its earlier position, the U.S. Supreme Court rules by a vote of 7-2, that MLB baseball is a sport and not a business and therefore not subject to federal government antitrust laws. The ruling is made in a case involving Yankees minor league player George Toolson, who refused to move from the Newark Bears Triple-A team to a Yankees Double-A team.
1953 - Former Yankees P Dave Wehrmiester (1981) was born. On June 15, 1979, Don was traded by the Padres to the Yankees for OF Jay Johnstone. On December 8, 1980, Don was drafted by the Royals from the Yankees in the 1980 MLB Rule 5 player draft. On April 3, 1981, Don was returned (earlier draft pick) by the Royals to the Yankees. Don would appear in only 5 games for the 1981 Yankees, posting no record. On June 17, 1983, Don was traded by the Yankees to the Phillies for 2 minor league players: Jim Rasmussen and Kelly Faulk.
1962 - Former Yankees reserve OF/DH Dion James (1992-1996) was born. Dion’s best season for the Yankees was in 1993, when he hit .332.
1964 - Former Yankees P Kevin Mmahat (1989) was born. On June 20, 1988, Kevin was purchased by the Yankees from the Rangers. Kevin went 0-2 in 4 games for the Yankees during the 1989 AL season.
1998 - Former Yankees Hall of Fame P Jim "Catfish" Hunter announces that he is suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease. The fatal disease, known medically as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), attacks the nerves in the spinal cord and the brain and leads to a loss of motor skills. Hunter will succumb to the disease less than a year later.
1895 - Former Yankees INF/OF Wilson “Chick” Fewster (1917-1922). Chick was reserve INF/OF for the Yankees. On July 23, 1922, Chick was traded by the Yankees along with OF Elmer Miller, OF Johnny Mitchell, P Lefty O'Doul, and $50,000 to the Red Sox for veteran INF Joe Dugan and OF Elmer Smith. Chick was the 1st MLB player to have an MLB official at bat in April 1923 opener at new Yankee Stadium.
1926 - Former Yankees minor league OF Carmen Mauro was born. On December 16,1953, Carmen was traded by the A’s along with INF Loren Babe, P Harry Byrd, OF Tom Hamilton and 1B Eddie Robinson to the Yankees for 1B Don Bollweg, INF Jim Finigan, P Johnny Gray, 1B Vic Power, OF Bill Renna and C Jim Robertson. Carmen never played for the Yankees at the MLB level.
1948 - The Phillies drafted C Ken Silvestri out of the Yankees organization in the 1948 MLB Rule 5 Player Draft.
1951 - In Tokyo, 50,000 fans are on hand as an American All-Star team battles a Central League All-Star team. Yankees Clipper Joe DiMaggio hits a 400 ft. HR in the 8th inning to tie the game at 1-1, then his brother Dom laces an RBI-triple in the 9th inning and later scores to give the Americans, a 3-2 victory. The Americans have won 12 games and tied one on their 1951 Japan baseball tour.
1955 - Former Yankees DH/OF Jack Clark (1988) was born. On January 6, 1988, Jack was signed as a free agent with the Yankees. Jack only hit .242 for the Yankees. On October 24, 1988, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with P Pat Clements to the Padres for P Lance McCullers, P Jimmy Jones, and OF Stanley Jefferson.
1964 - Former Yankees P Kenny “Gambler” Rodgers (1996-1997) was born. Signed as a MLB free agent in December of 1995, Kenny went 18-15 in 61 games, 2 seasons for the Yankees before being traded to the A’s for INF/OF Scott Brosius in November of 1997. His best Yankees season was in 1996, when he posted a 12-8 record in 30 games. He made 2 postseason appearances for the 1996 Yankees with no record. In 1997, he slipped a 6-7 mark in 31 games.
