March 7th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1981: 1920's Yankee infielder Pee Wee Wanninger (whom Lou Gehrig pinch hit for in his first major league at bat) dies at the age of 78. 

1998: The Yankees sign Orlando Hernandez to a four-year, $6.6 million contract. 

March 6th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1977: Marcus Thames is born. Happy 43rd to our hitting coach! 

1986: Francisco Cervelli is born. Happy 34th to our former catcher! 

2005: Suzyn Waldman becomes the first woman to be a full-time color commentator in major league history, making her debut with John Sterling on the Yankees' flagship station WCBS-AM 880. The former radio-talk host on WFAN, the first all-sports radio station in United States, was also the first female to broadcast on a national baseball telecast, as well as the first to provide local TV (Yankees) major league play-by-play. 

March 5th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1922: Babe Ruth becomes the highest paid player in major league history when he signs a three-year contract that will pay him over $50,000 per season. In 1921, Ruth led the AL with 59 home runs and 171 RBI. 

 



1942: Variety, the weekly entertainment magazine, weighs in against 'droopy drawers'. 'Joe DiMagggioand Carl Hubbell are the silliest looking pair we've seen. Way back in the days when the speed boys were stealing 40 to 90 bases a year, you'll remember they used to roll their pants just below the knee. Now they've got 'em almost to their shoes. The theory here is that the constriction inherent in the new style can slow a player a full stride getting to first'. 

1973: Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich make a stunning declaration. The left-handers announce that they have traded wives, children, and family dogs. The announcement sends shock waves through the baseball world and beyond.

March 4th

March 4th

On this day in Yankee history... 


1913: The Yankees become the first major league team to conduct spring training outside of the United States, when they begin camp in Bermuda. Several exhibition games are also scheduled. 

2013: With the club struck by a number of key players either injured, or trying to return from serious injuries, GM Brian Cashman joins the fray. He breaks his fibula and dislocates his right ankle while making a charity parachute jump with the U.S. Army's skydiving team, the Golden Knights,at Homestead Air Force Base. 

March 3rd

On this day in Yankee history... 


1872: Willie Keeler is born in Brooklyn. A remarkable hitter, 'Wee Willie' will hit over .300 16 times in 19 seasons (7 of them with the NY Highlanders, his longest stint with any one club), hit over .400 once, and will finish with a .341 career BA, currently 14th on the all-time list. He will be elected to the Hall of Fame in 1939. 

 

1980: Jerry Priddy, a utility infielder for the 1941 championship team, dies in Los Angeles at the age of 60. 

1998: The Yankees offer the San Diego Padres  a choice of one from a list of players for the negotiating rights to Japanese pitcher Hideki Irabu. The list includes Brian Boehringer, David Weathers, Chris Cumberland, Andy Fox and Matt Luke. The Yankees also offer one player from a list of five minor leaguers, plus $3 million. The Padres are talking to several other teams beside the Yankees. 

March 2nd

On March 2nd in Yankee history... 

1949: Joe DiMaggio leaves spring training camp to have an ailing right heel examined at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is told that no surgery is needed and he returns to Florida, but the heel will continue to bother him. The star is hitting just 7 for 31 in the Grapefuit League. 

1995: Born on this day, Miguel Andújar ~ happy birthday to the man who should have been AL Rookie of the Year in 2018.

March 1st

On March 1st in Yankee history... 

1969: Mickey Mantle announces his retirement. Mantle, who slumped to a .237 BA in 1968, finishes his 18-year career with 536 home runs and a .298 average. The Yankees offer him a coaching position on manager Ralph Houk's staff. 

1993: George Steinbrenner is reinstated as a general partner of the team. Commissioner Fay Vincent had banned Steinbrenner from day-to-day activities with the Yankees because of his relationship with convicted gambler Howie Spira. 

1996: The Yankees christen Legends Field,  their new $30 million, 31-acre complex in Tampa. The field has the exact dimensions of Yankee Stadium. On hand to see Phil Rizzuto toss out the first ball are former Yankees Whitey Ford, Catfish Hunter, Ron Guidry and Chris Chambliss, who then watch the new Yankees beat the AL Champions Cleveland Indians 5-2. 

2016: Commissioner Rob Manfred  sends a strong message on the issue of domestic violence as he issues a thirty-game suspension to Aroldis Chapman in response to an incident on October 30th. The suspension comes even though police declined to file charges in the case because of inconsistent evidence. MLB goes ahead based on the severity of the allegations. The Yankee closer announces that he will not appeal.