April 30th

 

On this day in Yankee history... 


1903: The first American League regular season game is played in NYC, as the Highlanders open at home at Hilltop Park against the Washington Senators. The home team take the win 6-2. 

1940: Patrick 'Patsy' Dougherty dies at the age of 63. In 1904, Dougherty became the first player to be traded from the Boston AL franchise (then known as the Americans) to New York.
 

                            https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Patsy_Dougherty





1988: Dave Winfield drives in his 28th and 29th runs of the season in the Yankees' 15-3 rout of the Rangers, tying the major league record for RBI in April. 

                                 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1988/B04300NYA1988.htm  






1997: Tino Martinez, who got off to a painfully slow start with the Yankees last season, finishes April with 34 RBI to set a major league record for the month. 

1999: An estimated 3,000 fans wearing T-shirts that say '$hare the wealth' protest baseball economics at ta Yankees-Royals game at Kauffman Stadium. The protesters turn their backs when the Yankees bat, then walk out during the 4th inning. The Yankees began the season with baseball's top payroll at $85.05 million, and the Royals were 25th at $23.8 million.  

April 29th

 On this day in Yankee history... 


1923: The Yankees sign 20-year-old prospect Lou Gehrig to a contract paying him a salary of $2,000 and a bonus of $1,500. Yankees scout Paul Krichell watched the Columbia University star blast a 450-foot home run against NYU one day earlier. 

1933:  In an unusual play at the plate, Washington Senators catcher Luke Sewell tags out two Yankee runners on the same play. Lou Gehrig had held up, thinking a fly ball would be caught. Dixie Walker closes up on him, and both are tagged out by Sewell while trying to score. 

                 
             http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B04290NYA1933.htm   

April 28th

 

On this day in Yankee history... 


1985: The Yankees  hire Billy Martin as their manager for a fourth time. The fiery Martin, one of George Steinbrenner's favourite skippers, replaces Yogi Berra, who is fired just 16 games into the season. 

 
1989: Rickey Henderson sets a major league record when he leads off a game with a home run for the 36th time in his career, breaking a tie with Bobby Bonds. 

                     

                    http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B04280NYA1989.htm  








2013: The Yankees complete a four-game sweep of Toronto with a 3-2 win at home. All four wins are come-from-behind, today's being highlighted by a two-run homer by Lyle Overbay in the 7th. Jays ace R.A. Dickey, still complaining of a stiff neck and back, falls to 2-4 on the year and will undergo an MRI to find the source of the persisting discomfort. 

                        http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B04280NYA2013.htm 




2017: Trailing 9-1 against the Orioles in the 6th, the Yankees mount a tremendous comeback to pull off a 14-11 win. Matt Holliday ends the game with a three-run walk-off homer off Jayson Aquino in the 10th, the eighth long ball of the game. The Yankees had tied the score in the 9th on Starlin Castro's two-run blast off Brad Brach. Each team hits a grand slam, Mark Trumbo delivering one for the O's, and Jacoby Ellsbury doing the honours for the Yanks. For his part, Aaron Judge goes deep twice for New York, while Manny Machado and Welington Castillo reply for Baltimore. The two teams are now tied for the lead in the AL East at 14-7. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2017/B04280NYA2017.htm

 

April 27th

 On this day in Yankee history... 


1947: Babe Ruth  Day at Yankee Stadium draws a crowd of more than 58,000 to honor the ailing star. In the game, Sid Hudson of the Washington Senators beats Spud Chandler and the Yankees 1-0. 

 

   

                                 http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1947/B04260NYA1947.htm 

April 26th

 On this day in Yankee history... 


1931: At Griffith Stadium, a walk to Lyn Lary is followed by a Lou Gehrig home run, a smash which clears the fence, but bounces back into the hands of Senators center fielder Harry Rice.  Baserunner Lary thinks the ball has been caught on the fly for the third out and returns to the dugout without crossing home plate; Gehrig, running with his head down, is ruled out for passing a runner in front of him, costing the Yankees a possible victory (they lose by two runs), the 1931 home run crown (he ties Babe Ruth with 46) and two RBI to add to his record-setting 184 for the season. 

                              http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1931/B04260WS11931.htm 





1955: Bob Turley pitches a one-hit shutout and strikes out 10 to lead the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the White Sox. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B04260CHA1955.htm 







1961: At Tiger Stadium, Roger Maris hits his first home run of the season, off Paul Foytack, and Mickey Mantle adds homers from both sides of the plate for the eighth time in his career as the Yankees defeat the Tigers 13-10. 