1974 - Former Yankees reserve OF Ben Paschal (1924-1929) died. On September 9, 1924, Ben was purchased by the Yankees from Atlanta Crackers (Southern Association) for $20,000. Ben played in 346 games for the Yankees hitting .309. He appeared in 8 World Series games (1926 and 1928) hitting .214 for the Yankees. On April 12, 1927 the opening game of the 1927 AL season, Ben Paschal became the last player to ever pinch hit for Yankees slugger Babe Ruth. The replacement came in the 6th inning, after Babe Ruth had gone 0 for 3, with 2 strikeouts; Ben Paschal hit a single. Ben’s best season with the Yankees was in 1925, when he hit .360 in 89 games.
1978 - In a major trade, the Yankees send former Cy Young Award winner closer Sparky Lyle along with P Dave Rajsich, P Larry McCall, C Mike Heath and INF Domingo Ramos to the Rangers. In return, the Rangers packed up OF Juan Beniquez, OF Greg Jemison, pitchers Dave Righetti, Paul Mirabella and Mike Griffin to the Yankees. Dave Righetti was considered the top left handed prospect in the minor leagues, will win AL Rookie of the Year honors in 1981. The trade will come to haunt the Yankees during the 1979 AL season, when closer Rich Gossage is injured in a shower fight with teammate Cliff Johnson and the tragic airplane crash death of All Star catcher Munson. Mike Heath was being groomed to be Munson’s replacement behind the plate. Lyle would have replaced Goose as the Yankees closer during the time missed with his pitching hand injury.
1978 - Former Yankees P Jorge DePaula (2003-2005) was born. Jorge went 0-1 in 10 games for Yankees, before having arm injuries that ended his MLB career with the Yankees.
1992 - Former Yankees minor league 1B Chuck “The Rifleman” Connors” passed away. Yankees Super Scout Paul Krichell noted that Chuck was left unprotected by the Dodgers in 1941. He signed him to a minor league contract for the Yankees organization. Chuck replaced Joe Collins at first base with the Norfolk Tars (Piedmont League), Chuck hit .264 and slugged .408. His Tars teammate Bill Wight recalled that Connors often would recite Casey at the Bat, Shakespeare or other poetry. In 1942, Chuck was drafted into the US Army. Chuck related that he would write to Dodgers General Manager Branch Rickey in 1946, asking for the Dodgers to reacquire him. The Yankees waived him on April 23, 1946, the Dodgers claimed their old prospect back. Chuck would appear in 67 games for the Dodgers and Cubs hitting. 238 before shoulder injuries ended his career and he became a full time actor in Hollywood.
November 11th Veteran’s Day
1902 - Former Yankees P Owen Carroll (1930) was born. On May 30, 1930, Owen was traded by the Tigers along with OF Harry Rice and INF Yats Wuestling to the Yankees for veteran starter Waite Hoyt and INF Mark Koenig. Owen went 0-1 in 10 games with the Yankees. On September 13, 1930, Owen was purchased by the Reds from the Yankees.
1943 - The 1943 MLB MVP Award winners for both leagues are named. Yankees P Spud Chandler wins it in the AL, while Cardinals OF Stan Musial wins it in the NL. Yankees starter Spud Chandler went 20-4 in 30 games with 20 complete games with an AL leading ERA of 1.64.
1948 - The Yankees All Star CF Joe DiMaggio undergoes surgery for bone spurs on his right heel. DiMaggio will miss 65 games in the 1949 AL season because of continuing problems with his right heel.
1982 - Former Yankees 3B MLB Coach Joe Altobelli succeeds the retired Earl Weaver as the Orioles manager. Altobelli is the 2nd Yankees MLB coach to take a managing job this month, and will be the Orioles 1st new pilot since 1968, when Earl Weaver replaced former Yankees star Hank Bauer during the 1968 AL season.
