Forum: History, Trivia & Memorabilia

I was watching Part IV of Ken Burns' Baseball and came across a quote from Miller Huggins. It was during a discussion of the emergence of the power game in baseball. Circa 1921. :)

1973 Siding with the A's, AL president Joe Cronin rules the Yankees cannot sign manager Dick Williams. The Yankees had announced a deal with the Oakland's skipper two days earlier.>>>>>>>>>>>>.>..1966 The Yankees acquire SS Dick Howser from Cleveland for minor leaguer Gil Downs and cash. >>>>1921 At the ML meetings, the American League votes to return to the best-of-7 World Series; the National League votes to keep the 5-of-9. Judge Landis casts the deciding vote, and the 4-of-7 format is...

1993 ? Top Yankees P prospect Brien Taylor injures his shoulder in a fight near his home in North Carolina. The Injury will require surgery and cause Taylor to miss the entire 1994 season. Taylor, who signed for a $1.55 million bonus in 1991 has yet to make it to the majors. >>>>>>>1973 ? The Yankees announce the signing of Dick Williams as manager, precipitating a legal showdown with Charlie Finley. Two days later, American League president Joe Cronin rules that the Yankees cannot sign...

On December 19, 1991 The Blue Jays signed free-agent veteran DH/outfielder Dave Winfield. December 19 birthdays: Former commissioner Ford Frick (1894), Detroit Tiger star outfielder Al Kaline (1934), righty reliever for the Angels (twice), Brewers, A's, Orioles, Dodgers, Pirates and D'backs Mike Fetters (1964); Former A's and Orioles lefty Doug Johns (1967). YANKEE BASEBALL!!!

On December 16, 1922, the Mutual Association of Colored Baseball Clubs, also known as the Eastern Colored League, was formed. It led to a Negro World Series from 1924 through 1928. On the sixteenth in 1982 Tom Seaver was reacquired by the Mets from the Reds in exchange for pitcher Charlie Puleo and two minor leaguers. On 12/16/83, Yogi Berra was hired for the second time to manage the Yankees, replacing Billy Martin. Cal's brother Billy Ripken was born on December 16, 1964. On...

Since Hank Bauer and Gene Woodling were constantly platooned in Casey's years with the Yanks, I decided to find out more about these two great players. I'm asking all of you to tell me who you think was the better player not only during their Yankee years but throughout their major league careers and why? I'll give you some facts later and tell you who I think was better, but I'm interested in your feelings about them.:NY: :NY: :NY: :NY: :NY:

Looking this up, I was amazed that the guy was a Yankee only one year, but when you consider that Stan Bahnsen would win 21 games in Chicago in 1972, it's not too hard to figure why Rich's name is recalled with such rancor and anger 31 years later. It was December 2, 1971, when this ignominious swap was made, and McKinney's one homer and seven rbi in 121 1972 at bats still rankle. On the same day we gave up two lefties (thankfully neither would do much) to get Bernie Allen from Texas. His nine...

Please re-live one of the more interesting postseason Yankee games, however controversial. Shortly thereafter, 12-y.o. Jeffrey Maier became a household name, being interviewed on Regis & Kathee Lee wearing Yankee gear. Mon, 12/16/02, 9pm ET 2 hrs. Being repeated, Tue, 12/17/02, 12am, 3am ET. BAL vs NYY, 10/09/96, Yankee Stadium LHP Andy Pettitte, NYY vs RHP Scott Erickson, BAL.

I liked the thread, "If they were Yankees" so much that I have decided to pose an alternative question: Can you think of players that would have been idolized elsewhere had they not played in the shadow of Ruth, Gehrig, DiMaggio, Mantle, etc. The following come to mind: Tony Lazzeri Bill Dickey Lefty Gomez

Although one source I found lists today as the anniversary of former Yank lefty reliever Steve Hamilton's death in 1997, most list it as yesterday. He pitched for the Yanks from 1963 through 1970, going 34-20 with 36 saves. He was just one in the long line of southpaw relievers (currently personified in free agent Mike Stanton) whose presence has proven, more often than not, that you need lefties in the pen to prevail in Yankee Stadium. He joins fellow Yankee hero Don Mattingly as two who...

No time today, gang, but I have just a few moments to mention a few December 14 things. To lead off, Mr. Bill Buckner is 53 today, and if it's not classy of me to lead off with what is admittedly a taunt, it's because it's not a great day. In 1960, they held an expansion draft for the two new AL teams (the Senators and the Angels). Lefty Bobby Shantz and righty Ed Grba are taken by the teams respectively, BOTH from the Yankees. On this day in 1980 the Yankee family lost the beloved...

Marvin Miller among finalists on veterans' ballot http://espn.go.com/mlb/news/2002/1212/1475894.html -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associated Press COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Marvin Miller, who led players to the breakthrough legal victories that created multimillion-dollar contracts, is among 41 finalists on the ballot of the baseball Hall of Fame's veterans committee. Curt Flood, who lost his challenge to baseball's reserve clause, is...

