August 7th

 On this day in Yankee history... 

1929: For the second game in a row, Babe Ruth hits a grand slam, as the Yankees roll over the A's 13-1. Mickey Cochrane homers in his one at bat for Philadelphia's only run as the Yankees score 10 runs in the first two innings. 

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1929/B08071PHA1929.htm  



Don Larsen is born. 

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







1948: Before 66,000 fans at Cleveland Stadium, Vic Raschi (14-4) allows four singles in stopping the Indians 5-0. Joe DiMaggio has a pair of doubles, drives in three runs, and swipes home on the front end of a double steal. 

                https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1948/B08070CLE1948.htm  





1949: Casey Stengel shows off his lineup juggling skills as 13 different Yankees score a run for the injury-riddled team in a 20-2 thrashing of the St. Louis Browns. 

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B08071NYA1949.htm   






1962: In his first at-bat after returning from military service, Tony Kubek homers in a 14-1 Yankee win over the Twins. 

                           https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1962/B08070NYA1962.htm  




1983: Yankee Stadium celebrates Bobby Murcer Day. 

1989: Tommy Kahnle is born. 

2009: The Yankees and Red Sox are locked in a scoreless tie for 14 innings until Alex Rodriguez hits a game-winning home run in the 15th off Junichi Tazawa, making his major league debut, for a 2-0 Yankee win. Tazawa took the place of veteran John Smoltz, was designated for assignment earlier in the day after being roughed up in yesterday's 13-6 slugfest. Former Marlin teammates Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett set the tone for the game by pitching 7 and 7 2/3 scoreless innings respectively.  

  
                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B08070NYA2009.htm  







2011: Jorge Posada is benched before a game with the Red Sox amidst talk that his DH job may be in jeopardy. 

2016: At a press conference, Alex Rodriguez announces that he will play his final game on August 12th and then retire with a year and half still left on his sizeable contract. A-Rod has been benched for the past month or so as his skills have badly eroded, and unless he goes on an unlikely power spree in his final week, will fall just short of 700 home runs, although he is still fourth on the all-time list. His announcement comes two days after teammate Mark Teixeira stated that he would retire at the end of the season. 

2017: Don Baylor dies at the age of 68. 

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

August 6th

 

On this day in Yankee history... 


1946: Tony Lazzeri dies at the age of 42. 

1961: Mickey Mantle leads the Yankees to a doubleheader sweep of the Twins, going 5 for 9 with three home runs and a double. His 4 RBI give him an even 100 for the year and his homer total is now 43. In the opener, Mantle had two home runs off his favorite pitcher, Pedro Ramos, it is Johnny Blanchard's homer in the 10th that ties the game at 6-6. In the 15th, Yogi Berra hits a bases-loaded grounder and just beats the throw at first to give the Yanks the win. The Yankees win the nitecap by a run as well, when Clete Boyer drives in Mantle in the 9th inning to break a 2-2 tie. New York now lead Detroit by 2 1/2 games. 

                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B08061NYA1961.htm  

                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B08062NYA1961.htm   







1963: Stan Williams one-hits the Senators, giving up only a double to Don Blasingame.  

                                 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B08062WS21963.htm   








1979: After delivering a eulogy at Thurman Munson's funeral in Canton, OH, Bobby Murcer, a close friend of the deceased Yankee catcher, drives in all the runs in the team's 5-4 comeback victory over the Orioles at the Stadium. The New York outfielder hits a three-run home run and wins the game with two-run single in 9th inning.  

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1979/B08060NYA1979.htm  








1996: Darryl Strawberry connects for three home runs off Kevin Tapani in the Yankees'  9-2 victory win over the White Sox. In doing so, he becomes just the 8th player to hit three in a game in both leagues. 

                      https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1996/B08060NYA1996.htm   







2009: After losing the first eight games between the two teams this year, the Yankees beat the Red Sox 13-6 before a capacity crowd at the Stadium. The Bronx Bombers feast off John Smoltz, still struggling to regain his form after missing all of the 2008 season, and Billy Traber, recalled earlier in the day from AAA Pawtucket, lighting up the two pitchers for 13 runs on 18 hits in 7 combined innings. Johnny Damon, Jorge Posada, Melky Cabrera and Mark Teixeira go deep for the Yankees, while Boston fail to take full advantage of 12 walks issued by five New York pitchers. 

  
                        
                     https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2009/B08060NYA2009.htm 

August 5th

 On this day in Yankee history... 

1867: Jacob Ruppert is born. 

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





1905: Highlander 1st baseman Hal Chase registers a record 38 putouts in a doubleheader sweep of the visiting Browns, 3-1 and 6-5.  