1891 - Former Yankees P Carl “Submarine” Mays (1919-1923) was born. During the 1919 AL season Carl and the Red Sox had a dispute, which resulted in him wanting to be traded from the team. On July 29, 1919, Carl was traded by the Red Sox to the Yankees for P Bob McGraw, Shortstop Allen Russell and $40,000. Carl would finish the 1919 AL season with a 9-3 record in 13 games for the Yankees. Carl Mays was the Yankee pitcher, who hit Indians batter Ray Chapman with a pitch, which later resulted in his death during the 1920 AL season game. Carl’s best Yankee seasons were, when he went 26-11 in 1920 and 27-9 in 1921. As a Yankees starter, he had 79-39 career record for the team from 1919-1923. He never got along with Yankees Manager Miller Huggins, there several incidents, which included a fistfight on the sidewalks of New York City. He did appear in 2 World Series for the Yankees posting a 1-3 mark against the Giants. His 1924 trade to the Reds was considered to be one of the worst in early Yankees team history. After being sold to the Reds for $85,000 in 1924, he went 20-9 for the Reds. After he joined the Reds, Carl posted a 56-36 mark in the NL. Carl would finish his MLB career with a 207-126 record with a 2.92 ERA, pitching for the Red Sox, Yankees, and Reds and finishing up with the Giants in 1929.
1926 - Former Yankees P Don Johnson (1947, 1950) was born. Before the 1944 AL Season, the Yankees signed Don Johnson as an MLB amateur free agent. Don posted a 5-3 record in 23 games for the Yankees. On June 15,1950, Don was traded by the Yankees along with OF Jim Delsing, P Duane Pillette, INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the Browns for P Tom Ferrick, P Joe Ostrowski, and 3B Leo Thomas.
1958 - Yankees starter Bob Turley, who had 21 wins with 19 complete games during the 1958 AL regular season, is named the 1958 Cy Young Award winner. With only 1 award given for the 2 major leagues, Bob Turley gathers 5 votes to 4 for last year's winner, the Braves veteran starter Warren Spahn.
1961- Former Yankees minor leaguer INF Greg Gagne was born. On June 5, 1979, Greg was drafted by the Yankees in the 5th round of the 1979 MLB amateur player draft. Greg never played for the Yankees at the MLB Level. On April 10, 1982, Greg was traded by the Yankees along with P Paul Boris and P Ron Davis to the Twins for Shortstop Roy Smalley. Yankees Owner George Steinbrenner wanted Smalley because the Orioles had Ripken who was a HR hitting shortstop. The trading away of Ron Davis breaks up the Yankees bullpen duo of Rich Gossage and Ron Davis, who were the best 1-2 closer-holder combo in AL. The Yankees would have been better off not making this trade.
1965 - The Yankees obtained INF Ruben Amaro Sr. from the Phillies for INF Phil Linz. Amaro never hit more than .233 in a Yankees uniform. Although his infamous collision with Yankees star OF Tom Tresh, while chasing a pop fly may have accounted for his failure to live up to the Yankees expectations. The incident left Tom Tresh with 2 bad knees, robbing him of a promising MLB career. Ruben struggled with the bat, making the trade look even worst. The Yankees should have held on to Phil Linz, making him a OF, moving Tom Tresh back to shortstop. Ruben would be sold to the Angels for cash in November of 1968.
1972 - Former Yankees reserve INF Homer Bush (1997-1998, 2004) was born. On April 22, 1997, Homer was traded by the Padres along with players to be named later and minor league player Gordon Amerson to the Yankees for Rafael Medina, OF Ruben Rivera, and $3. The Padres sent P Hideki Irabu on May 29, 1997 and Vernon Maxwell (minors) on June 9,1997 to the Yankees to complete the trade. He appeared in 55 games for the Yankees hitting .372 during the 1997-1998 AL seasons. On February 18, 1999, Homer was traded by the Yankees along with P Graeme Lloyd and P David Wells to the Blue Jays for starter Roger Clemens. In 2004, he played in 9 games for the Yankees before retiring from MLB. He really never fully recovered from his previous leg and hip injuries.
