April 7th

On this day in Yankee history... 

1873: John McGraw, who was the manager of the 1901  Baltimore Orioles (the franchise which would become the New York Highlanders) before going on to a Hall of Fame career with the New York Giants, is born. 

1969: The Yankees beat the Washington Senators  8-4 as Ted Williams makes his managerial debut for the D.C. homesiders. 

2010: New arrival in center field Curtis Granderson quickly makes his presence felt with the Yankees. Already having homered in his first at-bat for the team on Opening Day, he hits a game-winning long ball off Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon in the 10th inning of today's contest, which started as a pitching duel between Andy Pettitte and John Lackey, giving the Yankees a 3-1 victory. Chan Ho Park redeems his poor opening day performance with three innings of one-hit ball in relief to earn his first win in pinstripes, while Mariano Rivera picks up his second save in as many days. 

                       http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B04070BOS2010.htm  


 


 

April 6th

On this day in Yankee history... 

1973: At Fenway Park, Ron Blomberg becomes the first designated hitter in major league history. In his first plate appearance, Blomberg walks with the bases loaded against Luis Tiant. He will end up with one hit in three at-bats. Meanwhile, Carlton Fisk hits two home runs (one a grand slam) to lead the Red Sox to a 15-5 victory over the Yankees.  

                     http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B04060BOS1973.htm



1974: The Yankees defeat the Indians 6 - 1 at Shea Stadium. This is the Bombers' first game of a two-year period at Shea while Yankee Stadium is being rebuilt. 12-year-old Teddy Kennedy‚ Jr.‚ flanked by his father and Mayor Abe Beame‚ tosses out the first ball. Missing from the ceremony is George Steinbrenner, indicted two days earlier for illegal contributions to Richard Nixon's 1972 presidential re-election campaign. Graig Nettles' two-run homer in the 4th off Gaylord Perry opens the scoring and the Yanks tally 4 more times to win. Charlie Spikes scores the only Cleveland run in the 9th following a triple off starter and winner Mel Stottlemyre. Perry‚ who is warned once for an illegal pitch,  is the loser today‚ but he will win his next 15 decisions.  

                  http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1974/B04060NYA1974.htm 


2017: Bob Cerv dies at the age of 91. 

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

April 5th

On this day in Yankee history... 

1925:  At spring training, the Yankees whip the Brooklyn Robins 16-9, but the headlines are about Babe Ruth. The Bambino collapses in the railroad station in Asheville, NC, and winds up in a New York City hospital.  Ruth will undergo an operation for an ulcer on April 17th and will be bedridden until May 26th.  

1934: Babe Ruth, sponsored by Quaker Oats, agrees to do three 15-minute broadcasts a week over NBC. The total of $39,000 for 13 weeks is $4,000 more than his Yankees contract. 

1977:  The Yankees acquire shortstop Bucky Dent from the White Sox for outfielder Oscar Gamble, pitchers LaMarr Hoyt and Bob Polinsky, and an estimated $200,000. Dent will solidify New York's middle infield and help the Yankees reach the World Series in 1977 and 1978. 

1979: At Yankee Stadium, 52,719 fans see the Brewer jump on Ron Guidry for four runs in the 6th inning and beat New York 5-1. It's the most runs the Cy Young Award winner has allowed in a game since 1977. New York get singles from their first three hitters, but manage to score just one run in the 1st inning off Mike Caldwell. 

                     http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1979/B04050NYA1979.htm 


1995: The Yankees acquire closer John Wetteland from the Montreal Expos for Fernando Seguignol and cash, as the Expos are in full fire sale mode following the settlement of the strike. Wetteland will help his new club to their first World Championship in 18 years in 1996.  

April 4th

On this day in Yankee history... 

1971: Former Yankee pitcher Carl Mays dies at the age of 79. 

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

     

1989: On Opening Day, Tommy John ties a major league record by playing in his 26th season. John beats the Twins 4-2 for his 287th win, putting him 19th overall in career victories. 

                       http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1989/B04040MIN1989.htm 



1994:  A total of 56,706 fans attend Opening Day in the Bronx, making it the largest crowd since Yankee Stadium was renovated. 

 

                   http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1994/B04040NYA1994.htm  



2010: The Yankees and the Red Sox stage a classic battle to open the major league season at Fenway Park, with the home side winning 9-7 after trailing 5-1 and 7-5. Jorge Posada and Curtis Granderson hit back-to-back homers in the 2nd and Brett Gardner steals home as the Yanks build an early lead against Josh Beckett, but a homer by Dustin Pedroia and three extra-base hits by Kevin Youkilis highlight the Sox's comeback. Chan Ho Park takes the loss in his Yankee debut, while Hideki Okajima is the winner. 

              http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B04040BOS2010.htm 



2013: The Yankees record their first win of the season by turning to their storied past. Andy Pettitte picks up the win and Mariano Rivera gets the save in his first appearance following a serious knee injury that almost ended his career as they defeat the Red Sox 4-2. It is Rivera's record 19th season as a Yankee, although Derek Jeter will join him when he is activated from the disabled list later this season. 

