March 25th

On this day in Yankee history... 



1920:  In a spring training game between the Yankees and the Brooklyn Robins,  a sweeping inside curve thrown by Robins' pitcher Jeff Peffer hits Chick Fewster, striking the Yankees' shortstop behind the ear and flattening him. Fewster revives 10 minutes later but soon loses the ability to speak. Taken to the hospital with a skull fracture and a blood clot on his brain, Fewster will recover slowly and return to play in mid-season. 

1935: The Yankees purchase starting pitcher Pat Malone, who led the NL in wins in 1929 with 22, and in 1930 with 21 (115 in a seven-year span). But Malone will only post a 19-13 record with the Yankees over the next three seasons. 

1955: Lee Mazzilli is born. 

2010:  The Yankees release pitcher Chad Gaudin, who was competing for the team's fifth starter position, and, failing that, was expected to make the staff as a long reliever. Phil Hughes, who shone as a set-up man in 2009. is announced as the winner of the fifth starter competition, while Joba Chamberlain returns to the bullpen. Gaudin will sign a minor league deal with Oakland on March 28th, but will be back in the Bronx before the end of the year. 

2011: The Yankees send pitcher Sergio Mitre to the Brewers in exchange for outfielder Chris Dickerson. Mitre is expected to take the place of the injured Zack Greinke in the Milwaukee rotation when the season begins. Dickerson serves as insurance for the Yanks, who are concerned over a rib injury to starting CF Curtis Granderson, but unfortunately, he will pull a muscle in his first game for his new team. Mitre's departure means that three pitchers are now competing for the last two spots in the Yanks' starting rotation: rookie Ivan Nova and veterans Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia. They also sign veteran hurler Kevin Millwood to a minor league contract as further insurance in case the trio fails to perform up to expectations, but his services will not be required as all three will pitch well.