1978 - Former Yankees Minor League Manager Ralph “Buzz” Boyle (1941-1942) passed away. Buzz Boyle hit .316 on the great 1939 Kansas City Blues minor league team which won 107 games, and which featured Vince DiMaggio, Jerry Priddy, Phil Rizzuto, Sandy Vance, Tommy Holmes, and others. He managed two Yankees farm teams: the Akron Yankees in 1941 and the Norfolk Tars in 1942. He had played in the MLB with the Braves and Dodgers from 1929-1934.
1978 - Former Yankees P George Shears (1912) passed away. George appeared in 4 games with no record for the 1912 Yankees.
1992 - Arbitrator George Nicolau overturns the suspension of Yankees hurler Steve Howe for being too severe. The Yankees resign veteran reliever Steve Howe.
1993 - Yankees HOF AL All Star Catcher, MLB Coach and Manager Bill Dickey (1928-1946) passed away (1907-1993). Bill was the 1st the great Yankee catchers. Bill was a tough as nails player. He had a lifetime BA of .313 for the Yankees. He hit .300 or better 10 times during his 13 years as a MLB player. His best Yankees season was in 1936, when he hit .362. Bill topped the 100 RBI’s mark for 4 seasons (1936-1939). He was AL All Star catcher in 1933-1943 and 1946. During WWII (1944-1946), he served in the US Navy. He led the AL in fielding as a catcher in 1931, 1935, 1937, 1939 and 1941. During the 1946 AL season, Bill managed the Yankees to a 57-48 record after long time Yankee Manager Joe McCarthy had resigned. He served as a MLB coach for Yankees Managers Bucky Harris and Casey Stengel (1949-1957 and 1960). Bill was elected to the HOF in 1954. HOF catcher Yogi Berra credits Bill with teaching him the fundamentals of catching. He also taught Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard in the 1950’s as well. Later he would come to the Yankees spring training camp as a special advisor and work with the team’s organizational catchers.
1996 - Blue Jays starter Pat Hentgen edges Andy Pettitte of the Yankees for the 1996 Cy Young Award in the closest AL voting since the 1972 voting, when Gaylord Perry topped Wilbur Wood by 6 points. Hentgen with a 20-10 mark, the MLB leader in complete games, outpoints Andy Pettitte (21-8) by the narrow margin of 110-104. Yankees closer Mariano Rivera finishes 3rd in the ballot and receives one 1st-place vote.
2007 - The Yankees re-signed AL All Star C Jorge Posada to a $52.4 million contract for 4 years. This contract makes Jorge Posada the highest-paid catcher in MLB history, edging out Mike Piazza’s $13 million average from 1999-2005 with the Mets.
1882 - Former Yankees INF Ezra “Salt Rock” Midkiff (1912-1913) was born. Ezra hit .207 in 104 games for the Yankees.
1884 - Former Yankees OF Pete Daley (1914-1915) was born. On June 13, 1914, Pete was traded by the A’s to the Yankees for OF/INF Jimmy Walsh. Pete hit .250 in 79 games for the Yankees.
1925 - Former Yankees OF Jim Delsing (1949-1951) was born. On December 14, 1948, Jim was traded by the White Sox to the Yankees for OF Steve Souchock. He appeared in 21 games with the Yankees as a reserve outfielder. On June 15,1950, Jim was traded by the Yankees along with P Don Johnson, P Duane Pillette, INF George “Snuffy” Stirnweiss, and $50,000 to the Browns for P Tom Ferrick, P Joe Ostrowski, and 3B Leo Thomas.
1931 - Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert buys the Newark Bears International League franchise. The Newark Bears will be very successful and will send many players to the Yankees. The 1938-1939 Bears were considered to the best Yankee farm teams in the team’s minor league system history and in minor league baseball history as well. In 1950, the Yankees sell the team to the Cubs, who move to the team to Springfield, MA.