 

                         http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B04040NYA2013.htm    

2014: Masahiro Tanaka makes his much anticipated debut for the Yankees, defeating Toronto 7-3 in front of dozens of Japanese journalists on hand for the occasion. Tanaka gives up a homer to the first batter he faces, Melky Cabrera, but then settles down to pitch 7 solid innings. Mark Teixeira has to leave the game in the 2nd inning with a hamstring injury, a flashback to last year's plague of pinstriped injuries. 

                         http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2014/B04040TOR2014.htm

 

April 3rd

On this day in Yankee history... 

1919:  One of the most bizarre off-the-field incidents in history takes place in Jacksonville, FL. Yankees outfielder Ping Bodie competes against an ostrich named Percy in a spaghetti-eating contest. Bodie wins the competition when Percy passes out after its 11th plate of pasta. 

1929: Art Ditmar is born 

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


1984: After rain washed out yesterday's opener at Royals Stadium, Yul Brynner tosses out the first ball, and the Royals open with a 4-2 win over the Yankees. The threat of snow holds the crowd to just 10,006. Starter Bud Black, with relief help from Dan Quisenberry, tops Ron Guidry, still winless in season openers. Onix Concepción hits Guidry's first pitch of the game for a home run, while Dave Winfield has a two-run homer for the Yankees. 

                     http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1984/B04030KCA1984.htm 



2005: In his first outing for the Yankees, Randy Johnson allows a run and five hits in six innings as New York open the major league season with a 9-2 triumph over the Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.  

http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2005/B04030NYA2005.htm 

2013: The Red Sox start a season 2-0 for the first time since 1999 when they defeat the Yankees 7-4, behind the pitching of Clay Buchholz, who allows one run in 6 innings. Yankees starter Hiroki Kuroda isn't so lucky, having to leave the game in the 2nd inning after being struck on a finger by a line drive pff the bat of Shane Victorino. For the second straight game, Yankee Stadium is virtually empty by the end of the game, as the home side fall behind early and never threaten the Sox lead. 

                      http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2013/B04030NYA2013.htm

April 2nd

On this day in Yankee history... 

1918: The Yankees  purchase first baseman 'Tioga' George Burns from the Tigers and immediately trade him to the Philadelphia A's for Ping Bodie. 

1931:  At Engel Stadium in Chattanooga, TN, Miss Jackie Mitchell strikes out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game. The 17-year-old girl, a member of the Chattanooga Lookouts roster, also walks Tony Lazzeri in the local lub's 14-4 loss to the Yankees. In 1933, Mitchell will pitch for the House of David team. 

1957: Hank Steinbrenner is born. 

 



1997: Tino Martinez leads the Yankees to a 16-2 romp over the Mariners at the Kingdome. The former M's first baseman hits three home runs ~ a solo job, a two-run dinger and a three-run shot. With the game out of reach and the crowd chanting his name, he has two opportunities to hit a grand slam, but fails to become the first player to hit home runs for the cycle. He ends the game going 4 for 6 with seven RBI, a walk and five runs scored. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1997/B04020SEA1997.htm  



2001: On Opening Day, Roger Clemens becomes the all-time American League career strikeout leader, passing Walter Johnson. Royals infielder Joe Randa is his 3,509th victim. Passing Johnson, Clemens now takes over the seventh spot in major league history. 

                     http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2001/B04020NYA2001.htm 



2003: Todd Zeile hits a home run in his first at-bat for the Yankees, becoming the only major leaguer to hit round tripper for ten different teams. In addition to homering with the Yankees, Zeile had also gone deep for the Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Orioles, Dodgers, Marlins, Rangers, Mets and Rockies. He will add the Montreal Expos to the list before the end of the year. 

               http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B04020TOR2003.htm 

 

April 1st

On this day in Yankee history... 

1939: Phil Niekro is born. 

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


2001: Andy Pettitte breezes to a win as the Yankees rout the Blue Jays in Toronto 10-1 for their first April Fools Day victory in franchise history. 

                       http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2003/B04010TOR2003.htm



2008: The Yankees set a major league record by winning their 11th straight home opener. Oddly, the record had been held by the 1945-54 Pittsburgh Pirates, a club which lost 100 or more games three times in that period. The Yankees beat the Blue Jays 3-2. Chien-MingWang allows two runs in 7 innings for the win over Roy Halladay. Derek Jeter also sets a record by starting his 12th consecutive Yankee opener at shortstop, surpassing the mark held previously by Phil Rizzuto. 

                  http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B04010NYA2008.htm 


2014: The Yankees and the Astros are the last two teams to open their season, meeting before a crowd of 42,117 at Minute Maid Park. The game does not follow the expected script as the Astros, coming off three straight 100-loss season and having lost their last 15 games in 2013, defeat the Bronx Bombers 6-2. Scott Feldman pitches 6 2/3 scoreless innings and Jesus Guzman and L.J. Hoes homer against Yankee starter C.C. Sabathia. 

                          http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2014/04012014.htm