The Yankee Fossil Record

Wednesday, October 28, 2020

October 28th

On this day in Yankee history...

1953: Red Barber resigns as a Brooklyn Dodgers announcer to join the Yankees broadcast booth.

1979: The Yankees replace fired manager Billy Martin with Dick Howser, head coach of the Florida State Seminoles and a former coach with the Bronx Bombers. In 1980, Howser will lead the Yankees to 103 victories but will be dismissed in turn after failing to advance in the ALCS.

October 27th

On this day in Yankee history...

1876: Patsy Dougherty is born.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patsy_Dougherty

1955: Clark Griffith dies at the age of 85.

1985: Billy Martin is fired by the Yankees for an unprecedented fourth time and is replaced by Lou Piniella, who had been the team's hitting instructor since retiring as a player in 1984.

1999: Roger Clemens pitches the Yankees to their second straight World Series sweep, shutting down the Braves 4-1 and ending his quest for the one and only prize that eluded him: a world championship. The Yankees win their record 25th title, and their third in four years. Game 4 marks New York's 12th Series victory a row, matching a team mark. Mariano Rivera gets his second save and is named Series MVP.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1999/B10270NYA1999.htm

October 26th

On this day in Yankee history...

1918: George 'Snuffy' Stirnweiss is born.

                                         https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snuffy_Stirnweiss

1950: The Baseball Writers Association of America selects Phil Rizzuto as the AL MVP. He posted a .324 batting average with 200 hits and 125 runs, but drove in just 66 runs. Rizzuto, who receives 16 of 23 first-place votes, easily outpoints runner-ups Billy Goodman of the Red Sox and teammate Yogi Berra.

1977: Sparky Lyle becomes the first AL reliever to win the Cy Young Award. Lyle led the league with 72 appearances, posting a 13-5 record with 26 saves and a 2.17 ERA.

1996: The Yankees win their 23rd World Series title by defeating the Atlanta Braves 3-2 in Game 6. Joe Girardi's RBI triple keys a three-run rally against Greg Maddux. John Wetteland in named Series MVP after posting his fourth save.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B10260NYA1996.htm

2000: In Game 5 at Shea Stadium, the Yankees win their third consecutive World Series, their fourth title in five years, and record their 26th World Championship by defeating the Mets 4-2. Luis Sojo's 9th-inning two-out, tie-breaking single off starter Al Leiter is the decisive hit. Derek Jeter becomes the first player to win the All-Star Game MVP and the Series MVP honours in the same season. Joe Torre becomes only the fifth manager to win four World Series titles.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B10260NYN2000.htm

2017: In a surprising move, the Yankees announce that Joe Girardi will not be offered a new contract as manager, despite the fact that he took a young team that was not expected to contend to within one game of the World Series.

October 25th

On this day in Yankee history...

1924: Bobby Brown is born.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Brown_(third_baseman)

2000: At Shea Stadium, the Yankees defeat the Mets 3-2 behind five pitchers and a leadoff home run by Derek Jeter in Game 4 of the World Series.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B10250NYN2000.htm

2009: The Yankees clinch their 40th AL pennant with a 5-2 win over the Angels in Game 6 of the ALCS. The familiar tandem of Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera earns the win and save, as Pettitte claims his record 16th postseason win.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B10250NYA2009.htm

Friday, October 23, 2020

October 24th

On this day in Yankee history...

1939: Joe DiMaggio is named American League MVP.

1996: The Yankees win the last game ever played at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Bronx Bombers, who finish the postseason with an 8-0 road record, are helped by poor Atlanta outfield defense and some great plays from their own outfielders as Andy Pettitte outduels John Smoltz 1-0 in Game 5 of the World Series.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B10240ATL1996.htm

October 23rd

On this day in Yankee history...

1979: Billy Martin is involved in a barroom altercation with Joseph Cooper, a Minnesota marshmallow salesman. Cooper requires 15 stitches to close a gash in his lip. The incident results in Martin being fired as Yankee manager for the second time.

1996: At Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, the Braves jump out to a 6-0 lead, but the Yankees mount the biggest comeback in their long World Series history, pulling even with a three-run home run by Jim Leyritz in the 8th inning. After Bernie Williams is intentionally walked with runners on first and second base in the 10th, Steve Avery walks Wade Boggs to force in the deciding run.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B10230ATL1996.htm

Off the field, Bob Grim dies at the age of 66.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

October 22nd

On this day in Yankee history...

1974: The Yankees and the Giants trade popular outfielders, drawing the ire of their fans. The Giants send Bobby Bonds to New York for Bobby Murcer. Bonds will play one season for the Yankees before being traded to the California Angels, while Murcer will last only two years with the Giants before being dealt to the Cubs.

1982: Robinson Cano is born.

1996: In the World Series, David Cone holds off the Braves while Bernie Williams drives in three runs in a 5-2 win in Game 3 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B10220ATL1996.htm

2000: In Game 2 of the Fall Classic, the Yankees extend their World Series winning streak to 14 consecutive games, defeating the Mets 6-5 in a contest which is overshadowed by Roger Clemens throwing the barrel of a shattered bat in the direction of Mike Piazza as the Mets catcher runs to first base. The eagerly-awaited at bat, due to Clemens' beaning of Piazza in July, results in the two players confronting one another and the emptying of both benches.

https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2000/B10220NYA2000.htm