1934 - The Yankees sell P Dan MacFayden to the Reds on a conditional basis, the purchase price to be finalized if the Reds decide to keep him. (They did not)
1941 - Former Yankees All Star P (1964-1974) and long time MLB Pitching Coach Mel Stottlemyre Sr. was born. Before the 1961 AL Season, the Yankees signed Mel, as an MLB amateur free agent. Mel was called up from Richmond (AAA) during the 1964 AL season. He went 9-3 to help the Yankees win the 1964 AL flag. He went 1-1 in 3 games in the 1964 World Series against the Cardinals. Mel was a 20-game winner 3-times during his Yankees career. He finished with a 164-139 mark in 360 games with 40 shutouts and a career ERA of 2.97. Mel was a member of the AL All Star teams in 1965-1966 and 1968-1970. On March 29, 1975, he was unable to recover from his arm injury from 1974 AL season; Mel was released by the Yankees. Mel had 2 sons, Mel Jr. and Todd, who pitch in the MLB.
1968 - The Yankees sell veteran INF John Kennedy to the new AL expansion team Seattle Pilots for cash. John had hit .196 in 78 games for the Yankees after being obtained from the Dodgers in April 1967 for OF John Miller, P Jack Cullen and temporary transfer of INF/OF Roy White to Dodgers AAA team in PCL. Roy White would return to the Yankees. The Yankees had hope that he could learn to become a 2B from the Dodgers organization, but it didn’t work out. Roy was switched to the OF.
1978 - The Yankees signed free agent P Luis Tiant to a 2-year $875,000 contract. Tiant, formerly of the Red Sox, becomes the 1st free agent to sign with a new club following the 1978 re-entry draft. Luis Tiant would go 21-17 in 55 games for the Yankees (1979-1980).
1997 - Former Yankees minor league C Moe Thacker passed away. Moe Thacker was another of the many players who began their careers in the Yankees minor league organization, who reached the MLB with a different team. In 1952, Moe was signed as an amateur MLB free agent by the Yankees. The young catcher would make it as high as the American Association with the Denver Bears in 1956 and the New Orleans Pelicans of the Southern Association in 1957, where he hit .240 while catching 136 games. All that got him was being traded to the Cubs before the start of the 1958 AL season. Moe played for the Cubs and Cardinals (1958, 1960-1963) appearing in 158 games, hitting just .177.
1998 - The ball thrown by Red Sox P Howard Ehmke and hit by Babe Ruth for 1st HR in Yankee Stadium history is sold at an auction for $126,500 (110,000 bid + 15% commission). Mark Scala found the 1923 historic HR ball ago in the attic of his grandmother's home several years ago.
2008 - The Yankees look to upgrade their offense by trading for OF1B/DH Nick Swisher. They also pick up Kaneoka Texeira in the deal with the White Sox while giving up prospect P Jeff Marquez, INF Wilson Betemit and P Jhonny Nunez.
November 14th
1876 - Former Yankees INF/P Harry “Handsome Harry” Howell (1903) was born. Harry went 9-6 in 25 games for the Yankees in 1903. On March 6, 1904, Harry was traded by the Yankees along with cash to the Browns for P Jack Powell.
1885 - Former Yankees OF Jack Lelivelt (1912-1913) was born. Jack hit .288 in 77 games for the Yankees. On May 25, 1913, Jack was traded by the Yankees along with INF Bill Stumpf to the Cleveland Naps (Indians) for shortstop Roger Peckinpaugh.
1938 - Former Yankees C Les Nunamaker (1914-1917) passed away. On May 13, 1914, Les was purchased by the Yankees from the Red Sox. Les appeared in 369 games with the Yankees, hitting .262. On January 22,1918, Les was traded by the Yankees along with P Nick Cullop, INF Joe Gedeon, INF Fritz Maisel, P Urban Shocker and $15,000 to the Browns for P Eddie Plank and 2B Del Pratt.
