August 18th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1906: During a 10-0 loss to the White Sox, Wee Willie Keeler strikes out for only the second time this year, both times by Chicago spitballer Ed Walsh. 

1931: Lou Gehrig plays in his 1000th consecutive game, but the Yankees go down to Detroit 5-4 in 11 innings. 

                 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B08180DET1931.htm   







1940: Jimmy Powers, sports editor of the Sunday New York Daily News, causes a flap when he suggests that the Yankees'  poor play this season can be attributed to 'a mass polio epidemic' contracted from Lou Gehrig.  The former Yankee first baseman and his roommate Bill Dickey file suit; the newspaper will retract the story on September 26th and apologize. 

1950: A's lefty Lou Brissie gives up just one Yankee hit in the last five innings, but it's a critical one. With the score tied at 2 in the top of the ninth, Joe DiMaggio bangs his 22nd home run of the year to give the third place New Yorkers a 3-2 win and hand the Connie Mack's boys their sixth straight loss. 

                     https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1950/B08180PHA1950.htm    








1976: Roy White homers from each side of the plate as the Yankees beat Texas 8-6. 

                             https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1976/B08180NYA1976.htm   








1983: In the continuation of the 'Pine Tar Game', Hal McRae strikes out for the last Kansas City out and Dan Quisenberry retires the Yankee in order in the bottom of the 9th to preserve the Royals' 5-4 victory. The conclusion takes just 12 minutes (and 16 pitches) and, as the only game scheduled at the Stadium, is witnessed by a crowd of 1,245. Billy Martin puts a final twist on things by starting lefty Don Mattingly at 2B, and Ron Guidry in CF. 

1989: Dallas Green is fired as manager of the Yankees and replaced by former SS Bucky Dent. It is the 17th time the Yankees have changed managers since George Steinbrenner bought the club in 1973. The 1978 postseason hero loses his managerial debut to the Tigers in Detroit, 7-3. 

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B08180DET1989.htm    







1995: Phil Rizzuto announces his retirement as a Yankee broadcaster after 39 years at the microphone, reportedly because WPIX-TV refused to allow him to miss a game to attend former teammate Mickey Mantle's funeral. Rizzuto eventually will return for the 1996 season. 

2007: In a first in Major League history, a player hits a home run off a pitcher who won a Cy Young Award  before the hitter was born. Roger Clemens is the hurler, Cameron Maybin of the Tigers the young slugger.The Yankees still get the win, 5-2. 

               

                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B08180NYA2007.htm