 

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B04260DET1961.htm

1992: Aaron Judge is born. 

2005:  At Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez slugs his way to the best performance of his career, hitting three home runs in his first three at-bats off Angels pitcher Bartolo Colón.
The Yankees win 12-4 as A-Rod becomes only the 11th player in major league history to collect 10 or more RBI in a game. He is one RBI shy of the AL record of 11 set in 1936 by Hall of Famer and former Yankee Tony Lazzeri, and two short of the major league mark of 12 shared by Jim Bottomley (1924) and Mark Whiten, both of the Cardinals (1993). 

                               http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/B04260NYA2005.htm 

 

2013:  The injury-plagued Yankees lose two more players, but continue to win. First, catcher Francisco Cervelli breaks his right hand when hit by a foul tip off the bat of Rajai Davis on the fifth pitch of the game, then starter Ivan Nova has to leave after two innings with pain in his elbow. David Phelps  steps in ably, giving one run in 4 innings and striking out 9, as the Yanks defeat the Blue Jays 6-4. Cervelli's replacement Chris Stewart pitches in by throwing out a pair of baserunners. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B04260NYA2013.htm

April 25th

 On this day in Yankee history... 


1883: Russ Ford is born. Ford won 83 games for the Highlanders/Yankees between 1910 and 1913 before jumping to the Federal League. 

 

                                       https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Russ_Ford



1933: Yankees rookie Russ van Atta (below) makes a successful major league debut when he pitches a five-hit shoutout against the Washington Senators and helps his own cause by going 4 for 4 at the plate, all singles. Earle Combs adds five hits as the Yankees romp 16-0. 

 

                             http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1933/B04250WS11933.htm   








1967: Whitey Ford wins his final major league game. His 236th victory comes against the White Sox, an 11-2 decision at the Stadium. Ford will enter the Hall of Fame in 1974. 

                       http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1967/B04250NYA1967.htm 





1982: Just 14 games into the season, George Steinbrenner fires manager Bob Lemon and replaces him with Gene Michael, the man Lemon had replaced the previous September. Michael won't finish the season either. 

April 24th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1917: George Mogridge pitches the first ever Yankee no-hitter, a 2-1 win over the Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mogridge strikes out three and walks three en route to the milestone. 

 

                               http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1917/B04240BOS1917.htm   





1923:  U.S. President Warren G. Harding is present for the first shutout ever thrown at Yankee Stadium. Sad Sam Jones goes the distance on the mound, and Babe Ruth hits a home run to pace the 4-0 Yankee win over the Washington Senators. 

                              http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1923/B04240NYA1923.htm  






2014: Michel Pineda is handed a ten-game suspension after being caught using pine tar on the mound in the previous day's game. The sentence is longer than previous ones, as there had already been controversy over his alleged use of the substance earlier this season. Pineda acknowledges his infraction and states that he will not appeal the suspension. 

 

2015: The Yankees snap the Mets' franchise record-tying 11-game winning streak with a 6-1 win. Jacob deGrom allows three homers, two by Mark Teixeira and the other by Jacobuy Ellsbury, to be tagged with the loss. Michael Pineda is the winner. 

                         http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2015/B04240NYA2015.htm

April 23rd

 On this day in Yankee history... 

 
1903: Behind the pitching of Harry Howell, the New York Highlanders win their first major league game, defeating the Washington Senators 7-2. 

 

1975: At Fenway Park, Roy White once again homers from both sides of the plate, but the Yankees lose to the Red Sox 11-7. White last switch-hit home runs on August 13, 1973. 

                      http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1975/B04230BOS1975.htm  



 


2011: The homer-happy Yankees are at it again, connecting five times in a 15-3 win over the Orioles. Russell Martin goes deep twice and is joined by Jorge Posada, Brett Gardner and Alex Rodriguez, who hits a grand slam. It is the 22nd slam of A-Rod's career, moving him past the provisionally retired Manny Ramirez and into second place on the all-time list, one behind Lou Gehrig. CC Sabathia picks up his first win of the year, while Brad Bergesen is the loser. 

                       http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B04230BAL2011.htm

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April 22nd

 On this day in Yankee history... 

 
1903: At American League Park in Washington, D.C., the New York Highlanders play their first game, a 3-1 loss to the Washington Senators before 11,850 fans. Washington elect to bat first, but the visitors score in the bottom of the opening inning to take a 1-0 lead. Each starter gives up six hits with Jack Chesbro, the NL's top winner last year (28-6) taking the loss. Al Orth, in his second season with Washington, is the winner. 