1934: Lefty Gomez pitches a near no-hitter in a 3-1 win over the A's. The only Philadelphia safety is a Jimmie Foxx pop fly that drops for a double when three Yankees converge on the ball but none of them call for it.  

                     https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1934/B08050NYA1934.htm   








1935: In a rain-soaked game between the Yankees and the Red Sox. Lou Gehrig leaves in the fourth inning with another lumbago attack. The teams engage in stalling and hurry-up tactics, and AL President John Heydler fines managers Joe Cronin and Joe McCarthy $100 each.  

1959: Mickey Mantle breaks up a scoreless pitching duel between Detroit's Don Mossi and Bobby Shantz by belting an 8th-inning homer with one on. The Yankees win at home 3-0. 

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1959/B08050NYA1959.htm      







1977: Eric Hinske is born. 

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







1983: AL president Lee MacPhail suspends Billy Martin for the second time this season because of continuing abuse of umpires. The Yankee manager is suspended for two games for calling umpire Dale Ford "a stone liar" after a July 31st game with the White Sox. He earned a 3-game suspension earlier this year for kicking dirt on umpire Drew Coble.  

2011: The Yankees and Red Sox, tied atop the AL East standings, meet for a three-game series at Fenway Park. The visitors take the opener, 3-2, thanks a to a big performance by its bullpen. After starter Bartolo Colon comes out in the 5th with his team trailing 2-0, five relievers pitch 4 1/3 scoreless innings and the Yanks score three runs in the top of the 6th off Jon Lester. Nick Swisher drives in the winning run with a double, Boone Logan picks up the win, and Mariano Rivera earns the save. 

2020: Horace Clarke dies at the age of 81 

 

August 4th

 

On this day in Yankee history... 


1905: The Highlanders field a unique battery: Doc Newton pitching and Mike 'Doc' Powers (below) catching; only Powers is a physician, though. The Highlanders beat the Browns 7-3.  

1925: Urban Shocker pitches to a complete game 4-1 win against the Indians, in a contest in which every player in each lineup has at least one putout. 

               
                     https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1925/B08040NYA1925.htm   







1932: Bill Dickey returns to the Yankee lineup after his month's suspension with a grand slam and three singles, as New York roll over Chicago 15-3. 

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1932/B08040CHA1932.htm  








1953: Vic Raschi sets a major league record for RBI by a pitcher with 7, as the Yankees thrash the Tigers 15-0. Raschi singles in 2 in the 2nd, doubles home 3 in the 3rd, and singles home the last 2 in the 8th. His teammates fill his locker with bats after the game. 

                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1953/B08040NYA1953.htm         










1962: Roger Clemens is born 

1963:  In his first at-bat in two months after breaking his left foot, Mickey Mantle slams a pinch-hit home run in the ninth inning to beat the Orioles 11-10.  

  


                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1963/B08042NYA1963.htm  







1972: Bobby Murcer's grand slam in the 7th clinches the Yankees' 9-4 win over the Brewers. Murcer also trots in from 3rd twice on bases loaded walks. 

                   https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1972/B08040MIL1972.htm   







1973: In a superlative relief performance, Lindy McDaniel comes to the rescue of Fritz Peterson, who exits with a pulled muscle in the 2nd inning, and allows just one run in 13 innings to earn a 3-2 victory over the Tigers. Horace Clarke's home run Horace Clarke's home run in the 14th is the game winner. 

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B08040DET1973.htm   









1983: While warming up before the 5th inning of a game against the Blue Jays at Toronto's Exhibtion Stadium, Dave Winfield accidentally kills a seagull with a thrown ball. After the game, the Yankee outfielder is brought to the Ontario Provincial Police station on charges of cruelty to animals and is forced to post a $500 bond before being released. The charges will be dropped the following day. 

1998: Darryl Strawberry's pinch-hit grand slam is the big blow in the Yankees' 9-run ninth inning to come from behind to defeat the A's 10-5. It is Strawberry's second pinch-hit slam of the season, setting a new AL record. It also matches the NL mark held by his former manager Davey Johnson and Mike Ivie, both set in 1978.  

                          https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1998/B08041OAK1998.htm   







2007: 32-year-old Alex Rodriguez surpasses Jimmie Fox as the youngest player to hit 500 home runs. A-Rod hits a 1st-inning shot off the Royals' Kyle Davies as the Yankees go on to a 16-8 win.   


                      https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2007/B08040NYA2007.htm   


2010: On the 3rd anniversary of his 500th home run, A-Rod  hits the 600th of his career off Toronto's Shaun Marcum, becoming the youngest player ~ and only the 7th all time ~ to reach the milestone. The Yankees win 5-1, regaining a share of first place in the AL East. 





                 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2010/B08040NYA2010.htm      

August 3rd

 On this day in Yankee history... 

1914: Yankee catcher Les Nunamaker throws out two Tigers trying to steal second base in the 7th inning of a game at Detroit, and picks a third off second who had stolen successfully. It is the only time in ML history thus far that a position player has thrown out three runners on the basepaths in a single inning. It is also the only recorded inning in major league annals in which the side has been retired without a batted ball having been put into play. 