1973 - Former Yankees OF Ruben Rivera (1995-1996) was born. In 1990, Ruben was signed by the Yankees as an MLB amateur free agent He was the cousin of Yankees Closer Mario Rivera. Ruben appeared in 54 games for the Yankees hitting .284. On April 22, 1997, Ruben was traded by the Yankees along with Rafael Medina and $3 to the Padres for players to be named later, Homer Bush, and minor league player Gordon Amerson. The Padres would send P Hideki Irabu on May 29, 1997 and minor league player Vernon Maxwell on June 9, 1997 to the Yankees to complete the trade. Ruben was trying to make a comeback with the Yankees during the Spring Training camp of 2002, when he was involved in an incident taking Derek Jeter’s glove from the Yankees clubhouse in Tampa. The Yankees gave him his unconditional release.
1978 - Current Yankees OF/1B/DH Xavier Nady (2008-2009) was born. On July 26, 2008, Nady was traded by the Pirates along with P Damaso Marte to the Yankees for minor league players P Daniel McCutchen and OF Jose Tabata, MLB hurlers Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf. After just playing 7 games of the 2009 AL season, Nady went down with a season ending injury. He was hitting .286. His overall Yankees batting record is .270 BA in 66 games with 12 HRs with 42 RBI’s.
2004 - Former Yankees reserve C Jesse Gonder (1960-1961) passed away (1936-2004). He was originally signed by the Reds in 1955. Before the 1960 MLB Season, Jesse was sent from the Reds to the Yankees in an unknown transaction. Jesse briefly played for the Yankees during the 1960-1961 AL seasons, appearing in 22 games and hitting .309. He was the starting catcher for their 1960 Richmond AAA team. On December 14, 1961, Jesse was traded back to the Reds by the Yankees for veteran reliever Marshall Bridges. After retiring as a MLB player, Jesse wrote a book about the racism that he faced while being a professional baseball player in the 1950-1960’s.
2005 - Yankees AL All Star 3B Alex Rodriguez, whose 48 HRs set a AL record for that position and broke a 68-year-old club mark for right-handed hitters, earned his 2nd AL MVP Award in the closest vote since 2001. Rodriguez edged Red Sox DH David Ortiz, 331-307, in voting by the BBWAA. He received 16 of 28 first place votes while Ortiz earned 11 votes, with 2004 MVP Vladimir Guerrero of the Angels collecting the other to finish 3rd with 196 points. The margin of victory is the smallest since Mariner's Ichiro Suzuki edged the A's Jason Giambi by a vote of 289-281, four years ago.
2006 - Former Yankees minor league player/MLB INF Pete Suder passed away. Before the 1935 AL season. The Yankees signed Pete as an MLB amateur free agent. The 19 yr old got his 1st taste of pro baseball with the Washington Generals of the class D Pennsylvania State Association. Where he played the 3B and fielded at a .947 clip in 98 games, while hitting for a .294 BA. In 1936, Pete would hit .309 with 18 HRs for the Akron Yankees of the class C Middle Atlantic League, while playing the shortstop position at a .951 percentage. In 1937, Pete would play 3B for the Norfolk Tars field at a .962 pace; hit an even .300 with 22 HRs making the Piedmont League All-Star team. The Binghamton Triplets would have Pete Suder on their 1938 roster. He helped them win the Eastern League pennant by hitting .278 with 10 HRs. Pete made the All-Star team at 3B by fielding at a .945 clip in 135 games. He would be with Triplets again for the 1940 EL season at the 3B position, fielded .945 in 138 games, while hitting .301 with 16 HRs. Pete helped the 2nd place Triplets win the EL playoffs, while making the All-Star team. Also Pete was named the 1940 EL MVP. On October 1, 1940 the Yankees would lose him to the A’s in the MLB Rule 5 player draft. Pete would remain with the A’s until he played his last MLB game in 1955.