On December 12, 1915, Frank Sinatra was born. What Yankee fan does not thrill to hear him after a big Yankee victory? On December 12, 1976 we signed Andy Messersmith. He went 0-3 in five starts in his only Yankee year. And on the same day in 1998, Joe DiMaggio made a miraculous recovery after being given his last rites, defying the doctors' dire predictions. He would succumb during spring training of 1999. The following are December 13 birthdays: Larry Doby, who broke the color barrier...

I think it was MLB, but I do remember when he was sitting in the stands watching a ballgame, and in a private conversation which happened to be picked up by some TV camera, he'd said that the umps were cheaters, so he was fined $100,000. Anyone remember anything about the details behind this? Thx. Brad

Two sources I've found list December 11, 1951, as the day Joe DiMaggio announced his retirement; another says December 12. It's a fitting lesson as the roster goes through upheaval this season yet again that it is always hard to say good-bye to a beloved star. Few were more beloved than the Yankee Clipper. We said good-bye to four players on this day in 1959 (Hank Bauer, Don Larsen, Marv Throneberry and Norm Siebern), packaging them off to Kansas City for Roger Maris and two other players....

Anyone know if Claudell is in involved in baseball anymore?

On this day in 1919, the NL voted to make the spitball illegal for the 1920 season, although pitchers who were using it could continue until the end of their careers. December 6 was the 17th anniversary of the death of the last pitcher to use it legally, Burleigh Grimes, who pitched into the 1934 season. In 1922, the World Series became a seven-game series, and on this day in 1924, the current configuration with the home team playing games 1,2 6 and 7 at home was first adopted. Walter...

An ugly word, and as most of America knows, one from which not even a family as fine and upstanding as that of Tony and Carmela Soprano is immune. Well, 14 years ago today, the New York Yankees and Madison Square Garden Network entered into a 12-year "marriage." As in life, so in sports business: As those of us suffering along in Cablevision land can tell you, it is the kids that suffer most over a breakup. It is also the birthday of former Tiger All Star Al Kaline, current Oriole third...

Mickey Charles Mantle. 10/20/1931 (Spavinaw, OK) - 08/13/1995 (Dallas, TX) "The Commerce Comet"; "Muscles". ESPN Classic/Sports Century Mon, 12/09/02, 10am ET. 1 hr. Please also see his fast facts, list of quotes, career stats, Official Website, biographical info, HOF bio, and Mantle's Cooperstown Plaque:

I have been promising myself, ever since it opened up, that I would visit the Yogi Berra Museum on the Campus of Montclair State University here in Jersey. It is only about an hour from my home. For whatever reason I have yet to be there. I have heard that Yogi has got on loan for two months to exhibit the actual bat that Babe Ruth used to hit the first HR in the new Yankee Stadium in the first game ever played there in April 1923. The bat was signed and dated by the Babe himself. ...

The prior showing of "Billy Martin II" was changed from Thanksgiving Day, so here's the new schedule: ESPN Classic/Sports Century Sun, 12/01/02, 8am (Billy Martin I), 9am ET (Billy Martin II). 1 hr apiece. Please see his playing record and managerial career (MIN; DET; TEX; NYY; OAK; NYY), where he was 1,253-1,013 (.553 W%). Please also see Billy Martin's Official Website.

The last three days of the month hold few particularly great memories for Yankee fans, though perhaps the last transaction I found for the three days can turn that around. On November 28, 1974, Bowie Kuhn suspended The Boss, George Steinbrenner, for two years for making illegal campaign contributions to Richard Nixon. This suspension ended with our appearance in the World Series in '76; and the next suspension (1990-1992) found us with the AL's best record in '94, in the playoffs in '95 and...

Why don't we start a new topic for the winter months since I'm tired of all the trade rumors. What current Yanks of the past ten years would have been perfect fits for the Yanks of the 1940's and 50's and why? I'll start it by saying the obvious would be Paul O'Neill for his toughness and ability to make the big play, Mattingly for all the obvious reasons of his hitting and fielding achievements and Jeter for obviously being the best shortstop in their history. I'll leave the rest to you....

November 20 hasn't been a very busy day over the years, but this birthday to Alistair Cooke and anniversary of the death of both Leo Tolstoy (1910) and General Francisco Franco (1975) certainly provides one set of highlights I consider a "masterpiece." On this day in 1985, Don Mattingly (.324 with 145 rbi and 48 doubles and 35 homers among his 211 hits) received the AL MVP award. Kenesaw Mountain Landis, baseball's first commisioner, was born November 20, 1866. Former ballplayer and...

ESPN Classic/Sports Century Thu, 11/28/02, 8pm, 11pm ET. 1 hr. Being repeated Fri, 11/29/02, 10am ET. I'm unsure if this refers to his second managerial stint or not, but it should offer some insight into _BILLYBALL_!!! :D :) Please see his playing record and managerial career (MIN; DET; TEX; NYY; OAK; NYY), where he was 1,253-1,013 (.553 W%).