                           https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1914/B08030DET1914.htm   







1967: The Yankees send Elston Howard to Boston for cash and two players to be named later. 

1979: In the wake of Thurman Munson's death, the Yankees bring up catcher Brad Gulden from AAA Columbus. 

1982: The White Sox sweep a doubleheader from the Yankees at the Stadium, prompting George Steinbrenner to fire manager Gene Michael and replace him with pitching coach Clyde King. King is the Yanks' third manager this season.  

2011: The Yankees jump ou to a 13-1 lead over the White Sox in the first three innings, chasing Gavin Floyd early, but A.J. Burnett can't make it through five innings, departing after one out in the 5th, having allowed his team's lead to narrow to 13-7. Cory Wade steps in to shut down the Sox and pick up the win, with the Yankees running the final score to 18-7 with some late scoring. Robinson Cano hits a three-run homer in the 1st to set the tone, and Eric Chavez has a two-run shot in the 3rd, his first as a Yankee. 

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B08030CHA2011.htm  

August 2nd

On this day in Yankee history... 


1961: The Yankees beat the Kansas City A's 12-5, with Mickey Mantle walloping a 1st-inning homer off Art Ditmar. Mantle and Roger Maris are both at 40 home runs.  

                  
                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1961/B08022NYA1961.htm     








1978: The Yankees take a 5-0 lead over the Red Sox, but Boston tie it in the 8th on three wild pitches, two bases-loaded walks and a collection of bloop hits. Two rain delays during the game lasting a total of an hour push the action past curfew time at Fenway, and the contest is suspended in the 14th inning. 




1979: At Canton, Ohio, Thurman Munson is killed in the crash of the plane that he was piloting. 

1990: Rookie Kevin Maas hits his 10th home run in just 77 at bats, the fastest any player has ever reached that mark. The Yankees lose to the Tigers 6-5 in 14 innings, however. 

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1990/B08020NYA1990.htm   







2011: The Yankees' 6-0 win over the White Sox is shortened to 7 innings by rain at U.S. Cellular Field, but not before Mark Teixeira sets a record by hitting a homer from both sides of the plate for the 12th time of his career. He hits a long ball righthanded off starter John Denks in the 3rd, then one lefthanded in the pouring rain off reliever Jason Frasor in the 7th. Teixeira had been tied with Eddie Murray and Chili Davis with 11 such games. Phil Hughes is the winner in his best outing of the season. 

 
                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B08020CHA2011.htm 

August 1st

 On this day in Yankee history... 

1903: Rube Waddell no-hits the Highlanders, except for Kid Elberfeld, who has four singles. These, plus six walks handed out by the A's lefty, make the New Yorkers 3-2 winners. Waddell observes afterwards, "If I'd have walked him four times, I would have pitched a no-hitter." 

1923: Stepping in against the Indians' Sherry Smith in the 9th inning, Babe Ruth starts off batting righthanded. After taking a strike, he switches to the left side and hits his 25th homer of the season. The Indians still win, 5-3. The Babe will have another try at batting righty four days from now. 

 

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1923/B08010NYA1923.htm    








1925: The Yankees buy Tony Lazzeri from the Pacific Coast League for spring delivery. Lazzeri will hit 60 home runs with 222 RBI at Salt Lake City and earn the nickname 'Poosh-em-up' from his legions of Italian admirers. 

1937: Lou Gehrig hits for the cycle for the second time in his career, as the Yankees roll over the Browns 14-5. 

                      
                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B08010NYA1937.htm   







1941: Lefty Gomez sets the major league mark for walks in a shutout by issuing 11 free passes in a 9-0 Yankee win over the Browns.  

                        https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1941/B08010NYA1941.htm   









1973: The Rivalry flares up again, as Thurman Munson and Carlton Fisk brawl at Fenway Park.  With the score tied 2-2 in the top of the 9th, Munson, attempting to come home from third on a missed bunt by Gene Michael, crashes into Fisk and they come up swinging. Both catchers are ejected, but Boston win 3-2 in the bottom of the frame.  

                          https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1973/B08010BOS1973.htm   






1975: Billy Martin becomes the Yankee manager for the first time, replacing Bill Virdon. 

  




1979: Following a 9-1 win over the White Sox, members of the Yankees create a minor scandal by autographing the bare behind of a young woman who boards the team bus outside Comiskey Park. On a more sombre note, this will prove to be the last game played by Thurman Munson, who starts at first base, and walks and strikes out before being replaced by Jim Spencer.  

                         https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1979/B08010CHA1979.htm      








1993: Reggie Jackson is inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame with a Yankee cap on his plaque. 

2011: CC Sabathia wins his major league-leading 16th game in the Yankees' 3-2 defeat of the White Sox.  

                    
                       https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2011/B08010CHA2011.htm