 

1915: In their home opener against the Washington Senators at the Polo Grounds, the Yankees wear pinstripes for the first time. The first win in the new uniform will have to wait for another day, however, as the home side go down 5-1, starter Marty McHale getting the loss. 

                           http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1915/B04220NYA1915.htm  




 


1923: The first ever Sunday game at Yankee Stadium draws a crowd estimated at 60,000, but the home team suffer their first loss of the year, as they are edged 4-3 by the Washington Senators. 

                        http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1923/B04220NYA1923.htm  



 

1956: Yankee starter Don Larsen connects for a grand slam off Frank Sullivan as the Red Sox, pacing the home side to a 13-6 win at Yankee Stadium.  

                           http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1956/B04220NYA1956.htm  



 

1959: At Griffith Stadium, Whitey Ford pitches a 14-inning, 1-0 shutout against the Washington Senators, giving up 8 hits while striking out 15. The Yankees go ahead in the first half of the 14th on a Moose Skowron solo home run ~ it is the longest contest in major league history ending 1-0 on a homer. 

                             http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B04220WS11959.htm



 
1967: Fritz Maisel dies at the age of 77. 

                                   https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Fritz_Maisel




 
1993: Murderers' Row shortstop Mark Koenig dies at the age of  88. 

                            https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/k/koenima01.shtml





1997: After four months of on-and-off negotiations, the Yankees acquire the rights to Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu from the Padres $3 million. Irabu's team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, gave the Padres exclusive rights to the 27-year-old righthander, but Irabu refused to sign with them, saying he would only go to the Yankees. 

 

2007: Yankee rookie Chase Wright becomes the first major league pitcher since 1963 to surrender home runs to four consecutive batters, en route to another dubious distinction, the team's first sweep at the hands of the Red Sox in Boston in 17 years. Wright will be spared the loss, however, which falls to Scott Proctor in the 7-6 defeat. 

                     http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B04220BOS2007.htm 




 

2010: The Yankees turn their first triple play since 1968, but still lose to the A's 4-2, snapping a six-game winning streak. 

                         http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B04220OAK2010.htm  

April 21st

 On this day in Yankee history... 

 
1887: Joe McCarthy is born. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_McCarthy_(manager)

1912: The New York Highlanders and the New York Giants play an exhibition game to benefit the survivors of the RMS Titanic. The Giants win 11-2. 

 


2009: Andy Pettitte  picks up the win and Mariano Rivera gets the save as New York defeat Oakland 5-3 in the first night game played at the new Yankee Stadium. It is the 57th time that Rivera has saved a Pettitte win, tying the A's duo of Bob Welch and Dennis Eckersley of the late 1980s and early '90s for the highest total in major league history. 

                        http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B04210NYA2009.htm

April 20th

 On this day in Yankee history... 


1912: The New York Highlanders are the visitors in the first game ever played at Fenway Park. Red Sox star (and future Hall of Famer) Tris Speaker delivers the walkoff base hit in the 11th inning of the 7-6 Boston win. 

                    http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1912/B04200BOS1912.htm 





1932: The Yankees draw the largest paid attendance, 55,452, for any Yankee Stadium opener. Babe Ruth homers as Lefty Gomez bests Lefty Grove in the 8-3 win over the Philadelphia A's. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1932/B04200NYA1932.htm  





 1939: The Red Sox show off their prize rookie Ted Williams in front of 30,278 on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, delayed two days because of rain. After striking out twice, Williams collects a double off Yankees starter Red Ruffing, will get the win in the 2-0 result. Lou Gehrig makes an error, goes hitless, and lines into two double plays in the only game featuring the two great sluggers. Other notables in what will become an historic box score include Joe DiMaggio, Bill Dickey, Jimmie Foxx, Joe Cronin, Bobby Doerr, Red Rolfe, and losing pitcher Lefty Grove. New York score their first run on a home run by Dickey and their second tally on an error by Foxx. Boston has baserunners in each inning, but Ruffing tosses just the second opening day shutout in Yankee history. Four umpires work the game including third base ump George Pipgras, the starting pitcher for the Yankees in the 1929 opener against Boston. Curiously, his opponent for that day was Ruffing. 

                http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1939/B04200NYA1939.htm  





1961: Don Mattingly is born. 

 
                          https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Don_Mattingly       






1990: Kyle Higashioka is born. 

                      
                          https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/higasky01.shtml